2008 DECLARED HUMAN RIGHTS YEAR BY LNSW!

Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly will put Human Rights and Corruption at the forefront of its agenda for 2008. We can no longer afford to look away pretending that it is not happening. It is happening right here under all our noses - it is time to speak out loud and clear for all to hear, including President Michel and the International Community. We reproduce below recommendations from Judge Michael Reilly’s report on Human Rights:

REPORT OF THE INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS IN VICTORIA ON 3 OCTOBER, 2006 ESTABLISHED BY INSTRUMENT OF APPOINTMENT SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SEYCHELLES ON 19 JANUARY 2007

PRESIDING JUDGE: JUDGE MICHAEL REILLY

October, 2007

Recommendation:- An independent Commission (Human Rights Commission) should be established. The Commission should consist of a chairperson and six other members. The members should be appointed by the President and the membership should contain representatives of the different political views in the Seychelles as well as recognised experts in the field of law and human rights. The Commission should be funded by the Government and recruit its own staff. The Commission should be given wide powers in law to develop human rights programmes and to monitor their implementation, including how they are implemented by the Police. It should have as a minimum the following three main functions:

- to keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the Seychelles relating to the protection of human rights: priority should be given to an examination of the Public Order Act;

- to make recommendations to Government on measures to strengthen, protect and uphold human rights in the Seychelles;

- to promote understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights and, for these purposes, to undertake or sponsor research and educational activities in the field of human rights.

Recommendation:- The Commission should prepare an annual report on its activities for the preceding year and submit it to the President. The President should, as soon as practicable, lay the report before the Assembly for the purpose of facilitating a debate on the report. Not later than three years following its establishment the Commission should report to the President setting out recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Commission. This report should also be laid before the Assembly for the purpose of debate.

Recommendation:- All police officers should be trained (and updated as required) in the fundamental principles and standards of human rights and the practical implications for policing: human rights dimensions should be integrated into every aspect of police training. Preferably the training should be conducted by experts from outside the Police Force, with a background in human rights.

Recommendation:- A new Code of Ethics should be put in place which would, incorporate internationally accepted principles and standards of human rights into police practice.

Recommendation:- It should be a requirement for career advancement in the Police Force that officers have demonstrated a genuine respect for human rights.

Recommendation:- The performance of the Police Force as a whole should be monitored either by the Human Rights Commission or the Policing Board when set up.

Recommendation:- The Government should encourage debate on human rights issues, or at a minimum facilitate such debate; the purpose being to foster a culture, not least in the Police Force, of respect for human rights.