“No one should face reprisals regarding speaking out on human legal rights issues, ” he said. Bothered by intimidation and harassment his representative has recently experienced on social media platforms, Mister. Türk, head of OHCHR , stated UN personnel “must never be vulnerable or sanctioned for doing their work” , which is based on the founding Charter plus principles of the United Nations.
Mali is entering the eleventh year of a safety crisis. MINUSMA was established in 2013 following low self-esteem in the north and a failed military coup by Islamist rebels, who still hold sway across much of the north and centre from the country.
Intimidation online
“I deeply regret the decision by the Malian authorities to declare the representative, Guillaume Ngefa, since persona non grata and to order him to leave the country in 48 hours, ” Volker Türk said. Mr. Ngefa, Director of the Human Rights Division of the UN Stabilization Mission within Mali ( MINUSMA ) and Associated with the High Commissioner in Mali, had been announced persona non grata in an announcement Malian authorities made on Sunday . Mr. Ngefa was already outside Mali when the decision was announced.
‘Integral to peacekeeping’
Briefing the Security Council at the end of last 30 days, UN Special Representative and Head of MINUSMA El-Ghassim Wane had cautioned that will stabilizing Mali is crucial for the country and the region. Guillaume Ngefa, Director of the Human Rights Division at the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) in Mali. He also advised Malian authorities to ensure better respect just for and protection of human being rights defenders . MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko The decision to expel Mr. Ngefa comes as an independent UN expert on the situation of human legal rights in Mali is scheduled to carry out an official visit from six to 17 February ahead of presenting an annual report to the Human Rights Council in March.
Independent UN expert go to
The UN has long managed that the doctrine of persona non grata is not applicable to the personnel. It is contrary to the obligations associated with Member States under the UN Charter , including those concerning the privileges and immunities of the UN and its staff.
