30 August 2018
Dutch version here
Written Questions of the members Van Helvert and Omtzigt to the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs about the award of the special edition of the Human Rights Tulip to the High Commissioner on Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and the scandalous treatment of whistleblower Anders Kompass, who raised the alarm on serious sexual abuse of minors by peace keeping forces in the Central African Republic
1.
Can you make public the rules of procedure about the award of the human rights tulip as to clarify what procedure is followed in the award of a regular prize and what procedure is followed by the award of this special edition?
2.
Can you describe the process, which led to the award of the special edition of the human rights tulip to the High Commissioner on Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein? Can you state who took the decision for awarding a special edition and who took the decision to give the award to Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein?
3.
Are you familiar with the case of whistle-blower Anders Kompass? He made sure the French authorities were informed of the scandalous abuse of young children by peace keeping soldiers of the French and other armies in the Central African Republic. His actions enabled the French authorities to launch an investigation? (source: https://zembla.bnnvara.nl/nieuws/komende-uitzending-verkracht-door-de-vredessoldaat)
4.
Are you aware that many of the abused children are still lacking elementary support?
5.
Are you aware that it was the High commissioner on Human Rights, Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein who requested the resignation of Anders Kompass because the disclosure of the report – on pedophilia by peace keeping soldiers – had caused an embarrassment to senior officials of the United Nations.”?
6.
Are you aware that an external investigation body completely exonerated Anders Kompass? (Taking Action on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers, Report of an Independent Review on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by International Peacekeeping Forces in the Central African Republic)
7.
Are you aware that the external investigation had harsh conclusions on the high commissioner?
8.
Are you aware that the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon replied to us in June 2015 that the external investigation would be leading for the conduct of the United Nations. 7
9.
Are you aware that the smear campaign against Mr. Kompass still continues, for instance in the emails by the spokesman of the high commissioner, mr. Rupert Colville (page 27 of the letter of Miranda Brown)?
10.
What is your judgment on the actions of the High Commisioner in this case?
11.
Are you aware of the whistle blowing case of Emma Reilly, who tried to block the handover of a list of Chinese dissidents to the Chinese government? (Later one of the people on the list was arrested and died in detention)
12.
What is your judgment on the actions of the High Commisioner in this case?
13.
Did you receive the letter of Miranda Brown? Can you send her an answer before the award ceremony and send a copy of your answer to the Parliament?
14.
Were you aware of the way the high commissioner treated a whistle-blower, who blew the whistle on serious sexual abuse, when you decided to award the human rights tulip?
15. Is it appropriate that the highest human rights award is bestowed on a person with this behaviour to a whistle blower?
16.
Are you prepared to publicly ask the High Commissioner to apologize for his behaviour and to ask him to work together to make sure that the young abuse victims get the help and support they need?
17.
Are you prepared to answer these questions one by one and diligently before noon September 3rd, meaning before the award ceremony?
1) https://zembla.bnnvara.nl/nieuws/komende-uitzending-verkracht-door-de-vredessoldaat
2) https://www.codebluecampaign.com/carstatement/
3) https://zembla.bnnvara.nl/nieuws/komende-uitzending-verkracht-door-de-vredessoldaat
4) Bron: paragraaf 9 van de uitspraak van het UNITED NATIONS DISPUTE TRIBUNAL in de zaak KOMPASS v. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, namelijk: “On 12 March 2015, the Deputy High Commissioner informed the Applicant that the High Commissioner [Zeid] demanded his resignation because the disclosure of the report had caused an embarrassment to senior officials of the United Nations.”
5) Bron: Taking Action on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers, Report of an Independent Review on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by International Peacekeeping Forces in the Central African Republic.
6) Bron: pagina 64-65 van het onderzoeksrapport: “The High Commissioner’s single-minded determination to pursue a complaint against the Director of FOTCD also led to his request for an investigation into the Director’s conduct, despite the fact that, as the Panel has already noted, the transmission of information to ta Member State is contemplated by OHCHR policies, human rights practice, and the Directors’ own personal evaluation criteria. Furthermore, the Panel observes that the High Commissioner justified his request to place the Director of FOTCD on administrative suspension on the basis that there was an “unacceptable risk” that the Director would destroy evidence. 277 This was despite the fact that he knew that OIOS, the investigative body, did not consider that any such risk existed. 278 Similarly, it is worth noting that, in the very same letter in which the High Commissioner requested the suspension, he also asked the United Nations Office in Geneva to delay imposing the suspension by a week because he was travelling out of town.”
7) Vraag 11 in https://assembly.coe.int/Documents/Records/2015/E/1506231000ADD1E.htm
8. Pag 27 van de brief die Miranda Brown op 27 augustus aan u schreef.