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The Honourable Madam Justice Pillay - the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The head of South Africa`s Human Rights Commission says he expects Judge Pillay take on such issues as Darfur, Sri Lanka and the Middle East. Saturday, 26 July 2008 - 5:36 AM SL Time |  | |
The Honourable Madam Justice Navanethem Pillay is a South African judge who has been designated by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to serve as High Commissioner for Human Rights. She is currently on the International Criminal Court, where she has been serving since 2003.
She was born in 1941 to Tamil minority. She was the first woman to start a law practice in Natal Province in 1967. She acted as defence attorney for many anti-apartheid activists and trade unionists, including her own husband. In 1973, she brought a successful application against the officer commanding Robben Island Prison which enabled political prisoners including Nelson Mandela to have access to lawyers.
Pillay studied at Harvard University, earning a Master of Law degree in 1982, and Doctor of Juridical Science in 1988. In 1992 she co-founded the organization Equality Now which campaigns internationally on women`s rights. In 1995, Pillay became the first woman of Indian descent to be appointed as a High Court judge in South Africa.
As a judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda she led the landmark decisions defining rape as an institutionalized weapon of war and a crime of genocide. In 2003 she received the inaugural Gruber Prize for Women`s Rights. In June 2007 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Durham, England.
`She used to go regularly to Robben Island (prison) to meet with (Nelson) Mandela and the other people that were incarcerated there. And won some landmark cases on human rights matters. She was always very involved in human rights matters . We were all subjected to separate laws and all the apartheid machinery. And so that must have had a profound impact on her. And I think she is ideally suited for the job that she is now going to take after she finishes at the International Criminal Court at The Hague,` Seedat says.
Asked what the early years as an attorney might have taught Pillay, she says, `I think it must have left an indelible imprint on her mind of how important it was to pursue these laws and to pursue justice and to fight for justice . The other thing that she was very involved was in the pursuit of gender crimes . At a local level she was involved in starting a desk for abused women and giving them advice . We didn`t have domestic violence laws at that time, but she was quick enough to see that there was a great need to assist women.`
Both Pillay and Seedat are women of color, adding another obstacle during the apartheid years. `It was difficult, but we doggedly went on with it because we knew that our leaders were incarcerated and there was work to be done. So we just went on doing it. It was difficult. We had the security branch against us, but there was a commitment to see it through. And she indeed has that commitment. And I can see her in this role now and not shying away from matters that are important. She will be very forthright and able to take a stand on issues,` says Seedat.
She says Judge Pillay has a very dry sense of humor and is gracious but is also a no nonsense, no frills individual.
Also praising Pillay is Jody Kollapen, the head of South Africa`s Human Rights Commission.
`As a South African I`m very excited and honored that a South African will hold the position. But as a human rights activist and at the head of the South African Human Rights Commission, I am deeply excited that someone with a commitment to human rights, with a commitment to equality, will be holding that post as well. So, yes, I think that we`re all quite pleased,` he says.
Kollapen comments on whether it matters if the UN human rights chief is a person of color.
`I think in the broader scheme of things it doesn`t make such a big difference because she is going to be really doing the work at an international level. And I think her color and agenda shouldn`t be a factor insofar as her work over the years and her current commitment have demonstrated an ability on her part certainly to be able to relate to human rights in the broadest possible sense. But at the same time I think many South Africans of color would be pleased even more so in that it`s a demonstration that our own transformation as a nation on attempts to deal with the legacy of our own past is playing itself out in this wonderful way,` he says.
The head of South Africa`s Human Rights Commission says he expects Pillay take on such issues as Darfur, Sri Lanka and the Middle East. He also expects her to address the food crisis and global warming and how they may affect human rights.
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Source(s)
http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france-priorities_1/democracy-human-rights_1101/events_2128/another-events_6494/appointment-of-ms-navanethem-pillay-a |
Thivya
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 25 Jul 2008 22:37:53 GMT Report for Abuse
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Appointment of Ms Navanethem Pillay as High Commissioner for Human Rights (July 25, 2008)
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
The European Union welcomes the appointment by the United Nations Secretary General of Ms Navanethem Pillay as High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The European Union is pleased to see the High Commissioner s Office entrusted to a woman from the South, who has held the most senior posts in a number of international courts, such as the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court, and has played a distinguished role in combating impunity.
This appointment, put to the United Nations General Assembly for approval, comes in the year in which we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration. That anniversary will provide an opportunity to solemnly reaffirm, throughout the world, the universality and indivisibility of the human rights enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration.
The High Commissioner s Office is a key body within the United Nations system and has, since its establishment at the 1993 Vienna summit, played a crucial part in protecting and upholding human rights. The European Union wishes to reaffirm its support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its attachment to the integrity of that body s remit. The High Commissioner s Office has to be able to discharge its duties in an entirely independent and impartial manner.
The European Union considers that the High Commissioner s Office must be able to draw on all the resources needed in establishing its strategic management plan and in carrying out its work on the ground, particularly as regards technical assistance. The EU similarly believes that the rules governing the budgetary and human resources policies of the High Commissioner s Office should remain applicable.
The European Union welcomes the involvement of the High Commissioner s Office in assisting the special procedures in their vital task, particularly country mandates, and in supporting the universal periodic review process, an innovative, transparent mechanism. The European Union also underlines the crucial importance of the High Commission s support for the proper functioning of the human rights treaty bodies.
The European Union lastly wishes to pay special tribute to Ms Louise Arbour and to her high mindedness, sense of dialogue and resolve to fulfil her remit. The EU particularly commends the strengthening of the OHCHR through the development of its work in all continents.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
Edited By - Thivya - 25 Jul 2008 22:39:48 GMT |
chennaiguuy
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 25 Jul 2008 23:41:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Will Modapakshe dare to give this couargeous tamil woman a white van ride when she comes to COlombo to investigate for the abuses of Human Rights ?
Edited By - chennaiguuy - 25 Jul 2008 23:43:54 GM |
AnuD
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 25 Jul 2008 23:54:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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Will Modapakshe dare to give this couargeous tamil woman a white van ride when she comes to COlombo to investigate for the abuses of Human Rights ?
WE don't harass single woman.
Ask a Prime minister from INdia to come, he may get at least a Rifle butt attack.
We are good at it.
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latha
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 26 Jul 2008 01:04:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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SHE has no connection with Sri Lanka North Tamils. She descends from low cast Tamil Nadu ,similar to sri lankan up country Tamils . British brought them to Sri lanka and south Africa to do laborer works. Her parents were laborers in South Africa. There are lots of Indians in most part of the British colonies. Sinhalese are the only people that British did not lorded to other countries as laborers.
This is a great achievment for her to come to this level being a low cast Tamil. |
RealKaruna
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 26 Jul 2008 01:42:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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Congratulations to this brilliant and beautiful Tamil lady.
Edited By - RealKaruna - 26 Jul 2008 01:43:10 GMT |
Thivya
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26 Jul 2008 01:58:40 GMT Report for Abuse
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SHE has no connection with Sri Lanka North Tamils. She descends from low cast Tamil Nadu ,similar to sri lankan up country Tamils . British brought them to Sri lanka and south Africa to do laborer works. Her parents were laborers in South Africa. There are lots of Indians in most part of the British colonies. Sinhalese are the only people that British did not lorded to other countries as laborers.
This is a great achievment for her to come to this level being a low cast Tamil.
I don't like to divide the Tamils along the caste line and I think it is the curse of Tamil society but we have to correct the Sinhala racist's blabbering.
Many poor high caste Tamils also went to work as laborers and Kankanis of the plantations in the British colonies.
Castewise Madam Justice Pillay is from the 'Pillaimar' caste, which is the name for 'Vellalas' of Tamil Nadu. The Vellala's of Tamil Nadu call them as Pillaimar also, and they still use the word 'Pillai' as their last name.
Even now, a young Vellala of Tamil Nadu will add the word Pillai to his name after his marriage.
This was a custom in Jaffna also but the Jaffna Vellala Tamils stop using the last name pillai for many years now. Many other castes also started to add the name pillai to their names.
I am sorry for the Sinhalese. They hate the Jaffna Vellala so much. For their bad luck Justice Navaneetham Pillay turned out to be another Pillai = Saiva Vellala. :)))
Edited By - Thivya - 26 Jul 2008 03:34:31 GMT |
Thivya
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26 Jul 2008 02:06:11 GMT Report for Abuse
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Some section of vellalas gave up meat eating and became vegetarians- they were called 'Saiva Vellalas '.This process started in Pallalav period.The Saiva Vellalas carry titles like PILLAI and Mudaliar , depending in the area of domicile. The saiva vellalas of Pandia and Chola K ingdoms carry the title 'PILLAI' and those from Pallalva Kingdom used to carry the title MUDALIAR.
Although the tamil word Vellala means the cultivator, there is ample evidence to indicate that the original Chera , Chola and Pandia King swere Vellalas.
Today vellalas in Tamil nadu is a miniscule minority in southern districts.They are less than 7% of population. 50% of Sri Lankan origin Tamilians are vellalas. Almost all political, business and academic leadership of Tamil community of Sri Lanka has been provided by vellalas.
Edited By - Thivya - 26 Jul 2008 17:43:54 GMT |
CholaPandyan
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26 Jul 2008 05:07:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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Latha my Siriya latha, why are you sooo ignorant?
SHE has no connection with Sri Lanka North Tamils.
Tamils are Tamils weather they are from North, East, Central or any part of the world, we share the same language and culture.
She descends from low cast Tamil Nadu ,similar to sri lankan up country Tamils.
Thivya has given a clear answer to the above.
British brought them to Sri lanka and south Africa to do laborer works. Her parents were laborers in South Africa. There are lots of Indians in most part of the British colonies.
I agree, in Sri Lanka, these people were the backbone of Sri Lankan economy, they have contributed much more than what they got.
Sinhalese are the only people that British did not lorded to other countries as laborers.
You are making me LAUGH. Lets leave the British and talk about the Dutch.
According to the colonial writer (Dutch) Markus Vink, (http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/jwh/14.2/vink.html),
the Dutch Indian Ocean slave trade was flourishing during 17th century.
In 1694, the city of Colombo alone had a slave population of 1,761. See Knaap, Europeans, Mestizos and Slaves, p. 88. In 1661, 10,000 slaves had been put to work by the company and by private individuals on the lands in southwestern Ceylon, including 2,000 company slaves.
Ten thousand slaves from Coromandel Coast in South India were brought to the South of Ceylon (Colombo, Galle and the entire South West) by the Dutch.
One of the main sources of income the Dutch had at that time was Cinnamon.
The South west Coast was where cinnamon grew to perfection during that period, and the Dutch were the monopoly in trading spices. Cinnamon was the staple export. It was the Helen or bride of contest (as Baldaeus called it) for whose exclusive possession successive European invaders had in turn contended.
In 1740, Governor Van Imhoff, by a system of forced labor/slaves, planted the waste land along the coast south of Colombo with the Cocoa palm, the result of which is seen in an almost unbroken grove of palms for 100 miles along the south west shore.
During the Dutch period, those slaves would have been domestic laborers, grown cinnamon or planted coconut but today (Within the last 350 years) they have got naturalized with the Sinhalese and become a part of them, as Sinhala Buddhists and Sinhala Catholics. A large part of the present day Sinhalese (those 10,000 would have multiplied into lakhs), both Buddhists/Catholics in the South western coast from Colombo to Galle such as Fernando, De Silva, etc were originally coolies/slaves brought in by the Dutch from Tamil Nadu and today they are the people who are talking about those few coolies/slaves settled in the Tea estates in the Central province during the British period because those people remained as Tamils and did not get converted or naturalized with the majority.
In other words, the Sinhalese from the entire South west including Colombo and Galle are partly the decedents (5th generation) of those 10,000 slaves from the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu. As per the article written by Markus Vink, these slaves were settled and used by our colonial masters for the cinnamon and cocoa palm plantation along the South west coast as well as for domestic and other purpose.
The most hilarious part is, these are the people who pretend to be more Sinhala (Patriots) than the original Sinhalese (if there is any such thing today).
So Latha mage Siriya latha, please do not be so ignorant because you also may be one of the 5th generation decendent of those Tamil slaves who became Sinhala Buddhists/Catholics.
This is a great achievment for her to come to this level being a low cast Tamil.
Of course this is a Great achievement for Honourable Madam Justice Navanethem Pillay and I congradulate her. She is fortunate that the British took her Grand parents to South Africa and NOT to Sri Lanka because to achieve this status from Sri Lanka, your name should be Navanetha Mudyhansage Pillawathe and NOT Navanethem Pillay.
Edited By - CholaPandyan - 26 Jul 2008 05:11:56 G |
latha
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26 Jul 2008 06:38:19 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thanks for clarification.
Is She going to deal of tamils human right issues in Sri lanka or South Africa ?
I agree with Chola PAndyan.
There are lot of people who brought to Sri lanka from Tailnadu got converted to Sinhalese nationality. Not original Sinhalese were coolies or taken as slaves in to any other countries.
Don't tell that present day Sinhalese migrant workers in Middle east or Europe are coolies . They have not been forcibly taken in.
Mrs. Pillay should first fight against British for forcibly bringing of her parents and Tamils to South Africa and Sri lanka.That was the big human right violation done to her races and majority of the Tamils so far in the world.
My room mate is a Tamil law student came from South Africa and he also borne in same place where Mrs. pillay was borne. He said both descends from same village in Tamilnadu and his grand parents and whole villagers was brought in to South Africa forcibly in a ship Mrs. pilay's parents were also with his grand parents at that time.
Thivya.
Is Pilian (East CM) from the same cast as Mrs Pilay?
What is the cast Of VP. ? |
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