UN expert silenced at 140th session of ICCPR on United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

By Junius Ho Kwan Yiu

Geneva, Switzerland – An unprecedented event unfolded during the 140th Session of the Human Rights Committee on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), bringing into sharp focus concerns over freedom of expression within the United Nations mechanisms. At the heart of this incident, on 13 March 2024, during the 4090th Meeting, Mr. Rodrigo A. Carazo, a prominent human rights expert and Committee member, was prevented from addressing the cases of Julian Assange and Craig Murray to the delegates from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Carazo aimed to articulate his concerns over Julian Assange's prolonged arbitrary detention and Craig Murray's investigation under Schedule 7 of the UK 2000 Terrorism Act for his peaceful support of the Palestinian people's right to self-defense, as well as the broader implications for freedom of speech. Additionally, he intended to raise urgent issues beyond these cases, including the unfolding genocide situation in Gaza and the controversial role of the UK's arms exporters to the region. Mr. Carazo sought to highlight the potential for these actors to contribute positively, through a Declaration of Peace and respect for human rights, echoing calls from the International Court of Justice (January 2024), the High Commissioner, numerous Special Procedures spokespersons, and fundamentally, on behalf of the suffering individuals in conflict zones.

The Human Rights Committee of the ICCPR comprises independent experts responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ICCPR by its State Parties. During the 140th Session, experts from 18 countries scrutinized the UK's state report. The session on the UK was divided into four parts: private consultations with National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), private consultations with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), a series of questions and answers between human rights experts and UK delegates, and a final session to present the Committee's findings and recommendations for the UK to enhance their commitment to upholding the articles of the ICCPR.

During the 4089th meeting, frustration arose among several experts due to the outdated information provided by the UK State Party. However, the most shocking incident occurred during the subsequent 4090th meeting.

As Mr. Carazo prepared to address the issue of Assange's prolonged arbitrary detention since 2010 to the UK delegates, Mr. Carazo was not allowed to take the floor, despite his name being listed as one of the session's speakers near the end of the 4090th meeting.

In the live feed of the session, Mr. Carazo can be seen protesting and standing up towards the end of the experts' round of questions. Confused by his exclusion, Mr. Carazo approached the podium off-screen, with 26 minutes remaining in the session.

"Incredible!" exclaimed Mr. Carazo. "I WAS SHUT UP!!"

Expressing his rejection of the decision not to allow him to take the floor, Mr. Carazo revealed that he had been trying to engage the delegation on the Assange issue since the 4089th meeting. "I cannot be silenced easily. Not for long," warned Mr. Carazo.