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The International Coalition Against Impunity (HOKOK)


Hokok, an International Coalition against Impunity, was founded in Beirut during the summer of 2008, primarily as a reaction to Zionist crimes.  As stated in its founding document: The 2006 July War, July 12th-August 17th, was a devastating one which resulted in the deaths of over 1,300 Lebanese civilians, over 5,000 wounded, the internal displacement of almost one million Lebanese and massive destruction of vital infrastructure, the economy and environment. 

As the families of the 2006 assault on Lebanon mark the second anniversary of the killings of their loved ones, a Beirut- based coalition of human rights solicitors, civil society organizations and activists is initiating an international campaign to press for accountability and to end the culture of impunity that the Israeli army and government have enjoyed for far too long.

The campaign aims to net-work with human rights organizations and international law firms to catalyze a process of pursuing legal suits on behalf of the victims (many of whom held both Lebanese and North American/ European citizenships). This co-operation would ensure that the cases would receive the backing and endorsement necessary to support the families in their struggle for at least symbolic recognition and justice. 

 For over two years Lebanese volunteers have been documenting the cases of the victims of the massacres of 2006 and, Hokok now seeks to build an international network of organizations and individuals to endorse their call for legal accountability. Therefore Hokok calls on all people of good will to join us in working for an end to Israeli impunity.


International Human Rights Issues of Concern to HOKOK


The following list includes international human rights issues of concern to HOKOK that cut across national boundaries.  HOKOK encourages advocacy efforts around these issues, as it updates and monitors current developments. 




HOKOKs mission includes monitoring Human Rights abuses internationally and its current work includes exposing the governmental actions and issuing Information Bulletins and Action Alerts in the following cases: 

Among the international scope of cases HOKOK is monitoring are the following:

UNITED STATES

 

 Canada

  • Canada: Supreme Court Rules Ottawa Complicit in Abuse of Omar Khadr
    Canadian Youth at Guantanamo to Be Given Access to Intelligence Files
    In a major rebuke to the Canadian government, the Canadian Supreme Court determined today that the United States violated the human rights of Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen who has been held at Guantanamo since he was 15, and that Ottawa shared culpability by allowing its intelligence agents to interview Khadr and share that information with US authorities.
  •  Canada: Intervene on Behalf of Canadian Citizen at Guantanamo
    Canada should formally request that the United States transfer a Canadian citizen at Guantanamo, who was arrested when he was 15, to a court that meets juvenile justice and fair trial standards or repatriate him to Canada for rehabilitation, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, and Human Rights First said today in a joint letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.     Canada: Child Soldier Global Report 2001
    From the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers
    With parental consent and reliable proof of age, 16 and 17 year olds can be recruited into the Canadian Armed Forces. Legislative changes reflecting Canada’s commitment to the CRC-OP-CAC include, most recently, Bill S-18 which stipulates that under-18s in the Canadian forces, primarily at military college and in the militia, must not be deployed in hostilities. During the first year of training, recruits may submit a request to the commanding officer for release from service. Except for persons selected for deployment, release is usually authorized but candidates may incur costs if they leave. Most under-18s enter through the Regular Officer Training program and will not incur costs provided they leave before year two of the advanced program before a year and a half in the preparatory programmed.
  • Canada: Parliament Should Amend Bill on Special Advocates
    Letter to Members of Parliament
    In February 2007, the Canadian Supreme Court struck down provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act as unconstitutional. The provisions permitted the use of secret evidence against foreign national security suspects subjected to "security certificates" and threatened with deportation, many to places where they would be at risk of torture. Bill C-3 proposes a system of "special advocates" to review sensitive national security-related evidence in security certificate cases. Human Rights Watch's commentary raises concerns that the bill does not rectify the constitutional deficiencies identified by the Canadian Supreme Court and should not be passed until amendments are made to it.
  • Canada: Protect Citizens Facing Death Penalty in US
    The Canadian government should not abandon its longstanding policy of seeking to prevent the execution of Canadian citizens in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today.
Europe

Cases Involving ‘Diplomatic Assurances’ against Torture
Developments since May 2005
 European Union Countries have relied upon empty promises of humane treatment, known as “diplomatic assurances,” in efforts to justify the return of terrorism suspects to countries where they risk being tortured. In the report adopted today, the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee on illegal CIA activity in Europe focuses on CIA flights and US-sponsored transfers of terrorism suspects. It also calls on EU member states to oppose the use of “diplomatic assurances” on torture in returning terrorism suspects. Europe pioneered the use of these “no torture” promises in the 1990s, well before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

“Diplomatic assurances" are an increasingly popular way for European governments to get around the international ban on torture. They smooth the way for undesirable foreigners to be sent to another country where they will be at risk of torture and other abuse. Because it is illegal to send someone to a country where she or he will be at risk of torture, the sending government first gets a promise from the receiving government that it won’t use torture.  HOKOK believes that ‘diplomatic assurances’ are inherently unreliable and do not provide an effective safeguard against torture and other forms of ill-treatment.Governments in Europe and North America are increasingly sending suspects to abusive states on the basis of flimsy “diplomatic assurances” that expose the detainees to serious risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Certain laws passed in the wake of the fears over the War on Terrorism  are of concern to HOKOK and have been condemned for encroaching on human rights. There has been criticism of the French law on secularity and conspicuous religious symbols in schools and the French legislation for protecting the public against certain cultic groups. In the UK, a new indigenous British Bill of Rights has been advocated to protect a far wider range of economic, political, judicial, communication, and personal rights and freedoms than are currently protected under basic rights laws and conventions; extend normal rights and freedoms before the law to various presently discriminated against and exploited business-economic minority classes; generally strengthen and extend the liberal social order; and establish a new independent  Supreme Court with the power to actually strike down government laws and policies that violate basic rights and freedoms.


 Europe should offer more support  to the UN Council on Human Rights
The Commission on Human Rights should adopt a further resolution on the protection of human rights in countering terrorism that would reaffirm the importance of the respect for international human rights, humanitarian and refugee law in combating terrorism; request relevant mechanisms and bodies of the United Nations to continue monitoring counter terrorism measures; acknowledge the continuing gaps in the international human rights monitoring system with respect to these issues; urge that the Counter Terrorism Committee of the U.N. Security Council address human rights in its work; and establish a special mechanism to monitor the effect of counter-terrorism measures on human rights in countries worldwide.