UN Expert: The United Nations has expressed serious concern over the detention of Bushra Bibi, stating that she is being held in a "rodent-infested" prison cell and subjected to harsh conditions, including near-total isolation for extended periods. 

UN Expert: UN Raises Alarm Over Bushra Bibi's Detention

India will have to invest heavily in infrastructure in order to recover from the economic havoc brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, even if that means going in for deficit financing, according to a UN expert. 
 
"A crisis often presents an opportunity" and making the right investments can have a multiplier effect in steering the economies to recovery, while also making a monumental difference in people's lives," Hamid Rashid, the head of the UN Development Research Branch, said on Wednesday in an exclusive interview to said. 
 
"We may feel a little despondent right now in terms of what is happening in India, but there`s a silver lining in our view as well," he said, citing the possibilities for public sector investment in vital areas and the signs of progress in containing the pandemic. 
 
Developing countries like India do not have the option of financing a stimulus programme like the US has done but they can make substantial public sector investments to stimulate the economy, he said. 
 
The government should prioritise two sectors, digital and health, for investments, he said. 
 
"This is also an opportunity for governments, and for the public sector, to increase investment in health infrastructure, increase investment in digital infrastructure, and that will create jobs and that will create demand for more goods and services, and that will restart the economic engine," he said. 
 
"Right now you see the oxygen shortages as a huge constraint for India, in terms of saving lives. So, this is an opportunity for creating the right environment so the businesses can invest more in building health capacities," he said. 
 
There is also a need to bridge the digital divide, he said. 
 
India and other similarly placed countries do not have the option of raising taxes to meet the investment requirements and they may have to resort to deficit financing, which he said is not a bad idea if the investments are properly made. 
 
"Deficit financing is basically borrowing from the future," he said. 
 
"I believe deficit financing institution like this is not only necessary so it`s a must," he said. "You have to take the risk and when businesses can`t take risks when the private sector or hospitals cannot take risks, the only entity that can take risk is the government." 
 
"So public sector spending is that we have seen in crisis after crisis. Public investment is what brings countries out of crises," he said. 
 
With deficit spending, "one has to be very careful about targeting the right sector, targeting the right investment", he said. "Otherwise it can create a huge debt burden, going forward, public debt would balloon". 
 
China had used investments to stage its recovery, he said while contrasting the Western and Chinese models. 
 
There is the Western model of fighting the crisis through "a demand-side support, giving money to the households or you can create more jobs through investment", he said. 
 
"China chose the path of increasing investment during the pandemic, and so it created lots of jobs, and now the demand is picking up and China`s recovery is on the way" and it would have a growth rate of 8.2 per cent this year, he said. 
 
Rashid`s branch makes the economic forecasts that are the basis for policy suggestions and he is the lead author of the UN`s flagship economic report, World Economic Situation and Prospects. 
 
The mid-year report released on Tuesday, forecast that India`s economy would grow by 7.5 per cent this year and rebound to 10.3 per cent next year. 
 
When the report was being prepared, Rashid said, "We were just seeing the tip of the second wave. And of course, if I do revise the numbers right now, I would probably be a little bit, even less optimistic than 7.5 per cent when there are significant downside risks." 
 
"But, having said that, we still believe there`s huge room for a recovery in India because we are starting from a very low base," he added. 
 
The UN estimated that India`s economy shrank last year by 6.8 per cent. 
 
"Last year, there was a significant contraction of the economy. So this is basically recovering the lost ground, so there`ll be quite a bit of lost ground recovered, and that would give the growth, assuming that pandemic comes under control within a month or so," he said. 
 
If the Covid-19 surge "continues for several months or a full quarter, then this would be a very difficult target (and) we`ll probably see a significant downgrade when we update our number for the end of the year", he added. 
 
"But so far, we remain optimistic that 7.5 per cent growth rate is still possible for India," he said. 
 
While infections are coming down significantly in Delhi and Mumbai and other major cities, there`s still concern about the pandemic spreading to rural areas, he said. 
 
"We have to make sure that we are able to contain the spread of the virus and things don`t get any worse than it already is. So, our best hope is that probably the worst is behind us, in terms of the spread of the pandemic in India, and there are some containment measures that are effective," he added. 
 
Asked about the most important requirement for India`s economy to recover from the havoc of the pandemic, Rashid responded, "It`s vaccination, vaccination, vaccination." 
 
It would restore consumer confidence and business confidence that are very critical to a recovery, he said. 
 
"When you see news reports every day and they shatter our confidence, businesses will not be willing to invest if they don`t see any light at the end of the tunnel and consumers will not be spending, if they feel that there are bad days ahead," he said. 
 
"So, this is about managing expectation and right now, the best way to manage expectations of the future of the economy is to make sure everyone gets vaccinated as quickly as possible," he added. 
 
While vaccinating a population of 1.4 billion would take time, he said that other steps can be intensified to control the Covid-19 outbreak as had been done last year. 
 
"Your experience with the first wave was quite positive and quite successful. I think the combination of vaccination and social distancing and other measures would work, may not do the magic, but would still be able to contain the spread further."

India will have to invest heavily in infrastructure in order to recover from the economic havoc brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, even if that means going in for deficit financing, according to a UN expert.

India will have to invest heavily in infrastructure in order to recover from the economic havoc brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, even if that means going in for deficit financing, according to a UN expert. "A crisis often presents an opportunity" and making the right investments can have a multiplier effect in steering the economies to recovery, while also making a monumental difference in people's lives," Hamid Rashid, the head of the UN Development Research Branch, said on Wednesday in an exclusive interview to said. "We may feel a little despondent right now in terms of what is happening in India, but there`s a silver lining in our view as well," he said, citing the possibilities for public sector investment in vital areas and the signs of progress in containing the pandemic. Developing countries like India do not have the option of financing a stimulus programme like the US has done but they can make substantial public sector investments to stimulate the economy, he said. The government should prioritise two sectors, digital and health, for investments, he said. "This is also an opportunity for governments, and for the public sector, to increase investment in health infrastructure, increase investment in digital infrastructure, and that will create jobs and that will create demand for more goods and services, and that will restart the economic engine," he said. "Right now you see the oxygen shortages as a huge constraint for India, in terms of saving lives. So, this is an opportunity for creating the right environment so the businesses can invest more in building health capacities," he said. There is also a need to bridge the digital divide, he said. India and other similarly placed countries do not have the option of raising taxes to meet the investment requirements and they may have to resort to deficit financing, which he said is not a bad idea if the investments are properly made. "Deficit financing is basically borrowing from the future," he said. "I believe deficit financing institution like this is not only necessary so it`s a must," he said. "You have to take the risk and when businesses can`t take risks when the private sector or hospitals cannot take risks, the only entity that can take risk is the government." "So public sector spending is that we have seen in crisis after crisis. Public investment is what brings countries out of crises," he said. With deficit spending, "one has to be very careful about targeting the right sector, targeting the right investment", he said. "Otherwise it can create a huge debt burden, going forward, public debt would balloon". China had used investments to stage its recovery, he said while contrasting the Western and Chinese models. There is the Western model of fighting the crisis through "a demand-side support, giving money to the households or you can create more jobs through investment", he said. "China chose the path of increasing investment during the pandemic, and so it created lots of jobs, and now the demand is picking up and China`s recovery is on the way" and it would have a growth rate of 8.2 per cent this year, he said. Rashid`s branch makes the economic forecasts that are the basis for policy suggestions and he is the lead author of the UN`s flagship economic report, World Economic Situation and Prospects. The mid-year report released on Tuesday, forecast that India`s economy would grow by 7.5 per cent this year and rebound to 10.3 per cent next year. When the report was being prepared, Rashid said, "We were just seeing the tip of the second wave. And of course, if I do revise the numbers right now, I would probably be a little bit, even less optimistic than 7.5 per cent when there are significant downside risks." "But, having said that, we still believe there`s huge room for a recovery in India because we are starting from a very low base," he added. The UN estimated that India`s economy shrank last year by 6.8 per cent. "Last year, there was a significant contraction of the economy. So this is basically recovering the lost ground, so there`ll be quite a bit of lost ground recovered, and that would give the growth, assuming that pandemic comes under control within a month or so," he said. If the Covid-19 surge "continues for several months or a full quarter, then this would be a very difficult target (and) we`ll probably see a significant downgrade when we update our number for the end of the year", he added. "But so far, we remain optimistic that 7.5 per cent growth rate is still possible for India," he said. While infections are coming down significantly in Delhi and Mumbai and other major cities, there`s still concern about the pandemic spreading to rural areas, he said. "We have to make sure that we are able to contain the spread of the virus and things don`t get any worse than it already is. So, our best hope is that probably the worst is behind us, in terms of the spread of the pandemic in India, and there are some containment measures that are effective," he added. Asked about the most important requirement for India`s economy to recover from the havoc of the pandemic, Rashid responded, "It`s vaccination, vaccination, vaccination." It would restore consumer confidence and business confidence that are very critical to a recovery, he said. "When you see news reports every day and they shatter our confidence, businesses will not be willing to invest if they don`t see any light at the end of the tunnel and consumers will not be spending, if they feel that there are bad days ahead," he said. "So, this is about managing expectation and right now, the best way to manage expectations of the future of the economy is to make sure everyone gets vaccinated as quickly as possible," he added. While vaccinating a population of 1.4 billion would take time, he said that other steps can be intensified to control the Covid-19 outbreak as had been done last year. "Your experience with the first wave was quite positive and quite successful. I think the combination of vaccination and social distancing and other measures would work, may not do the magic, but would still be able to contain the spread further."

India will have to invest heavily in infrastructure for economy to recover: UN expert

World powers bear responsibility for ignoring crimes against humanity that may still be perpetrated by authorities in North Korea amid a focus on its nuclear program, a UN human rights investigator said on Wednesday.

Tomas Ojea-Quintana urged the UN Security Council to refer grave violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the International Criminal Court for prosecution.

He voiced concern at reports of severe punishments imposed for breaking COVID-19 lockdown measures, including alleged orders to "shoot on sight" anyone trying to cross the border.

"Crimes against humanity may be ongoing," Ojea-Quintana told the UN Human Rights Council.

He had received information confirming the findings of a landmark 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry on extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, rape, forced abortion, sexual violence, political persecution and "the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation".

"The urgency to stop violations of such a scale, gravity and nature cannot take a back seat to national interests or geopolitical interests," Ojea-Quintana told the Geneva forum.

This was not justifiable under the UN Charter, he said, adding: "I believe that the Security Council bears responsibility for its inaction against the continuation of crimes against humanity in the DPR Korea."

Ojea-Quintana presented his latest report, issued last week, which said that drastic measures taken by North Korea to contain the novel coronavirus have exacerbated abuses and economic hardship for its citizens, including reports of starvation.

North Korea's mission to the UN in Geneva did not respond to Reuters' queries for comment. Pyongyang does not recognise the UN investigator's mandate and boycotted Wednesday's debate.

It has previously rejected UN allegations of crimes against humanity.

"Unconfirmed reports indicated that officials have authorized law enforcement agencies to 'shoot on sight' anyone attempting to cross the country’s borders," Ojea-Quintana said.

He cited reports that a new detention facility for people violating COVID-19 quarantine measures had been built in North Hwanghae province. The situation of political prison camps remained of utmost concern, he added.

World powers bear responsibility for ignoring crimes against humanity that may still be perpetrated by authorities in North Korea amid a focus on its nuclear program, a UN human rights investigator said on Wednesday.

World powers bear responsibility for ignoring crimes against humanity that may still be perpetrated by authorities in North Korea amid a focus on its nuclear program, a UN human rights investigator said on Wednesday. Tomas Ojea-Quintana urged the UN Security Council to refer grave violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. He voiced concern at reports of severe punishments imposed for breaking COVID-19 lockdown measures, including alleged orders to "shoot on sight" anyone trying to cross the border. "Crimes against humanity may be ongoing," Ojea-Quintana told the UN Human Rights Council. He had received information confirming the findings of a landmark 2014 UN Commission of Inquiry on extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, rape, forced abortion, sexual violence, political persecution and "the inhumane act of knowingly causing prolonged starvation". "The urgency to stop violations of such a scale, gravity and nature cannot take a back seat to national interests or geopolitical interests," Ojea-Quintana told the Geneva forum. This was not justifiable under the UN Charter, he said, adding: "I believe that the Security Council bears responsibility for its inaction against the continuation of crimes against humanity in the DPR Korea." Ojea-Quintana presented his latest report, issued last week, which said that drastic measures taken by North Korea to contain the novel coronavirus have exacerbated abuses and economic hardship for its citizens, including reports of starvation. North Korea's mission to the UN in Geneva did not respond to Reuters' queries for comment. Pyongyang does not recognise the UN investigator's mandate and boycotted Wednesday's debate. It has previously rejected UN allegations of crimes against humanity. "Unconfirmed reports indicated that officials have authorized law enforcement agencies to 'shoot on sight' anyone attempting to cross the country’s borders," Ojea-Quintana said. He cited reports that a new detention facility for people violating COVID-19 quarantine measures had been built in North Hwanghae province. The situation of political prison camps remained of utmost concern, he added.

World powers ignoring North Korea crimes against humanity amid nuclear program focus: UN expert

A UN rapporteur probing the murder in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Thursday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cia-has-recording-of-saudi-crown-prince-salman-saying-silence-khashoggi-turkish-news-website-178769">the killing was planned and carried out by Saudi officials</a>.

Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and Saudi regime critic, was murdered at the ultra-conservative kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

"Evidence collected during my mission to Turkey shows prima facie case that Mr Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal and premeditated killing, planned and perpetrated by officials of the state of Saudi Arabia," Agnes Callamard said at the end of a visit to Turkey, according to a UN statement.

Turkey says he was killed by a team of 15 Saudis who strangled him at the mission, and media reports have said his body was cut up and dissolved in acid.

After denying the killing for two weeks Riyadh finally described it as a "rogue" operation and arrested a number of senior Saudi officials.

Khashoggi's body has still not been recovered.

"The murder of Jamal Khashoggi and the sheer brutality of it has brought irreversible tragedy to his loved ones," said Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

"It is also raising a number of international implications which demand the urgent attention of the international community including the United Nations." 
&nbsp;

A UN rapporteur probing the murder in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Thursday the killing was planned and carried out by Saudi officials. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and Saudi regime critic, was murdered at the ultra-conservative kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2.

A UN rapporteur probing the murder in Turkey of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi said Thursday the killing was planned and carried out by Saudi officials. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor and Saudi regime critic, was murdered at the ultra-conservative kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on October 2. "Evidence collected during my mission to Turkey shows prima facie case that Mr Khashoggi was the victim of a brutal and premeditated killing, planned and perpetrated by officials of the state of Saudi Arabia," Agnes Callamard said at the end of a visit to Turkey, according to a UN statement. Turkey says he was killed by a team of 15 Saudis who strangled him at the mission, and media reports have said his body was cut up and dissolved in acid. After denying the killing for two weeks Riyadh finally described it as a "rogue" operation and arrested a number of senior Saudi officials. Khashoggi's body has still not been recovered. "The murder of Jamal Khashoggi and the sheer brutality of it has brought irreversible tragedy to his loved ones," said Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. "It is also raising a number of international implications which demand the urgent attention of the international community including the United Nations."

Khashoggi murder 'planned and perpetrated' by Saudi officials: UN expert

A UN Special Rapporteur on human rights visited on Thursday an island off Bangladesh where Dhaka aims to move Rohingya refugees despite worries it will be vulnerable to extreme weather.

Some 750,000 Muslim Rohingyas flooded into Bangladesh in late 2017 after an offensive by Myanmar's military that the United Nations has said could have amounted to genocide, joining 250,000 already there.

Bangladesh is spending USD 280 million transforming Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet that only emerged from the sea two decades ago, into a camp for some of the refugees.

But the island, in a coastal region where the weather has killed hundreds of thousands of people in recent decades, is one hour by boat from the nearest land over a stretch of sea prone to violent storms.

Some of the Rohingya themselves, living in overcrowded and squalid camps in southeastern Bangladesh border district of Cox's Bazar, have expressed unease about moving, while the UN has insisted that any relocation must be voluntary.

Yanghee Lee, the UN rapporteur, visited the island by helicopter accompanied by Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials and was due to inspect the shelters and facilities being built there.

Lee, on a visit also taking in Myanmar's other neighbour Thailand, issued no statement but she was due to give a news conference in Dhaka on Friday, the UN said.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen this week said Dhaka was not hiding anything in the island and they would take all interested diplomats once construction work is completed.

"We're very open. We're not in any hide-and-seek. Let's finish the work first," he said.

Plans for the island camp were first floated in 2015 and Bangladesh previously wanted to start moving refugees from to the island last June before the monsoon season began.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was then slated to open the new settlement, built to house 100,000 refugees but behind schedule, last October, but the inauguration was postponed.

A senior disaster management official told AFP in September that nearly three-quarters of the project was complete, with the navy fast-tracking construction of shelters and evacuation centres.

Local authorities have been seeking to reassure refugees that they will be safe on the island, which is off-limits to the public and to the media.

Local officials have pointed to a newly-constructed three-metre embankment around the island they say will keep out tidal surges in the event of a cyclone.&nbsp;

A UN Special Rapporteur on human rights visited on Thursday an island off Bangladesh where Dhaka aims to move Rohingya refugees despite worries it will be vulnerable to extreme weather.

A UN Special Rapporteur on human rights visited on Thursday an island off Bangladesh where Dhaka aims to move Rohingya refugees despite worries it will be vulnerable to extreme weather. Some 750,000 Muslim Rohingyas flooded into Bangladesh in late 2017 after an offensive by Myanmar's military that the United Nations has said could have amounted to genocide, joining 250,000 already there. Bangladesh is spending USD 280 million transforming Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet that only emerged from the sea two decades ago, into a camp for some of the refugees. But the island, in a coastal region where the weather has killed hundreds of thousands of people in recent decades, is one hour by boat from the nearest land over a stretch of sea prone to violent storms. Some of the Rohingya themselves, living in overcrowded and squalid camps in southeastern Bangladesh border district of Cox's Bazar, have expressed unease about moving, while the UN has insisted that any relocation must be voluntary. Yanghee Lee, the UN rapporteur, visited the island by helicopter accompanied by Bangladeshi foreign ministry officials and was due to inspect the shelters and facilities being built there. Lee, on a visit also taking in Myanmar's other neighbour Thailand, issued no statement but she was due to give a news conference in Dhaka on Friday, the UN said. Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen this week said Dhaka was not hiding anything in the island and they would take all interested diplomats once construction work is completed. "We're very open. We're not in any hide-and-seek. Let's finish the work first," he said. Plans for the island camp were first floated in 2015 and Bangladesh previously wanted to start moving refugees from to the island last June before the monsoon season began. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was then slated to open the new settlement, built to house 100,000 refugees but behind schedule, last October, but the inauguration was postponed. A senior disaster management official told AFP in September that nearly three-quarters of the project was complete, with the navy fast-tracking construction of shelters and evacuation centres. Local authorities have been seeking to reassure refugees that they will be safe on the island, which is off-limits to the public and to the media. Local officials have pointed to a newly-constructed three-metre embankment around the island they say will keep out tidal surges in the event of a cyclone.

UN expert visits Bangladesh Rohingya 'relocation' island

Poverty in the United States is extensive and is deepening under the Trump administration whose policies seem aimed at removing the safety net from millions of poor, while rewarding the rich, a UN&nbsphuman rights investigator has found.

Philip Alston, UN&nbspspecial rapporteur on extreme poverty, called on US&nbspauthorities to provide solid social protection and address underlying problems, rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor".

While welfare benefits and access to health insurance are being slashed, President Donald Trump's tax reform has awarded "financial windfalls" to the mega-rich and large companies, further increasing inequality, he said in a report.

US&nbsppolicies since President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty in the 1960s have been "neglectful at best", he said.

"But the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said.

Almost 41 million people live in poverty, 18.5 million of them in extreme poverty, and children account for one in three poor, he said. The United States has the highest youth poverty rate among industrialised countries, he added.

"Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent and it has the world's highest incarceration rate...and the highest obesity levels in the developed world," Alston said.

However, the data from the U.S. Census Bureau he cited covers only the period through 2016, and he gave no comparative figures on the extent of poverty before and after Trump came into office in January 2017.

The Australian, a veteran U.N. rights expert and New York University law professor, will present his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council later this month.

It is based on his mission in December to several U.S. states, including rural Alabama, a slum in downtown Los Angeles, California, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

US&nbspofficials in Geneva were not immediately available for comment.

'SHAMEFUL STATISTICS'

Citing "shameful statistics" linked to entrenched racial discrimination, Alston said that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than whites to live in poverty and their unemployment rate is more than double. Women, Hispanics, immigrants, and indigenous people also suffer high rates.

At least 550,000 people are homeless in America, he said.

"The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world," Alston said. "The planned dramatic cuts in welfare will essentially shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes."

The tax overhaul, which sailed through the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in December, permanently cut the top corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. Tax cuts for individuals, however, are temporary and expire after 2025.

Trump has said they will lead to more take-home pay for workers and have touted bonuses some workers received from their employers as evidence the law is working.

Alston dismissed allegations of widespread fraud in the welfare system and criticised the U.S. criminal justice system. It sets large bail bonds for a defendant seeking to go free pending trial, meaning wealthy suspects can afford bail while the poor remain in custody, often losing their jobs, he said.

"There is no magic recipe for eliminating extreme poverty and each level of government must make its own good-faith decisions. At the end of the day, however, particularly in a rich country like the United States, the persistence of extreme poverty is a political choice made by those in power," he said.

'The policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship,' said Philip Alston, UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty

Poverty in the United States is extensive and is deepening under the Trump administration whose policies seem aimed at removing the safety net from millions of poor, while rewarding the rich, a UN&nbsphuman rights investigator has found. Philip Alston, UN&nbspspecial rapporteur on extreme poverty, called on US&nbspauthorities to provide solid social protection and address underlying problems, rather than "punishing and imprisoning the poor". While welfare benefits and access to health insurance are being slashed, President Donald Trump's tax reform has awarded "financial windfalls" to the mega-rich and large companies, further increasing inequality, he said in a report. US&nbsppolicies since President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty in the 1960s have been "neglectful at best", he said. "But the policies pursued over the past year seem deliberately designed to remove basic protections from the poorest, punish those who are not in employment and make even basic health care into a privilege to be earned rather than a right of citizenship," Alston said. Almost 41 million people live in poverty, 18.5 million of them in extreme poverty, and children account for one in three poor, he said. The United States has the highest youth poverty rate among industrialised countries, he added. "Its citizens live shorter and sicker lives compared to those living in all other rich democracies, eradicable tropical diseases are increasingly prevalent and it has the world's highest incarceration rate...and the highest obesity levels in the developed world," Alston said. However, the data from the U.S. Census Bureau he cited covers only the period through 2016, and he gave no comparative figures on the extent of poverty before and after Trump came into office in January 2017. The Australian, a veteran U.N. rights expert and New York University law professor, will present his report to the United Nations Human Rights Council later this month. It is based on his mission in December to several U.S. states, including rural Alabama, a slum in downtown Los Angeles, California, and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. US&nbspofficials in Geneva were not immediately available for comment. 'SHAMEFUL STATISTICS' Citing "shameful statistics" linked to entrenched racial discrimination, Alston said that African Americans are 2.5 times more likely than whites to live in poverty and their unemployment rate is more than double. Women, Hispanics, immigrants, and indigenous people also suffer high rates. At least 550,000 people are homeless in America, he said. "The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world," Alston said. "The planned dramatic cuts in welfare will essentially shred crucial dimensions of a safety net that is already full of holes." The tax overhaul, which sailed through the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in December, permanently cut the top corporate rate to 21 percent from 35 percent. Tax cuts for individuals, however, are temporary and expire after 2025. Trump has said they will lead to more take-home pay for workers and have touted bonuses some workers received from their employers as evidence the law is working. Alston dismissed allegations of widespread fraud in the welfare system and criticised the U.S. criminal justice system. It sets large bail bonds for a defendant seeking to go free pending trial, meaning wealthy suspects can afford bail while the poor remain in custody, often losing their jobs, he said. "There is no magic recipe for eliminating extreme poverty and each level of government must make its own good-faith decisions. At the end of the day, however, particularly in a rich country like the United States, the persistence of extreme poverty is a political choice made by those in power," he said.

America's poor becoming poorer under Trump, rich becoming richer: UN expert

Nils Melzer, UN&#39;s special rapporteur on torture, said that an inmate at the US&nbsp;detention facility at Guantanamo Bay is still being tortured.&nbsp;

&ldquo;By failing to prosecute the crime of torture in CIA custody, the US&nbsp;is in clear violation of the Convention against Torture and is sending a dangerous message of complacency and impunity to officials in the US&nbsp;and around the world,&rdquo; Melzer said in the statement.

Ammar al-Baluchi, an inmate in Guantanamo Bay, was reported to have been tortured and ill-treated.

The UN statement also reported al-Baluchi&nbsp;to have suffered relentless torture for three-and-a-half years in CIA &ldquo;black sites&rdquo; before he was moved to Guantanamo.&nbsp;

The inmate had been kept in isolation at a severely restricted-access facility at Guantanamo Bay for more than a decade.

Al-Baluchi was named 153 times in the US&nbsp;Senate&#39;s 2014 &quot;torture report&quot;, the result of a six-year investigation into so-called enhanced interrogation techniques used by the CIA after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.&nbsp;

&quot;In addition to the long-term effects of past torture, noise and vibrations are reportedly still being used against him, resulting in constant sleep deprivation and related physical and mental disorders, for which he allegedly does not receive adequate medical attention.&rdquo;&nbsp;

The statement did not carry any details of the source of the information linked to al-Baluchi&#39;s torture.

Former President Barack Obama ended the use of &quot;enhanced interrogation techniques&quot; via executive order in January 2009, but Melzer said the historic use of torture in CIA custody had not yet led to prosecutions or compensation for victims.&nbsp;

Melzer said the ban on torture and ill-treatment was one of the most fundamental norms of international law and could not be justified in any circumstances.

He said he had renewed a long-standing request to visit Guantanamo Bay to interview inmates, but he and his predecessors in the role had consistently been denied access.&nbsp;

There was no immediate comment from US&nbsp;officials in Geneva.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Former President Barack Obama ended the use of 'enhanced interrogation techniques' via executive order in January 2009

Nils Melzer, UN's special rapporteur on torture, said that an inmate at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay is still being tortured. “By failing to prosecute the crime of torture in CIA custody, the US is in clear violation of the Convention against Torture and is sending a dangerous message of complacency and impunity to officials in the US and around the world,” Melzer said in the statement. Ammar al-Baluchi, an inmate in Guantanamo Bay, was reported to have been tortured and ill-treated. The UN statement also reported al-Baluchi to have suffered relentless torture for three-and-a-half years in CIA “black sites” before he was moved to Guantanamo. The inmate had been kept in isolation at a severely restricted-access facility at Guantanamo Bay for more than a decade. Al-Baluchi was named 153 times in the US Senate's 2014 "torture report", the result of a six-year investigation into so-called enhanced interrogation techniques used by the CIA after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "In addition to the long-term effects of past torture, noise and vibrations are reportedly still being used against him, resulting in constant sleep deprivation and related physical and mental disorders, for which he allegedly does not receive adequate medical attention.” The statement did not carry any details of the source of the information linked to al-Baluchi's torture. Former President Barack Obama ended the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" via executive order in January 2009, but Melzer said the historic use of torture in CIA custody had not yet led to prosecutions or compensation for victims. Melzer said the ban on torture and ill-treatment was one of the most fundamental norms of international law and could not be justified in any circumstances. He said he had renewed a long-standing request to visit Guantanamo Bay to interview inmates, but he and his predecessors in the role had consistently been denied access. There was no immediate comment from US officials in Geneva. (With inputs from Reuters)

UN expert says inmate still being tortured at Guantanamo Bay

un-expert

Un Expert, News on Un Expert, stories on Un Expert, articles on Un Expert, Un Expert stories at Wion, Un Expert news, Un Expert latest news

un expert