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“Why are you interfering, Mr. UN Special Rapporteur?”

Panel discussion on October 23, 2021 at Kunstraum Walcheturm / Zurich:

With Nils Melzer (UN Special Rapporteur on Torture) and Brigitte Hürlimann (lawyer and journalist).

In May 2021, Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, intervened with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) over Brian’s continued isolation.

“The UN standards for detention worldwide state that isolation should only be used in exceptional circumstances and in no case longer than 15 days. In the case of Brian, we are well beyond the acceptable level at almost three years.”

Two months later, the DFA’s response stated that isolation was not being used in Brian’s case and that the conditions of detention were in line with UN standards. Nils Melzer was not satisfied with this and was irritated by the statement. In his opinion, the allegations have not been sufficiently clarified, which is why he announced another intervention.

The panel with lawyer and journalist Brigitte Hürlimann therefore revolved around the question, “Why are you interfering, Mr. UN Special Rapporteur?”

In-depth information about the work of Nils Melzer:

Conversation between Nils Melzer & Tilo Jung (Jung & Naiv) from August 2021
wiss legal scholar, diplomat and author Nils Melzer was appointed Special Rapporteur on Torture by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2016 and authored a 2019 report on investigative journalist and political activist Julian Assange.

The conversation basically revolves around the issue of torture and the tasks of a UN Special Rapporteur, Nils Melzer’s investigation into the Assange case, the ongoing trial of the Wikileaks founder, and how various governments are dealing with Assange.

Audiowalk

«freigefangen» von Fatima Moumouni

«freigefangen» — Fatima Moumouni

Switzerland sees itself as a stronghold of human rights and a bastion of democracy. Cases like Brian’s do not fit into this cultivated self-image. But democracies in particular need a mirror of their own hubris if they are to engage seriously and unabashedly with human rights and fundamental values. An audio walk by Fatima Moumouni about the most dangerous country in the world.

The audio walk “freigefangen” was produced by Fatima Moumouni for #BigDreams. Originally, the audiowalk was to lead around the Pöschwies correctional facility in Regensdorf. However, since #BigDreams events were banned by the Regensdorf municipality, Fatima Moumouni adapted the audio walk to the Kasernenareal in Zurich. Here, the third act of #BigDreams concluded with performances and a panel with UN Special Rapporteur Nils Melzer.

If you have time and feel like it, go to Kasernenareal for this audio walk or even to the original in Regensdorf. With a little imagination, however, the audiowalk also works everywhere else. #BigDreams