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Fortunately, the ECOSOC meeting of May 1975 confined itself to reminding NGO's of the rules already in existence and that non-compliance could lead to the suspension or termination of consultative status.
In addition to the communications on human rights violations it submitted to the commission, AI joined other NGOs in written statements calling for an investigation into the Chilean situation and for recognition of the right to con- scientious objection. The latter topic, which the previous 30th session of the commission had deferred to the 31st session for high priority consideration, has once again been deferred to the 32nd session for high priority treatment.
Meanwhile, Al's communication concerning the floggings in Namibia was brought to the attention of the General Assembly's Committee on Decoloniza- tion and of the members of the Council for Namibia, and it is to be brought before the Commission's Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on human rights violations in southern Africa. The floggings have now ceased. In addition, on 18 July 1974, Malcolm Smart of the International Secretariat's Africa Department testified before the Ad Hoc Working Group on human rights viola- tions throughout southern Africa.
UNESCO
In May 1975, the Executive Board of UNESCO approved the application of Al to be granted Category B consultative status with the organization. AI previously had Category C status, called "mutual information relationship". The new relationship will permit much greater involvement by AI in UNESCO's pro- gram.
During the year AI had been in correspondence with UNESCO regarding violations of educational rights in Uruguay and in the context of general coop- eration on the question of torture, with special reference to the development of codes of professional ethics.
Council of Europe
Al was represented at various meeting of the Council of Europe, with which it has consultative status, by IEC member Eric Baker, Secretary General Martin Ennals, Legal Adviser Nigel S.Rodley, CAT coordinator Dick Oosting, and Roland Fischer, its official representative. The principal area of concern remained the question of torture and the elaboration of a European Code of Police Ethics. The work on police ethics, in which concerned NGOs are playing an important role, is continuing. Other work on a Council of Europe approach to torture is described in the chapter on CAT.
AI has manifested its concern that plans to merge the Legal Directorate and the Human Rights Directorate of the Council of Europe's secretariat should not be implemented, as this might be interpreted as a downgrading of the council's work on human rights. The section of the report dealing with capital punishment covers developments in the field at the council. It was confirmed that the council's Committee of Ministers had agreed to put the question of conscientious objection on its short- and medium-term work program on human rights for the council. What this will inean in practice remains to be seen.