Between 40 and 70 people reportedly have been killed and hundreds arrested since peaceful protests against the government of Omar al-Bashir began in mid-December. Bachelet is calling for an investigation into the killings and for the release of all those detained.
The U.N. General Assembly acknowledged a link between terrorism antisemitism in its recently passed Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS) for the first time—a move that has been applauded by pro-Israel and Jewish organizations.
The GCTS, which lays out the world body’s strategy for combating terrorism, is required to be reviewed and passed every two years.
The latest version, passed on June 30, “Recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, directed against members of religious and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism, Christianophobia and prejudice against persons of any other religion or belief.”
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan pointed out the condemnation of antisemitism in a speech to the General Assembly on July 6.
“For Israel, the adoption of the GCTS is, unfortunately, not a theoretical or academic exercise,” he said. “During the weeks we sat here debating this resolution, Israeli civilians from our capital in Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and Ashkelon, sat in bomb shelters because of Hamas’s relentless terror attacks.”
The addition is the first time that GCTS has officially recognized the existence of anti-Semitic terrorism.
“We welcome the GCTS’ acknowledgment of the upswing in hate speech and terrorist attacks targeting religious and ethnic communities, which included an explicit condemnation of antisemitism, in line with the findings of the Secretary General’s report on global terrorism,” he said. “We have all witnessed anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish communities around the world, including here in the streets of New York, in recent weeks. It is critical that the international community take a clear stance against these attacks and develop additional tools to combat such appalling assaults against Jewish and other groups.”
Read the complete article: Cleveland Jewish News
The U.N. human rights chief, in a landmark report launched after the killing of George Floyd in the United States, is urging countries worldwide to do more to help end discrimination, violence and systemic racism against people of African descent and “make amends” to them — including through reparations.
The report from Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, offers a sweeping look at the roots of centuries of mistreatment faced by Africans and people of African descent, notably from the transatlantic slave trade. It seeks a “transformative” approach to address its continued impact today.
The report, a year in the making, hopes to build on momentum around the recent, intensified scrutiny worldwide about the blight of racism and its impact on people of African descent as epitomized by the high-profile killings of unarmed Black people in the United States and elsewhere.
“There is today a momentous opportunity to achieve a turning point for racial equality and justice,” the report said.
The report aims to speed up action by countries to end racial injustice; end impunity for rights violations by police; ensure that people of African descent and those who speak out against racism are heard; and face up to past wrongs through accountability and redress.
“I am calling on all states to stop denying — and start dismantling — racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress,” Bachelet said in a video statement.
While broaching the issue of reparation in her most explicit way yet, Bachelet suggested that monetary compensation alone is not enough and would be part of an array of measures to help rectify or make up for the injustices.
Read the complete article at: NPR
Rights Chief Rights Chief
Recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on tcontemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance issued a report in regard to the “alarming level” of racially-motivated violence and hate incidents against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Relying on data and evidence from Stop AAPI Hate — a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian discrimination amid the pandemic — the UN report closes with these concerns:
“We wish to express our serious concern over the rising wave of racist and xenophobic attacks and other incidents against Asian-American communities and individuals, in particular Asian-American women who are reported to be the majority of victims. According to the reports we have received, U.S. authorities have utterly failed to take the steps required to detect, monitor, and prevent racist and xenophobic incidents.
“We are further concerned by the documented increase in hate and misogynist speech, including incitement to hatred and racial discrimination in public places and online, and the contribution of the president of the United States in seemingly legitimizing these violations.”
Read the complete article at: India West
Recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance issued a report in regard to the “alarming level” of racially-motivated violence and hate incidents against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Relying on data and evidence from Stop AAPI Hate — a national coalition aimed at addressing anti-Asian discrimination amid the pandemic — the UN report closes with these concerns: “We wish to express our serious concern over the rising wave of racist and xenophobic attacks and other incidents against Asian-American communities and individuals, in particular Asian-American women who are reported to be the majority of victims. According to the reports we have received, U.S. authorities have utterly failed to take the steps required to detect, monitor, and prevent racist and xenophobic incidents. “We are further concerned by the documented increase in hate and misogynist speech, including incitement to hatred and racial discrimination in public places and online, and the contribution of the president of the United States in seemingly legitimizing these violations.”
37 countries commend China’s human rights achievements
“We commend China’s remarkable achievements in the field of human rights by adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and protecting and promoting human rights through development,” the joint letter read.
“We also appreciate China’s contributions to the international human rights cause,” it read.
The ambassadors expressed their “firm opposition” to relevant countries’ practice of politicizing human rights issues, by naming and shaming, and publicly exerting pressures on other countries.
“We urge the OHCHR, Treaty Bodies and relevant Special Procedures mandate holders to conduct their work in an objective and impartial manner according to their mandate and with true and genuinely credible information, and value the communication with member states,” the joint letter said.
The letter was signed by the ambassadors to UN at Geneva from Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Cuba, Algeria, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Nigeria, Angola, Togo, Tajikistan, Philippines, Belarus and a number of other countries from Asia, Africa, the Middle East and other parts of the world.
As for issues related to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the UN envoys said that terrorism, separatism and religious extremism have caused enormous damage to people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which has seriously infringed upon human rights, including right to life, health and development.
“Faced with the grave challenge of terrorism and extremism, China has undertaken a series of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in Xinjiang, including setting up vocational education and training centers,” they noted.
They mentioned that safety and security has returned to Xinjiang and the fundamental human rights of people of all ethnic groups there are safeguarded.
Call for human rights-based climate action
LWF Youth secretary says climate change disproportionately impacts women, youth, indigenous communities
Meaningful climate policies and action must address the human rights perspective of the disproportionate impact of climate change on women, youth, minority groups and indigenous communities. This was a key recommendation from The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), other faith-based and civil society organizations co-hosting a side-event at the ongoing 41st session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Panelists at the 28 June side-event included LWF Youth secretary Ms Pranita Biswasi. She emphasized LWF’s faith commitment to care for God’s creation and “to always include an intergenerational approach, bearing in mind that action or inaction today will impact future generations.”
The panel discussion coincided with the release of an analytical study by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on a gender-responsive climate action for the full and effective enjoyment of women’s human rights. It is a critical time in the Paris Agreement implementation schedule as 2020 is the deadline for States to submit new or updated agreements indicating commitment to reduce global warming or their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
“As countries finalize the adoption of the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, meaningful climate action should be designed with the inclusion of young people and women and implemented as gender and generational responsive. It must also promote human rights, justice for marginalized communities and respect the well-being of other species,” Biswasi said.
Meaningful climate action should be designed with the inclusion of young people and women and implemented as gender and generational responsive.
“We are reminded of our interdependence and our common humanity. One country, one person, one gender or one generation alone cannot protect and avoid the dangerous impacts of climate change,” she added.
Teens in Cage Protest Trump Immigration Policies Outside UN, Demanding Action From Human Rights Council
“Children belong in school and with their families, not caged in detention centers.”
While an audio recording of detained migrant children crying played in the background, teenagers in T-shirts that read #ClassroomsNotCages stood in a metal cage outside the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva Monday to protest the Trump administration’s “cruel” immigration policies.
The action was part of a demonstration that aimed to draw attention to the U.N. Human Rights Council’s consideration of a complaint (pdf) filed last year by unions, faith organizations, and human and civil rights groups about the “inhumane [U.S.] policy of tearing immigrant children from their families who come to our borders seeking asylum and protection.”
“Children belong in school and with their families, not caged in detention centers,” says a website for groups that filed the complaint, which include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Public Services International. “We must let the UNHRC know that this cruelty and these human rights abuses cannot be ignored.”
AFT president Randi Weingarten was among those who addressed those gathered in Geneva Monday.
“In the past five months, 2,500 children have been separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. This is despite a judge’s order to stop and to reunify the children,” she said, according to Reuters. “Six children have died. We are saying to the Human Rights Council: Hear us and help us!”
Alfonso Cepeda Salas, secretary-general of SNTE, a Mexican teachers union, added: “We are here to express our profound indignation at the policy of separating children from their families. Enough, no cages for these children!”
Organizers are urging people across the globe to send letters to the UNHRC—which the Trump administration ditched last year—to “let council members know that we expect them to stand up for these innocent children who are being subjected to this unimaginable cruelty.”
Child, early and forced marriage, including in humanitarian settings |
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Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is a human rights violation and a harmful practice that disproportionately affects women and girls globally, preventing them from living their lives free from all forms of violence.
CEFM threatens the lives and futures of girls and women around the world, robbing them of their agency to make decisions about their lives, disrupting their education, making them more vulnerable to violence, discrimination and abuse, and preventing their full participation in economic, political and social spheres. Child marriage is also often accompanied by early and frequent pregnancy and childbirth, resulting in higher than average maternal morbidity and mortality rates. CEFM often result in women and girls attempting to flee their communities or to commit suicide to avoid or escape the marriage.
International human rights conventions and international entities stress the need to take measures to address CEFM. Over the last years, actions to end child, early and forced marriage have increased at international, regional and national levels (SeeA/HRC/RES/24/23; A/HRC/26/22; A/71/253). Specific efforts are undertaken to link these efforts to the implementation and monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5.3 to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations. Despite its prohibition by international law and many national legislations, the practice remains widespread. While the prevalence of child marriage is decreasing globally, with the proportion of women who were married as children decreased by 15 per cent in the last decade (from 1 in 4 to approximately 1 in 5), according to UNICEF. Yet, the prevalence rates of child marriage, early union, and adolescent pregnancy remain high, particularly in some regions. To end the practice globally, progress must be significantly accelerated and sustained. In its resolution A/HRC/RES/29/8 (22 July 2015) the Human Rights Council requested the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize an expert workshop to review and discuss theimpact of existing strategies and initiatives to address child, early and forced marriage and prepare a report on the deliberations held during the workshop to be submitted to the Council at its thirty-fifth session, which took place on 21 and 22 October 2016 (report A/HRC/35/5).
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UN expert: Canada’s toxic waste policy shows disdain for Indigenous rights
Special rapporteur Baskut Tuncak urges Canada to engage with groups who live near toxic sites and respect basic human rights
Canada’s handling of toxic chemicals and industrial waste shows a “blatant disregard for Indigenous rights”, a UN human rights expert has said following an extensive fact-finding mission in the country.
Baskut Tuncak, the special rapporteur on toxic chemicals, called on Canada to improve its monitoring of hazardous materials in the country – and to better engage with the Indigenous people who live near harmful pollution.
Tuncak spent two weeks touring areas of concern across the country, including the county’s infamous tar sands and the Indigenous community of Grassy Narrows, which has fought for more than five decades to have toxic mercury removed from its waters. He released his preliminary findings on Thursday in Ottawa.
Despite the vast geographic scope of his mission, a common element in many of the most troubling areas of contamination was their proximity to Indigenous communities. Numerous communities were unable access to clean drinking water, while others had elevated levels of toxins in the water and soil.
At the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Ontario, Tuncak found the community surrounded by chemical facilities.
He told the Guardian: “I was struck by the incredible proximity of the affected First Nation to dozens of intense chemical production and processing facilities, which resulted in incredible releases of pollution and waste affecting the [residents’] health.”
While the Canadian government has made attempts at reconciliation, the efforts still fall short of respecting basic human rights, he said, and fail to honour the numerous international treaties to which Canada is a signatory.
“The government has taken steps to acknowledge the so-called ‘sins of the past’ and to increase engagement with Indigenous peoples,” said Tuncak. “But I also heard deeply troubling examples where the economic interests continue to have supremacy over Indigenous rights.”
While much of his focus remained on the impact toxic emissions have on marginalized communities, Tuncak also rejected arguments made by the province of Alberta that its oil is among the world’s most environmentally friendly and ethical.
UN chief calls for protecting women’s rights ‘before, during and after conflict
UN chief calls for protecting women’s rights ‘before, during and after conflict’
UNITED NATIONS, Apr 23 (APP):UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday underscored the need for strengthening justice and accountability in dealing with sexual violence in conflicts
Speaking in a Security Council high-level debate on the subject he outlined a series of recommendations that were intended to provide comprehensive approach to conflict related sexual violence According to the UN chief the term conflict-related sexual violence refers to rape sexual slavery forced prostitution forced pregnancy forced abortion enforced sterilization forced marriage and any other form of sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women men girls or boys directly or indirectly linked to conflict Sexual violence continues to be a horrific feature of conflicts around the world, the secretary-general said We must recognize that sexual violence in conflict largely affects women and girls because it is closely linked to broader issues of gender inequality and discrimination Prevention must therefore be based on promoting women’s rights and gender equality in all areas before during and after conflict he added This must include women’s full and effective participation in political economic and social life and ensuring.
UN Rights Chief Urges Respect for Human Rights in Post-Coup Sudan
Many things worry the high commissioner about what she considers is a volatile and uncertain moment in Sudan’s future.
Bachelet notes the crisis in Sudan has its roots in human rights grievances. She says the solution to the crisis also must be grounded in human rights.
Bachelet’s spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, says the high commissioner fears the ousting of longtime president Omar al-Bashir by the army will not result in a more democratic rule-based society.
She says Bachelet is disturbed by the military council’s announcement Thursday saying it would suspend the constitution and take charge of running the country during a two-year political transitional period.
“We are very concerned about this. The constitution of Sudan needs to be upheld. There are important human rights protections that are contained within that constitution…. We also understand that the announcement that was made yesterday did not indicate any possibility for people to participate in this transition,” Shamdasani said.
Bachelet is calling on the authorities to ensure the inclusion of civil society and dissenting voices in charting a way forward.
The International Criminal Court has issued a statement demanding Sudan’s deposed president appear before the court to face justice. Al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide committed in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Shamdasani told VOA her office is encouraging the government of Sudan to fully cooperate with the ICC.
“We are also calling for full accountability, including for the use of excessive force that has taken place since December this year. And, we are calling for full respect for the rule of law,” Shamdasani said.