UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in the region as tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee from the northern province of Al-Jawf after violent clashes.

This follows the Houthi rebels capturing the provincial capital of Al-Hazm which sparked further violence in the region during a month in which both sides felt hope for a permanent de-escalation of the conflict.

Griffiths told reporters that Yemen was “at a critical juncture: we will either silence the guns and resume the political process, or we will slip back into large-scale conflict”. 

He further stated;

"Fighting needs to stop now. Military adventurism and the quest for territorial gains are futile […] They will only drag Yemen to many more years of conflict.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that they along with the Yemen Red Crescent Society have helped to provide shelter, food and hygiene kits to approximately 70,000 people. However, the increasing violence continues to play civilians at risk.

Read more from Al Jazeera and the UN News.

Over 20 human rights organisation have called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to adopt a resolution renewing a their commitment to monitor and repair on the dire situation in Nicaragua.

In a statement cosigned by all of these organisations, they maintain that the Human Rights Council has played a vital role in reporting on the crimes committed during the 2018 protests, which include murder, torture and rape. This reporting is important not only in providing accountability for these crimes but also in preventing further crimes, in particular with concerns over the 2021 presidential elections.

The statement further notes that in late 2018, Nicaragua expelled staff members of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and OHCHR (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights). The government refused to allow human right monitors into the country and engaged in brutal crackdown on civil society. The Human Rights Council has detailed a “system prohibition of protests” which the government continues to engage in which included in November 2019, harassing and intimidating protesters on their hunger strikes and those demanding the  release of their relatives. 61 government critics have been arrested.

The organisations listed below have cosigned to the statement.

• Amnesty International
• Articulación de Movimientos Sociales y OSC de Nicaragua (AMS)
• Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (CEJIL)
• Centro Nicaragüense de Derechos Humanos (CENIDH)
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
• Fédération Internationale pour les Droits Humains (FIDH)
• FAN - Feministas Autoconvocadas de Nicaragua
• Fondo de Acción Urgente de América Latina y el Caribe (FAU-AL)
• Front Line Defenders
• Fundación Popol Na
• Fundación del Río
• Human Rights Watch
• Iniciativa Mesoamericana de Mujeres Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (IM Defensoras)
• International Service for Human Rights (ISHR)
• Just Associates (JASS)
• Movimiento Autónomo de Mujeres (MAM)
• Oxfam
• Plataforma Internacional Contra la Impunidad
• Punto Focal de la Campaña 28 de Setiembre por la Despenalización del Aborto en América Latina y el Caribe
• Red de Salud de las Mujeres Latinoamericanas y del Caribe - Enlace Nacional Nicaragua
• Red Local
• The International Institute on Race, Equality and Human Rights
• Unión de Presas y Presos Políticos Nicaragüenses (UPPN)
• Urgent Action Fund-Latin America and the Caribbean (UAF-LA)
• Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)

You can read the statement here.

The ICC has ruled to launch an investigation examining the war crimes committed by US, Afghan and Taliban troops during the Afghanistan war, overturning a previous rejection of the inquiry.

The ICC’s appeal chamber stated on Thursday, that the lower court had misinterpreted the court’s rules and maintained that the investigation should go ahead. The investigators are permitted to examine the war dating back to 2003 as well as other crimes which relate to Afghanistan. The ICC judges are also permitted to investigate CIA black sites which operated in Poland, Lithuania and Romania. They will also investigate the actions of the Taliban and other militant groups which killed over 17,000 civilians since 2009 and the Afghan security force which is accused of utilising torture in detention centres.

Whilst the US administration have critical of the decision it has been widely welcomed by human rights groups.

Jamil Dakwar, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s human rights programme, stated;

 “This decision vindicates the rule of law and gives hope to the thousands of victims seeking accountability when domestic courts and authorities have failed them […] While the road ahead is still long and bumpy, this decision is a significant milestone that bolsters the ICC’s independence in the face of the Trump administration’s bullying tactics.”

Similarly, Preetha Gopalan deputy of Reprieve, a UK based human rights group, stated;

“This is the first time the US will be held to account for its actions, even though it tried to bully the ICC into shutting this investigation down. That the ICC did not bow to that pressure, and instead upheld victims’ right to accountability, gives us hope that no one is beyond the reach of justice.”

Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State, condemned the decision claiming;

“This is a truly breath-taking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body,” Pompeo told a news conference following the ruling […] All the more reckless for this ruling to come just days after the United States signed a historic peace deal on Afghanistan, which is the best chance for peace in a generation.”

In the past, Pompeo has threatened to revoke or deny visas to International Criminal Court (ICC) personnel involved in the investigation of possible war crimes committed by US forces and its allies in Afghanistan and warned the move may go further. This has resulted in the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda having her US visa revoked.

Read more: US bars entry to ICC personnel investigating war crimes

The US stands accused of committing acts of torture, rape, sexual violence and committing grievous crimes against detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, primarily during the early years of the war.

Read more from the Guardian.
 

India has restored some internet access in Kashmir for the first time since the region had its autonomy revoked and was placed in a lockdown in August.

The measure will allow limited access to social media and may provide better reporting on what is going on in Kashmir.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, withdrew the regional autonomy and special rights of Jammu and Kashmir on grounds of furthering regional development. Reuters notes that whilst this occurred, New Delhi flooded the region with additional troops, detaining scores of people and imposing harsh restrictions on movement and communication. These measures have lightened over the period however the block of social media such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp have remained.

In response to these bans, many residents have attempted to overcome the ban through the use of VPN’s (virtual private networks). The government has defended its actions by stating that this was a required move to stop agitation within the region which followed the revoking of autonomous status.

Read Reuter’s reporting here.

 

 

Kenya has accused Somalia’s army of launching an unwarranted attack on Mandera, following conflict breaking out on the Somali border town of Bulohawo between the Somali government and semi-autonomous region of Jubaland on Monday.

It is believed that the violence between Somalia’s central state and regional territories crossed into Mandera which lead the Kenyan government to issue a statement maintain that this amounted to a violation of “territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

The government further stated:

“Foreign soldiers - in flagrant breach and total disregard of international laws and conventions - engaged in aggressive and belligerent activities by harassing and destroying properties of Kenyan citizens living in the border town of Mandera”.

Jubaland authorities have accused Mogadishu, Somalia’s central capital, of interfering in their elections to remove their President Ahmed Madobe in order to find a compliant political leader and expand their power over the region.

Al Jazeera notes that Madobe is a key ally of Kenya, which views Jubaland as a buffer against al-Shabab fighters. Kenya is accused by Mogadishu of harbouring a Jubaland minister who was arrested by their authorities but escaped in January.

To learn more read Al Jazeera reporting here. 

India has defended its controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which is accused of being discriminatory to Muslims, from the UN Human Rights Council which have lodged an intervention application requesting that India’s Supreme Court register their opposition to the bill.

Since the bill's passage on 11 December, there have been widespread protests across India lead mostly by Muslims and students. These protests have been met with brutal violence and since the passage of this bill over 75 people have been killed. Last week, 47 people were killed and many mosques and Muslim homes and businesses were burned by Hindu nationalist mobs.

The CAA allows for non-Muslim minorities from India’s neighbouring Muslim countries, who have arrived in India before 2015, to acquire Indian citizenship. Al Jazeera notes concerns that this bill alongside, a proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the ongoing National Population Register (NPR) aim to marginalise the approximately 1.3 billion Indian Muslims.

Raveesh Kumar, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, defended the bill on the grounds of national sovereignty claiming;

"The CAA is an internal matter of India and concerns the sovereign right of the Indian Parliament to make laws. We strongly believe that no foreign party has any locus standi [rights] on issues pertaining to India's sovereignty"

Al Jazeera reports that close to 140 petitions have been launched by Muslim groups, opposition parties and activists who claim that this bill violates India’s secular constitution and roots. The Supreme Court will consider opposition voices next week.

Read Al Jazeera reporting here.

UN investigators have reported that Russia and Turkey have committed attacks in Syria which may amount to war crimes; this includes attacks on Kurdish held territories.

The UN report details that Russia has engaged in airstrikes on civilian targets including a popular market and camp for those displaced. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians in July and August.

The UN report states;

“In both incidents, the Russian Air Force did not direct the attacks at a specific military objective, amounting to the war crime of launching indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas”.

Similarly, the report details possible war crime committed against Kurdish regions, by rebels who are believed to be acting under the direction of Turkey’s military. 

The UN has blamed Russia for an airstrike on 22 July in Maarat al-Numan which killed 43 civilians. Russia also stands accused of destroying two residential buildings and 25 shops close to the Hmeimim airbase.

The UN report also details deliberate attacks by the Syrian government and its allies on protected civilian sites, this includes school and hospitals, during the period of July 2019 to February 2020

Russia has support Syria forces in their advance into Idlib in the northwest of Syria, a conflict which has forced approximately one million civilians to flee. Hanny Megally, a member of the UN panel, said on the matter;

“There is a war crime of intentionally terrorising a population to force it to move. We are seeing that picture emerging very clearly for example in Idlib where, because these places are being bombed, people are having to move out,”

Megally further detailed that because of this displacement around 10 children have been killed in the last few weeks due to lack of shelter at the Turkish border.

The UN has called on Turkey to investigate these alleged crimes but it has denied involvement.

Read more from Reuters.

Canada has joined 6 other countries in requesting that the International Criminal Court (ICC) not continue with hearings on Israeli war crimes, claiming that the Court did not hold a right of jurisdiction as Canada does not recognise a Palestinian state.

Canada’s letter to the ICC, which also made reference to its own contribution to the ICC that year, $10.6 million this year, was submitted on the 14 February. 6 other countries have maintained clear opposition to the investigation including, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Uganda and Brazil.  

The ICC is permitted the submission of briefs on the issue of jurisdiction from over 40 countries until 16 March. Canada is not listed among those countries and is not expected to present a briefing.

The Arab League, representing 22 nations, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which represents 57 countries, have written in support of the ICC hearing. 

Canada’s Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, further stated; 

“Canada’s longstanding position is that it does not recognise a Palestinian state and therefore does not recognise the accession of such a state to international treaties, including the Rome Statute. In the absence of a Palestinian state, it is Canada’s view that the Court does not have jurisdiction in this matter under international law,”

She further stated that Canada has maintained this position in 2015 and 2018. In 2015 Palestine signed the Rome Statute which enabled the ICC to hear their case against Israel’s crimes in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), has criticised Canada’s decision stating that Canada has joined “Israel’s campaign for impunity.” He further stated “It is not about jurisdiction: It’s about war crimes. This is an encouragement to continue the war crimes.”

Read more from the Jerusalem Post

 

<p><img alt="Image removed." src="/core/misc/icons/e32700/error.svg" title="This image has been removed. For security reasons, only images from the local domain are allowed." height="16" width="16" class="filter-image-invalid"></p> <p>El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele, has vetoed a national reconciliation bill on the grounds that such a bill would grant impunity to those who committed crimes against humanity during the El Salvadorian civil war, from 1980-1992.&nbsp;</p> <p>The bill fell short of the 56 required to override the President’s veto securing only 44 seats in an 84 Legislative Assembly. 11 voted against the bill and legislator abstained.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bukele claimed that the bill would force prosecutors to close cases on war crimes without yielding accountability for the crimes committed or compensation for victims. Bukele has maintained that any solution must be based on truth, justice and reparations.</p> <p>Speaking to reporters he has said;</p> <blockquote><p> “This Special Law for Transitional Justice, Reparation and National Reconciliation is a fraud of a law beginning with its very name because it is simply an amnesty to make punishments for those who committed war crimes go away”. </p></blockquote> <p>In 2016, El Salvador Supreme Court ruled that a 1993 amnesty law unconstitutional following a UN truth commission which documented 22,000 complaints related to the civil war. The court further stated that crimes against humanity can not expire under international law meaning that pathways to reparation and accountability cannot be blocked.</p> <p>El Salvador’s parliament was set to craft a reconciliation bill which would secure truth, justice and reparations. The President has accused lawmakers of failing to do this with the proposed reconciliation bill and straying from the Supreme Court’s judgement. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Read more from <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/29/world/el-salvador-nayib-bu…">Japan Times.</a></p>

US officials signed a historic peace agreement with Taliban representatives yesterday in Qatar, aimed at bringing an end to the conflict in Afghanistan that the US has been fighting since 2001.

The 'Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan' was signed by US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban's chief negotiator, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo witnessed the signing and called on the Taliban to "keep your promises to cut ties with al-Qaeda," in a speech he delivered at a news conference. "This is a hopeful moment, but it's only the beginning," he added.

US President Donald Trump applauded Pompeo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and "the people of the United States for having spent so much in terms of blood, in terms of treasure, and treasury," as he addressed reporters at the White House.

He insisted that the Taliban had been keen on reaching an agreement for a ‘long time’ and that Washington was “working to finally end America’s longest war and bring our troops back home”. "I really believe the Taliban wants to do something to show we're not all wasting time," he added, but also warned that "if bad things happen, we'll go back with a force like no-one's ever seen."

The US and Afghan governments said in a joint statement:

“The coalition will complete the withdrawal of their remaining forces from Afghanistan within 14 months following the announcement of this joint declaration and the US-Taliban agreement ... subject to the Taliban’s fulfilment of its commitments under the US-Taliban agreement.”

Taliban forces ordered all its fighters to halt fighting and "refrain from attacks", earlier on Saturday.

Agreement details

      -    The US and NATO allies are expected to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan within 14 months and Trump promises that around 5,000 US troops will have left the country by May, this year if ‘conditions’ are met.  

      -    Taliban engages in intra-Afghan negotiations with Afghan sides by March 10, 2020 to ensure a “a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire”

      -    Taliban guarantees that "Afghan soil will not be used to threaten the security of the US or its allies" including the operation of Al-Qaeda.

Until now, Taliban has declined talks with the Afghan government, insisting they are a ‘puppet regime’. However, the proposed discussions with the Afghan sides is expected to sanction the exchange of 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan security force prisoners on the first day of intra-Afghan negotiations.

By May 29, the US is also expected to remove Taliban members from the sanctions list by working together with the UN Security Council.  

The conflict has resulted in the fall of 58,000 security personnel and 42,000 opposition combatants since 2001, according to The Watson Institute at Brown University. At least 2,400 US troops have been killed and around 14,000 US troops alongside 17,000 troops from 39 NATO allies and partner countries, are stationed in Afghanistan.

Global response

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, said "I welcome this small but important step towards the chance for Afghans to live in peace, free from terrorism... We remain absolutely committed to building an Afghanistan that is a strong partner for decades to come."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement. "The Secretary-General stresses the importance of sustaining the nationwide reduction in violence, for the benefit of all Afghans. He encourages continued efforts by all parties to create an enabling environment for the intra-Afghan negotiations and a comprehensive peace process," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

“The US-Taliban deal is a major achievement, given how long and fraught the negotiations were. But as tough as it was to get to the finish line, the hardest work is yet to come. An intra-Afghan dialogue will be even more complex and take much more time,” said South Asia political analyst Michael Kugelman.

Read more here. 

During the US President, Donald J Trump’s, visit India to meet with Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi, anti-Muslim mobs rioted throughout Delhi, leaving an approximate 42 dead, the majority of whom are Muslim.

The riots in Delhi are reported to be the most deadly since the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984. During the riots at least 4 mosques were set on fire as well as Muslim owned shops, homes and places of business. The New York Times notes that many of the victims had been killed by gunfire.

The riots which were led by hardline Hindu-nationalists were in response to a peaceful protest against the new controversial citizenship law which critics claim discriminate against Muslims. According to Al Jazeera, violence broke on Sunday following a stark warning from a leading BJP politician who stated that were Muslims to continue with their protest they would risk the anger of BJP supporters.

Read more about the citizenship bill here: Indian Parliament passes heavily disputed Citizenship Amendment Bill

Delhi’s authorities have responded to the crisis by sending in police to maintain order as well as imposing a British colonial-era law, Section 144, which bans assemblies of more than four people statewide. The police have thus far detained close to 500 people and made formal arrests of 200.

The response by the police has been criticised by the Muslim community who claim that the police were slow to act and actively allowed the violence. This follows an attack on the Jawaharlal Nehru University in which authorities were also accused of failing to take action.

Read more here: HRW condemns Indian police for failure to protect JNU students

Al Jazeera further reports that the interim president of the main opposition party, Sonia Gandhi has called for the Home Minister to step down following this violence. She accuses the federal and local government of failing to take action, of being "mute spectators”.

Read Al Jazeera reporting here, Read the New York Times here and the Guardian here.

UN Secretary General, António Guterres, recently raised concerns over the impending fate of the minorities in India, following the passing of the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA). 

During his four-day visit to Pakistan, the Secretary General said that "there is a risk of statelessness" with regards to the two million people that are now facing the danger of exclusion due to the much contested CAA.

Guterres spoke about the importance of avoiding statelessness and that measures must be taken "to ensure that every citizen of the world is also a citizen of a country." 

"It is absolutely essential that when nationality law is changed, statelessness is prevented," he added.

See more from his interview with Dawn News here.

 

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, raised a “call for action” to protect human rights, during the first meeting of the UN Human Rights council, which centred on 7 key points; sustainable development, crisis prevention; gender equality; civil participation; the rights of future generations; collective action; and human rights with respects to new technology

1. Sustainable Development

With respects to sustainable development, Guterres insisted on the need to make tangible benefits to people’s lives and called upon all nations to commit to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals which hopes to alleviate poverty, hunger, illness and more by 2030. 

Whilst maintaining support for these development goals he stressed that one can not undermine the importance of civil and political rights. In his statement he maintains;

“It would be a mistake to diminish economic, social and cultural rights […] But it would be equally misguided to think that those rights are sufficient to answer people's yearning for freedom”.

2. Crisis Prevention

Guterres also remarked on the turbulent period in which lived which seemed prone to conflict, terrorist violence and disaster. These are times which test human rights however he insists they must not be abandoned.

Speaking on acts of counter-terrorism he maintains that it is imperative to not undermine human rights through counter-terrorism efforts. He states;

“Let me also underscore that even necessary efforts to combat terrorism must not compromise human rights. Otherwise, counter-terror actions will be counter-productive”.

He further maintains that it is not through abandoning these rights that we can safeguard ourselves from violence but rather “respect for human rights is an essential crisis prevention mechanism”.

He calls upon all nations to engage with the UN Security Council and other bodies to protect people and ensure accountability including through the “international criminal court” which he stated was a “instruments in the prevention of genocide”.

Guterres also rejected calls for state sovereignty over concerns for human rights by stating;

“Sovereignty remains a bedrock principle of international relations. But national sovereignty cannot be a pretext for violating human rights. We must overcome the false dichotomy between human rights and national sovereignty. Human rights and national sovereignty go hand in hand. The promotion of human rights strengthens States and societies, thereby reinforcing sovereignty”. 

 

3. Gender Equality

Speaking on widespread gender discrimination, Guterres argued that for too long women had been “systematically silenced, marginalised and ignored”. He further said; “Human rights will never be realised without the human rights of women”.

He reaffirmed the UN committed to gender parity throughout the UN at all levels by 2028 as well as calling for the implementation of policies which end violence against women; protect reproductive rights; and affirm equal participation in all spheres of society.

 

4. Civil Participation

During his speech, he also warned of the increasing attacks on journalists and called on all nations to ensure the protection of freedom of expression, religion, participation, and the freedom of association.

He maintained the importance of journalism to protect human rights and accountability. Whilst he recognised the means by which technology has been able to empower civil society actors in their push for human rights he also warns that the same technology has empowered state actors to crackdown on dissidents and curtail freedoms.

He claimed that the UN will continue to provide further support for civil society actors who are on the front lines in the battle to protect human rights.

 

5. The Rights of Future Generations

Guterres here warned of the catastrophic effects of global warming which threatens small island developing nations and would harm future generations.

His call to action would further act on earlier intuitive and would help to empower young people in shaping their future.

 

6. Collective Action

Guterres stressed the importance of multilateralism and the need to support civil society institutions. 

The UN would further issue new protocol guidance will be issued to all state leaders to better utilise the UN Human Rights Councils periodic reviews. 

 

7. Human Rights and New Technology

The UN Secretary-General spoke on the issues of human rights within the digital landscape, specifically allowing for the propagation of harassment, hate and extremism as well as concerns over personal data security.

In his statement he issued a veiled illusion to China’s treatment of the Uyghurs stating;

“Advances such as facial recognition software, robotics, digital identification and biotechnology must not be used to undermine fundamental rights, widen inequalities or worsen existing discrimination”.

Responses

Whilst Guterres has been widely well-received, Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, has responded positively to Guterres response but also called on him to directly name the abusers.

Roth stated;

“By providing a strong voice advocating for victims and condemning abusers, the Secretary-General can stand tall against governments committing serious rights violations – whether it’s the mass arbitrary detention of Uyghurs in China, atrocities committed against Myanmar’s Rohingyas, indiscriminate Russian-Syrian bombing of civilians in Idlib, or the forced separation of children from their parents at the U.S. border […] But this initiative will succeed only if the Secretary-General provides robust and regular public commentary, and does not shy away from naming abusers.”

Read the New York Times here. 

The European Union (EU) has prompted action from the Zimbabwe government to ensure that justice and accountability against human rights abusers is immediately sought.

The call from EU on Monday (Feb 17) requested that an investigation was made into the violence that occurred following the 2018 elections – in particular Zimbabwe security forces who were found to have used excessive lethal force to quell nationwide protests in mid-January 2019, according to Human Rights Watch. Investigations found that ‘at least 17 civilians were killed and 17 women were raped’ and no security force persons has been sanctioned for these offences.          

Zimbabwe President, Emmerson Mnangagwa formed the ‘Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry’ in response to the post-election violence of August 1, 2018, and found that six people died and 35 others were injured as a result of actions by the state security forces.      

Despite these findings, recommendations of holding the perpetrators accountable for said actions and establishing a committee to compensate the killed and the victims who were affected, is yet to be fulfilled.

Furthermore, the authorities have still not set up an effective and independent mechanism for investigating complaints from members of the public regarding misconduct by security services and there has been a lack of attempt to resolve the consequences of their actions, per the requirements of section 210 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution.

The EU highlighted its commitment to ensuring that the current Mnangagwa government will launch immediate investigations into security force personnel implicated in human rights abuses by extending an arms embargo and targeted asset freeze against the state-owned Zimbabwe Defense Industries.

The EU also added it will “seek increased collaboration with international partners, most importantly the African Union, SADC and its member countries, and international financial institutions, who can play a key role by supporting Zimbabwe in enabling an inclusive dialogue and in accelerating progress in reforms,” to help accelerate progress in reforms.

Read more here.