Conditions and Challenges Experienced by Human Rights Defenders in Carrying out Their Work
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The Pegasus Project: MENA Surveillance Coalition Demands an End to the Sale of Surveillance Technology to the Region’S Autocratic Governments
26 July 2021 The Pegasus Project: MENA Surveillance Coalition demands an end to the sale of surveillance technology to the region’s autocratic governments We, the undersigned human rights organizations, call for an immediate halt to the use, sale and transfer of surveillance technology to autocratic oppressive governments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In light of revelations exposing the staggering scale of surveillance targeted at human rights defenders including journalists, bloggers and Internet activists facilitated by Israeli NSO Group Pegasus spyware, we urge all states to enforce a moratorium until a clear human rights regulatory framework is established. Since the 2016 investigation by Citizen Lab identifying one of the early uses of Pegasus by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to spy on prominent Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor, now serving 10 years in prison in inhumane conditions, the surveillance industry has only flourished, undeterred. Amnesty International and Forbidden Stories’ breaking investigation, the Pegasus Project, exposed the leaked data of 50,000 phone numbers identified as potential surveillance targets, including four NSO Group government clients from the MENA region — Bahrain, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Journalists and activists are being targeted Amongst the Pegasus Project’s shocking revelations, the mass scale surveillance operations by the Moroccan authorities with a target list of 10,000 phone numbers including those of world leaders, activists and journalists, stood out. The analysis identified at least 35 journalists who were targeted with Pegasus by the Moroccan government, and later prosecuted under questionable circumstances or subjected to state-sanctioned campaigns of intimidation and harassment, including Taoufik Bouachrine and Soulaimane Raissouni, Akhbar El-Youm newspaper editors. -
Israeli Human Rights Violations and Hamas Support Ii Preface
IIssrraaeellii HHuummaann RRiigghhttss VViioollaattiioonnss aanndd HHaammaass SSuuppppoorrtt RReesseeaarrcchhiiinngg PPeerrcceeppttiiioonnss ooff PPaallleessttiiinniiiaann rreeffuuggeeeess iiinn JJoorrddaann Lidwien Wijchers IIssrraaeellii HHuummaann RRiigghhttss VViioollaattiioonnss aanndd HHaammaass SSuuppppoorrtt RReesseeaarrcchhiiinngg PPeerrcceeppttiiioonnss ooff PPaallleessttiiinniiiaann rreeffuuggeeeess iiinn JJoorrddaann Cover photo Lidwien Wijchers Banner in Irbid refugee camp, Jordan: “The Palestinian case and Jerusalem are always in the heart and consciousness of his Majesty the King” Lidwien Wijchers s0801240 Master Thesis Human Geography Center for International Conflict Analysis and Management Radboud University Nijmegen Supervisor: Dr. S. Vukovic Second Reader: Dr. J. Wagemakers July 2013 Israeli Human Rights Violations and Hamas Support ii Preface This thesis is submitted as part of the Human Geography Master specialization Conflicts, Identities, and Territories at the Center of International Conflict Analysis and Management associated with the Radboud University Nijmegen. It is the result of fieldwork conducted in Jordan from August 2012 until March 2013. Throughout the process of writing this thesis, many people have been of help to me. Not in the least the respondents of my questionnaire, and experts with whom I conducted interviews. I hereby express my appreciation to all of them. Furthermore, I would like to extend gratitude to Dr. Siniša Vukovic who supervised me through the writing stages of the thesis, and to my second reader Dr. Joas Wagemakers. Acknowledgment must also be given to Dr. Gearoid Millar, for his guidance in the initial stages of the project. Four other individuals deserve recognition. Lauren Salathiel and Mohamed el Atfy; thank you for your willingness to be sounding boards. Hashim Taani and Rakan Odeh, I am much indebted to you both for the amount of time and help you have selflessly given. -
Jewish Non-Governmental Organizations
Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University English Faculty Publications Department of English 2011 Jewish Non-governmental Organizations Michael Galchinsky Georgia State University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_facpub Part of the English Language and Literature Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, and the Jewish Studies Commons Recommended Citation Galchinsky, M. (2011). Jewish Non-governmental Organizations. In Thomas Cushman (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Human Rights (pp. 560-569). New York: Routledge. This Book Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of English at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 1 Michael Galchinsky Jewish Non-governmental Organizations Human rights history and Jewish history have been inextricably intertwined. The history of Jews’ persecution as an ethnic and religious minority, especially the Nazis’ systematic deprivation of Jews’ rights, became a standard reference for postwar activists after 1945 who argued for a global system limiting states’ power over their citizens. Many Jewish activists saw a commitment to international human rights as the natural outgrowth of traditional Jewish values. Jews could be especially active in advocating for universal rights protections not only because their suffering conferred moral standing on their cause but also because they could plumb a rich religious and philosophical tradition to find support for a cosmopolitan worldview and because they nurtured generations of experienced organizers. Jews did not always seek, find, or emphasize the universalism in their tradition. -
West Bank and Gaza 2020 Human Rights Report
WEST BANK AND GAZA 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Palestinian Authority basic law provides for an elected president and legislative council. There have been no national elections in the West Bank and Gaza since 2006. President Mahmoud Abbas has remained in office despite the expiration of his four-year term in 2009. The Palestinian Legislative Council has not functioned since 2007, and in 2018 the Palestinian Authority dissolved the Constitutional Court. In September 2019 and again in September, President Abbas called for the Palestinian Authority to organize elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council within six months, but elections had not taken place as of the end of the year. The Palestinian Authority head of government is Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. President Abbas is also chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and general commander of the Fatah movement. Six Palestinian Authority security forces agencies operate in parts of the West Bank. Several are under Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior operational control and follow the prime minister’s guidance. The Palestinian Civil Police have primary responsibility for civil and community policing. The National Security Force conducts gendarmerie-style security operations in circumstances that exceed the capabilities of the civil police. The Military Intelligence Agency handles intelligence and criminal matters involving Palestinian Authority security forces personnel, including accusations of abuse and corruption. The General Intelligence Service is responsible for external intelligence gathering and operations. The Preventive Security Organization is responsible for internal intelligence gathering and investigations related to internal security cases, including political dissent. The Presidential Guard protects facilities and provides dignitary protection. -
Promoting Widespread Awareness of Religious Rights Through Print and Online Media in Near Eastern, South Asian and East Asian C
Promoting Widespread Awareness of Religious Rights through Print and Online Media in Near Eastern, South Asian and East Asian Countries – Appendix A: Articles and Reprint Information Below is a comprehensive list of articles produced under this grant, their authors and dates of their distribution, as well as links to the full articles online and the news outlets that distributed them. 1. “The power of face-to-face encounters between Israelis and Palestinians” (July 5, 2011) by Yonatan Gur. Reprints: 18 In English In French Today's Zaman (Turkey) Pretty Zoelly‟s Blog (blog) (France) Inter Religious Encounter Information Consultancy Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (US) In Indonesian The Global Human, (blog) (US) Mulyanis (blog) (Indonesia) Facebook (Adam Waddell) (Israel) Peace Please (US) In Urdu The) Jewish Reporter (US) Al Qamar (Islamabad) (Pakistan) The Daily News Egypt (Egypt) Masress.com (Egypt) Bali Times (Indonesia) The Positive Universe (US) Fuse.tv (US) Facebook (T-Cells (Transformative Cells)) (US) Facebook (United Religions Initiative) (US) Occupation Magazine 2. “In Lebanon, dialogue as a solution” (June 28, 2011) by Hani Fahs. Reprints: 17 In English In Arabic Canadian Lebanese Human Rights Federation Al Wasat News (Bahrain) Religie(Canada) 24 (Netherlands) Hitteen News (Jordan) Taif News (Saudi Arabia) Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) Middle East Online (UK) Schema-root.org (US) In French Kentucky Country Day School (KCD) (US) Al Balad (Lebanon) Peace Please (US) Facebook (Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue) In Indonesian Khaleej Times (UAE) Mulyanis (blog) (Indonesia) Al Arabiya (UAE) Rima News.com (Indonesia) Facebook (Journal of Inter-Religious Dialogue) In Urdu Angola | Burundi | Côte d'Ivoire | Democratic Republic of Congo | Guinea | Indonesia | Jerusalem | Kenya Kosovo | Lebanon | Liberia | Macedonia | Morocco | Nepal | Nigeria | Pakistan | Rwanda | Sierra Leone Sudan | Timor-Leste | Ukraine | USA | Yemen | Zimbabwe Al Qamar (Islamabad) (Pakistan) 3. -
The London School of Economics and Political Science Making EU
The London School of Economics and Political Science Making EU Foreign Policy towards a ‘Pariah’ State: Consensus on Sanctions in EU Foreign Policy towards Myanmar Arthur Minsat A thesis submitted to the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, London, June 2012 Declaration I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the MPhil/PhD degree of the London School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have clearly indicated that it is the work of others (in which case the extent of any work carried out jointly by me and any other person is clearly identified in it). The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of the author. I warrant that this authorization does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any third party. I declare that my thesis consists of 97,547 words. Statement of use of third party for editorial help I can confirm that my thesis was copy edited for conventions of language, spelling and grammar by Dr. Joe Hoover. 2 Abstract This thesis seeks to explain why the European Union ratcheted up restrictive measures on Myanmar from 1991 until 2010, despite divergent interests of EU member states and the apparent inability of sanctions to quickly achieve the primary objectives of EU policy. This empirical puzzle applies the ‘sanctions paradox’ to the issue of joint action in the EU. -
Factsheet: Promoting Freedom of Religion Or Belief Within the United
UNITED STATES COMMISSION on INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM FACTSHEET October 2020 UN HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM Gayle Manchin Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief within the United Nations Chair Human Rights System Tony Perkins Vice Chair By Kirsten Lavery, Supervisory Policy Analyst Anurima Bhargava Vice Chair Pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) monitors freedom of religion or Commissioners belief abroad using international human rights standards, including the Universal Gary Bauer Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and James W. Carr Political Rights (ICCPR). Within the United Nations (UN) system, there are a variety of charter and treaty-based mechanisms with mandates that address international Frederick A. Davie human rights issues according to the same standards. This factsheet describes Nadine Maenza those mechanisms, with a particular focus on those most relevant to freedom of Johnnie Moore religion or belief. Although these bodies have various imperfections and limitations, Nury Turkel they nevertheless provide opportunities for advocacy by and collaboration among states and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to promote religious freedom internationally. Erin D. Singshinsuk Executive Director UN Human Rights Focused Mechanisms Charter-Based Mechanisms: UN charter-based mechanisms are mandated through resolutions of the principal organs of the UN that were established by the UN Charter. USCIRF’s Mission Currently, the charter-based human rights mechanisms are the Human Rights Council (HRC) and its subsidiaries. HRC: The HRC is an inter-governmental body of 47 member states that was To advance international established in 2006 by General Assembly Resolution 60/251 as a subsidiary body to the UN General Assembly. -
1 June 8, 2020 to Members of The
June 8, 2020 To Members of the United Nations Human Rights Council Re: Request for the Convening of a Special Session on the Escalating Situation of Police Violence and Repression of Protests in the United States Excellencies, The undersigned family members of victims of police killings and civil society organizations from around the world, call on member states of the UN Human Rights Council to urgently convene a Special Session on the situation of human rights in the United States in order to respond to the unfolding grave human rights crisis borne out of the repression of nationwide protests. The recent protests erupted on May 26 in response to the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was only one of a recent string of unlawful killings of unarmed Black people by police and armed white vigilantes. We are deeply concerned about the escalation in violent police responses to largely peaceful protests in the United States, which included the use of rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray and in some cases live ammunition, in violation of international standards on the use of force and management of assemblies including recent U.N. Guidance on Less Lethal Weapons. Additionally, we are greatly concerned that rather than using his position to serve as a force for calm and unity, President Trump has chosen to weaponize the tensions through his rhetoric, evidenced by his promise to seize authority from Governors who fail to take the most extreme tactics against protestors and to deploy federal armed forces against protestors (an action which would be of questionable legality). -
Israel and the Occupied Territories 2015 Human Rights Report
ISRAEL 2015 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Israel is a multiparty parliamentary democracy. Although it has no constitution, the parliament, the unicameral 120-member Knesset, has enacted a series of “Basic Laws” that enumerate fundamental rights. Certain fundamental laws, orders, and regulations legally depend on the existence of a “state of emergency,” which has been in effect since 1948. Under the Basic Laws, the Knesset has the power to dissolve the government and mandate elections. The nationwide Knesset elections in March, considered free and fair, resulted in a coalition government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security services. (An annex to this report covers human rights in the occupied territories. This report deals with human rights in Israel and the Israeli- occupied Golan Heights.) During the year according to Israeli Security Agency (ISA, also known as Shabak) statistics, Palestinians committed 47 terror attacks (including stabbings, assaults, shootings, projectile and rocket attacks, and attacks by improvised explosive devices (IED) within the Green Line that led to the deaths of five Israelis and one Eritrean, and two stabbing terror attacks committed by Jewish Israelis within the Green Line and not including Jerusalem. According to the ISA, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant groups fired 22 rockets into Israel and in 11 other incidents either planted IEDs or carried out shooting or projectile attacks into Israel and the Golan Heights. Further -
Palestinian Citizens of Israel: Agenda for Change Hashem Mawlawi
Palestinian Citizens of Israel: Agenda for Change Hashem Mawlawi Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master‘s degree in Conflict Studies School of Conflict Studies Faculty of Human Sciences Saint Paul University © Hashem Mawlawi, Ottawa, Canada, 2019 PALESTINIAN CITIZENS OF ISRAEL: AGENDA FOR CHANGE ii Abstract The State of Israel was established amid historic trauma experienced by both Jewish and Palestinian Arab people. These traumas included the repeated invasion of Palestine by various empires/countries, and the Jewish experience of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. This culminated in the 1948 creation of the State of Israel. The newfound State has experienced turmoil since its inception as both identities clashed. The majority-minority power imbalance resulted in inequalities and discrimination against the Palestinian Citizens of Israel (PCI). Discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict tends to assume that the issues of the PCIs are the same as the issues of the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. I believe that the needs of the PCIs are different. Therefore, I have conducted a qualitative case study into possible ways the relationship between the PCIs and the State of Israel shall be improved. To this end, I provide a brief review of the history of the conflict. I explore themes of inequalities and models for change. I analyze the implications of the theories for PCIs and Israelis in the political, social, and economic dimensions. From all these dimensions, I identify opportunities for change. In proposing an ―Agenda for Change,‖ it is my sincere hope that addressing the context of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship may lead to a change in attitude and behaviour that will avoid perpetuating the conflict and its human costs on both sides. -
Convened by the Peace Council and the Center for Health and Social
CHSP_Report_cover.qxd Printer: Please adjust spine width if necessary. Additional copies of this report may be obtained from: ............................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................. International Committee for the Peace Council The Center for Health and Social Policy 2702 International Lane, Suite 108 847 25th Avenue Convened by The Peace Council and The Center for Health and Social Policy Madison, WI 53704 San Francisco, CA 94121 United States United States Chiang Mai, Thailand 1-608-241-2200 Phone 1-415-386-3260 Phone February 29–March 3, 2004 1-608-241-2209 Fax 1-415-386-1535 Fax [email protected] [email protected] www.peacecouncil.org www.chsp.org ............................................................................................................. Copyright © 2004 by The Center for Health and Social Policy and The Peace Council ............................................................................................................. Convened by The Peace Council and The Center for Health and Social Policy Chiang Mai, Thailand February 29–March 3, 2004 Contents Introduction 5 Stephen L. Isaacs and Daniel Gómez-Ibáñez The Chiang Mai Declaration: 9 Religion and Women: An Agenda for Change List of Participants 13 Background Documents World Religions on Women: Their Roles in the Family, 19 Society, and Religion Christine E. Gudorf Women and Religion in the Context of Globalization 49 Vandana Shiva World Religions and the 1994 United Nations 73 International Conference on Population and Development A Report on an International and Interfaith Consultation, Genval, Belgium, May 4-7, 1994 3 Introduction Stephen L. Isaacs and Daniel Gómez-Ibáñez Forty-eight religious and women’s leaders participated in a “conversation” in Chi- ang Mai, Thailand between February 29 and March 3, 2004 to discuss how, in an era of globalization, religions could play a more active role in advancing women’s lives. -
From Bishop Munib Younan Easter Message from the Holy Land
Easter Message from the Holy Land From Bishop Munib Younan Easter Message from the Holy Land Salaam and Grace in the name of our Crucified and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As I write this message of Easter, I really do not know where to start, lest somebody will ask me: What is the truth? It seems that the truth lies beyond the thoughts of our hearts and beyond the mass media. When Jesus was indicted on Maundy Thursday, the truth lay in that he was the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who came to carry the sin of the world. Here many incidents take place everyday. It is in every minute that things change. The situation is very unpredictable. The other day, I visited Hebron with Peter Prove (Lutheran World Federation), Kent Johnson (ELCA), and Gustaf Odquist, where we were generously hosted by one of the Moslem Sheiks, who is a close friend of mine. We were shocked to see the real picture of the truth. An Israeli settler woman was throwing stones on Palestinian shopkeepers while the army was leniently asking her not to do so. At the same time, other soldiers nearby were shooting live ammunition on Palestinian youth. I ask: What is the truth? Is this justice? Where is at least the Christian conscience? The situation continues to deteriorate day by day. The Israeli siege on the Palestinian territories is tightening. You need only to pass in the morning near my house in Tantur and watch the police and soldiers running after Palestinian laborers, who search for their daily bread, and witness the realities behind the UN statistics stating that the present unemployment rate in the Palestinian areas is now around 38% of the working force.