States parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

The Taliban’s war on women in Afghanistan must be formally recognized as gender apartheid

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Since then, Afghan women have been denied the most basic human rights in what can only be described as gender apartheid.

Key Points: 
  • Since then, Afghan women have been denied the most basic human rights in what can only be described as gender apartheid.
  • The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission has been dissolved and the country’s 2004 constitution repealed, while legislation guaranteeing gender equality has been invalidated.

Women targeted

    • Of the approximately 80 edicts issued by the Taliban, 54 specifically target women, severely restricting their rights and violating Afghanistan’s international obligations and its previous constitutional and domestic laws.
    • The Taliban appear undeterred, continuing where they left off 20 years ago when they first held power.

International crime

    • Karima Bennoune, an Algerian-American international law scholar, has advocated recognizing gender apartheid as a crime under international law.
    • Criminalizing gender apartheid would provide the international community with a powerful legal framework to effectively respond to Taliban abuses.
    • While the UN has already labelled the situation in Afghanistan gender apartheid, the term is not currently recognized under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court as being among the worst international crimes.

South African support

    • Most remarkably, Bronwen Levy, South Africa’s representative at the Security Council, has urged the international community to “take action against what (Bennett’s) report describes as gender apartheid, much like it did in support of South Africa’s struggle against racial apartheid.” Elsewhere, the chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, as well as the head of its Delegation for Relations with Afghanistan, have described the “unacceptable” situation in Afghanistan as one of gender apartheid.
    • Whenever and wherever apartheid systems emerge, it represents a failure of the international community.
    • Recognizing Taliban rule as gender apartheid is not only critical for Afghans, it is equally critical for the credibility of the entire UN system.

Ukraine war: reports suggest the deaths of some journalists have been deliberate – which is a war crime

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 3, 2023

In a conflict like the war in Ukraine, many journalists risk their lives to report the truth and reveal war crimes committed by both sides.

Key Points: 
  • In a conflict like the war in Ukraine, many journalists risk their lives to report the truth and reveal war crimes committed by both sides.
  • But when journalists themselves are targeted, these war crimes almost always go unpunished.
  • At least 15 media workers have been killed in Ukraine since Russia began its full-scale war in February 2022.
  • Threatening, attacking, disappearing and murdering journalists is not a new tactic of war in general – and certainly not unknown in Russia.

A dangerous (but vital) occupation

    • In both instances, the media workers were able to survive the attacks and live to tell us the story.
    • The same day, Ukrainian photojournalist Maks Levin, covering the war for Reuters, and his bodyguard Oleksiy Chernyshov were killed.
    • He and his colleague Corrado Zunino were targeted by snipers, despite wearing vests clearly identifying them as press.

Heat of battle or coldblooded murder?

    • Journalists are protected as civilians under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which Russia ratified in 1954.
    • They are also considered civilians, but have the additional protection of being treated as prisoners of war if captured (from the third Geneva Convention).
    • How many killings are in the heat of battle and how many are state-sanctioned?
    • Kelly Bjorklund is a senior writer and editor with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Russia-Africa summit provides a global stage for Moscow to puff up its influence

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 21, 2023

They had high hopes that Russia would emerge as a new source of investment and trade for the continent.

Key Points: 
  • They had high hopes that Russia would emerge as a new source of investment and trade for the continent.
  • It is lopsided, with Russia exporting seven times as much as it imports from Africa.
  • Additionally, 70% of this trade is concentrated in just four countries: Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and South Africa.
  • Russia has similarly undermined UN operations in African countries where Moscow is vying for influence, further compounding instability.
  • While Russian-African economic ties are modest, the continent provides Russia with a global stage from which Moscow can puff up its geostrategic posture.

The upside for Moscow

    • Local communities have been intimidated into leaving their homes where Wagner has been given mining access, effectively annexing these territories.
    • Moscow curries favour with some of these regimes by providing protection from international sanctions for human rights violations or for violating democratic practices.
    • It’s also the least willing to criticise Moscow for its land grab in Ukraine.

Dubious benefits to Africa

    • It’s one thing to take a non-aligned posture on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which may seem like a far-off conflict.
    • But why would African leaders continue to engage with a foreign actor with an active record of undermining stability on the continent?
    • The instability caused by Russia’s irregular tactics threatens to spill across borders and is creating crises of sovereignty on the continent.

Reality check

    • The reality is that Russia’s strategy of elite cooption is widening the gap between African leaders’ and citizens’ interests.
    • Moscow is sure to use this year’s gathering in St Petersburg to conjure up the imagery of shared Russian and African interests.

Prime Minister strengthens partnerships with Nordic countries

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 26, 2023

As transatlantic partners, the Nordic countries and Canada share inherent interests in our region and beyond as like-minded partners and friends.

Key Points: 
  • As transatlantic partners, the Nordic countries and Canada share inherent interests in our region and beyond as like-minded partners and friends.
  • In the face of the evolving internal security situation in Russia, the Prime Minister and the Nordic leaders reiterated their continued support for Ukraine.
  • The Prime Minister emphasized Canada as a like-minded partner for the Nordic Region.
  • The Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson.

Canada elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 8, 2023

"Canada, a State Party to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, sought a fourth four-year term (2023–2027) on this Intergovernmental Committee.

Key Points: 
  • "Canada, a State Party to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, sought a fourth four-year term (2023–2027) on this Intergovernmental Committee.
  • Canada was elected by acclamation by all parties at the ninth session of the Conference of Parties, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, from June 6 to 8, 2023.
  • "We are honoured by this new mandate and we are more committed than ever to promoting the diversity of online content.
  • The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions shared the perspective of Canadian civil society.

Jennifer Chadwick joins Fable to bolster growing innovation team

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 19, 2023

TORONTO , Jan. 19, 2023  /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fable, a leading digital accessibility platform, has announced the hiring of Jennifer Chadwick as Senior Accessibility Specialist. With over 15 years in the accessibility industry, Chadwick joins Fable's innovation team to expand product offerings that enable organizations to operationalize and scale accessibility. This addition signals continued growth at Fable, after announcing their Series A and launching two products, Fable Upskill and Fable Pathways, in the past year.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO , Jan. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Fable, a leading digital accessibility platform, has announced the hiring of Jennifer Chadwick as Senior Accessibility Specialist.
  • With over 15 years in the accessibility industry, Chadwick joins Fable's innovation team to expand product offerings that enable organizations to operationalize and scale accessibility.
  • This addition signals continued growth at Fable, after announcing their Series A and launching two products, Fable Upskill and Fable Pathways, in the past year.
  • "Jennifer has been integral in advancing the practice of digital accessibility," said Alwar Pillai, Fable co-founder and CEO.

Families of Flight PS752 victims submit request for the International Criminal Court Prosecutor to examine Iran’s role in the shootdown of Ukraine Airlines International Flight 752

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 14, 2022

The Association requested that the OTP include these crimes in its investigation of the situation in Ukraine.

Key Points: 
  • The Association requested that the OTP include these crimes in its investigation of the situation in Ukraine.
  • The request includes the evidence of victims directly impacted by the shootdown of flight PS752 and the actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps preceding and following the shootdown.
  • Javad Soleimani, Chair of the Associations Fact-Finding Committee, stated that: The Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims believes that justice is not negotiable.
  • The families of the victims killed in the shootdown have been intimidated and harassed by Iranian authorities in the aftermath of the shootdown.

Ploughshares Fund Awards $565,000 in Grants to Counter Rising Nuclear Threat

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 16, 2022

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ploughshares Fund , the largest foundation singularly focused on the reduction of nuclear weapons, has awarded $565,000 in emergency grants in response to the war in Ukraine and the renewed nuclear threat from Russia.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ploughshares Fund , the largest foundation singularly focused on the reduction of nuclear weapons, has awarded $565,000 in emergency grants in response to the war in Ukraine and the renewed nuclear threat from Russia.
  • Approved in a special meeting of the Ploughshares Fund Board of Directors in May, the grants will support regional nuclear experts who have been directly impacted by Russia's actions and will inform the global public on how to take action to lower nuclear risks.
  • Fellows will be hosted by institutions in Europe to pursue research in nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, and related topics.
  • Ploughshares Fund will make additional grants to help reduce the nuclear threat later this year.

New Report - Animals, People and War: The Impact of Conflict

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 9, 2022

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report released today examines the profound impact upon all animals of modern-day conflict like wars and civil unrest. IFAW's (International Fund for Animal Welfare) "Animals, People and War: The Impact of Conflict" report covers the spectrum of companion pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report released today examines the profound impact upon all animals of modern-day conflict like wars and civil unrest.
  • IFAW's (International Fund for Animal Welfare) " Animals, People and War: The Impact of Conflict " report covers the spectrum of companion pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife.
  • While the reduction of human suffering must be prioritized, the impact of conflict on animals must also be recognized and addressed.
  • To read the full report "Animals, People and War: The Impact of Conflict", click here .