UN Reports Haiti’s death toll rises as international support lags

More than 2,500 people were killed or injured in gang violence in Haiti from January through March, up 53% from the last three months of 2023, the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) said on Friday.

At least 590 were killed during police operations, BINUH said in a report. Several were apparently not involved in gang violence, some had impaired mobility, and at least 141 were killed by vigilante justice groups.

Most of the violence took place in the capital of Port-au-Prince, while at least 438 people were kidnapped across the wider West Department and agricultural Artibonite region. The capital’s port-side La Saline and Cite Soleil areas had the longest large-scale attacks.

Finland together with a group of countries express their concern over the trajectory of human rights in Egypt In human rights counsel session

This is an old letter from Funland Ambassador in UN about human right


as WE REMEMBER THESE EFFORT WITH APPRECIATION

I picked up parts of this letter

Thank you Madame President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of 32 countries.

We remain deeply concerned about the trajectory of human rights in Egypt and share the concerns expressed by the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Procedure mandate holders.

We draw particular attention to restrictions on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, the constrained space for civil society and political opposition, and the application of terrorism legislation against peaceful critics.

We recognize the new NGO Law that establishes a new legal framework more favorable for the operation of civil society organizations. It is crucial that the Law will be used to empower civil society actors working in all fields.  

We urge Egypt to guarantee space for civil society – including human rights defenders – to work without fear of intimidation, harassment, arrest, detention or any other form of reprisal. That includes lifting travel bans and asset freezes against human rights defenders – including EIPR staff.  

We call on Egypt to lift restrictions on media and digital freedom and to end the practice of blocking the websites of independent media outlets, and to release all journalists who have been arrested in the course of practicing their profession.

We recognise Egypt’s role in supporting regional stability, managing migration, fighting against terrorism, and recall the need to counter terrorism in full respect of international human rights law.

Thank you Madame President.

As of 19 March 2021 this statement was supported by:

Finland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Marshall Islands, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States of America.

The Traitors: how unconscious biases can impact who you think is guilty

Subterfuge, betrayal, murder and money abound in the BBC hit series The Traitors, now in it’s second season. It’s no surprise that it has become a huge hit. The basic premise of the show is that you have “the faithful” and “the traitors”. The game hinges on everyone presenting themselves as a faithful, but with the knowledge that there will be at least one traitor among them. If the faithful manage to identify all traitors then they will share the £120,000 jackpot. However, if by the end of the game there are any traitors left, they will steal the jackpot from the faithful.

they are so worthless and deserve more

UN agency probes staff suspected of role in Oct 7 attacks on Israel

GENEVA, Jan 26 (Reuters) – The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas and that it had severed ties with those staff members.

“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General.

“To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay.”

Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that “any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror” would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

Why coup ‘fever’ is spreading across Africa

September 2, 2023

A spate of eight coups in the last three years, including the recent ouster of Gabon’s president by soldiers, has highlighted why military takeovers are returning in African countries.

Early Wednesday, military officers seized power after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had secured a third term in an election, ending his family’s 56-year hold on power.

The African Union Peace and Security Council met Thursday. It announced the immediate suspension of Gabon from “all activities of the AU, its organs and institutions” until the country restores constitutional order.

In Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger and Chad, coup leaders are still in control despite widespread condemnation and sanctions.

A survey by Afrobarometer, a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network, showed perceptions of increased corruption levels are most widespread in African countries.

The report noted that most citizens say their government is doing too little to fight corruption.

“And in a bad sign for activists working to engage citizens on this issue, most Africans say they risk retaliation should they report corruption cases to the authorities,” Afrobarometer said.

Adekoya said these conditions create fertile conditions for coups and for increasingly desperate young Africans who have lost patience with their corrupt leaders to welcome coupists promising radical change.

Recent successful coups in Africa

Niger: On July 26, 2023, the military overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

Burkina Faso: In January 2022, Burkina Faso’s army removed President Roch Kabore, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. In September of that year, there was a second coup by army Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who forcibly deposed Paul Henri-Damiba.

Guinea: In September 2021, special forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya overthrew President Alpha Conde. A year earlier, Conde had changed the constitution to circumvent limits that would have prevented him from standing for a third term, triggering widespread rioting.

Chad: In April 2021, Chad’s army took power after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north.

Mali: In August 2020, a group of Malian colonels removed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The coup followed anti-government protests over deteriorating security, contested legislative elections and allegations of corruption. Nine months later, a countercoup happened, with Assimi Goita, named vice president after the first one, leading the second and becoming head of state.

Sudan: In October 2021, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military takeover in Khartoum, dissolving a ruling council in which the army and civilians had shared power and throwing the country’s democratic transition into turmoil.