Weekly update: 5 June – 11 June 2023
- Jun 12, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 19, 2023
The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 5 June to 11 June 2023.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
GERMANY/NAMIBIA - 7 JUNE 2023
HRW, ’Germany, Namibia Need a Rights-Respecting Reparations Process.’
‘UN Experts Urge Affected Communities’ Participation in Negotiations. The German and Namibian governments are dodging their obligations to ensure the Ovaherero and Nama peoples of Namibia meaningful participation in ongoing negotiations regarding reparations for Germany’s recognized colonial genocide committed between 1904 and 1908.’
See here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/06/07/germany-namibia-need-rights-respecting-reparations-process
SOUTH SUDAN - 9 JUNE 2023
BNN, ‘South Sudan Takes Landmark Step by Ratifying Crucial African Women’s Rights Treaty.’
‘South Sudan has ratified a critical African Union Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), putting an end to years of delay.
This positive step reaffirms the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls. The ratification of this treaty has the potential to bring about transformative changes in South Sudan, ensuring gender equality, ending discrimination, and improving the well-being of women and girls across the country.’
MYANMAR - 9 JUNE 2023
Borneo Bulletin, ‘Myanmar lawyers face harassment, intimidation in junta courts.’
‘Myanmar lawyers defending political detainees in junta-run courts are being harassed and even jailed by military authorities, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said yesterday, warning that intimidation was forcing many to stop taking cases. Since it seized power more than two years ago and plunged the country into turmoil, the junta has arrested tens of thousands in a sweeping and bloody crackdown on dissent.’
See here: https://borneobulletin.com.bn/myanmar-lawyers-face-harassment-intimidation-in-junta-courts/
KYRGYZSTAN - 9 JUNE 2023
HRW, ‘Kyrgyzstan: Draft Law Threatens Civic Space. Withdraw Bill; Guarantee Freedom of Expression, Association.’
‘The Kyrgyz parliament should reject a highly repressive draft law that would interfere with the activities of nongovernmental organizations, Human Rights Watch said today. The law would require organizations to register with the Justice Ministry as “foreign representatives” if they receive funding from abroad and engage in political activity.’
USA - 10 JUNE 2023
Reuters, ‘Trump risked national secrets, prosecutors allege in indictment.’
‘U.S. prosecutors unsealed a 37-count indictment against Donald Trump on Friday, accusing the former president of risking some of the country's most sensitive security secrets after leaving the White House in 2021. Trump mishandled classified documents that included information about the secretive U.S. nuclear program and potential domestic vulnerabilities in the event of an attack, the federal indictment said.’
EU - 9 JUNE 2023
Al Jazeera, ‘EU members sign deal to overhaul asylum procedures.’
‘The accord will change how asylum seekers are processed at the bloc’s borders and how they are relocated across Europe. European Union ministers have agreed on a deal to overhaul the bloc’s asylum procedures, which has eluded the bloc for nearly 10 years, after 12 hours of negotiations to obtain the go-ahead from front-line members Italy and Greece.’
See here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/9/eu-members-sign-deal-to-overhaul-migration-procedures
HONDURAS - 9 JUNE 2023
HRW, ‘Honduras: Strong Action Needed on Corruption’
‘UN-Backed International Commission, Legal Reforms: Honduras should take urgent steps to fight corruption, a structural problem that undermines human rights throughout the country, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper sent today to President Xiomara Castro and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The ongoing negotiations to create a UN-backed commission – the Comisión Internacional contra la Corrupción e Impunidad en Honduras (CICIH, or International Commission against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras) – provide a unique opportunity to learn from past experience and make lasting progress.’
RWANDA/HAGUE - 7 JUNE 2023
Africa News, ‘Rwanda genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga declared unfit to stand trial.’
‘UN war crimes judges ruled that ageing Rwandan genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga is unfit to stand trial but should still go through a stripped-down legal process, in a decision announced Wednesday. Kabuga, who is 88 according to officials but claims to be 90, is a former tycoon accused of setting up a hate broadcaster that fuelled the 1994 slaughter of around 800,000 people.
Kabuga went on trial in The Hague in September last year, but judges said medical experts had now found that he had "severe dementia" and could not take part properly in court.'
SAUDI ARABIA - 7 JUNE 2023
HRW, ‘Saudi Arabia: Pro Golf Merger “Sportswashes” Abuses.’
‘Government’s Investment Fund Merges with PGA Tour, DP World Tour. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Professional Golf Association (PGA) have effectively enabled the Saudi government’s efforts to “sportswash” its egregious human rights record through the announced merger of its LIV Golf and the PGA, Human Rights Watch said today. The merger will place the Saudi government in an unprecedented position of influence and control at the top levels of professional golf.’
