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USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson civil society groups are often the first to expose religious freedom violations

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USCIRF Commissioner in Faith and Freedom Summit in Panama -
USCIRF Commissioner in Faith and Freedom Summit in Panama - Photo credit: www.faithandfreedomsummit.com

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Ms Maureen Ferguson participated as a keynote speaker at the IV Edition of the Faith & Freedom Summit NGO Coalition, held 24-25 September at the Latin American Parliament in Panama City of 40 international speakers and participated by Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Scientologists, Indigenous Mayan, Sikhs, Hindus, non-believers and others.

In a compelling address at the Faith and Freedom Summit IV “practicing what we preach” in Panama, Commissioner Ferguson called for a renewed commitment to advocating for religious freedom worldwide. Her remarks, delivered during the conference’s final panel on FoRB through Diplomacy, underscored the critical role of diplomacy in promoting this fundamental human right. She shared panel with Founder and CEO of IRF Secretariat Greg Mitchel, Ivan Arjona-Pelado, David Trimble, Jan Figel, HE Bouchra Boudchiche of the Embassy of Morocco, and Archbishop Thomas Schirrmacher.

Ferguson opened her speech with warmth and enthusiasm, encouraging audience and rest of speakers to further dive into discussions focused on achieving freedom of religion or belief through diplomatic efforts. She emphasized that USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan advisory body created by Congress in 1998, dedicated to monitoring and reporting on religious freedom conditions globally. “We defend this essential freedom internationally for people of all religions and beliefs, as well as for those who choose to follow no religion or belief,” she asserted.

USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson
USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson in Faith and Freedom Summit in Panama – Photo credit: www.faithandfreedomsummit.com

In her address, Ferguson outlined key steps that governments can take to ensure that their foreign policy prioritizes religious freedom. She urged nations to establish independent agencies tasked with assessing religious freedom conditions abroad, stating, “This independence will help guarantee that competing diplomatic priorities do not influence or sway the agency’s assessments.” She highlighted USCIRF’s role in this process, noting that the commission releases an annual report documenting violations of religious freedom worldwide, including the plight of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and the persecution of religious minorities in Nicaragua.

Ferguson emphasized the importance of accountability in addressing religious freedom violations, referencing the International Religious Freedom Act, which mandates that the U.S. State Department designate countries with severe violations as Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs). “When a country is designated as a CPC, the law requires our President to take one or more policy actions to hold that country accountable,” she explained.

She also shared three vital lessons learned from U.S. diplomatic efforts to protect religious freedom. First, she stressed the necessity of building partnerships with like-minded governments to address violations, citing the United Nations Human Rights Council’s resolutions condemning persecution in Nicaragua as a successful example of international collaboration. “Support from this broad coalition helped the Human Rights Council create a group of experts dedicated to reporting on the religious freedom and human rights violations in Nicaragua,” she noted.

Second, Ferguson highlighted the importance of direct communication between governments regarding religious freedom violations. “Such direct communication is a good opportunity to raise the case of individuals who are harassed, detained, or imprisoned on the basis of their religion or belief,” she stated, emphasizing that advocacy involves not only condemning bad behavior but also encouraging positive change.

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USCIRF Commissioner Maureen Ferguson civil society groups are often the first to expose religious freedom violations 3

Lastly, she called for stronger relationships between governments and civil society organizations, which often serve as the first line of defense against emerging violations. “Civil society groups are often the first to recognize emerging religious freedom violations and to bring the world’s attention to them,” she remarked, underscoring their invaluable role in informing effective protective measures.

Before concluding, Commissioner Maureen Ferguson introduced a vital resource developed by USCIRF: a victims list that tracks the cases of individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs. “There are well over 2,000 profiles in this searchable database,” she revealed, inviting governments and civil society partners to utilize this tool to advocate for the victims.

In her closing remarks, Maureen Ferguson expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to speak and reflected on her personal journey. “One of the greatest proofs of the existence of God is the obvious and ugly example of the existence of evil,” she shared, acknowledging the challenges faced in the fight for religious freedom. However, she also celebrated the presence of goodness and truth among the attendees, stating, “Being with all of you has just been a wonderful experience of the universality of the good and the true and the beautiful.”

Ferguson’s impassioned address resonated deeply with the audience, leaving them inspired to continue their vital work in advancing religious freedom for all.

The Faith and Freedom Summit IV was organised by a coalition of NGOs dedicated to the promotion of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence, and was attended by numerous personalities such as the OAS Representative in Panama H.E. Mr Rubén Farje, Reverend Giselle Lima (Co-Coordinator of the Panama Roundtable on Religious Freedom in Panama, Mr. Iván Arjona-Pelado (recently appointed Chair of the NGO Committee on FoRB for the United Nations in Geneva and who presented the web www.whatisfreedomofreligion.org from the Church of Scientology), Mr. Jan Figel who is former EU Special Envoy on FoRB, and it was opened and closed by the Minister In Charge of Interior and Minister In Charge of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Panama, plus ambassadors from different countries.

EU Extends Sanctions on Nicaragua, Calls for Restoration of Fundamental Freedoms

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The European Council has once again extended its restrictive measures against Nicaragua for an additional year, maintaining the sanctions until October 15, 2025. This decision reflects the EU’s ongoing concern over the deteriorating political and social conditions in Nicaragua, emphasizing the urgent need for democratic reforms and respect for human rights.

Currently, the restrictive measures target 21 individuals and three entities, enforcing an asset freeze and prohibiting EU citizens and companies from providing funds to those listed. Moreover, the sanctions impose a travel ban on these individuals, preventing them from entering or passing through EU territories.

The sanctions regime was initially enacted in October 2019, as the EU sought to address the escalating crisis in Nicaragua. The Council has repeatedly highlighted serious issues, including the erosion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the country. These measures are reassessed annually, ensuring that the EU’s response remains relevant and effective.

The European Union remains steadfast in its call for Nicaragua to restore fundamental freedoms, release all remaining political prisoners, and permit the return of international human rights organizations. The EU urges an end to the ongoing restrictions on civic space and insists on the right to dissent being respected.

Reaffirming its commitment to the Nicaraguan people, the EU emphasizes the importance of defending democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. The political crisis plaguing Nicaragua demands a resolution through sincere dialogue between the government and opposition forces, a solution the EU firmly advocates.

As Nicaragua faces continued international scrutiny, the EU’s measures represent a strong message: genuine reform and respect for fundamental freedoms are imperative to advancing the nation’s democratic and social stability.

‘Orphanage city’ helps children in Gaza as the war grinds on

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‘Orphanage city’ helps children in Gaza as the war grinds on

The latest death toll has surpassed more than 41,000 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health – the majority of them women and children – while most of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have been forcibly displaced and trapped in only 10 per cent of the territory, but in this grim situation, new initiatives aim at radiating even the slightest sliver of light amid the darkness of war.

In the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, teacher Mahmoud Kallakh set up a camp aimed at providing some relief to families who had lost their men and breadwinners.

The Al-Baraka orphanage camp currently hosts 400 Palestinian families displaced to this area of southern Gaza. In an interview with our correspondent in Gaza, Ziad Taleb, Mr. Kallakh said that the initiative works to provide care to families in what he described as an “orphanage city”, including shelter, food and drink, medical care alongside educational and social services, with help, including from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

“We have a dedicated medical centre and a school sponsored by the United Nations, through UNICEF, which thankfully provided the necessary resources for the school, embracing students, providing them with stationery and paying teachers’ salaries,” Mr. Kallakh said. “We want to establish this school completely, to replace these small tents, to create a more comfortable environment for students to receive their education.”

Taleen Al-Hinnawi lost her father as a result of the war in Gaza and now lives at the Al-Baraka orphanage camp.

More than 17,000 orphans in Gaza

The number of children served here is just a drop in the sea of orphaned children in Gaza who are in need of protection. The number of unprotected orphans in Gaza now ranges between 17,000 and 18,000, many of whom are unaccompanied by any family members.

Taleen Al-Hinnawi lost her father as a result of the war and is trying to adjust to her new life in Al-Baraka orphanage camp. Signs of shock and sadness filled her face as she spoke to UN News, telling us about her father.

“Baba [Arabic for dad] was very affectionate,” she said. “I don’t feel like Baba was martyred.”

The young girl’s outlook on life has completely changed.

The war is trying “to wipe out entire families”, she said.

Taleen said she wished to return to her home in Gaza City “so life can return to normal, study like everyone else and memorise the Quran like everyone else. Before that, we lived in our house. We never bothered anyone, and we kept to ourselves.”

Nada Al-Gharib lost her father and only brother in a strike on the family's tent, which also injured her and her mother.

Nada Al-Gharib lost her father and only brother in a strike on the family’s tent, which also injured her and her mother.

‘We lost them’

“This war took away from me my father and my only brother.”

With these words, young Nada Al-Gharib began telling her story. She and her mother were also injured in the strike on the tent where the family was sheltering in Khan Younis. They were trapped inside for three days.

Nada said her family had been displaced from northern Gaza to Khan Younis “because that’s what the occupation demanded of us”.

“We came here, we were trapped. My father and my only brother were martyred, and my mother and I were injured,” she explained.

A large crater caused by an Israeli airstrike hit a makeshift camp for displaced people in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in Gaza.

A large crater caused by an Israeli airstrike hit a makeshift camp for displaced people in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in Gaza.

‘We are like siblings here’

After they managed to leave the tent, Nada and her mother went to the industrial area west of Khan Younis, where they received treatment and were trapped again. They passed through Israeli checkpoints, she recalled, as they crossed into Rafah, which they also fled, and finally ended up at the Al-Baraka orphanage camp.

She and her mother found a second home in this camp, she said, “because everyone around us has the same story and pain”.

“We are like siblings here,” she said. “All mothers are like our mothers, and all children are our siblings. We love each other here very much. We love our lives. Even though it’s hard and the loss [of our loved ones] is hard for us, we try to live for them.”

Nada said her father was a great, kind man who loved his family very much.

“He would never let us do anything difficult,” she said. “Now, things are difficult. We have to fetch water and do things that men are supposed to do, but we have no other choice because we lost them.”

As war continues in Gaza, mass displacement is having a devastating impact on women and girls.

© UNFPA Palestine/Media Clinic

As war continues in Gaza, mass displacement is having a devastating impact on women and girls.

Escalating hostilities

UNICEF says the escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip is catastrophically affecting children and families, with children dying at an alarming rate. More than 14,000 children have been killed, according to estimates by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and thousands more have been injured.

An estimated 1.9 million people – about 9 out of 10 Gazans – have been internally displaced, more than half of them children, without adequate water, food, fuel and medicine.

The UN agency is calling for an immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all children and families in need inside Gaza, including in the northern Strip, the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all abducted children and an end to any grave violations against children, including killing and maiming.

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OSCE Workshop Enhances Inter-Agency Collaboration for Youth Crime Prevention in Kyrgyzstan

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Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash

Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan – 7 October 2024 – From October 1 to 3, the OSCE’s Transnational Threats Department, in collaboration with the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, hosted a significant multi-stakeholder workshop in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, aimed at bolstering inter-agency cooperation on youth crime prevention. This initiative brought together 30 representatives from law enforcement and social services, including key participants from the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

The workshop’s central focus was on fostering effective collaboration among different agencies to ensure at-risk youth, regardless of gender, are deterred from criminal pathways. Through a series of interactive sessions, attendees were encouraged to identify, assess, and prioritize real-life cases of youth crime, while collaboratively developing strategies to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior.

“Youth crime prevention is a priority for Kyrgyzstan,” commented Nurzhan Adylova, Head of the Department of the Public Security Service within the Ministry of Interior. “This workshop was an effective platform for us to explore ways to improve cooperation between law enforcement, schools, and social workers, aiming to promote a culture of lawful behavior from an early age.”

The workshop represents a pivotal component of the OSCE-wide multi-year extra-budgetary project titled “Enhancing Youth Crime and Drug Use Prevention through Education on Legality and Awareness Campaigns Addressing Threats of Organized Crime and Corruption.” This project has received primary funding from Germany, along with additional support from countries including Andorra, Finland, Italy, Norway, and Poland.

By fostering collaboration and developing shared strategies, the workshop aimed to establish a more cohesive approach to preventing youth crime in Kyrgyzstan. The engagement of various stakeholders underscores a commitment to tackling the root causes of youth criminality, ultimately seeking to empower young people through education and support systems, while instilling a strong sense of community responsibility.

As the workshop concluded, participants left with renewed commitments to work together, sharing insights and strategies that can pave the way for a safer environment for youth in Kyrgyzstan. The focus on early prevention and inter-agency cooperation is expected to play a crucial role in steering at-risk individuals away from crime, fostering a brighter future for the nation’s youth.

OSCE-ODIHR launched book “Belief, Dialogue, and Security”

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Illustrations, design and layout by Alex Valy
Illustrations, design and layout by Alex Valy

A New Guide for Fostering Interfaith Cooperation

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has proudly launched its latest publication, “Belief, Dialogue, and Security: Fostering Dialogue and Joint Action Across Religious and Belief Boundaries.” This guide aims to provide practical advice and resources for states and non-state actors to promote dialogue and cooperation among diverse religious and belief communities, enhancing social trust and security across the OSCE region.

In its website, it says that “ODIHR has developed this guide in response to calls from participating States to give them guidance and practical tools to help them create an environment that enables fruitful dialogue and joint action across religious and belief boundaries. The guide does not push a ‘one‑size‑fits‑all’ model, instead offering guidance about the questions and factors states should consider when approaching the subject. It discusses how to select initiatives and support them in practice. It includes examples of good practice and interviews with actors engaged in dialogue and joint action initiatives across a broad range of contexts.“

The Need for Dialogue

ODIHR book on Faith and DialogueDownload

In a world marked by increasing religious and belief pluralism, the need for constructive dialogue has never been more pressing. The foreword by ODIHR Director Matteo Mecacci emphasizes that while diversity enriches societies, it can also lead to fragmentation if not managed properly. The guide outlines the importance of fostering high levels of tolerance and social trust, which are essential for peaceful coexistence.

The publication is structured into several chapters, each addressing critical aspects of fostering dialogue:

  1. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, Religion, or Belief (FoRB): The guide discusses the fundamental human right of FoRB, its limitations, and the grounds for these limitations, providing a comprehensive legal framework.
  2. Dialogue and Joint Action: It emphasizes the role of states in enabling, rather than leading, dialogue initiatives. Trust and voluntary participation are highlighted as essential components for successful interfaith dialogue.
  3. The Role of the State: The guide outlines how states can support dialogue initiatives while ensuring respect for human rights, even-handedness, and transparency.
  4. Projects and Funding Calls: Practical advice is provided on designing funding calls and assessing applications to support dialogue initiatives effectively.
  5. Checklist for States: A practical checklist is included to guide states in their efforts to promote dialogue and joint action.

Methodology and Contributions

The guide is the result of extensive consultations with experts from various fields, including civil society representatives, academics, and government officials. Notable contributions came from members of the ODIHR panel of experts on freedom of religion or belief, who provided valuable insights and recommendations.

“Belief, Dialogue, and Security” serves as a vital resource for policymakers, religious leaders, and civil society actors committed to fostering interfaith dialogue and cooperation. By promoting respect for FoRB and other human rights, the guide aims to contribute to the creation of peaceful, pluralistic societies across the OSCE region. As the world grapples with the challenges of diversity, this publication stands as a beacon of hope for constructive engagement and mutual understanding.

Lebanon escalation: UN boosts support at border with Syria

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Lebanon escalation: UN boosts support at border with Syria

“Hundreds of vehicles are backed up in queues at the Syrian border; many people are also arriving on foot, carrying what they can,” UNHCR reported. “Large crowds, including women, young children and babies are waiting in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments.”

UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said that the news was “yet another ordeal for families” who had fled years of civil war in Syria, “only now to be bombed in the country where they sought shelter…The Middle East cannot afford a new displacement crisis. Let us not create one by forcing more people to abandon their homes.”

Mr. Grandi’s appeal follows heavy Israeli shelling of Lebanon on Monday that has killed at least 558 people – including children and women – and injured 1,835, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The strikes followed a weekend of rocket attacks on Israeli communities that came in response to last week’s extraordinary series of explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members – the latest deadly development linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the worsening humanitarian situation across Lebanon, requested by France, is due to take place on Wednesday night in New York. 

Leaving ‘by the minute’

More than 27,000 people have been displaced over the past 48 hours and people have been “abandoning their homes by the minute”, UNHCR said.

Latest UN data points to at least 90,530 newly displaced people in Lebanon in addition to the nearly 112,000 uprooted since October 2023.

Together with partners including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, the UN agency is present at the border crossings with Syria “providing food, water, blankets and mattresses to those arriving, and guiding them towards support available once in Syria”.

Lebanon hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees who left their country during the ongoing civil war which has left critical infrastructure in tatters and millions in need of assistance.

Mass displacement linked to war

In a situation update on the Lebanon crisis, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, noted that more than 110,000 people have already been displaced since October last year.

By late Tuesday evening, more than 25,000 people had found shelter in 130 new collective shelters, according to Government figures cited by OCHA. “The situation is fluid and the UN is working with national authorities and partners to track and register newly displaced people,” it said.

Other UN agencies supporting the relief effort include UNICEF, which has delivered 100 tons of emergency medical supplies to hospitals facing severe shortages “and will send more”.

$170 million needed to sustain support

The UN agency is also preparing to deliver food, water and essential supplies such as mattresses and hygiene kits to displaced families.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP), meanwhile, said that it was ready to provide daily hot meals for up to 100,000 people in shelters.

Sustaining these efforts will require funding of $170 million, the humanitarian agencies said.

Vehicles carrying families fleeing Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon arrive at the Syrian border on Tuesday.

Outrage at UN staff members killed

In a related development, the UN refugee agency expressed outrage and deep sadness at the killing of two staff members in the Lebanon strikes.

The first victim, Dina Darwiche, died along with her youngest son after the building where she lived with her family in east Lebanon was hit by an Israeli missile on Monday. Their bodies were recovered on Tuesday, her husband and one of their children sustained serious injuries and are being treated in hospital.

Ali Basma, the second victim, had worked for the UN agency in the city of Tyre for seven years. He was confirmed dead on Monday, UNHCR said, before expressing its outrage at the deaths.

“The protection of civilians is a must, and we reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for urgent de-escalation, and calls on all parties to protect civilians, including aid workers, in line with obligations under international humanitarian law,” the UN agency said.

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Sudan war: ‘Horror’ grows as reports of summary executions emerge

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United Nations News
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Sudan war: ‘Horror’ grows as reports of summary executions emerge

The warning on Thursday comes as the SAF launched a major offensive last month to regain control of key areas currently held by the RSF. The two armies led by rival generals have been locked in a brutal power struggle since April 2023.

The fighting has driven more than 11 million people from their homes in Sudan, including around 2.9 million forced into neighbouring countries as refugees. Together with climate shocks and devastating disasters, the fighting has destroyed countless livelihoods, plunging the country into a deep hunger crisis.

September offensive

According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, the latest offensive, which started on 25 September, has involved SAF airstrikes and artillery targeting RSF positions, particularly around major entry points to the capital Khartoum, including the strategically important Halfaya Bridge.

These attacks have reportedly resulted in dozens of civilian casualties and severe damage to essential infrastructure.

Radhouane Nouicer, the Expert designated by the UN High Commissioner for Human on the situation in Sudan, said the escalation in greater Khartoum “echoed the horrors” of the initial period of the conflict in April 2023.

It could result in a large number of civilian casualties among people trapped next to strategic locations, serious human rights violations and massive displacement, he warned.

Summary executions

As fighting rages, the UN-designated expert highlighted disturbing reports of the summary execution of dozens of young men, particularly from the Halfaya neighborhood in Khartoum-North (Bahri). Up to 70 young men are believed to have been killed in recent days.

Allegedly, these executions were carried out by SAF forces and the Al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, a militia that has voiced support for the SAF.

“Videos circulating in media have shown the bodies of young men, purportedly killed based on suspicion of affiliation or collaboration with the RSF. This is beyond despicable and contravenes all human rights norms and standards,” the expert said.

One video reportedly showed armed men in SAF uniforms stating they are from Khartoum-North and that they had killed six men accused of looting.

Wars have rules

Mr. Nouicer called for all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights laws, emphasizing the need to protect civilians from arbitrary executions and violence.

He also urged a swift, independent investigation into the killings, with those responsible being held accountable under international standards.

“Even in war, there are rules,” Mr. Nouicer said, stressing that impunity for such acts must end immediately.

UN-designated expert

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights appointed Mr. Nouicer, a Tunisian national, as his Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Sudan in December 2022, succeeding Adama Dieng.

This followed a Human Rights Council resolution that requested the UN rights chief “designate without delay” an expert to monitor the situation in Sudan since the military takeover of 25 October 2021 until the restoration of its civilian-led Government, in cooperation and engagement with UN offices, civil society and national stakeholders.

There are similar designated experts for the rights situation in Haiti and Colombia.

The UN-designated experts are different from Special Rapporteurs and independent working groups, who are mandated and appointed directly by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

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GHRD’s UN Side Event: Human Rights in Pakistan

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On October 2, 2024, GHRD hosted a side event at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The event was chaired by GHRD’s Mariana Mayor Lima and featured three key speakers: Professor Nicolas Levrat, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Ammarah Balouch, Sindhi lawyer, activist and UN Women UK delegate, and Jamal Baloch, a political activist from Balochistan and previous victim of an enforced disappearance orchestrated by the Pakistani State.

Professor Levrat highlighted that, while human rights are formally universal, they are not de facto enjoyed equally in all countries, which is also the case in Pakistan. He emphasized that it is first and foremost the responsibility of States who are signatories to human rights treaties to implement their obligations and thereby guarantee human rights. Each treaty has its own treaty body which reports to the Human Rights Council. Additionally, there is the Universal Periodic Review, which allows the Human Rights Council to go beyond human rights as specifically stipulated in the treaties, and the special procedures, most prominently the UN Special Rapporteurs and other independent experts who can conduct country-specific or thematic investigations. Professor Levrat’s mandate derives from Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which lays down States’ obligation to respect and protect minorities in their country. In his function, he has recently met the permanent mission of Pakistan in Geneva and requested access for a country visit. Beyond this, Professor Levrat highlighted that NGOs play a pivotal role in protecting human rights through awareness raising, alerting and documenting, but also through the exchange of best practices.

Ammarah Balouch presented the alarming reality of forced conversions and marriages of Sindhi girls in Pakistan. In the year 2018 alone, there have been at least 1,000 cases of abducted Sindhi girls who were forced to convert to Islam and subsequently married. Generally, an estimated 40% of Pakistani girls are married below the age of 18. On top of being members of religious minorities, the victims often come from economically marginalized backgrounds. The cases show gender, class and socio-economic status are deeply entangled with religion when it comes to violations of human rights of Sindhis. Furthermore, girls and their families face serious obstacles in accessing justice due to biases in the police and judiciary. To end the practice of forced conversion and marriage, Ammarah Balouch emphasized that the Sindh Criminal Law Protection of Minorities Bill needs finally to be passed into law and wide-spread education is needed to reform cultural and societal attitudes.

The last presentation was given by Jamal Baloch who delivered a strong testimony on the practice of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Enforced disappearances are prominently used to silence political dissent and those speaking out in favor of human rights. Like his father before him, at the age of 17 Jamal Baloch was arbitrarily arrest, detained and tortured for his work as a human rights defender, which has left him with a significant trauma. He described enforced disappearances as an inhuman practice, mostly targeting young activists and students of the Baloch community who speak up for their people’s right to self-determination in order to make them withdraw their beliefs. Apart from the dehumanization in detention, the families of disappeared persons are often humiliated. Just yesterday, a group of five students as young as 13 was forcibly disappeared. According to Jamal Baloch, the situation is especially dire because the voices of victims cannot be heard due to the recent media blackout.

The panel concluded that there is an urgent need for cooperation between different minorities in Pakistan who find their human rights violated. In addition to urging States parties to human rights treaties to uphold their obligations, it is of vital importance for human rights defenders and NGOs to promote the universality of human rights. Lastly, accountability for perpetrators needs to be ensured by the international community, to the extent of which an independent UN fact-finding mission should be established and the request of the Special Rapporteur answered in the positive.

A heartfelt appeal for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East

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COMECE
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A heartfelt appeal for peace in the Holy Land and all the Middle East

COMECE // In light of the tragic anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, and in the face of the exceptionally grave humanitarian crisis in the region, alongside the dangerous Middle Eastern political dynamics involving an increasing number of actors, COMECE issues the following statement from its President, H.E. Mgr. Mariano Crociata, on Thursday, 3 October 2024.

“On behalf of the Bishops of COMECE, I wish to express our deepest concern about the vortex of violence that has engulfed the Holy Land, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East in recent months. Each day brings the risk of further escalation, intensification and expansion of the conflict across the region, threatening the dignity, lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.

As we approach the tragic anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks on the Israeli people, we cannot fail to reiterate our great sorrow over the devastating waves of violence that the Holy Land and the Middle East region have witnessed in these past twelve months. This has not only resulted in an exceptionally grave humanitarian crisis and inconceivable human suffering in all communities, but also generated dangerous regional political dynamics involving an increasing number of actors.

This situation is source of grave concern to us also for its repercussions in Europe and in the world. The resurgence of anti-Semitism, radicalisation and xenophobia not only threatens social cohesion, but also leads to deplorable acts of violent extremism and terrorism.

Echoing the repeated peace appeals of Pope Francis, we urge all conflict parties, as well as all persons and groups inciting violence, to refrain from any actions that could lead to further escalation and polarisation.

We call for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts and for respect of international and humanitarian law. We appeal for the necessary protection of civilians, hospitals, schools and places of worship, as well as the release of all hostages and safe, unhindered humanitarian access.

The European Union, together with other regional and international actors, is called to pursue with determination the dialogue with all conflict parties in view of a just and lasting peace. This should include renewed diplomatic efforts towards a two-state solution, one Israeli and one Palestinian, as well as an internationally guaranteed special status for the City of Jerusalem, so that all Israelis and Palestinians may finally live in dignity, security and peace.”

We invite all people of good will to join the appeal of Pope Francis to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the world on Monday, 7 October 2024. In view of this occasion, on which the Catholic Church prays in a particular way to Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, we wish to share the following prayer for peace proposed by H.Em. Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem:

Prayer for peace

Lord our God,
Father of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and Father of all mankind,
Who in the cross of Your Son
and through the gift of His own life,
at great cost You wished to destroy
the wall of enmity and hostility
that separates peoples and makes us enemies:
Send into our hearts
the gift of the Holy Spirit,
that He may purify us from every feeling
of violence, hatred and revenge,
enlighten us to understand
the irrepressible dignity
of every human person,
and inflame us to the point of consumption
for a peaceful and reconciled world
in truth and justice,
in love and freedom.
Almighty and eternal God,
in Your hands are the hopes of men
and the rights of every people:
Assist with Your wisdom those who govern us,
so that, with Your help,
they will become sensitive to the sufferings of the poor
and of those who suffer the consequences
of violence and war;
may they promote the common good and lasting peace
in our region
and throughout the earth.
Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope,
obtain the gift of peace
for the Holy Land that gave birth to you
and for the whole world. Amen.

OSCE Workshop Tackles Rising Drug Crisis Among Youth in Central Asia

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girl in pink hair doll
Photo by Matteo Badini on Unsplash

Dushanbe, Tajikistan – 3 October 2024 – In an urgent response to the escalating drug crisis impacting youth across Central Asia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) convened a regional workshop focusing on the prevention of drug use and the supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The two-day event, held on 2 and 3 October, brought together over 40 experts, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals from various Central Asian nations, alongside representatives from several international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union.

During the workshop’s opening session, Maksudjon Duliyev, the head of the UNODC office in Tajikistan, expressed grave concerns regarding the global drug crisis, citing the latest World Drug Report, which revealed that 292 million people worldwide engage in drug use, yet only one in eleven individuals with drug use disorders receives adequate treatment. “Behind these numbers are real lives—families forever changed by this crisis,” Duliyev stated, underscoring the human toll of the epidemic.

Duliyev further highlighted the rising threat from NPS, reporting that 566 new substances were identified globally in 2022, with 44 classified as new, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention strategies targeting vulnerable youth populations.

Ambassador Willy Kempel, head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, reiterated the gravity of the situation, linking it to established drug production and smuggling routes originating from neighboring Afghanistan. “The critical need for regional collaboration cannot be overstated,” Kempel remarked, emphasizing the necessity of cultivating ongoing cooperation efforts to combat the drug crisis effectively.

Addressing the same issues, Miguel de Domingo, Head of Unit for Security, Peace, and Development at the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), pointed to the rapid proliferation of NPS as a new challenge for public health. “The role of digital platforms in the distribution of NPS is particularly concerning,” de Domingo noted, calling for increased monitoring and regulation to curb the growing influence of these substances among young people.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions surrounding various pertinent topics, including emerging trends in drug trafficking, risk and protective factors influencing NPS use, and the critical role of international cooperation in establishing early warning systems and rapid response strategies. The emphasis on evidence-based prevention programs tailored specifically for young people was a focal point of many discussions, illustrating a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic.

The event concluded with a call for joint efforts and sustained cooperation across countries to effectively mitigate the threats posed by NPS and other illicit drugs. As Central Asia grapples with this pressing issue, the urgency for collaborative action and innovative prevention strategies has never been clearer, promising a more cautious future for the region’s youth.

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