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Sexual violence and rape as abuses of power in Russia’s war on Ukraine

By
Willy Fautre
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FEMM Committee - Hearing: on 'Sexual violence and rape as abuses of power'

Presentation at the hearing “Sexual violence and rape as abuses of power” held by the FEMM Committee of the European Parliament on 13 October by Willy Fautré, Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF).

The panellists were

Ms Katarzyna KOZLOWSKA, social activist, founder and President of the #SayStop Foundation

Dr. Branka ANTIC-STAUBER, collaboration with Organisations supporting victims of sexual violence in Bosnia

Mr Willy FAUTRÉ, Director and Co-Founder of Human Rights Without Frontiers

Opening: Vice-Chair MEP Radka Maxovà

Official pictures of the event here

HRWF (14.10.2022) – Abuse of power leading to sexual violence and rape has many facets and can take place in many contexts. Within the family, in the professional context, in a religious context, in the world of sports, in the economic and political world. Another area of abuse of power and extreme brutality, but in wartime now, concerns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where a foreign occupation army uses its power to commit massive exactions, including sexual violence and rape.

Sexual abuse, violence and rape in Ukraine in wartime

For more than 230 days, allegations of sexual violence by Russian troops in Ukraine have been dramatically mounting. At this stage, it is difficult to have even a rough estimate of the number of cases due to several factors, despite the intense work of the ICC and UN bodies.

It is already difficult for a victim in times of peace to reveal such a traumatizing experience. So, you can imagine the mindset of such victims in wartime. It means that testimonies collected by the UN, the ICC or the Red Cross will only represent a tiny portion of the magnitude of the tragedy. A huge number of cases will fall through the cracks as many women fled to EU countries, were displaced internally or were deported to Russia in unknown conditions. Moreover, the war is still raging in the occupied territories on Ukraine.

The fraught nature of sexual atrocities, which are historically underreported, means that in Ukraine it will be a long time before the full scale of the problem is clear. The small towns in the suburbs of Kyiv that are already known to the world for the widespread killing of civilians — Bucha, Borodyanka and Irpin — are haunted by tales of rape, too. Ukrainian officials and activists have also heard many accounts of sexual atrocities from regions that remain under occupation today.

In such conditions, collecting reliable data is extremely hard. In Ukrainian society, and especially in rural areas, sexual crimes are so stigmatized that victims fear being judged by their social environment. It is usually the victim’s relatives and friends who seek help on the victim’s behalf.

Position of the UN and other institutions on sexual violence and rape in Ukraine

Despite all the difficulties that have been mentioned, it is obvious that Russian soldiers are using rape as a tactic of war. This was clearly confirmed by Pramila Patten, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, when she briefed the UN Security Council on 6 June after her visit to Ukraine in early May.

Since 24 February, Pramila Patten has issued three public statements “to ensure that this issue is not shrouded in silence or normalized by impunity”. She has also urged all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians from sexual violence.

“Too often have the needs of women and girls in conflict settings been side-lined and treated as an afterthought,” she said.

She also warned against waiting too long to act, saying

“An active battle-ground is never conducive to accurate ‘book-keeping’ […] if we wait for hard data and statistics, it will always be too late,”

and she called on the international community to mobilize immediately.

Information from the field and statistics provided by investigating institutions are indeed scarce and fragmented.

As of 3 June, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had received reports of 124 alleged acts of conflict-related sexual abuse across Ukraine — mostly against women and girls, and I would dare say only 124.

In June, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) released a report covering the period from 24 February until 15 May 2022 in which Matilda Bogner, the head of the UN body, noted that she had received numerous allegations and had been able to verify 23 cases of conflict-related sexual violence, including cases of rape, gang rape, torture, forced public stripping, and threats of sexual violence.

Natalia Karbowska, Co-Founder and Director of Strategic Development for the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, testified before the UN Security Council that

“Although the full scale of conflict-related sexual violence is not yet known, human rights activists and law enforcement agencies estimate that hundreds of cases have been committed not just against women and girls, but also men and boys and people of other gender identities.”

La Strada Ukraine, a well-known human rights organization, has been receiving calls about incidents of sexual crimes since early March. In the first two months of the war, they said they learned about 17 victims: one man and 16 women, three of whom were teenagers.

According to Iuliia Anosova, a lawyer with the group, they collected, from their hotline, stories about groups of soldiers committing rapes in front of onlookers.

The  Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has also reported cases of conflict-related sexual violence, particularly rape and forced nudity, across the country, noting that these assaults often take place in conjunction with other crimes, including killings.

Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflicts, concluded her report at the United Nations in June by saying:

“We do not need hard data for a scaled-up humanitarian response, nor for all parties to put in place preventive measures.”

Against that backdrop, she urged humanitarian actors to prioritize support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Ukraine cooperates with the UN

On 3 May, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna signed the “Framework of Cooperation with the United Nations on the Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence.”

Five critical areas are highlighted in the Framework and can be used as guidelines for the current and future management of sexual violence and rape:

  • First, strengthening rule of law and accountability as a central aspect of deterrence and prevention of crimes of sexual violence. 
  • Second, strengthening the capacity of the security and defence sector to prevent sexual violence.  
  • Third, ensuring that survivors of sexual violence, as well as their children, have access to adequate services, including sexual and reproductive health, psychological, legal, and socioeconomic services and reintegration support.  
  • Fourth, ensuring that sexual violence is addressed in the framework of any ceasefire agreement, and ensuring that amnesties for sexual violence crimes are explicitly prohibited.  
  • And fifth, addressing conflict-related trafficking in persons for the purposes of sexual exploitation or prostitution.

The legal frameworks exist, the policies based on past experience in other conflict settings exist, the political will exists to seek, provide and analyze evidence, and the prosecution mechanisms exist. Impunity cannot and should not prevail even if it takes years or decades to identify, hunt and arrest the perpetrators as it was the case with the Nazi criminals of WWII.

(First published at HRWF.EU)

UN Development Programme calls for debt relief now for 54 countries

By
United Nations News
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© UNDP - Rich countries have the resources to end the debt crisis, which has deteriorated rapidly in part as a consequence of their own domestic policies
© UNDP - Rich countries have the resources to end the debt crisis, which has deteriorated rapidly in part as a consequence of their own domestic policies
Fifty-four countries that are home to more than half of the poorest people on the planet need urgent debt relief now, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a paper published on Tuesday that calls for rich countries to step up.

Without action, poverty will rise and desperately needed investments in climate adaptation and mitigation simply will not happen, the agency warned.

‘Small pill’ to swallow 

It explains why debt restructuring cannot wait until interest rates drop, or a global recession occurs. 

“Debt relief would be a small pill for wealthy countries to swallow, yet the cost of inaction is brutal for the world’s poorest. We cannot afford to repeat the mistake of providing too little relief, too late, in managing the developing economy debt burden,” said Achim Steiner, the UNDP Administrator. 

The 54 countries with severe debt problems include 28 of the top 50 most climate-vulnerable nations in the world.   

Although they are home to more than half of the world’s poorest people, they represent little more than three percent of the global economy.  

Potential debt deal 

The paper outlines several policy actions for debt restructuring, noting that a deal could be on the horizon.  

Markets conditions around the globe are shifting rapidly. UNDP said volatility is being fuelled by “a synchronized fiscal and monetary contraction”, along with low growth. 

Currently, nearly 20 developing countries are now paying more than 10 percentage points over United States Treasury bond rates to borrow money on capital markets.  

At the same time, holders of many developing economy bonds report they are trading at deep discounts ranging from between 40 to 60 cents on the dollar. 

Conditions favour negotiations 

A debt deal might now be possible, UNDP said, as these conditions encourage private creditors to negotiate debt relief under a Common Framework elaborated by the G20 group of countries, the world’s largest economies. 

“When emerging market bonds trade at 40 cents on the dollar, private creditors suddenly become more open to negotiation. The missing ingredient, at this moment, are financial assurances from major creditor governments to clinch a deal,” said George Gray Molina, Senior Economist at UNDP. 

Rich countries have the resources to end the debt crisis, the paper argues, as the rapid deterioration is partly due to their own domestic policies.  

This week, G20 finance ministers will meet in Washington, DC, ahead of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  

UNDP believes conditions are ripe for creditors and debtors to kickstart debt restructuring talks under the G20 framework. 

The paper proposes a way forward, focused on key areas such as debt sustainability analysis, official creditor coordination, private creditor participation, and the use of state-contingent debt clauses that target future economic and fiscal resilience.  

Climate funding needed 

Furthermore, the Common Framework could shift focus to comprehensive restructurings that will allow countries a faster return to growth, financial markets, and development progress. 

UNDP pointed out that effective debt restructuring is only one vital element of ensuring developing countries have sufficient finances to achieve progress on sustainable development.  

New sources of funding are urgently needed, the agency said, for investments in climate adaptation and mitigation.

UN Committee issue recommendations for children with mental health problems in Germany

By
Torsten Hjelmar
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three boys running on field

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child completed its review on the implementation of human rights for children in Germany. The Committee issued updated Recommendations to be implemented in the next five years. The Recommendations touch on all aspects of children’s rights, from civil rights and liberties of children to how to appropriately deal with children struggling with ADHD or behavioural issues.

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC). The UN CRC is the most important international human rights instrument for children. It sets out the main, globally valid, rights of children, including the right to protection against violence, the right to education, participation and equal treatment and the right to leisure time, relaxation and play. These rights are universal, which means they apply to all children. 192 countries – almost every country in the world – have signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Every five years the implementation of these rights set out in the Convention is reviewed for each country having ratified the convention. Next in line was Germany. In 2019 the German Federal state cabinet approved a report prepared by its central administration reporting on the progress made in Germany. The report was submitted to the UN CRC Committee in 2020 and was then followed by a review, questions and answers and supplemented by further information from Civil society, and the German Institute for Human Rights.

In September the German state party then met with the UN CRC Committee in Geneve, and during a full day’s meeting had an intensive dialogue on the implementation of human rights for children in Germany, as of today.

One of the issues considered was mental health. The UN CRC Committee already during the last review of Germany in 2014 had raised a concern “about the increase in the prescription of psycho-stimulants to children and about excessive diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), and in particular:

(a)      The over prescription of the psycho-stimulant methylphenidate;

(b)      The forced removal of children who are diagnosed/misdiagnosed with ADHD or ADD from their families and their subsequent placement in foster care or psychiatric hospitals, where many of them are treated with psychotropic medication.”

The UN CRC Committee with this concern issued recommendations to deal with the matter. These resulted in many actions taken in Germany. It was now time to consider the results.

As part of the questions raised during the September 2022 meeting, UN CRC Committee Experts raised the question on ADHD overdiagnosing and use of psychotropic drugs in Germany in present time.

The German Representative of the Ministry of Health as part of the German state party delegation to the UN CRC meeting answered the question. The representative confirmed this had been an issue with the German Federal government.

She added that “we looked in to this and there were many measures taken for example information and awareness raising campaigns for specialists and local population and the clinical guidelines were further developed and made more tangible. As a result, the prescription of stimulants has gone down in 2014-2018, there was a reduction of approximately 40 percent.”

The representative added in concluding this issue, that “The government therefore is not assuming that ADHD is systematically overdiagnosed in Germany at present.”

The UN CRC Committee experts noted this, and issued a new relevant recommendation to Germany considering all the information available.

The UN CRC Committee recommends that Germany:

”(a) Strengthen efforts to improve children’s mental well-being, including by developing community-based mental health services and counselling and preventive work in schools, homes and alternative care facilities;
(b) Ensure the early and independent assessment of any initial diagnosis of mental health problems, ADHD and other behavioural issues, and provide such children, their parents and teachers with appropriate non-medical, scientifically-based psychiatric counselling and specialist support.””

It gives Germany the steps to take over the next five years to continue the implementation of human rights for children.

Look to the sky with Supa Philly – Awesome UFO prog rock!

By
Bro O'Sullivan
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Look to the sky with Supa Philly – Awesome UFO prog rock!

I don’t know if you’ve ever been a fan of Yes, Marillion, or even Genesis, back in the times. I was. And today, I’m not coming with newcomers, but with old timers that I think deserve a big round of applause for their last release “Look To The Sky – Philly Mix”. Their name: Supa Philly. And it has that flavour of the 70’s neo prog rock that I always liked a lot.

Their name tells you where they’re from. For those who are not completely awake this morning: Philadelphia. It’s not a new band, but a legendary band formed in the 70s, made of crazy musicians used to record with The Who, perform with The Monkees, James Taylor, and others that young folks have never heard of and that’s a shame. They separated and re-formed several times; and today, since 2021 (their last re-formation) the band consists of four original members, David Christopher, Frank McDonnell, Randy Cantor, and Dick Sherwood, plus a great female singer, Michele Ricco.

Now, why would I bother you with such dinosaurs, you may tell me. Why, because they are good, and you love good music! But just before to talk music, let’s talk about the meaning of the song. Because it’s not a song that comes from nowhere. It’s about UFO. Yes, UFO, you heard me. The guys were already there in the 70s, and back then (even in the 80s), everybody knew that UFO was no BS. Minds were open (too much sometimes), and eyes were looking for life everywhere. “Look to the Sky” (the title of the song I will share today) refers to that day of 1978 when Frank McDonnell and Dick Sherwood saw a black, triangular aircraft floating across the Atlantic City Expressway at 3 am. I’ve no idea if they were on drugs that night (so many were), but I’ve no reason to disbelieve what they say that they’ve seen. And they took it sufficiently seriously to have already recorded two songs about it, that one being the third.

The idea of the track: maybe if those people coming from elsewhere (the big space) would land on Earth and decide to stay, they’d be able to bring peace by having “the planet reunite”. That may sound a bit unreal or even a weird utopia. It’s not. As science-fiction literature has always been a vector of progress and helped the creation of new realities, that kind of songs also brings about new realities. The mere idea that things could be different can make the whole difference in that world. Well, that’s my experience, and I always thank the artists, the dreamers of Earth, as if they were not here, the world would stay grim forever.

The song is a masterpiece of prog-rock, with some flavors (and more than flavors) of Gospel pop-rock. The singers have incredible voices, and as the band says, they sing without auto-tunes, they play real instruments, and they are definitely not washed up.

It’s a great composition with excellent arrangements, and honestly, it’s the kind of rock music that helps you elevate and rise to better moods. You should… You MUST listen to it:

And of course you can listen to it in the New Rock Gems Spotify playlist or your favorite blogger:

Maxette Pirbakas: Redefining Political Priorities, A Path Forward for France and Over Seas

By
Maxette Pirbakas
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In January 2022, as the first RN (Rassemblement National – National Rally) MEP from overseas France, I conducted a disillusioned assessment of my work within the Identity & Democracy group. I highlighted the disparity between the official discourse, which was highly favourable to the French overseas territories, and the reality of certain votes that diverged significantly from the interests of our 2.2 million compatriots residing in the “outermost regions.” Consequently, I decided to depart from the Identity & Democracy Group and sit as an unaffiliated member. This choice entailed the loss of several political advantages but allowed me to rekindle my fundamental values: freedom from any “voting discipline” and the vital freedom of speech necessary for my full engagement in the causes close to my heart.

Simultaneously, I announced my endorsement for Éric Zemmour’s presidential candidacy.

This endorsement was unconditionally given, devoid of ulterior motives, and solely motivated by Éric Zemmour’s declared ambition to champion greater France, a France that doesn’t view its 12 overseas territories as historical burdens but as treasures to be polished. Éric Zemmour shared my conviction that there is a far better path for our overseas territories and their inhabitants than keeping them mired in poverty and welfare. At that time, I was convinced by his sincere and proactive message, which I saw as an enormous opportunity to gain the trust of territories that had previously held the national right in suspicion.

I experienced this presidential campaign with fervour and enthusiasm. I am profoundly grateful to Éric Zemmour for affording me the opportunity to witness the extraordinary atmosphere at his massive rallies. I encountered remarkable and selfless campaigners, deeply committed to our country’s future. This passionate grassroots base was characterized by kindness and attentiveness. Éric Zemmour deserves significant credit for uniting more goodwill and talent than the national right had ever assembled.

However, the final outcome failed to meet our expectations. In the overseas territories, despite a substantial number of activists and the valiant efforts of dedicated regional delegates, our political message remained unheard. How could it be heard when the candidate made no visits to the overseas territories? How could it be heard when the numerous proposals I submitted to the candidate were never translated into a comprehensive program? How could it be heard when the detailed plan I had crafted for overseas France was printed only 10 days before the first round, relegating it to insignificance?

I lament the fact that Éric Zemmour’s only significant presence in overseas France occurred during an interview with Outre-mer la 1ère on March 22, 2022, when the candidate, inexplicably, referred to colonization as a “blessing.” While I have no doubt that Éric Zemmour loves the French overseas territories, as he has frequently stated, he seemingly lacks a deep understanding of them. Failing to acknowledge the suffering endured during the colonial era by the various peoples comprising the Overseas Territories, whether enslaved or not, is both a moral and political failing. My friends in the French Overseas Territories, although initially well-disposed toward him, were scandalized by this statement, and the last month of the campaign in the French Overseas Territories turned into a protracted ordeal. I was on the verge of retracting my support for Éric Zemmour upon hearing his words, and it was only my concern not to harm a candidate already in dire straits that kept me from doing so.

The conclusion of the presidential campaign marked the end of my association with Éric Zemmour. Despite overtures, I never entertained the idea of joining his party or becoming involved in its structures. I cherish my freedom too dearly, and I am deeply committed to defending the best interests of the overseas territories.

Today marks the commencement of a new chapter in my political journey. I have accepted the honour bestowed upon me by Christian Vanneste, the honorary president, to assume the role of President of the “Rassemblement pour la France”. As a staunch conservative with a profound attachment to tradition, I am acutely aware of the responsibility entrusted to me in leading a movement with such illustrious roots as those of General de Gaulle and Charles Pasqua.

I pledged to the RPF Steering Committee that I would unwaveringly adhere to the Gaullist and socialist principles embraced by the party. These principles align with the ideals I have consistently championed and are reflective of the contemporary needs that continue to underscore General de Gaulle’s vision. In addition to preserving this political legacy, I aspire to introduce a new dimension. I have come to realize that as French society becomes increasingly fragmented, two categories of French citizens are consistently overlooked: the 2.8 million French individuals residing overseas under often challenging conditions, and the 3.5 million French expatriates living abroad, whose extraordinarily diverse individual situations are inadequately addressed by public authorities.

Recognizing this neglect affecting nearly 10% of our fellow citizens, I proposed to the RFP Steering Committee a name change for the party, now to be known as the Rassemblement pour les Français d’Outre-mer et de l’Étranger (RPF-OME). This transformation, while fully embracing the Gaullist heritage of the RPF, signifies our openness to all French individuals, including those residing far from our borders.

This new RPF-OME will adopt an unequivocally constructive approach. Rejecting partisan politics, it will not succumb to the facile temptation of baseless criticism, vitriolic rhetoric, or sensationalism. It views public discourse not as a battleground for defeating opponents but as a platform for forging political compromises on issues that genuinely matter to the French people.

As President of the RPF-OME, I aim to be a valuable voice for our compatriots, particularly those who find themselves distant from the centre of public action and decision-making. In all circumstances, I will strive to make General de Gaulle’s adage my own: “Always occupy the highest position, as it is typically the least crowded.”

Post-pandemic recovery offers European cities chance to boost shift to sustainability — European Environment Agency

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Newsroom
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Post-pandemic recovery offers European cities chance to boost shift to sustainability — European Environment Agency


The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide-ranging impacts on cities and may influence the transition to more environmentally sustainable cities for years to come. Added to the pandemic are other pressing crises, including new, urgent European Union policies to tackle climate change and environmental degradation and the impacts of the war in Ukraine. These, along with the energy crisis, are contributing to accelerated action but also present new challenges to ensure ambitious urban sustainability targets stay on track, according to the EEA report ‘Urban sustainability in Europe — Post‑pandemic drivers of environmental transitions.’

The report is an update on a previous EEA report on urban sustainability and is linked to a series of related studies published in 2020-2021. It seeks to compare the experiences of cities immediately before the pandemic and as they emerge from it and to assess whether there are areas where the pandemic has already led to changes in key drivers of change as well as barriers, too. Research for the report included surveys and interviews involving 64 cities across Europe.

Among the key lessons outlined in the report, the study found that the pandemic highlighted social inequalities and the need that any shift to sustainability does not leave anyone behind. Cities will need to ensure new green policies do not further alienate certain social groups. The report highlights that transitions will need to be tailored to individual cities and their unique qualities and circumstances.

Trigger for action

According to survey results, the COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a significant trigger for environmental and sustainability efforts. The EEA report notes a shift since the pandemic, particularly around issues of sustainable mobility and green spaces. Related to this, public opinion and awareness of the environmental challenges faced also seems to be an important trigger as was the crucial role of political vision to drive sustainability action.

Air pollution, traffic, lack and loss of green space, severe storms and flooding, stormwater management and noise pollution were identified as the top six environmental challenges facing the cities in the survey and interviews. The lack and loss of green spaces was listed as the lowest challenge pre-pandemic.

Cities are also facing a wide range of socio-economic challenges. The top six most important challenges are apart from the prominence of the COVID-19 pandemic and other communicable diseases, lack of affordable housing, urban sprawl, road congestion, demographic change and social exclusion.

EEA’s work on urban sustainability

The report is part of a series of products the EEA has published over the past year on urban environmental sustainability. Work explored climate resilience, quality of life, accessibility, healthy environment, food security, circularity, clean energy and sustainable buildings — at urban level.

The main objectives of the latest report are to generate in-depth knowledge about the drivers and barriers to sustainability and explore how they may have been influenced by the pandemic, ongoing European recovery efforts and recent European policy shifts including the European Green Deal, the EU urban agenda, and NextGenerationEU.

The EEA report is published ahead of this year’s European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels which will include a focus on city green transitions. The Brussels event, which runs from 10-13 October, is dedicated to the EU’s cohesion policy and how it can make a difference in supporting a socially fair recovery and a successful green and digital transition.

 

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The EP called on the EU countries to provide housing for the Roma

By
Newsdesk
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The EP called on the EU countries to provide housing for the Roma

The European Parliament adopted a set of recommendations aimed at improving the precarious situation of Roma settlements in the EU.

The Roma, in all the diversity that the term encompasses, are the largest ethnic minority in Europe and face poverty and social exclusion in several Member States, MEPs said.

The main problems that need urgent attention are the lack of decent, desegregated housing, clean drinking water, electricity, sewage, wastewater and waste treatment facilities, and the continued discrimination and segregation of Roma children in schools. MEPs also highlighted the lack of healthcare, long-term unemployment, police abuses and inadequate access to justice.

To remedy this situation, the EP calls for short- and long-term strategies supported by sufficient funding from the EU and national funds, in particular the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national plans for recovery and resilience.

Member States should allocate funds at regional and local level to better respond to the immediate needs of Roma living in EU settlements. All obstacles, including direct and indirect forms of discrimination, which prevent the effective use of funds must be removed.

The Commission should set up an early warning mechanism to identify abuse or misuse of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and other EU funds meant to tackle the situation of Roma, MEPs say. They also urge the Commission to phase out marginalized Roma settlements across the EU by 2030. Including members of the Roma community who do quality social work in the settlements would be a way to persuade Roma to leave them.

MEPs call for children of Roma origin to be properly included in the national action plans under the European Guarantee for Children. The enhanced Youth Guarantee and Erasmus+ should be used to promote social cohesion and employment among Roma youth. They also believe that Roma participation and leadership should be a qualitative objective in national Roma strategic frameworks to promote social inclusion and democratic participation.

Finally, they point to the untapped potential of highly educated young Roma as an engine of positive change.

The resolution was adopted with 486 votes in favor, 109 votes against and 38 abstentions.

According to the European Union survey on minorities and discrimination, 63% of Roma are not in education, employment or training, while the EU average is 12%. 80% of Roma live below the poverty risk threshold in their country. 41% of Roma in the nine EU Member States covered by the EU-MIDIS II survey feel discriminated against because of their Roma origin in at least one area of ​​everyday life, such as job search, employment, housing, health and education. According to the European Union survey on minorities and discrimination, 63% of Roma are not in education, employment or training, while the EU average is 12%. 80% of Roma live below the poverty risk threshold in their country. 41% of Roma in the nine EU Member States covered by the EU-MIDIS II survey feel discriminated against because of their Roma origin in at least one area of ​​everyday life, such as job search, employment, housing, health and education.

Photo by cottonbro

Serious challenges in Europe’s agri-food systems

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Newsroom
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The need for a sustainable food system is already recognised in Europe, but in light of increased impacts of climate change and continued high emissions from agriculture, this shift must be accelerated, according to three related EEA briefings. The transformation of Europe’s agriculture sector and food system has never been more important amid the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and impacts of climate change, all of which raise concerns over food security and resilience.

‘Rethinking Agriculture’ looks at agriculture from different angles exploring the root causes of unsustainability and possible paths forward. The European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy treat agriculture as more than an economic sector: it also contributes to sustainability goals such as social well-being, ecosystem health, and food and nutrition security. But efficiency gains have not halted the degradation of the environment in Europe or globally, the report notes. Despite significant investment in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and other relevant EU policies, agriculture’s contribution to biodiversity loss, water overconsumption and greenhouse gas emissions continues. Notably on biodiversity, recent findings confirm the major roles climate change and intensive agriculture play in driving the decline of insect biodiversity worldwide. Moreover, rural abandonment and rural heritage loss are still challenges in Europe.

‘Reimagining the food system through social innovations’ examines how social innovation can play a pivotal role in transforming our food systems into ones that are economically and socially feasible and sustainable. The study offers insights into the experimentation taking place around alternative ways to produce, trade and consume food. It notes, however, that transforming production and consumption systems towards social, economic and environmental sustainability will require huge shifts in lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production. These changes are likely to disrupt existing investments, jobs and power structures as well.

Current efforts in the agriculture sector

While total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the EU have fallen by a third since 1990, reducing emissions in the agriculture sector has been a slower process and has largely stagnated since 2005. Between 1990 and 2000, the agriculture sector achieved a notable drop — of 15% — in emissions of two key greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide, stemming from animal and crop production. But the rates of reductions slowed after 2000 and have been almost stagnant since 2005.

Based on EU countries’ current policies and measures, this trend is projected to continue through 2040, with only a 1.5 % decrease expected between 2020 and 2040 according to the third EEA briefing ‘Progress and prospects for decarbonisation in the agriculture sector and beyond’. Policies and efficiency gains have reduced the emission intensities of some agricultural products, but this has been offset by an increase in agricultural production. Further emissions reductions can be achieved by addressing the full lifecycle of food production, including transport, packaging, food processing and retail.

Opportunities for change

The European Green Deal and its Farm to Fork Strategy contribute to sustainability goals such as social well-being, ecosystem health, and food and nutrition security and despite the challenges, diverse social innovations proliferate across the food chain, opening opportunities for change. They include experiments with new foods, products, services, and business and governance models. Social innovations include shorter food supply chains, community-supported agriculture, urban farming, plant-based nutrition, public procurement schemes, food waste solutions, food education and community-building initiatives.

The experiments vary in maturity and novelty but are often enabled by new technologies and partnerships. These should be encouraged as we phase out unsustainable models of producing, trading and consuming food. For policy makers, understanding what social innovations are emerging, who is driving them and their potential impacts are key first steps towards taking action that contributes to the sustainability of the food system.

The engagement of farmers, consumers and the other agri-food actors also needs to be ensured. Raising farmers’ awareness of their responsibilities and the technical possibilities for reducing in emissions will be key. Technical and financial support for investments and tailored advice at farm level are available under the Common Agricultural Policy. Yet, achieving changes in agri-food systems also requires moving beyond questions of ‘how’ to farm. Engaging with a broad range of actors in society in exploring new ways of production and consumption is crucial for achieving resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

Responsibility for a successful shift towards climate neutrality is not only up to farmers, but it must also include consumers and other agri-food actors. Implementing circular economy actions across the full value chain could help further reduce GHG emissions in the agri-food system. The potential for waste reduction, the reuse and recycling of materials and greater circularity start in the design phase; next, this persists through the production, consumption and waste management phases of the agri-food life cycle. 

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Amharas, The occulted ongoing genocide in Ethiopia

By
Robert Johnson
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Amharas, The occulted ongoing genocide in Ethiopia

Article Interview Robert Johnson

At a time when peace talks are in progress between the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan rebels, the systematic and intentional massacre of Ethiopia’s oldest ethnic group, the Amharas, continues to be perpetrated with utter indifference.

While international institutions and the high names of the civil society denounce the exactions perpetrated in Ethiopia during this conflict, NGOs such as Stop Amhara Genocide are dedicated to denouncing the unspoken horror of what can unquestionably be called, according to the official criteria used by the international community and experts, a genocide.

Yodith 2022 1024x1024 - Amharas: The occulted ongoing genocide in Ethiopia
Yodith Gideon : Human Rights Advocate / Founder & Director of Stop Amhara Genocide · Stop Amhara Genocide

Stop Amhara Genocide is established in Switzerland to fight against the genocide and all forms of discrimination against the Amhara people in Ethiopia. Stop Amhara Genocide works with other human rights NGOs to create awareness within the international community about the ongoing Amhara Genocide and stop these atrocities. Stop Amhara Genocide is an international association which was established in June 2021 when the genocide was at its peak following the scaled-up simultaneous mass killings in many regions under the Oromo-dominated Prosperity Party ruling began in 2018. Under the Tigray TPLF apartheid-type regime Amharas endured 27-years of many forms of massacres, disappearances, and systematic destructive measures taken against the Amhara people. The regime change in 2018 and subsequent war with the TPLF expanded the regions and volume of the Amhara mass killings in various places: Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz and Metekel, Tigray, the southern SNNPR, and the Amhara regions. However, the international community and media chose not to report on this genocide which prompted human rights activists to join their force and create the Stop Amhara Genocide Association. Director and founding member of the Association Ms Yodith Gideon is at the helm of the Association since the creation of the Association while the Association has board members from various countries including Rwanda and France.

The core of the Stop Amhara Genocide Association’s mission is to advocate within the United Nations, European Union, and African Union to put pressure on member states and the different human rights institutions to take action to stop the Amhara Genocide.

Since its inception, the Association has been involved in various international advocacy campaigns including canvassing in the streets of Switzerland to create awareness among the community about the ongoing Amhara Genocide. During the campaigns, our volunteers distributed flyers depicting some of the brutal contents of the Genocide. The Association also held press conferences with Brussels Press Club, Frankfurt Press Club and Suisse Press Club.

Furthermore, in an effort to maximise its reach, the Association has an ongoing collaboration with several human rights advocacy NGOs with which the Association was able to publish and distribute several articles and reports to the international community. Recently, the Stop Amhara Genocide Association participated in a hunger strike in London and Paris to protest against the ongoing Amhara Genocide and the grave human rights violations perpetrated by the Ethiopian government.

The European Times journalist spoke to the Stop Amhara Genocide spokesperson.

Interview

Robert Johnson: There is campaigns on tweeter about Genocide in Ethiopia, like #StateSponsoredAmharaGenocide or #StopAmharaGenocide, but the broader world has not heard about the genocide in Ethiopia. Why is that?

Stop Amhara Genocide : One of the most serious human rights violations taking place now in the 21st century, is in Ethiopia. And yet the mainstream media and international human rights organizations who are responsible organizations to inform the international community have refused to report in the manner that the situation demands. This refusal to report these extreme human rights violations and name them as Genocide and request the UN to investigate the cases with the intention to bring the perpetrators of this crime to the International Criminal Court (ICC) has not happened despite the fact that the Genocide has been taking place for over 4 years as a well-planned operation with an established goal.

RJ: Genocide is a very grave crime. Do you believe that your contention fulfils the requirements established by the United Nations Convention?

Stop Amhara Genocide: Europe is fully aware of what genocide is because it experienced it during the 2nd World War. Today, seventy years after the holocaust and 29 years after the Rwandan genocide, Amharas in Ethiopia are systematically being killed in the most heinous way. When we say heinous, we mean slaughtered like animals, raped in public and in full view of family members, burnt alive, hanged upside down, cannibalized and men organs used as trophies and used as necklaces etc.

We know what Genocide means. We have studied it and discussed it with eminent lawyers and experts in this matter. “To constitute genocide there must be a proven intent on the part of the perpetrators to physically destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group “.

There are enough proofs necessary for the International Criminal Court to prove that the Amharas are being killed tortured and displaced for who they are. While the member organizations who are responsible could easily prove this by opening an investigation, they have refused to do that.

Today as we speak, hundreds are being killed and displaced and no member of the international community or member states of the UN are talking about it seriously, which leads us to a very likely conclusion of conspiracy to hide this truth.

We are here to tell you the truth and to ask you to pressure your governments to conduct their own investigation and also allow us to submit to them our own overwhelming evidence.

RJ: Why do you believe that the Ethiopian government leader Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is involved?

Stop Amhara Genocide: What is happening in Ethiopia is a state-sponsored terrorism led by the Prime Minister who refuses to prevent the Genocide and instead on days when Genocide are committed, goes to exercise his erratic behaviour of planting trees when he should be condemning these criminal actions. When he was asked why he goes out to plant trees instead of condemning the Genocide and grieving the dead and the survivors, he famously answered in parliament: “These plants will be shades to the dead”.

The death of Amharas has become so routine that it has stopped being a subject for discussion by the international community.

RJ: How do you compare it with the Rwandan genocide?

Stop Amhara Genocide: Those who have witnessed the genocide in Rwanda state that, though, the Ethiopian case has not yet reached a million like Rwanda, in its intensity and in the way, people are killed and tortured, the Amhara cases far exceed the limits of inhumanity that has ever been experienced since the Second World War.

It is similar to the Rwandan genocide because this is a genocide committed with a clear strategy of eliminating the Amharas to ensure the dominance of Oromos led by non-other than Prime Minister Abiy. In the case of Rwanda, it was the clear dominance of the minority (Tutsis) that became the root cause of the genocide.

The actors of the Genocide in Ethiopia have mixed motives targeting people of Amhara ethnic origin including Christians, Muslims and Jews, and especially Orthodox Christians. The majority of the armed groups mobilize from region to region with the collaboration of local government officials, and are from these groups:

  1. The Oromo OLF-OLA perpetrators are also known as Shane or Shene or Oneg;
  2. The Tigray TPLF or TDF and Samri youth groups in the annexed Amhara regions, and various places in the Amhara region;
  3. The Gumuz extremist of the Benishangul-gumuz & Metekel region
  4. Various actors carried out attacks on Amharas in the Southern SNNPR region and other places.

RJ: What are you asking and expecting from the international community?

Stop Amhara Genocide: We ask the international community a simple question: Would you please send investigative team to the places specified in our documents and find out the truth for yourself?

The government will certainly not cooperate, but the international community has to get the mandate or demand that the previous mandate issued by the Human Rights Council which relates exclusively to the war in the North which began November of 2020, to include all the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the TPLF and the Genocide which takes place particularly in the Oromia region, since this Prime Minister came to power 4 years ago.

To better understand what is really occurring to the Amhara people in Ethiopia, and whether the qualification of genocide is appropriate in this case, read the article published by expert Dawit W. Giorgis where he gives his insightful views on this controversial issue. 

M. Dawit W Giorgis worked in Angola during the war, in Rwanda immediately after the genocide in the recovery phase, he was in Liberia after the 14 years’ war during the recovery phase, he was in Darfur during the genocide, in South Sudan during the war, in Central Africa Republic during the internal war, in Uganda studying the war launched by the Lords army resistance , in Mali during the war launched by the terrorists (jihadists), in Madagascar during the most serious political crisis since independence, in South Africa at the university of Cape Town following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). 

In his own country, Ethiopia, he was the head of the largest international humanitarian operation since Second World War, he was also governor of Eritrea during pre-independence war; and many other short termsassignments for a total of 28 years in Africa with 19 years in Ethiopia including military service trained in Ethiopia and the USA. 

He has studied for 8 years international law and international comparative law in the USA and Ethiopia.

He is the author of 4 books, and of over 50 published articles including the remarkable “Creeping Genocide in Ethiopia”: https://borkena.com/2022/06/24/creeping-genocide-in-ethiopia-dawit-w-giorgis/ 

Public University of Navarra organised course on inclusion of religious diversity

By
Juan Sanchez Gil
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0
Public University of Navarra organised course on inclusion of religious diversity
Bahai, Scientology, Orthodox Church, JesusChrist of the Later Days Saints, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, participated in the course as speakers.

Navarra, Spain. The Public University of Navarra (UPNA) organised an autumn course on “Inclusion of Religious Diversity and Interculturality, the challenge of promoting the European way of life”. The course was held from 26 to 28 September in the Salón de Grados of the “Los Olivos” building.

The course was inaugurated by Prof. Drª. Drª. Begoña Pérez Eransus, Vice-Rector of Projection, Culture and Dissemination of the UPNA; the Vice-Dean Beatriz Rodríguez Sanz de Galdeano, on behalf of Prof. Dr. Rafael Lara González, Dean of the Faculty of Legal Sciences of the UPNA; and Prof. Dr. Juan Mª Sánchez Prieto – Director of the I-Communitas Institute of the same University.

In the framework of the Call for grants for the dissemination of EU policies and strategies, the Public University of Navarra, in collaboration with EUROPE DIRECT Navarra/Nafarroa, organised this conference on Inclusion of religious diversity, in which Article 10 of the European Charter of Human Rights was studied within the theme of “The challenge of promoting the European way of life, in the light of Article 10 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights”.

The Director and coordinator of this course has been the Professor of Constitutional Law Prof. Dr. Alejandro Torres Gutiérrez, of the UPNA, and Researcher of the Institute for Advanced Social Research, of the UPNA, the I-Communitas Institute, who was also the winner of the Religious Freedom Awards in the 2020 edition.

First day of the course

The first day of the course began, after the institutional act, with a lecture on “The system of Agreements in the light of the principle of secularism of the State” given by Prof. Drª. Adoración Castro Jover – Professor of State Ecclesiastical Law at the UPV. Member of the Advisory Commission on Religious Freedom.

This was followed by Prof. Dr. Juan Carlos Orenes Ruiz. – Professor of Constitutional Law at the UPNA and Legal Advisor to the Government of Navarre, who addressed the subject of “Regulatory challenges of religious diversity in the light of the principle of secularism: Social Security System for ministers of worship, recognition of marriage, conscientious objections, town planning, places of worship and cemeteries”.

Prof. Orenes Ruiz was in charge of moderating the first day’s debate, entitled “The inclusion of merely registered denominations in the Register of Religious Entities: The long road to the recognition of notorious roots and the signing of an Agreement”, in which attendees were able to listen to and learn from the contributions of Iván Arjona Pelado (Church of Scientology, the religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard), Karlos Alastruey (Baha`i Community), Juan Carlos Ramchandani [Krishna Kripa Dasa] (priest and President of the Hindu Federation and Vice-President of the Hindu Forum Europe), as well as Master Shifu You Weijun (Taoist Union of Spain). They all contributed, among other things and clarifications, their views on the current system of dealing with religious denominations, which they consider “treats the different denominations and their members unfairly”, with “levels of recognition” such as the so-called “notorious rootedness”. The speakers highlighted how the regulation of notorious roots (a category that does not derive from the constitutional norm) has created first, second and third division religions, and how the “bar” of requirements demanded of religious entities is for many unattainable due to their history and idiosyncrasy, thus preventing equal treatment of all citizens, treating them unequally according to their religion of choice.

Second day of the course

On the second day of the course, Prof. Torres gave a lecture on “The legal, social and economic challenges of the inclusion of religious diversity in Spain“, followed by another lecture on “Teaching religion in public schools and inclusion of diversity in the educational system”, masterfully presented by Prof. Dr. Óscar Celador Angón, Professor of State Ecclesiastical Law at the University Carlos III of Madrid.

The day ended with a debate on “Religious diversity in schools. A perspective from the Institutes and Teaching Centres of Navarre”, moderated by Prof. Torres, with contributions from Prof. Mikel Aramburu Zudaire (Instituto Plaza de la Cruz), Prof Luis Alberto Andía Celaya (Instituto de Barañain), Prof Fernando Jorajuria Zabalza (Instituto Navarro Villoslada), and Prof Juan Antonio Ojer Ojer (Colegio Público Iturrama).

Third day of the course

The third and final day of the Autumn Course concluded with two more lectures and a debate. The first lecture was on “Religious radicalisation and violence: Prevention and indicators”, given by Prof. Dr. Sergio García Magariño (Professor of Political Science and Administration at the UPNA and Researcher at the I-Communitas Institute), followed by a series of “Proposals de lege ferenda for a better inclusion of religious diversity in Spanish society”, presented by Ander Loyola Sergio – Researcher at the UPNA.

The final debate on “The inclusion of denominations with a declaration of well-known roots” was moderated by Prof. Alejandro Torres Gutiérrez, with the participation of José Ferrer Sánchez (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), Enrique Caputo Rivera (Buddhist Federation of Spain) and David Baltaretu (Romanian Orthodox Church).

Audiovisual educational material for religious diversity

With the material from this course, explains Professor Alejandro Torres Gutiérrez, audiovisual material will be produced “highlighting the existing religious diversity… as well as the challenges and present difficulties for its full social inclusion”, with the aim of contributing to the “full realisation of the right recognised by Article 10 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights”.

The course was aimed at Members of religious minorities, staff and authorities of public administrations, parliamentarians, political parties, trade unions, foundations, associations and other entities, as well as university and secondary school students, students of the Aula de la Experiencia and the general public interested in the study of the legal regime of Religious Denominations without Cooperation Agreement.

As the UPNA website explains: “The inclusion of religious diversity is one of the great challenges in our society, in which strong social prejudices still persist, and where there is significant underlying legislative discrimination. Article 10 of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights recognises the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which poses the challenge, from the point of view of promoting the European way of life, of including the existing religious diversity in our society, where strong social prejudices still persist, and where there is still significant legislative discrimination”.

Furthermore, the website indicates that in order to analyse the main challenges existing in this field, the UPNA has counted on “university experts specialised in the study of freedom of conscience, as well as from the world of education, and the representatives of the main religious confessions that lack a Cooperation Agreement with the State”.

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