Volker Türk said he was concerned by the increasing number of journalists charged, convicted and jailed for their independent reporting, in what appears to be an intensification of a crackdown on dissenting voices.
He described the continuous attacks on free speech and the criminalization of independent journalism in Russia as “very troubling”.
“The intensification of the crackdown on journalists’ independent work must immediately cease and the right to inform – a key component of the right to freedom of expression – needs to be upheld,” he said.
The number of imprisoned journalists in Russia has reached an all-time high since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the High Commissioner’s Office, OHCHR, reported.
At least 30 journalists are currently detained under a variety of criminal charges that include terrorism, extremism, disseminating knowingly false information about the armed forces, spying, treason, extortion, infringing upon people’s rights, violating the provisions of the law on foreign agents, inciting mass disturbances, and illegal possession of explosives or drugs.
Twelve are serving sentences ranging from five-and-a-half to 22 years behind bars. They include Vladimir Kara-Murza, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post newspaper in the United States, who was on Monday awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.
Controlling the narrative
Since March, at least seven journalists have faced administrative or criminal charges, particularly for criticism of Russia’s actions in Ukraine or for alleged links to the late opposition politician Alexey Navalny, and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which was labelled as ‘extremist’ in 2021.
“The Russian authorities appear to be attempting to further strengthen control of the narrative, both around domestic issues and the conduct of hostilities in Ukraine,” Mr. Türk said.
“As a result, people in Russia have increasingly restricted access to non-State information and viewpoints, which hampers their ability to benefit from diverse sources and make fully informed decisions on matters of vital public interest.”
Release jailed journalists
The UN rights chief also expressed concern over the frequent use of the broad legislative framework to combat terrorism and extremism, urging the authorities to amend the legislation.
“Journalists should be able to work in a safe environment without fear of reprisals – in line with Russia’s international human rights obligations,” he said. “I call on the authorities to immediately drop charges against journalists detained solely for doing their jobs, and to release them.”
OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT, announced on Tuesday the launch of a new tool capable of detecting images created by its text-to-image generator, DALL·E 3.
The decision to develop and release this software comes amid growing concerns about the role of AI-generated content in this year’s global elections, including the prominent use of such content to spread misinformation.
The tool, backed by Microsoft, has shown in internal testing to correctly identify images created by DALL·E 3 approximately 98% of the time and is able to withstand common image alterations like compression, cropping, and changes in saturation.
Additionally, OpenAI is implementing tamper-resistant watermarking to help authenticate digital content such as photos and audio, making these watermarks difficult to remove. In an effort to establish more robust standards for media provenance, OpenAI has joined an industry coalition that includes tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Adobe.
To further address the existing global challenges, OpenAI, in collaboration with Microsoft, is initiating a $2 million “societal resilience” fund aimed at bolstering AI education and awareness. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need to equip societies with the knowledge to navigate the complexities introduced by advanced AI technologies.
Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten together with Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya said that more than a year into the battle for control of the country between rival militaries, the “barbaric acts” being committed “echo the horrors witnessed in Darfur two decades ago”.
They urged Security Council members who met this week to debate Ms. Patten’s latest report on sexual violence to send “an unequivocal message: under international humanitarian law, civilians in Sudan must be protected and must never be subjected to acts of sexual violence, which constitute war crimes”.
The disturbing reports show how women and girls are being disproportionately impacted.
Allegations of rape, forced marriages, sexual slavery, and trafficking of women and girls – especially in Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan – continue to be recorded with millions of civilians at risk as they flee conflict areas in search of shelter, inside Sudan and in neighbouring countries.
The two top women officials noted that the true scale of the crisis remains unseen, “a result of severe underreporting due to stigma, fear of reprisals, and a lack of confidence in national institutions.”
Without more financial and political support for frontline responders, access to life-saving services will only continue to shrink, they warned.
UN welcomes Haiti’s Transitional Presidential Council
Hopes rose on Thursday of political progress amid the multiple crises engulfing gang-ravaged Haiti, with the formal resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the official installation of the Transitional Presidential Council.
Mr. Henry had agreed to step down in March after heavily armed criminal gangs seized the country’s airport and blocked his return. He will be replaced by former Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, who takes over as interim Prime Minister.
Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said the UN welcomed the newly-formed Council.
Call for swift international police deployment
“We call on the new authorities and all stakeholders to expedite the full implementation of the transitional governance arrangements,” he said.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the swift deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, authorized by the Security Council in October last year, to support the Haitian National Police and return law and order to the streets after months of turmoil which has left millions in need, Mr. Dujarric added.
“The Secretary-General appeals to all Member States to ensure the Multinational Security Support mission receives the financial and logistical support it needs to succeed.”
Iran: Rights experts alarmed by death sentence imposed on rapper Toomaj Salehi
“Criticism of government policy, including through artistic expression is protected under the rights to freedom of expression and the right to take part in cultural life. It must not be criminalised,” the experts said.
“Art must be allowed to criticise, to provoke, to push the boundaries in any society.”
They expressed alarm at his sentencing and alleged ill-treatment “which appears to be related solely to the exercise of his right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity”.
Freedom of expression
“As harsh as Mr. Salehi’s songs are to the government, they are a manifestation of artistic freedom and cultural rights,” they said.
The rapper was initially sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests but was released after Iran’s Supreme Court ruled that it had identified flaws in the original sentence.
However, he was detained again on 30 November last year for expressing his opinion on the Iranian government and revealing that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022.
Toomaj Saleh’s harsh sentencing takes place against a backdrop of severe restriction on artistic freedom and other forms of expression in the country said the experts.
“We have received allegations that it is increasingly common for artists, activists and journalists to be arrested and detained on charges such as ‘publishing false news’ or ‘propaganda against the state’,” the experts said.
They called on Iran to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.
On Tuesday, the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation awarded the 2024 European Charlemagne Youth Prize in a ceremony in Aachen.
First prize – “Sisterhood Pathways” from Lithuania
The first prize of €7,500 went to “Sisterhood Pathways” from Lithuania – a multifaceted campaign to raise awareness and combat violence against women in the Baltic Sea region. It uses wall painting, handbooks, workshops, webinars and social media campaigns for community engagement and to provide information about preventing violence against women and support victims.
Second prize – “Think, act and advocate together” (France)
A second prize (€5,000) was awarded to French platform to empower youth “Think, act and advocate together to leave no young people behind”. The project aimed to mobilise European young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. For over two years, the project gathered one hundred young people from over ten European countries who have experienced poverty and exclusion. They met regularly to reflect and discuss the unfair situations they experience daily.
Third prize – Europe magazine (Germany)
A third prize (€2,500) went to the online Europe magazine from Germany, which visualises Europe’s diversity through infographics, maps, and statistics, offering clarity and accessibility, to make it easier to understand Europe. Instead of lengthy texts, the magazine uses visual journalism and easily digestible visuals to cover politics, culture, environment, and society.
Background
The European Charlemagne Youth Prize, jointly awarded by the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation, is open to initiatives by young people aged 16-30 involved in projects that strengthen democracy and support active participation. Since 2008, 5,866 projects have competed for the prize.
Every year, national and European juries select a project from each EU country. 27 national winners were invited to the award ceremony in Aachen on 7 May 2024, where the three EU winners were announced.
Making Gaza safe again from unexploded bombs could take 14 years, UN demining experts said on Friday.
Pehr Lodhammar, a senior officer from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), said that the war has left an estimated 37 million tonnes of debris.
He said it was impossible to determine the exact amount of unexploded ordnance in the enclave where formerly heavily built-up and densely populated neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble, after nearly seven months of intense Israeli bombardment.
Every square metre in Gaza impacted by the conflict contains some 200 kilogrammes of rubble, the veteran UN demining expert told journalists in Geneva.
“All I can say is that at least 10 per cent of the ammunition that is being fired potentially fails to function…with 100 trucks we’re talking about 14 years of work with 100 trucks, so that’s 14 years to remove with about 750,000 workdays – person workdays – to remove the debris.”
The development came as the leaders of 18 nations including the United States called on Thursday for the release of all remaining hostages taken during the Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel that killed some 1,250 people.
Israel reportedly believes that more than 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza after the 7 October attacks which prompted the Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 34,350 Palestinians and wounded over 77,360, according to the enclave’s health authorities.
Famine threat remains
Meanwhile, UN humanitarians repeated warnings that famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, in a renewed urgent appeal for more aid relief to be allowed into the enclave.
Israel pledged three weeks ago to improve aid access via the Erez Crossing just north of Gaza and Ashdod cargo port, further northwards. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said that a small increase in aid had happened, but not nearly enough in volume – or diversity.
“We’re still heading towards a famine, we haven’t seen that paradigm shift that’s needed to avert a famine, we need more volume, more predictability and a sustained effort to get more diverse assistance into the north,” said Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director.
Amid reports of sustained Israeli strikes on eastern Rafah, Mr. Skau underlined continuing deep concerns that any ground invasion of the enclave’s southernmost city risked disrupting already insufficient aid distributions.
And turning to efforts to establish a marine corridor for humanitarian aid, the WFP official insisted that “there is no substitute for land” deliveries into Gaza.
Flotilla appeal
In a related development, top rights experts have appealed to Israel for safe passage for a flotilla of boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The “Freedom Flotilla” plans to depart from Türkiye carrying 5,500 tonnes of aid, along with hundreds of international humanitarian observers, en route for the besieged Gaza Strip.
“As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid,” said the experts, who include Michael Fakhri, Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
In 2010, the experts noted that Israel intercepted and attacked the Freedom Flotilla’s civilian ships in international waters, killing 10 passengers and wounding many others.
At the time, the Freedom Flotilla had attempted to break the Israeli blockade by delivering humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
Europe Day, over 60 cities across Europe will display messages calling on citizens to vote, one month ahead of the 6-9 June EU elections.
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Grand Place in Brussels are among many landmarks across the EU that will be illuminated to mark 9 May, Europe Day, and the one-month countdown for the European Elections (6-9 June). They will display the election campaign slogan “Use your vote. Or others will decide for you.” or the European flag between Wednesday 8 May and Thursday 9 May.
Amongst the other landmark buildings and monuments participating are the the Samuel Beckett Bridge and national parliament buildings in Dublin, Vilnius’ town hall, Fort St Angelo in Valletta, the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Cibeles square in Madrid, the National Parliament in Bucharest, to name just a few.
With these illuminations taking place in cities across the continent, the European Parliament and national and local authorities are collaborating to send a message of togetherness to 440 million European citizens about the importance these European elections will have for everyone’s future. 9 May, Europe Day, is a not just a day of remembrance, but also a day to consider our shared future. The day’s proximity to the elections makes it a more meaningful occasion than ever.
Europe Day held on 9 May every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration‘ that set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.
In order to federate the different activities in the drug prevention fields of the hundred of Say No To Drugs European organisations and groups located in some 20 countries across Europe, the Foundation for a Drug Free Europe (FDFE) was created in March 2004, during the 47th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Since its creation (1946) the CND purpose is “to review, analyze the global drug situation, considering supply and demand reduction. And to take action through resolutions and decisions.” The CND is mandated “to decide on the scope of control of substances under the three international drug control conventions (1961, 1971 and 1988 Conventions).”
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20 years later (March 2024), pursuing its Mission purpose, the FDFE is aware, since a decade, of the push of the high levels drug dealers whether they are “white-collars”, including Big Pharma (providing the precursors), the psychiatric field always complaining for “more resources” to get results, of all the NGOs money-centered in guise of “help”and concerned by the drug business with harm reduction, shooting rooms, making an illegal drug use legal, broadly using the “no-stigmatisation” to support them, highly using substitution treatments (legal drugs vs. the same illegal ones) but rarely promoting an effective rehabilitation not to say the prevention!
The first only basic action which can curtail the drug availability is the primary prevention at the youth level with the full support of a government enough concerned by the health of his population and of its developing youth, to take the correct decision about the drug expansion! There had been enough discussions years after years by the UNODC/Governments on the subject, but few realisation at the grass root levels despite the UNODC efforts. The worst is when governments are violating the Conventions and deciding to “legalize” some most common used drugs (to make more money…) but omitting to consider the following health expenses directly or not in relation with these drug use.
So, 2024 had been an opportunity for FDFE with the key support of the Fundacion para la Mejora de la Vida, la Cultura y la Sociedad having the ECOSOC status, to organize the side-event “20 Years of Good Practices of Drug Prevention for a Drug-Free Europe, at the UN, 21th March, Room MOE100, 14:10-15:00, during this 47th Session of the CND, always in Vienna (Austria) in the huge Vienna International Center (VIC).
In the following, we will strive to share with you the importance of prevention, education and illustrate what can be done at a responsible NGO level to revert the drug use trend among the youth.
About FDFE and the Drug Problem
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FDFE is a non-profit NGO established in March 2004 (20 years ago!) and a partner of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, freely providing the educational materials. FDFE is also member of different international organisations and had been invited across the world to present its educative materials of prevention, now translated in 17 languages!
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The Drug Problem!
In all countries, from the richest to the poorest, drugs are challenging the health, weakening the education, flooding the criminal justice, threatening the social welfare and the economy, perverting the political system, generating huge wealth and power for the few and limitless harm and misery for the many, costing millions of lives and endangering the very sustainability of communities.
This alarming statement was written about 6 years ago. But despite the repeated warnings of UNODC, today all these points that have not been taken up seriously by the different authorities are unfortunately and durably affecting a still drug-affairs ignorant social fabric!
Our different European fields of activity:
Fully aware of the importance of acting at grass roots levels, directly concerned by the harming effects of drug use, FDFE developed many Drug Prevention Centers across Europe, and is currently working with a hundred of associations and groups located in: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, etc.
So, to harmonize the activities, educative materials were developed:
-14 factual booklets from the series The Truth About Drugs.
As a reminder, the first “educative booklet” had been written in the 1980ies in Switzerland by a colleague and already using scientific data. He was eager to warn the youngsters about the untold harming effects of the drug use. Based on its success, the idea had been progressively developed across the world to reach today the number of 14 booklets in 17 languages. They have even inspired some governments or be used by them to inform and protect the youth from the drug use!
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-A Documentary DVD with testimonies from former drug addicts, and short Public Service Messages (as for TV channels).
-A full education package Guide with lessons for teachers and educators.
The final purpose is to empower the youth and young adults with scientifically proven facts, easily understandable. So, fully aware of the drug reality, away of dealers and marketing influences, they can responsibily make an informed decision.
FDFE, its associations and groups are definitely supporting the UN International Drug Control Conventions (1961, 1971, 1988), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030), the activities of the European Monitoring Center (EMCDDA) and of the different agencies protecting the European borders.
During the Opening of the 67th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, 14th March 2024, the UNODC Director-General/Executive Director, Ghada Waly, again, clearly positioned the problem and the needed actions:
“The international drug control conventions have a timeless goal at their heart: the health and wellbeing of humankind.
“UNODC pledges to stand with you for a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future for all.”
“And we must invest far, far more in prevention, with a special focus on children and adolescents, who are more likely to develop disorders the earlier they begin drug use.”
Our Actions on the European Ground
To fit in the 50 min allocated time for the side event, 4 associations were selected to compose our panel:
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1) Sag Nein Zu Drogen, Zag Ja Zum Leben (Austria).
This is a non-profit Organisation for drug education and prevention with the following goals: A society without abuse of drugs, alcohol and medication or other narcotics.
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To raise public awareness about the destruction caused by drugs and to provide young people and adults with the facts so that they can make informed decisions about living a drug-free life.
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This is achieved by contacting the youth and people where they are and making the real facts about drugs available to them.
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2) Say No To Drugs (Belgium)
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3) OUI à la Vie, NON à la Drogue (France)
In a recent interview (on Boulevard Voltaire – March 2024), Professor Xavier Raufer from Paris-Sorbonne, criminologist and specialist in social and political violence, terrorism and organized crime, considers that the recent attacks in Marseille (49 killed and 123 injured in one year) perpetrated by gangs and traffickers can be solved in 6 months! He said that the central question is not the one of means or even of political will, but of a currently missing political decision and the willing to face and to confront the 3 possible gangs weapons: intimidation, violence or assassination. X. Raufer said that they have in France the appropriate and national highly trained organization to solve this drug problem, in 6 months…
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Indeed, the gangs will never dare to confront the State apparatus, especially since the French regalian State (those rights which belong exclusively to the State and cannot be delegated) is one of the strongest in Europe. The problem comes from the lack of orders…
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4) Mondo Libero Dalla Droga (Italy)
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In Fine,
Too often we are forgotting that all these psychotropic substances from plants, small animals, these “secondary matabolites” are only synthezised to defend the concerned species against any possible predator, including humans!
Being in direct contact with the population, youth, parents, teachers, institutions, and even former drug users and for many, how they went out of the dependance the hard way, we are deeply convinced that education is the real drug basic solution as already noticed 500 years ago by Leonardo da Vinci, and also later by Will Durant.
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Starting by an early Prevention, that has to be continued along the curriculum, using progressive educative tools, and with a sane consensus from the Governments and Communities, this will enable to empower the youngsters on the harmful effects of illicit drug use.
Thus, aware, they can make an informed decision for a clean and successful life and realize their natural talents.
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Google’s Pixel Tablet emerges as a unique fusion of traditional tablet functionality and the burgeoning category of Smart Home displays. While not boasting cutting-edge features, this device offers a compelling proposition for users seeking simplicity and versatility. Let’s delve into the intricacies of the Pixel Tablet and its potential impact on the market.
Reflecting on the evolution of tablet technology over the past decade, one recalls a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse offerings. From iPads to Android tablets, consumers were spoilt for choice. Among the array of options were Google’s Nexus tablets, including the acclaimed Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. However, as the landscape shifted and focus shifted towards Smart Home displays, Google’s attention veered away from traditional tablets.
With the acquisition of Nest, Google ushered in a new era of Smart Home displays, epitomized by the Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max. This emerging category gained traction, presenting an opportunity for Google to reimagine the concept of a tablet.
The Pixel Tablet emerges as Google’s response to the evolving technological landscape. Positioned as a versatile device, it seamlessly transitions between a traditional tablet and a Smart Home display, catering to the needs of modern consumers.
Design and build: simplicity and elegance
The Pixel Tablet boasts a sleek and understated design, characterized by a soft-touch finish and minimalistic aesthetics. Crafted from metal, it exudes durability while remaining lightweight and ergonomic. The inclusion of an 11-inch LCD display ensures optimal viewing experiences, complemented by thin bezels for an immersive feel.
Equipped with Google’s Tensor G2 processor, the Pixel Tablet delivers adequate performance for everyday tasks. While not groundbreaking, its functionality suffices for casual browsing, media consumption, and productivity applications. The inclusion of a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button enhances security and convenience.
Docking innovation: blurring the lines
A distinguishing feature of the Pixel Tablet is its innovative docking system, transforming it into a Smart Home display with ease. The inclusion of a speaker dock enhances audio quality and charging convenience, albeit with some limitations. While practical, the dock’s functionality remains tethered to the tablet, offering a glimpse into the device’s dual nature.
Google’s software optimizations elevate the user experience, with intuitive gestures and multi-user support enhancing usability. The inclusion of Hub mode underscores the device’s versatility, seamlessly integrating it into the Smart Home ecosystem.
However, despite Google’s efforts to optimize its native apps for the Pixel Tablet, third-party app compatibility remains a challenge. Many apps are yet to be tailored for tablet interfaces, limiting the device’s potential as a productivity tool.
Final word
In conclusion, the Pixel Tablet represents a commendable effort by Google to bridge the gap between traditional tablets and Smart Home displays. While not without its shortcomings, its versatility and simplicity make it a compelling option for users seeking a blend of functionality and convenience.
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Disproportionate use of police forces in search of… inexistent victims of MISA
On 28 November 2023, just after 6 a.m., a SWAT team of around 175 policemen wearing black masks, helmets, and bulletproof vests, simultaneously descended on eight separate houses and apartments in and around Paris but also in Nice, brandishing semi-automatic rifles.
Centre of spiritual retreat for yoga practitioners in Buthiers
These searched places were being used for spiritual retreats by practitioners of yoga connected with MISA yoga school in Romania. On that fateful morning, most of them were still in bed and were awakened by very loud noises and shouting.
The first objective of the police forces was to identify, arrest, detain and indict suspects of “trafficking in human beings”, “forcible confinement” and “abuse of vulnerability”, in organized gang. The second goal was to obtain declarations of their victims as elements of evidence.
In Buthiers (Paris Region), 20 people – 15 women and 5 men – were having their retreat at the time of the raid. They included engineers, designers, teachers, psychologists, a student in psychology, a philologist, a sociologist, a medical doctor, an actor, and so on. They had graduated from high schools, faculties of sociology, psychology, electronics, mathematics, IT science in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Chisinau (Moldova), Buenos Aires (Argentina)…
Human Rights Without Frontiers interviewed one of the residents, Ms S.C. (*), an Orthodox woman who had been practicing Hatha, Tibetan and other forms of yoga in Romania for 32 years. She had come from Iasi to Buthiers in the car of her boyfriend who had other things to do in Paris. They both knew that retreat center where they had already spent several weeks a few years ago. It was spacious, comfortable and well-equipped.
Living space for yoga practitioners in Buthiers
Interview
Q.: What happened in the spiritual retreat center of Buthiers in the early morning of 28 November 2023?
A.: I was suddenly woken up by a lot of noise and shouting. It was still dark outside and all I could see looking out of the window were beams of light from flashlights. I could hear people shouting, running and violently banging objects around the house.
At first I didn’t even realize what was going on. I thought that a gang of villains had broken into the house and they were going to kill us. Shortly after this first frightening thought, I began to understand some words in the shouting and I realized that it was actually a raid by the French police.
At that moment I began to wonder about the reasons of such a brutal and unexpected action. There were only peaceful people in the house who had come to the spiritual retreat center to regenerate through relaxation practices and walks in the wonderful natural environment.
Ignoring the proposals of the guests to quietly open the doors with the keys of the house, the police smashed the entrance doors of the building as well as various premises with battering rams, and hereby caused a lot of damage.
Several men and women were violently pinned to the ground and handcuffed with their hands in their back although they had not shown any sign of resistance.
After about three hours we were told to quickly pack all our bags because we would be taken to another place for questioning and we would not be allowed to return to the retreat center.
The police thoroughly checked the things we were putting in our luggage: clothes, underwear, notebooks, etc. Our personal electronic items were confiscated on the grounds that they were ‘evidence’ although we were never told about any charge. We had to leave behind many of our personal belongings, even medicines. We were not allowed to take food or water with us but I managed to keep one bottle.
Q.: Where were you taken to and what happened there?
A.: We were sent by bus to the headquarters of the National Police Academy in Cannes-Ecluse and gathered in a conference room. Eight hours had already passed since the raid began. For the first time, one of the policewomen told us the reasons for the raid and the fact that we were considered possible victims of trafficking, deprivation of freedom and sexual abuse.
We asked all very surprised to hear such an explanation. We replied that the only people who had deprived us of our freedom in France were the police who had confiscated our identity papers and personal phones.
Most of us were still in a state of emotional shock, scared and traumatized by all the events that had unfolded. We asked several times for the assistance of a lawyer but our request was turned down on the grounds that our status did not allow us to do so. They tried in various ways to get us to “talk” including under pressure of keeping us locked up for up to 96 hours (legal duration of a “garde à vue”, deprivation of freedom).
Without a lawyer, I refused to answer any questions because I was still under the emotional shock of that event.
We were also proposed to talk to a representative of an association helping victims of trafficking and/or sexual abuse but I refused because I was not a victim.
They kept telling us that we were victims and that they had rescued us but this was a kafkaiesque situation, a real dialogue of the death. We had not been trafficked into France, we were not victims of MISA and we did not need to be rescued.
Q.: How were you finally released and in which conditions?
A.: After about two or three hours they gave me back my ID but I could not get back my personal belongings. I did not get a copy of the list of personal items they had confiscated and I did not sign any report or declaration. I was escorted to the gate of the huge property of the National Police Academy and only shown the local bus stop.
Basically I was left on the street in a foreign country and in a town I didn’t even know where it was located. I had no possibility to go back to the MISA center in Buthiers as it had been sealed off. My phone had been confiscated for the investigation, I was unable to call anyone for help and I had no money with me, just a bank card with a small amount on it.
After a few hours spent on the street in the cold, one of my friends remembered a friend’s phone number and asked someone on the street to call that person for help. After a few more hours we reached that person who hosted us and helped us to go back to Romania.
Q.: What about travelling again to France in the future?
A.: Never again. Five months after that experience, I am still emotionally fragile. When I see a picture of the Eiffel Tower in a movie or when I hear a sudden loud noise, I start shivering. It is like a post-traumatic syndrome. It will take time to get rid of it.
Some comments
One can wonder on which basis it was decided to launch several simultaneous SWAT raids of such a magnitude – 175 heavily armed policemen – on yoga centers all over France. Dangerous people, weapons and drugs did not seem to be what they could have expected to face if the places had been under serious preliminary police scrutiny.
One can wonder why destructive battering rams were used while residents were offering keys to safely open the entrance and other doors without any damage.
One can wonder why and on which basis several yoga practitioners were handcuffed although they offered no resistance when they were arrested.
One can wonder why they were denied the assistance of French lawyers.
One can wonder why over five months after the raid the Romanian yoga practitioners have not heard from the French police anymore or a prosecutor and have not got back their telephones and other confiscated belongings.
One can wonder how the French authorities will move forward with a case where six people were put in pre-trial detention (several were still detained after five months) and no complaint had been lodged by any of the dozens of interrogated yoga practitioners.
(*) Out of respect for the privacy of the interviewee, we only put her initials but we have her full name and contact data.
Attacks that occurred between January and March left 25 children dead, including a two-month-old, said the agency. During the first three weeks of April, nine children lost their lives during attacks.
UNICEF‘s Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Regina De Dominicis, said during a visit to the war-torn country that children and families are being forced to endure more loss and destruction as the deadly attacks continue.
“Every attack sets back recovery and rebuilding efforts, prolonging the deterioration in children’s quality of life.
“I am troubled to see that attacks across the country continue, destroying schools, health facilities and residential buildings. Nowhere is safe for children,” she said.
Official UN data reveals that about 600 children have lost their lives and more than 1,350 have been injured in attacks since the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022. The true number of children’s lives lost is likely to be considerably higher.
The attacks have also destroyed infrastructure children in Ukraine rely on. Within the first three months of the year, thousands of homes, 36 health facilities and 140 educational facilities have been either damaged or destroyed.
Power and water targeted
Additionally, attacks have affected power and water supplies which have disrupted critical services, putting children’s lives and wellbeing at a heightened risk. UNICEF, along with partners, are rebuilding the power and water supplies destroyed in the attacks.
Access to schooling has also been disrupted for four years in a row, due to the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Almost half of all children enrolled are missing out on classroom learning, while nearly one million Ukrainian children cannot access in-person sessions due to insecurity.
UNICEF’s efforts
As attacks continue, UNICEF is working across Ukraine to rehabilitate schools and shelters and provide at-home learning kits and online support. In 2023, the agency reached 103 million youngsters with formal and non-formal learning.
Also in 2023, UNICEF administered mental health and psychosocial support through safe spaces, protection and support hubs, reaching 2.5 million children and caregivers.
The agency is requiring an additional $250 million to further support children and families in Ukraine in frontline areas and for humanitarian and recovery programmes in 2024.
