This letter urges the U.S. Congress to take action by collaborating with the IRF Roundtables Africa Working Group to draft a House Resolution calling for an inquiry into the atrocities and demanding accountability through proceedings and sanctions. The letter stresses the importance of holding a hearing on human rights violations in Ethiopia.
They express concern over targeted attacks and violence against this community underscoring the need for intervention to protect their religious freedom, peace and protection in the country. The letter sheds light on disturbing incidents targeting those belonging to Orthodox beliefs, including attacks on churches, clergy members and worshippers that have resulted in casualties and desecration of sacred sites. “Christian religious leaders face mistreatment and violence while their families endure horrors. Churches are being set on fire treasures destroyed and cultural heritage vandalized” reads a segment from the letter.
The October 2019 and Burayu Massacre are cited as examples of the hardships endured by Orthodox Christians. Perpetrators reportedly select victims based on religious symbols such as the Christian cross. The letter also highlights the discrimination and exclusion experienced by Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia; producing restrictions on their practices and denial of rights.
Recent government actions, such as interference in church affairs have led to heightened tensions resulting in violence, arrests and job losses for dissenters against opposing bishops. The letter highlighted that government constraints on Orthodox celebrations and efforts to seize control of places of worship are undermining unity. The government’s conduct is viewed as a threat to peace by exacerbating division rather than promoting mutual respect for human dignity. In response various groups have appealed to the U.S. Congress for backing the rights of Orthodox believers in Ethiopia.
The letter concludes by emphasizing the urgency of addressing this matter; “We look forward eagerly to working with you as you take action to rectify these wrongs and move towards a future where all Ethiopians can live together harmoniously.” As next steps, the coalition leaders will be scheduling follow-up meetings with the recipient congressional offices.
Roberta METSOLA, EP President in Kyiv ( Ukraine ) - Meeting with Volodymyr ZELENSKY, President of Ukraine
In Kyiv on 9 May 2024, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola met with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, addressed the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and met its Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk.
President Zelenskyy
Presidents Metsola and Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland and the European Parliament’s support for President Zelenskyy’s 10 point peace plan, air defence, sanctions against Russia and the use of profits from Russian frozen assets for Ukraine’s defence and recovery.
President Metsola was decorated with an Order of Merit, First Class by President Zelenskyy.
Presidents Zelenskyy and Metsola spoke to the press after their meeting. President Metsola said:
“The European Parliament will help Ukraine in any way possible to advance on all the necessary steps on its European path. We will remain as vocal as ever on Ukraine, as my visit today also demonstrates.”
“This year marks 20 years of the accession of my home country, Malta, and along with it, nine other Member States, to the European Union. I have seen the transformative effect of the European Union enlargement. The opportunities and security that come with it. As today the people of Ukraine are looking to Europe, with the same sense of hope and belief in our common future that we had then, Europe cannot be the one to look away.
We will stand with you. You will win and our future will be a common one. Slava Ukraini!”
You can watch the recording of the press conference here.
Verkhovna Rada
During the afternoon, President Metsola met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and addressed the plenary session of the Rada.
In her address to the Rada, President Metsola said:
On Ukraine and Europe:
“Ukraine has made its European choice and Europe has made its Ukrainian choice. That is the true victory we will celebrate together every 9th of May. Today.
On this day, we celebrate Europe. And there is no better or more significant place to do that than here – where the spirit of Europe is present in your cities, in your villages and etched in the bravery of your people.
The defiance of Ukraine, your courage, your strength – epitomise what it means to be European.”
On three promises to Ukraine:
“The last time I was in this Chamber I made three promises to you, promises that I am proud to say the European Union, the European Parliament, has delivered on.
In the past two years, we stood resolute and firm against Putin’s intimidation tactics, and cut our dependencies from Russia. We have adopted 13 packages of hard-hitting sanctions against Putin and his allies, …. which means that hundreds of billions of euros worth of Russian assets are now frozen in the EU.
I promised that Europe would open up its borders, its homes and hearts to your families, your children, your loved ones, who were forced to flee. … We said we would help you to rebuild your cities, your towns, your villages. The adoption of the 50 billion euro Ukraine Facility is our most recent tangible support for that.
I also told you that you could count on me, on the European Parliament, to recognise Ukraine’s European aspirations and to support you as you make headway on your country’s integration into the EU. … The European Parliament was the first EU institution to push for Ukraine to receive candidate status and for accession negotiations to start last year. …This is just as much about stability for Ukraine as it is about strengthening the entire EU. … Ukraine’s place is in the European Union.”
On peace:
“Europe will always stand for peace. A real peace with dignity, with integrity, with liberty, with territorial sovereignty. And we know that there can never be anything about Ukraine, without Ukraine. I mentioned the return of Ukrainian children earlier, with that we also need an urgent focus on food security and the safety of nuclear plants. These are the building blocks of humanity.”
Chairman Stefanchuk unveiled President Metsola’s plaque on the Walk of the Brave at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
Programme in Kyiv
In Kyiv, President Metsola visited a school and a power plant, both destroyed by Russia’s ruthless air strikes. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure demonstrates the urgent need for more efficient air defence systems and funding for reconstruction. In her remarks to the press with President Zelenskyy, President Metsola said:
“We are painfully aware, that Ukraine urgently needs more equipment and air defence systems to defend itself against the aggressor. We Europeans need to deliver. We need to take responsibility, intensify our support and deliver on our financial support.
This is why our decision on the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility was so important. And I also welcome the more recent American decision to provide vital and significant financial and military support to Ukraine. Together, this provides a predictable and secured financing to meet the State’s needs and the demands of its reconstruction efforts.”
President Metsola also addressed the International Summit of Cities & Regions, along with President Zelenskyy, Chairman Stefanchuk and Prime Minister Shmyhal, underlining the role of cooperation between regions and cities in Ukraine’s reconstruction. In her speech she thanked European cities and regions for having made significant contributions to the Generators of Hope campaign, initiated by the European Parliament, as well as the importance of cities and regions in welcoming Ukrainians who had to flee the war.
President Metsola also visited the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University where she delivered a keynote speech and held a discussion with students. The University awarded her with a Honorary Doctorate degree.
Later in the day, the President visited the Centre for the Protection of Children’s Rights. One of its many aims is the return of the more than 19,500 Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia. In her speech to the Rada, President Metsola said: “We need to deepen our resolve to bring every single Ukrainian child back to their families, back to their own homes.”
From the first moment of the illegal invasion of Ukraine, the European Parliament has been the staunchest supporter of Ukraine by being the first EU institution to call for granting Ukraine EU candidate status and later to open the accession negotiations.
The European Parliament organised an extraordinary plenary session on 1 March 2022, in which President Zelenskyy spoke to the world via videolink. President Zelenskyy addressed the Parliament in person on 9 February 2023.
President Metsola was the first leader of EU institutions to visit Kyiv after the Russian attack, on 1 April 2022, addressing the Verkhovna Rada. She also visited Lviv on 4 March 2023 to address the United for Justice Conference.
A segregated beach at Stranofontein near Cape Town, South Africa, in 1985. (file)
The music legend held a press conference following an epic performance at a meeting of the UN Special Committee against Apartheid to honour him on his 35th birthday.
“All people are created equal, not created to take care of another race of people,” he told the committee.
“The resettlement camps are wrong. If they are so great, why don’t the whites want to live there?”
Watch Mr. Wonder’s full appearance in the General Assembly Hall here, and listen to his birthday press conference here.
In 1985, South Africa’s Government banned his songs, including It’s Wrong (Apartheid), after the musician dedicated his Oscar award to Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner since 1962 who fought against the concept of legal race-based segregation.
Five years later, in 1990, Mr. Mandela addressed the UN Special Committee against Apartheid himself, four months after his prison release and four years before he was elected President of South Africa. Listen to Mr. Mandela’s full address here.
On #ThrowbackThursday, UN News is showcasing pivotal moments across the UN’s past. From the infamous and nearly-forgotten to world leaders and global superstars, stay tuned for a taste of the UN Audiovisual Library’s 49,400 hours of video recordings and 18,000 hours of audio chronicling.
Visit UN Video’s Stories from the UN Archive playlist here and our accompanying series here. Join us next Thursday for another dive into history.
The retail landscape is changing, and contactless technology is leading the charge. Gone are the days of fumbling for cash or cards; a simple tap or scan now suffices. This shift isn’t just about ease – it’s shaping expectations and experiences.
Consider QR codes: once a novelty, now pivotal in facilitating swift exchanges while offering enriched product narratives. As retailers adapt to this touch-free world, we witness a dynamic blend of convenience and innovation unfolding before our eyes. We’ll explore the tech driving this trend and its tangible benefits in the retail sphere.
The Touchless Transformation: QR Codes at the Forefront
The ascent of QR codes in retail has been meteoric. Take Walmart’s adoption, for instance – a true testament to this technology’s practical prowess. Walmart’s “Scan & Go” revolutionized shopping by transforming smartphones into on-the-go checkout stations, allowing instant item scanning and app-based payment.
This isn’t merely a convenience play; it’s a strategic recalibration to meet consumers where they stand – on tech-savvy ground. QR codes are bridging gaps, making information and transaction points almost invisibly integrated into the shopping journey.
As tools for engagement and efficiency, these square-shaped gateways are redefining customer interactions with every scan.
Speed and Simplicity: How Contactless Enhances Customer Experience
Amazon’s introduction of “Just Walk Out” technology in their Amazon Go stores embodies the pinnacle of contactless retail, eliminating traditional checkout lines completely. Shoppers enter, pick up their items, and simply leave – their Amazon account is automatically charged for their purchases.
This frictionless experience isn’t merely faster; it respects the customer’s time and alters the notion of in-store shopping from a chore to a smooth part of daily life.
It’s clear that contactless solutions deliver more than reduced wait times – they build a new blueprint for what an efficient and respectful transaction looks like. In doing so, they forge an expectation for immediacy that other retailers are now striving to match or exceed.
The Seamless Merge of Offline and Online Shopping
Nike’s “Nike by Melrose” store is a stellar example of blending the digital with the physical. By leveraging data analytics, they tailor the in-store stock to match local preferences, directly informed by online shopping trends in the area.
Shoppers can reserve shoes online to try on in-store or use the Nike app to unlock a locker containing their selected items. The interplay of Nike’s physical stores with their online data heightens personalization, making every visit a unique encounter where ease reigns supreme.
Here, commerce transcends mere transactions to craft bespoke experiences for every shopper. This innovative approach is charting the course for future retail, converging digital convenience and in-person service into one seamless journey.
Inventory Intelligence and the Rise of Real-Time Retail
As retailers harness the power of contactless tech, inventory management metamorphoses into a strategic asset. Zara’s integration of RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) tags exemplifies this revolution.
By tracking stock in real-time, they ensure that what customers see online is immediately available in-store – blurring the lines between warehouse and retail space. This leap forward not only optimizes stock levels but also feeds valuable data back into their digital marketing efforts, enabling hyper-targeted campaigns that resonate with consumer behavior.
The result? Higher efficiency behind the scenes and a more dynamic, responsive shopping experience in the front. It’s a smart marriage of logistics and marketing that keeps both shelves and customers consistently engaged.
Beyond the Buzz: Measurable Gains from Going Contactless
The effectiveness of contactless technology in retail isn’t just anecdotal; it’s quantifiable. Starbucks offers a case in point, with their Mobile Order & Pay system accounting for a significant portion of transactions, boosting sales and customer throughput.
This isn’t merely about cutting down on queue times – it represents an evolution in how businesses view transactional efficiency. The shift to contactless is not just enhancing the customer experience – it’s also bolstering bottom lines.
The numbers don’t lie; they paint a picture of heightened productivity and profitability. By integrating these technologies, retailers are not only keeping pace with contemporary commerce but setting themselves up for sustained success in an ever-more digital economy.
Contactless: The Checkout of Tomorrow, Today
As we close the ledger on our contactless discussion, it’s evident that these technologies are more than a fleeting convenience – they’re the keystones of future retail. By blending experience with personalization, businesses are curating spaces where shopping is synonymous with efficiency and enjoyment.
As the data underscores successes and case studies illustrate innovation, one thing is clear: Contactless technology is not just shaping retail’s future; it’s defining it.
Press release. In Budapest, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) staged a protest during the European Psychiatric Association Congress, criticizing harmful psychiatric practices. The event featured a march and an exhibition, highlighting the need for substantial reforms in the mental health industry, as requested by United Nations and the World Health Organization.
A protest took place in Budapest challenging practices within the field of psychiatry during the European Psychiatric Association Congress. The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) organized this demonstration to shed light on what they view as abusive or harmful methods in psychiatry. The event included a march and an exhibition aiming to bring attention to issues within the mental health industry and advocate for significant reforms.
The EPA Congress, held in April 2024 faced criticism for not taking action in response to recent directives from international bodies such as the UN and the World Health Organization. These directives called for an end to abusive psychiatric approaches, a matter that critics felt was not adequately addressed by the EPA’s theme of “Mental Health: Open and Inclusive.”
Led by CCHR Hungary, the protest began with a march through Budapest’s city center that concluded at the Budapest Congress and Exhibition Center, where the EPA Congress was being held. The march remained peaceful yet impactful, underscoring the protesters calls for reforms in practices.
After the march, CCHR Hungary presented an exhibit titled “Psychiatry; An Industry of Death.” This display, showcased in cities across the United States and Europe, utilizes records, videos and other types of evidence gathered over a span of more than five decades to scrutinize the field of psychiatry. The exhibit reveals the repercussions of psychiatric methods, including contentious treatments like brain operations and “electroconvulsive therapy” and how they have influenced various aspects of society including prominent artists and historical events.
During the exhibit’s unveiling, János Dobos, the head of CCHR Hungary, spoke fervently. “This material underscores the impact of psychiatry and the often harmful effects it has on individuals and society as a whole” stated Dobos. “It is essential for us to question these practices and advocate for treatment alternatives.”
Known for its intense content, the exhibition cautions visitors about its nature and allows entry to individuals only above 16 years old, unless accompanied by an adult. Its goal is to inform the public about events and current challenges in psychiatry while promoting a reassessment of how mental health issues are addressed and treated.
CCHR, the mental health watchdog organization founded in 1969 by psychiatrist Thomas Szasz in collaboration with the Church of Scientology, has consistently sparked attention and support due to its critical yet accurate perspective on psychiatry and its methods.
Recent incidents in Budapest have triggered a discussion on the involvement of psychiatry, in contemporary healthcare and the moral consequences of its methods. As discussions progress CCHR aims to persist in supporting what they see as changes to safeguard individuals rights and enhance mental health services globally.
Members of the Church of Scientology, the religion founded by L. Ron Hubbard, are dedicated to promoting rights, especially in the realm of mental health. Drawing inspiration from Mr. Hubbard’s teachings, they advocate for the safeguarding and acknowledgment of the rights of all individuals in healthcare, stressing the importance of holistic approaches to mental health care. This dedication forms part of a goal to make human rights a tangible reality across all aspects of life, including within the field of mental health.
Haitians have been facing a multitude of challenges over the years, encompassing political, security, social and economic issues. The protracted crisis has been further exacerbated by months of brutal gang violence that claimed more than 2,500 lives in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
Having recently returned from the country, Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director, told journalists at UN Headquarters in New York that the crisis was the worst since the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
“Half the population – some five million people are acutely food insecure,” he said, adding that over a million are in the IPC Phase 4 or Emergency level of hunger.
He stressed that a political and security response to the crisis needs to be accompanied by a robust humanitarian response.
“What I saw on the ground is that this can be done, also at the centre of the crisis, in Port-au-Prince. But that we need also to do more on resilience and development elsewhere to really try to break this vicious cycle,” he added.
‘Crisis felt everywhere’
About 90,200 people are displaced in the Port-au-Prince Metropolitan Area, with that number continuing to rise, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA).
At the same time, trade is disrupted in other parts of the country, inflation is rising sharply, and supplies are beginning to run out.
“The crisis is felt everywhere,” Mr. Skau said, urging a differentiated response.
“What we need is an emergency response in Port-au-Prince, but we can continue to do other kinds of support, including development support in the rest of the country,” he said.
The WFP official noted that aid supplies are starting to run out on the ground.
“And so, we would need to replenish also with shipments. So, we are hoping, having seen that the international airport open at least for one flight, that that can be sustained and expanded, and also that there would be an opening of the port in Port-au-Prince.”
Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), briefs reporters on his recent visit to Haiti.
In an open letter to the European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, human rights organisations have urged Josep Borrell to ‘protect EU citizens and institutions from complicity’ in China’s state-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting.
Initiated by the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC) and supported by more than a dozen global human rights organisations, the joint correspondence was penned in response to the promulgation of new regulations in China concerning organ donation and transplantation.
However, human rights experts have since condemned the new measures as grossly inadequate. According to campaigners, the ‘Regulation lacks necessary transparency measures’ with respect to the sourcing of organs, and ‘fails to incorporate the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation into its framework.’
This has led to a system that ‘lacks accountability and denies justice to victims of forced organ harvesting.’
In view of credible reports of forced organ harvesting continuing in China, and no evidentiary indication that forced organ harvesting has ceased, signatories to the letter warn that ongoing EU institutional support for entities engaged in organ transplantation and research in China leaves EU institutions and professionals ‘complicit in aiding and abetting forced organ harvesting.’[1]
Given the prospect of EU citizens travelling to China for transplantations using illegally harvested organs with impunity, the letter also calls for the introduction of ‘mandatory reporting of transplant tourism outside the EU by health professionals and institutions to protect EU citizens and institutions from complicity in the abuse abroad.’
In addition to urging Chinese counterparts to introduce greater transparency and access in line with WHO guidelines, the EU’s foreign policy chief was also pressed to hold China to account for ‘historic injustices of forced organ harvesting against persecuted minorities.’
Researchers estimate that since the early 2000s, there have been between 60,000 and 100,000 transplants taking place every year in China.
Falun Gong practitioners, who are killed when the organs are removed, are believed to be the main source of supply. Since 2017, the Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group based in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang, have also been victims of forced organ harvesting.
Background
For over two decades, China has been accused of prosecuting a state-sponsored campaign of forced organ harvesting using prisoners of conscience, most notably, members of the Falun Gong, a Buddhist spiritual practice.
In 2019, the China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, the lead prosecutor of former Serbian war criminal Slobodan Milošević at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, conducted an independent legal analysis of all available evidence.
The inquiry concluded that ‘forced organ harvesting has been committed for years throughout China on a significant scale and that Falun Gong practitioners have been one – and probably the main – source of organ supply.’
In January, the European Parliament passed aresolution urging the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to end its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. The motion also called for the EU and Member States to impose diplomatic and financial sanctions on entities and individuals found responsible.
Susie Hughes, Executive Director of the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), said:
“In line with its human rights responsibilities, the EU must urgently investigate initiatives – backed by institutional funding – that are engaged with China’s transplant sector for potential breaches of international law.
“At the same time, the EU and its Member States must confront rising cases of transplant abuse involving EU citizens. The EU must introduce mandatory reporting requirements on the provenance of organs obtained overseas to ensure compliance with international law and ethical standards.
“Failure to act risks the EU, its institutions or citizens being complicit in egregious abuses of human life and in the commission of crimes against humanity.”
Thierry Valle, President of the Coordination of Associations and Individuals for Freedom of Conscience (CAP Freedom of Conscience), commented:
“In light of the Regulation’s continued failure to comply with international law and standards of transparency concerning organ donation and transplantation, and with no evidence the practice of forced organ harvesting has ended in China, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must finally face censure for its systemic brutality.
“It is high time that the EU uses the tools at its disposal, including the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, to deter further violations of human rights and seek redress for victims by imposing sanctions on CCP officials guilty of gross abuses.”
About the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC)
The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC) is a coalition of lawyers, academics, ethicists, medical professionals, researchers and human rights advocates dedicated to ending forced organ harvesting in China.
ETAC is an independent, non-partisan organisation. We are not aligned with any political party, religious or spiritual group, government or any other national or international institution. Our members are from a range of backgrounds, belief systems, religions and ethnicities. We share a common commitment to supporting human rights and ending the horror of forced organ harvesting.
The China Tribunal, a people’s tribunal into forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience in China, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, conducted an independent legal analysis into the allegations and all available evidence.
Following 12 months of inquiry, the Tribunal unanimously and ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ concluded that forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been a state-sanctioned, systematic, widespread practice in China that has claimed the lives of a substantial number of victims and that it continues today.
[1] We note the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Organs and its ratification by at least some EU Member States, as well as their implementing legislation. We note further that several EU Member States have nationality jurisdiction, which means that their local laws against forced organ harvesting apply to their nationals abroad.
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.
