UNESCO calls for more protection for artists under attack

UNESCO calls for more protection for artists under attack

Emergencies tend to exacerbate the vulnerabilities people who work in the arts already experience, as they face multiple threats such as online and offline harassment, loss of income, legal prosecution, violence, censorship, and silencing.  Creatives also often lack minimal safety nets due to their precarious legal status, according to the report.  Artists under assault  In…

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Burkina Faso: UN rights office calls for probe into latest deadly attack on civilians

Burkina Faso: UN rights office calls for probe into latest deadly attack on civilians

The incident occurred on Thursday when armed men in uniform encircled Karma village, located in northern Yatenga province, and randomly shot at people.  At least 150 civilians were killed, and many more wounded, according to reports.  The attackers – allegedly members of the defence and security forces, accompanied by paramilitary auxiliaries known as the Volunteers…

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Rights office calls on Russia and Ukraine to observe rules of war, after alleged POW executions

Rights office calls on Russia and Ukraine to observe rules of war, after alleged POW executions

If confirmed, the actions would breach the rules of war, and could amount to a war crime. In a briefing on Tuesday in Geneva, OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani pointed to audio that emerged on Sunday on several Telegram channels, which urged combatants not to bother taking POWs, or to summarily execute those captured. Take no…

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Israel-Palestine: UN envoy calls for greater effort towards peace amid mounting violence

Israel-Palestine: UN envoy calls for greater effort towards peace amid mounting violence

Mr. Wennesland expressed deep concern over recent violence and inflammatory actions, particularly the violent confrontations inside al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier this month.  He urged the sides, regional States and the international community, to show leadership, re-engage and work towards peace and the vision of a two-State solution.  “There must be an end to the…

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UN coordinator calls for urgent ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Sudan, as death toll mounts

UN coordinator calls for urgent ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Sudan, as death toll mounts

“I am horrified by the toll the clashes are having on civilians”, said Abdou Dieng. “At least 331 people have been killed nationwide, including five aid workers, and nearly 3,200 have been injured.” The fighting between troops from the national army and a powerful rival militia known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted six days ago, and…

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