UN independent experts spotlight ‘prima facie war crime’ in East Jerusalem

UN independent experts spotlight ‘prima facie war crime’ in East Jerusalem

“There has been an ongoing and unchecked tragedy: the forced eviction of Palestinians from their homes,” they said in a joint statement.  “Israel’s transfer of its own population into the occupied territory confirms a deliberate intention to colonize the territory it occupies, a practice strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law,” they said. “It amounts to…

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Iraq: Rights experts call for new laws to end ‘waves of disappearance’

Iraq: Rights experts call for new laws to end ‘waves of disappearance’

The appeal comes in the latest report by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances, which visited the country in November.  The report examines five “waves of disappearance” in Iraq, including enforced disappearance. It covers the period starting with the Ba’ath era from 1968-2003 – characterized by the authoritarian rule of Saddam Hussein – through to…

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Racist rhetoric in Tunisia must stop, independent UN experts warn

Racist rhetoric in Tunisia must stop, independent UN experts warn

“Tunisia must immediately stop hate speech and violence against migrants from south of the Sahara,” the independent UN-appointed experts said in a statement issued under the Committee’s early warning and urgent action procedure. The mechanism aims at considering situations that may escalate into conflicts with a view to taking preventive actions to avoid full-scale violations…

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Malawi: Rights experts offer ‘heartfelt support and solidarity’, in wake of Cyclone Freddy

Malawi: Rights experts offer ‘heartfelt support and solidarity’, in wake of Cyclone Freddy

“We extend our heartfelt support and solidarity to the hundreds of thousands affected by Freddy, the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded in the southern hemisphere,” the UN-appointed human rights experts said in a statement. “The cyclone has had a devastating toll on people across 14 districts – nearly half the country – causing loss of lives,…

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UN rights experts condemn Uganda’s ‘egregious’ anti-LGBT legislation

UN rights experts condemn Uganda’s ‘egregious’ anti-LGBT legislation

“The imposition of the death penalty based on such legislation is per se an arbitrary killing and a breach of article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” the experts said, noting that Ugandan politicians had been made aware of this on previous occasions in recent years.  The harsh anti-LGBT laws approved by a majority…

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Rghts experts ‘deeply disturbed’ by Russian Wagner Group recruitment of prisoners

Rghts experts ‘deeply disturbed’ by Russian Wagner Group recruitment of prisoners

In a statement, the dozen experts said representatives from the Russian-owned mercenary outfit had been “offering pardons for criminal sentences to prisoners who join the group and take part in the war in Ukraine, as well as a monthly payment to their relatives”. The experts – members of the Working Group on the use of Mercenaries, the Working Group…

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Peru: UN experts call for end to violence during demonstrations

Peru: UN experts call for end to violence during demonstrations

In an appeal for “genuine dialogue” to resolve the crisis, the experts expressed deep concern about the reported repression, arbitrary killings, arrests, detention and enforced disappearances of demonstrators in Peru. The situation stems from Congress’s removal of then president, Pedro Castillo on 7 December, after he was accused of trying to dissolve it. Mr. Castillo remains in…

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