Europe

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals News from Europe
“Since 2014 [when Russian annexed Crimea, and the conflict in the east of the country began], 3.4 million people in the Donbas region of south-eastern Ukraine have needed health-related humanitarian assistance. In addition, when I started working here, the measles outbreak in the country was the second largest in the world, before our team helped in efforts to respond to it. And of course, we have had to deal with COVID-19 since 2020, so I have been working closely with the government to develop a national COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, and been active in our pandemic response across the whole country. Then, late last year, a polio outbreak was detected, so we started working, together with the Ministry of Health and partners, to get all children from the ages of 6 months to 6 years vaccinated. Since 2016, Ukraine has been in a process of reform and, even with all these health emergencies going on, government reforms of the health system to move towards universal health coverage didn’t stop. New institutions have been created and new practices applied. All in all, as a public health professional, it has been very challenging, but very rewarding, to be working in Ukraine all these years. Preparing for conflict In Ukraine, we have always worked on emergency preparedness, but we started to do more hands-on work in October and November of last year. This included visits to the eastern part of Ukraine, filling our warehouses with supplies and delivering to selected hospitals, and bringing in colleagues from the regional office and headquarters to assess our operations. In December, we also set up our emergency medical teams, briefed authorities, and translated WHO guidelines and materials focused on armed conflicts into Ukrainian. Early this year, we also pre-positioned trauma supplies – essential life-saving materials and treatments for injuries – in our warehouses and hospitals, and Dr Hans Kluge, the WHO Regional Director, made a special visit to the country to discuss what needed to be done from a health perspective in the face of escalating violence. © UNICEF/Andriy Boyko A newborn baby is weighed on a scale at a hospital in Ukraine on 7 March 2022. Facing the reality of war At the end of February, when the military offensive started, it was the school holidays, so people were perhaps feeling more relaxed than usual, making the attack even more of a shock. We had just signed an agreement with the national health authorities in January to take the health agenda further, so were really looking forward to all the positive changes we could make. We were also supposed to have a WHO and World Bank-supported national conference on hospital reforms at the end of March, and were preparing to celebrate World Health Day on 7 April to make progress on primary health care. All of these initiatives had to be put on hold. The last weeks have involved learning, reflecting, and coming to terms with the situation, because even though we have been preparing for hostilities for a long time, and more intensely in the last 4 or 5 months, none of us thought this would actually happen to such an extent. Making a difference on the ground I’m very proud that, due to our experience and team spirit, we are one of the UN agencies which has been able to deliver goods to Kyiv and other cities. Moreover, in all my 19 years of experience with WHO, I have never felt the 3 levels of WHO – headquarters, Regional Office and Country Office – come so closely together, listen to each other and prioritize the response. We are finding solutions, and we really are getting our best brains and people together to respond. That’s how we got medical supplies from Dubai to Poland, from Poland to Ukraine, and from Ukraine to individual hospitals across the country. Our WHO Country Office is just a small team, but we are able to mobilize thousands across the whole organization to support Ukraine. The health and humanitarian situation in the country is changing daily. In less than a month, over three million people have left the country and nearly two million have been internally displaced. This has happened faster than in any previous European crisis. There is no safe place in Ukraine right now, yet we need to ensure that health services are available. © WHO/Kasia Strek Hundreds of people fleeing from Ukraine gathered in shopping malls near the border crossing in Korczowa, Poland. ‘Every day things are getting worse’ Meanwhile, the military offensive continues, with a number of cities being entirely isolated – people are running out of food and water, and hospitals might not have electricity. Worse still, we have seen many attacks on health workers and health facilities as well as patients. This is happening daily and is unacceptable. So, if you ask me how to describe it, every day things are getting worse, which means every day the health response is becoming more difficult. Personally, I cope by working. It’s also important to sleep – fortunately for me, the more stressed I am, the better I sleep! It’s difficult, especially as everything I own, my clothes, my apartment, is in Kyiv. But most importantly, I have my health and energy to support Ukraine. Dealing with all of this is hard and all of us have stories to be told at a later time. Over the last week we have been refocusing and regrouping to respond to the enormous health challenges the country now faces. Three weeks ago, we dreamed that we could still do some of our development work, but the huge scale of the humanitarian crisis must be recognized. Right now, we need to focus on the humanitarian response, but also start thinking about the recovery phase, not knowing whether this war will end in the near future, or if it will last for a long time.” This First Person account was first published as an interview with Mr. Habicht on the WHO Europe website. Source: Continue reading...
Law ‘crystal clear’ “Civilians are entitled to protection against the dangers arising from military operations,” insisted Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, as she briefed the Council on the latest events. “International humanitarian law is crystal clear.” She painted a picture of daily attacks battering Ukrainian cities, many reportedly indiscriminate. Between 24 February and 15 March, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recorded 1,900 civilian casualties – with 726 people killed, including 52 children – mostly caused by explosive weapons in populated areas. OHCHR staff in Donetsk are following developments around a 14 March incident in which 20 civilians were reportedly killed by a Soviet-era Tochka-U ballistic missile that may have contained cluster munitions. Mariupol: Corpses on the streets Meanwhile, many residents who have been unable to evacuate from the southeastern port city of Mariupol lack food, water, electricity, and medical care said Ms. DiCarlo, warning that “uncollected corpses lie on city streets.” A strike on the Mariupol theatre yesterday, which reportedly served as a bomb shelter for displaced civilians, adds to the list of attacks against civilian structures. The UN priority is to reach people trapped by the shelling, she said, including in eastern Ukraine. The Senior UN official called for safe passage for civilians from, and humanitarian supplies into, encircled areas, and expressed gratitude to neighbouring States for their generosity in receiving refugees. “There will be no winners to this senseless conflict,” she said. ‘Remarkable’ refugee resilience Broadly agreeing, Raouf Mazou, the Assistant High Commissioner for Operations in the UN refugees’ office, UNHCR, said that in less than three weeks, the number of those fleeing Ukraine into neighbouring countries has risen from 520,000 to over 3.1 million. He described the situation as the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. “We are humbled by the remarkable resilience of the refugees, many of whom have left their homes with nothing but a plastic bag, and by the extraordinary hospitality of the host authorities and host communities,” said Mr. Mazou. Capacities ‘tested and stretched’ Meanwhile, with close to two million refugees from Ukraine, Poland has quickly become one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. Another 490,000 people have fled to Romania; 350,000 to Moldova; 280,000 to Hungary; and 228,000 to Slovakia, while others have moved to Russia or Belarus. “With the current pace of refugee outflows, the capacities of the neighbouring countries are being tested and stretched,” he said, calling for more support. Health impacts of war will last years Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said the devastating health consequences of the war will reverberate for years or decades to come. Ukraine’s health services have been severely disrupted by the widespread destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure – and increasingly, health facilities. Noting that WHO has verified 43 attacks on health care, with 12 people killed and 34 injured, he underscored that “attacks on health care are a violation of international humanitarian law – anytime, anywhere.” Service disruptions pose extreme health risks The WHO chief said that the disruption to services and supplies is posing an “extreme” risk to people with cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis – among the leading causes of mortality in Ukraine. At the same time, displacement, poor shelter and overcrowded living conditions are likely to increase the risk of measles, pneumonia and polio. The war is also exacerbating the impact of COVID-19, with a decline in testing likely leading to “significant undetected transmission.” Although the agency has established supply lines to many cities in Ukraine from its warehouse in Lviv, it faces challenges. Medical supplies unable to reach those in need “We have critical supplies ready for United Nations joint convoys to enter difficult areas, but so far we have not been successful,” Tedros said, pointing out that the convoy to Sumy, which included a WHO truck carrying medical supplies, was unable to enter. He told the Ambassadors that loads ready for Mariupol remain in staging areas and cannot proceed. “Access to these, and other areas, is now critical,” stressed the top WHO official, urging the Council to work for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution. Neighboring Poland Earlier today, Moscow rejected an order by the International Court of Justice, the UN’s highest court, to cease its attack. Poland’s UN Ambassador Krzysztof Maria Szczerski described Russia’s brutal actions as being “100 per cent a war of choice.” Poland has seen first-hand the dramatic humanitarian consequences of the war and will continue to admit refugees in a spirit of solidarity, regardless of their nationality, race or religious creed. Mr. Szczerski urged Russia to change its military modus operandi, calling for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access. Source: Continue reading...
Almost one child per second in Ukraine is becoming a refugee of the war, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as the total number of people who have now fled the country since the Russian invasion began, passed three million. “We have now reached three million mark in terms of movements of people out of Ukraine to neighbouring countries. And among these people there are some 157,000 third-country nationals,” said Paul Dillon, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), speaking in Geneva. Some 1.5 million children have now joined the exodus from Ukraine, at a rate of just under one per second, since the Russian invasion began on 24 February. “Every day, over the past 20 days, in Ukraine more than 70,000 children have become refugees. That’s every minute, 55 children fleeing the country,” said James Elder, spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Trafficking fears Highlighting that nine in 10 of those fleeing unrelenting violence in Ukraine are women and children, Mr. Elder warned that youngsters are prey to traffickers, as they arrive in unfamiliar new surroundings. “To give a sense of the border that I used to visit – the main border, Medyka, Poland to Ukraine – it is scores of people standing around buses and minivans calling out names of capital cities – or at least it was a week ago – people getting onto those,” he said. “The vast, vast majority of course are people with wonderful intentions and great generosity, but there is no doubt given what we understand of trafficking in Europe, that that remains a very, very grave issue.” The development follows a warning from the UN Secretary-General, who on Monday said that Russia’s military offensive against civilians was “reaching terrifying proportions”. Mariupol horror In Mariupol, humanitarians warned that the situation in the port city has deteriorated further, after further heavy Russian bombardment. Hundreds of thousands of people are being “suffocated” by a lack of supplies and are unable to flee the city, besieged by Russian forces. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday described the situation as “dire and desperate”. “The bottom line here is that hundreds of thousands of people remain without aid today,” said spokesperson Ewan Watson. “They are unable to leave the city today and they are essentially being suffocated in this city right now with no aid.” Mr. Watson also confirmed that “some vehicles …were able to leave the city yesterday. The ICRC was not involved in that evacuation of people. But what I would say is that is really a drop in the ocean.” Amid reports that families are being forced to gather water from streams and that fights have broken out over food, Mr. Watson urged the Ukrainian and Russian authorities to find a solution so that aid can reach the city’s people. The ICRC spokesperson also announced that the Organization intended to evacuate people from the besieged northeastern city of Sumy on Tuesday, using 30 buses. © UNICEF/Viktor Moskaliuk Lviv’s children’s hospital is catering to sick children, including children with cancer, who have have fled other regions in the country, seeking safety and treatment. UN stepping up aid Across the country, UN humanitarians are delivering lifesaving aid where they have access. But UNICEF’s Mr. Elder reported “indiscriminate attacks time and again on critical infrastructure, particularly water has been targeted. “Anecdotally from those colleagues there, we know of families who are undoing all heaters to take water coolant out as a last resort, as something to drink.” Source: Continue reading...
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, 31 attacks on health care have been documented by the World Health Organization. These incidents have killed and injured civilians, as well as destroyed facilities and ambulances, disrupting access to essential health services. “Today, we call for an immediate cessation of all attacks on health care in Ukraine. These horrific attacks are killing and causing serious injuries to patients and health workers, destroying vital health infrastructure, and forcing thousands to forgo accessing health services despite catastrophic needs”, the heads of UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Population Found (UNFPA) declared in a joint statement published on Sunday. The agencies’ leaders said that to attack the most vulnerable – babies, children, pregnant women, and those suffering from illness and disease, as well as health workers risking their safety to save lives – is “an act of unconscionable cruelty”. © UNICEF/Oleksandr Ratushniak On 3 March 2022, a woman sits beside the stretcher of her son, who has been receiving treatment for three weeks at a hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. Health needs rising More than 4,300 births have occurred in Ukraine since the start of the war and 80,000 Ukrainian women are expected to give birth in the next three months while oxygen and medical supplies, including for the management of pregnancy complications, are running dangerously low. “The health care system in Ukraine is clearly under significant strain, and its collapse would be a catastrophe. Every effort must be made to prevent this from happening…International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld, and the protection of civilians must be our top priority”, the UN top officials warned. They added that it is also critical that humanitarian partners and health care workers are able to safely maintain and strengthen essential health service delivery, including immunization against COVID-19 and polio, and the supply of life-saving medicines for civilians across Ukraine as well as to refugees crossing into neighbouring countries. “UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO are working with partners to scale up life-saving services and support to meet urgent health needs. We must be able to safely deliver emergency medical supplies – including those required for obstetric and neonatal care – to health centres, temporary facilities and underground shelters”, the agencies highlighted. Dr. Natalia Kanem (UNFPA), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus (WHO) and Ms. Catherine Russell (UNICEF) also called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ with unhindered access to humanitarian assistance. “A peaceful resolution to end the war in Ukraine is possible”, they urged. © UNICEF/Tom Remp On 5 March 2022, children and families reach Berdyszcze, Poland, after crossing the border from Ukraine, fleeing escalating conflict. Deaths and injuries keep rising The civilian toll of the war in Ukraine keeps rising. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has documented 1,663 civilian casualties in the country: 596 killed and 1,067 injured (From 24 February to 12 March). Most of the civilian casualties were caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multi-launch rocket systems, and missile and airstrikes. The agency believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, especially in Government-controlled territory and especially in recent days, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration. “This concerns, for example, Izium (Kharkiv region), and Mariupol and Volnovakha (Donetsk region) where there are allegations of hundreds of civilian casualties. These figures are being further corroborated and are not included in the above statistics”, OHCHR explains. In their latest report, the Office noted the report of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, according to which as of 9 a.m. (local time) 13 March, 85 children had been killed and more than 100 injured. They also confirmed receiving the report of the Head of the Investigative Department of the National Police of Kharkiv Region, according to which as of 6 p.m. (local time) 12 March, 205 civilians had been killed in the region. © Mariia Shostak via UNFPA Mariia Shostak’s baby son, Arthur, in the basement of a maternity hospital in Kyiv, where Mariia and other new mothers and their families took shelter. Needs also rising According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the human and socioeconomic costs of the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine continue to mount. Larger scale evacuations continue to be carried out in parts of eastern and northern Ukraine, although they have been repeatedly delayed due to active hostilities in some of the hardest-hit areas, like Mariupol (Donetska oblast, east). At the same time, the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance continues to be scaled-up, reaching over 600,000 conflict-affected people whose needs continue to grow by the hour. Source: Continue reading...
The recent adoption by Russia of a punitive “fake war news” law is an alarming move by the Government to gag and blindfold an entire population, independent UN human rights experts said on Friday. The same law introduces penalties for “discrediting” and “calling for obstruction” of the use of the Russian armed forces. The maximum penalty is five years in prison. Denying the invasion “While the Government claims that the purpose of the new legislation is to protect the ‘truth’ about what it euphemistically calls a ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine, in reality the law places Russia under a total information blackout on the war and in so doing gives an official seal of approval to disinformation and misinformation,” said the independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council, in a press release published by UN human rights office, OHCHR. This law is yet another drastic step in a long string of measures over the years, restricting freedom of expression and media freedom and further shrinking the civic space in the Russian Federation, they said. The law has had a chilling effect, forcing some media outlets to self-censor their reporting on the war in Ukraine. In less than a week, several national media outlets have closed down or suspended their activities, due to the increased restrictions on reporting. International media response Fearing for the safety of their staff, several international media outlets also announced their intention when the law was introduced, to suspend reporting from Moscow. Last week, according to the press release, the Russian authorities blocked or limited access to various news websites including the BBC, Deutsche Welle and RFE, as well as Facebook and Twitter, by users in the country. “By restricting reporting and blocking access to information online the authorities are not only choking the last vestiges of independent, pluralistic media in Russia, but they are also depriving the population of their right to access diverse news and views at this critical time when millions of Russians legitimately want to know more about the situation in Ukraine,” the independent experts said. These restrictions on media and access to information online, take place against the backdrop of a crackdown on thousands of anti-war protesters and human rights defenders, the press release notes. Mass arrests “The widespread allegations of the indiscriminate use of force and mass arrests of protesters by the authorities is deeply alarming. The primary responsibility of authorities when policing assemblies is to protect peaceful protesters and to facilitate the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the experts added. The experts also expressed their grave concern at the Russian military’s targeting of media workers and media installations in Ukraine which has endangered the safety of journalists, led to various attacks against media workers and damaged broadcasting infrastructure. Investigation call They called on the independent international commission of inquiry, recently established by the UN Human Rights Council, to fully investigate and ensure accountability for violations and abuses of the right to information and freedom of expression, and all attacks and threats to the safety of journalists in Ukraine. Special Rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not paid for their work. Source: Continue reading...
The Belarusian Government’s continuing crackdown on political opponents, civil society, journalists and lawyers has seen the fundamental human rights of tens of thousands violated, with no sign of any of the perpetrators being held accountable, the UN rights office, OHCHR, reported on Wednesday. The report details the findings of OHCHR’s examination of the human right situation in Belarus, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. The review covers the run-up to the disputed 9 August 2020 elections – in which sitting President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory amidst widespread allegations of vote rigging – up to 31 December 2021, drawing on 145 first-hand interviews, as well as “analysis of a wide range of information and evidence”, said the OHCHR. No justice: Bachelet “The examination not only lays bare the violations inflicted on people trying to exercise their fundamental human rights, but highlights the inability of victims to access justice,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. “The authorities’ extensive and sustained actions to crush dissent and repress civil society, independent media and opposition groups, while at the same time shielding perpetrators, points to a situation of complete impunity in Belarus”, she added. When victory was declared by the president in August, hundreds of thousands rallied to voice their opposition peacefully, meeting a “massive and violent crackdown”, the report says, with arrests and detentions reaching a scale unprecedented in Belarus. The report says testimony indicates arrests were largely random, with security forces pursuing and subduing any person within reach. ‘Climate of fear’ In addition, men without insignia and wearing balaclavas took part in the forced dispersal of protests, “creating a climate of fear and lawlessness,” the report says. Broad use of unnecessary and disproportionate force repeatedly violated people’s rights, including to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Between May 2020 and May 2021, at least 37,000 people were detained, many of them placed in administrative detention for up to 15 days. Some 13,500 people were arbitrarily arrested and detained between 9 and 14 August alone. The report indicates that torture and ill-treatment were widespread and systematic, with individuals targeted for their real or perceived opposition to the Government or the election results. Many victims feared filing a complaint, while those who did had their cases dismissed. Prisons filling up By the end of last year, 969 people were being held in prison on what OHCHR’s investigation suggests are purely politically motivated charges, with several activists given sentences of 10 years or more. By 4 March, this figure had risen to 1,084. After the election, the Government continued to harass those seeking to exercise their rights. In September 2020, the authorities began pressing charges against opposition figures, human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and ordinary citizens, a trend that continued throughout 2021, with the Government also passing a raft of legislative amendments that further curbed the exercise of fundamental freedoms. Critics targeted Civil society and human rights organizations, as well as independent media, continued to be targeted, says OHCHR. By October, 270 NGOs had been closed down, and by the end of the year, 32 journalists had been detained and 13 media outlets declared “extremist”. Lawyers who defended dissidents, spoke out about human rights violations or brought cases to UN human rights mechanisms, were detained, intimidated, faced disciplinary sanctions or were even disbarred. As of November 2021, 36 lawyers had lost their licences, said OHCHR. Conclusions OHCHR’s examination found that “individuals were targeted following a consistent pattern of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force, arrests, detention – including incommunicado detention – torture or ill-treatment, rape and sexual and gender-based violence and the systematic denial of due process and fair trial rights”, said a press release accompanying the report. The report also concludes that the scale and patterns of the violations identified, their widespread and systematic nature, and the evidence of official policy, knowledge and direction of policy implementation by Belarusian authorities, requires further assessment of the available evidence from the perspective of applicable international criminal law. Belarus violating international law The failure to effectively investigate human rights violations contravenes Belarus’ obligations under international human rights law, says the report, adding that beside the lack of investigations, “there was an active policy to shield perpetrators and prevent accountability, reflected in the level of reprisals, intimidation of victims and witnesses, attacks on lawyers and human rights defenders”. The report makes detailed recommendations to Belarus and other States, to work towards accountability through available legal processes, for serious violations of international human rights law in Belarus. Source: Continue reading...
In a resolution adopted on Friday, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva agreed to establish a commission to investigate violations committed during Russia’s military attack on Ukraine. Thirty-two countries voted in favour of the resolution, which was presented by Ukraine. Russia and Eritrea voted against it, while 13 nations abstained. Minute of silence Council Members observed a minute of silence to honour the victims of the bloodshed. The resolution calls for the “swift and verifiable” withdrawal of Russian troops and Russian-backed armed groups from Ukraine and urges safe and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need. The independent international Commission of Inquiry will have a mandate that includes investigating all alleged rights violations and abuses, and related crimes, and making recommendations on accountability measures. The vote capped two days of discussions on Ukraine in the Council, which is holding its annual month-long session. Urgent debate Ambassador Yevheniia Filipenko explained the serious motive behind the urgent debate her country had called on the “Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression”. “Most importantly, the initiative envisages the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry which will investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law and related crimes in the context of the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, including their root causes,” she said. “It is our common duty to ensure accountability by mandating the documentation and verification of Russia’s crimes and identification of those responsible,” Ms. Filipenko continued, in reference to the Commission of Inquiry. “This is the only way to ensure that such blatant dereliction of human rights values, which we deeply share cherish, will never repeat itself in any place of the world.” Speaking ahead of the vote, she called on those present to observe a moment of silence for all victims in Ukraine “stemming from the Russian aggression,” at which point the work of the Council paused, as Members stood to show their respect. Russia rejects Commission “We just held a minute of silence, and we do not oppose such a minute of silence,” said Counsellor Evgeny Ustinov from the Russian delegation. “But we hope that all those present here, including the diplomats and UN representatives, will finally recall those thousands of people who have been killed and maimed by the authorities in Ukraine. And these are the people in Donbass.” Rejecting the creation of a Commission of Inquiry, Mr. Ustinov insisted that it was “a mere waste of resources, which could better be used to help civilians in Ukraine. However, this will unlikely be a concern of the co-sponsors of the resolution, which will use any means in order to blame Russia for the event.” Source: Continue reading...
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) top official in Europe on Tuesday called on governments and health authorities to “closely examine” why there is low demand and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, as an “Omicron tidal wave” slams countries in the east of the region. Over the past two weeks, cases of the virus have more than doubled in six countries across Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belaurus, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine, said WHO Regional Director, Dr. Hans Kluge. “As anticipated, the Omicron wave is moving east – 10 eastern Member States have now detected this variant”, he added. ‘This remains a deadly disease’ Across WHO’s Europe region overall, COVID-19 “remains a deadly disease” said Dr. Klug, noting that 165 million cases had been recorded so far, with 1.8 million deaths – 25,000 just this past week. “Health systems are being put under increasing strain, not least because cases among healthcare workers are escalating – rising from 30,000 at the end of last year, to 50,000 a month later”, he said. As health needs increase, the number of staff available to deliver care has fallen, and the risk of transmission in healthcare settings has risen, making the problem worse, he said. For the eastern nations experiencing the wave, vaccination remains the best defence, he said, but less than 40 per cent of those over 60 in Ukraine, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, have had a full course of shots. Taken local action “I call on governments, health authorities and relevant partners to closely examine the local reasons influencing lower vaccine demand and acceptance”, the top WHO official said, “and devise tailored interventions to increase vaccination rates urgently, based on the context-specific evidence.” Dr. Klug said that now is not the moment to lift any measures in Europe “that we know work in reducing the spread of COVID-19. These include avoiding closed, confined or crowded locations, wearing masks when with other people indoors, improving ventilation where possible, using rapid tests to identify cases early, and making sure that health systems are well prepared to provide evidence-based treatments that we now know can reduce severe disease and death.” Hope for the future Looking ahead, he said there was definitely hope on the horizon, although nobody knows what new variants may emerge. Several factors are looking up, including high levels of immunity gained through infection or, preferably, vaccination; the end of the winter season with fewer people mixing indoors; and the lower severity of Omicron among those fully vaccinated. Dr. Klug called for four measures authorities need to take, to bring COVID “full under control” and end the acute phase of the pandemic in Europe. Maximize vaccine coverage, paying particular attention to those groups where uptake has been poor; coupled with vaccine sharing across borders. Help people to minimize the risk to themselves and others, through frequent self-testing, financial and other support for self-isolation, and wearing masks when mixing with other people indoors. Scale up access to effective antivirals and other evidence-based treatments in all countries. Support health systems to reduce the backlog of treatment resulting from the pandemic and as they plan ahead for a growing burden of so-called ‘Long COVID’. “These critical actions apply to east and west alike”, the top WHO official concluded. Source: Continue reading...
The new WHO report sets out for the first time the scale of childhood cancer inequalities in the European Region and examines the patterns that emerge at national and regional levels surrounding the disease. “Childhood cancer inequalities in the WHO European Region” was launched on International Childhood Cancer Day marked each 15 February, and it covers the experiences of both patients, and caregivers, as well as the short and long-term outcomes for patients. Major progress in survival rates Detailing how the five-year overall survival rate for children with cancer, has increased from 30 per cent in the 1960s, to over 80 per cent in recent times, the report puts that success down to different factors, including better medicines, diagnostics, and access to care. Last year in the WHO European Region, 4.8 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 2.1 million people died from the disease. According to recent data, every day, more than 1,000 children find out they have cancer. “The past few decades have seen enormous progress in childhood cancer survival, and today, we can cure up to 80 per cent of childhood cancers thanks to innovative technologies, and improved diagnoses and treatment,” said Dr. Nino Berdzuli, WHO/Europe’s Director of the Division of Country Health Programmes, at the launch of the report. Explaining that in high-income countries, “cancer is not a death sentence for children and adolescents anymore”, Dr. Berdzuli reiterated that “unfortunately, this is not true across the WHO European Region.” Reduce the gaps In a call to policymakers, she said it was “extremely important that across the region we work hard to reduce the gaps that still exist for childhood cancer care and treatment, so that every child with cancer gets the best chance at life”. “The mortality rate ranges from nine per cent in some countries in the Region to 57 per cent in others. This stark difference represents a myriad of inequalities among our youngest vulnerable population…which we urgently need to address,” added Marilys Corbex, Senior Technical Officer at WHO Europe. Highlighting that survival rates are significant between higher and lower income countries, Ms. Corbex also noted that “they can also differ a lot within the same country across socioeconomic groups or even according to gender”. The report looks at how children and families who experience childhood cancer are impacted by inequalities in different ways: inequalities between countries; over the available level of care; between socioeconomic backgrounds, gender, and ages; and whether you live in an urban or rural environment. The report also looks at childhood cancer as a cause of inequalities, for example, how a cancer diagnosis at an early age can create or exacerbate inequalities, and how difficulties for survivors can continue into adulthood affecting their long-term health, well-being, mental health and job opportunities. Some of the inequalities noted include lack of medicines in clinics, delayed or inaccurate diagnosis due to lack of awareness of childhood cancer, and knowledge of standardized cancer treatment protocols, together with a lack of paediatric facilities. Key recommendations While recognizing that countries are working from different starting points and that different factors will apply, WHO said its recommendations were targeted towards reducing inequalities as much as possible. They include investing in data collection and analysis; securing free of charge diagnosis and treatment to avoid ‘catastrophic’ spending by families; funding professional training for doctors and nurses to ensure awareness and use of paediatric standardized treatment protocols for cancer; supporting survivors through Support Care Plans to deal with long-term effects; and providing affected families with financial and social supports. Increase access worldwide Last December, as we reported here at UN News, WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital announced the establishment of a platform that aims to dramatically increase access to childhood cancer medicines around the world. Working across borders, sectors and disciplines, the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer will improve outcomes for children with cancer worldwide. For WHO, following the results in the report, the challenge now is “to ensure that children across the Region benefit equally from those advances through a renewed focus on inequalities”. Source: Continue reading...
Two children – Illia, 15, and Afina, 9 – have shared how although they do not bear any physical scars from the war, now in its eighth year, mortar shells and shrapnel have left them with invisible wounds that are nonetheless painful. “My life has changed a lot,” said Illia. “If it hadn’t been for the war, I wouldn’t have had vision problems, and I would have continued to play hockey and enter university in Donetsk.” A split-second change Sadly, the teenager is not alone. UNICEF said practically every child caught up in the fighting between Government forces and mostly pro-Russian separatists is now thought to be in need of psychosocial support. Illia recalled that he was standing in the kitchen when a shell hit his home. “In a split second there was an explosion. All I remember is that my ears were buzzing, and I saw a yellow line of fire, then red, orange and fragments.” His vision has deteriorated over the years. Nights spent sheltering in a dark basement have only made it worse. Life during wartime “The most important thing during a war is to make it to safety in time,” Illia said. “When you hear a shot, you run to the basement, hide and wait for the explosion. You need to survive while you run to the basement. And then you need to survive in the basement.” Illia has long dreamed of moving to a big city, but the war has upended his life and his plans. The hockey team he played on has been disbanded due to the hostilities. The university that he planned to go to is now located on the other side of the checkpoints that form the ‘contact line’, in territory beyond Government control. And the stress has taken its toll on his vision. However, thanks to hospital treatment, Illia has been able to stop his vision from deteriorating further. He now wears glasses to correct his myopia. And while he hopes to play sports again one day, he now enjoys helping around the house and preparing cupcakes and other delicious desserts for his family. UNICEF Ukraine Afina was just two years old when the shells first began to fall in eastern Ukraine.. Conflict-related stress Although Afina is only nine, she has developed diabetes as a result of conflict-related stress. Her blood sugar level must be measured up to seven times a day, and her family often struggles to afford life-saving insulin due to financial insecurity. Afina was just two years old when the fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine. Her mother, Daria, remembers her daughter playing near their house when a tank drove along their street. The little girl ran as fast as she could, so that she even lost her shoes. “She got scared and started hiding behind me, crying a lot,” Daria recalled. “Yes, I remember,” Afina added, speaking in a soft voice. “How I ran away from the tank and lost my slippers. And I went running barefoot.” Families feel the strain After years of stress caused by shelling, Afina was eventually diagnosed with diabetes. “I started drinking a lot of water,” she recalled. “As if everything was dry inside me.” The war has also impacted her family’s financial situation, and their lives have been turned upside down, as her mother explained. “We were left without a livelihood,” Daria said. “They stopped paying the wages to my husband, payments to my parents were also delayed, even our cow stopped milking at that time.” A day-to-day existence The family now struggle to buy new test strips and needles for Afina, as well as insulin for her daily injections. Daria recalled that her daughter has always dreamed of flying on vacation by plane. “Perhaps someday we will be able to do it. But until the war is over, we live a day-to-day existence,” she said. Protecting Ukraine’s children Despite recent developments aimed at protecting the rights of children affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine, UNICEF said nearly half a million girls and boys continue to face grave risks to their physical health and psychological well-being. The UN agency and its partners provide mental health and psychosocial support services for children living along the more than 420 kilometre-long contact line that divides government and non-government controlled areas.  Last year, UNICEF support reached over 70,000 children, youth and caregivers. Teachers were trained to offer psychosocial support, meaning they can now provide better care for children in school, as well as better cope themselves with the fear and stress of the conflict.  UNICEF requires $2.2 million this year for its child protection work to provide more than 85,000 children with critical psychosocial support. 
Urgent action is required to assist and protect some 400 Vietnamese migrant workers who were allegedly trafficked to Serbia, experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said on Friday. Eight companies, including Vietnamese labour recruitment agencies and Chinese construction firms registered in Serbia, have reportedly been implicated in serious human rights abuses, they said, citing information received. The experts have written to the businesses and are also in contact with authorities in the three countries. Appalling conditions “We are deeply concerned that these migrant workers may have been trafficked for purposes of forced labour, and have been living and working in appalling conditions in Serbia, at serious risk to their lives and health,” they said in a statement. They were also disturbed by allegations that civil society groups wanting to assist the workers have not been allowed access to them. The experts urged the Governments of Serbia, Viet Nam and China to ensure that businesses based in their territory, or operating under their jurisdiction, respect the human rights of all workers. “This includes not only the businesses who rely on migrant labour but also labour recruitment agencies,” they said. Duty to protect Regulation and monitoring of labour recruitment agencies is also critical to effectively prevent trafficking for the purposes of forced labour, they added. The experts reminded governments of their duty to protect against business-related human rights abuses. Countries must also take appropriate steps to ensure victims have access to justice and effective remedies, and to ensure ongoing assistance and protection, including against forced return. They also highlighted the obligations of businesses to exercise due diligence in ensuring that the rights of all workers are protected, without discrimination, recognising the particular needs and rights of migrant workers. Independent experts The eight human rights experts who issued the statement receive their mandates from the UN Human Rights Council, located in Geneva. They monitor and report on specific issues of global concern, which include trafficking in persons, contemporary forms of slavery, the human rights of migrants, and implementation of UN principles on business and human rights. The experts operate in their individual capacity and are neither UN staff nor are they paid for their work.
Authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in neighbouring Serbia, must condemn and refrain from any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Friday. Spokesperson Liz Throssell said OHCHR was deeply concerned by recent incidents in both countries which saw individuals glorify atrocity crimes and convicted war criminals, target certain communities with hate speech, and, in some cases, directly incite violence. The fear is that such acts – fuelled by continued inflammatory, nationalistic rhetoric and hate speech of some politicians – will increase this year, ahead of elections. “As we have repeatedly highlighted, the rise in hate speech, the denial of genocide and other atrocity crimes and the glorification of war criminals in the Western Balkans, highlight the failure to comprehensively address the past,” she said. Affront to survivors The incidents occurred amid religious holidays last weekend, and took place in several locations in Republika Srpska, the Serb-run entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in Brčko in the north, and in the Serbian cities of Priboj and Novi Pazar. They included large groups of people chanting the name of convicted war criminal and former Bosnian Serb military leader, Ratko Mladić, during torchlight processions, or singing nationalistic songs calling for the takeover of various locations in the former Yugoslavia. In one incident, individuals fired shots into the air as they drove past a mosque. “These incidents, some in locations that saw large-scale atrocity crimes during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina…are an affront to survivors, including those who returned to their homes after the conflict,” said Ms. Throssell. Impartial investigation Failure to prevent or sanction them is a major obstacle to trust-building and reconciliation, she added. “Serious incidents like these should be investigated promptly, effectively and impartially, to prevent them being repeated and perpetuated, and also to foster the public trust in authorities and institutions, and among communities, that is essential to build social cohesion and peaceful societies.” OHCHR was encouraged that some senior politicians, as well as religious leaders, have condemned the acts, and that police have begun investigations. Prevent recurrence Ms. Throssell underlined the need for authorities in both countries to abide by their international obligations to ensure the rights to truth, justice, and reparation. “They should also adopt measures to prevent recurrence and to promote further reconciliation efforts,” she said. “We call on them to condemn and refrain from any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred.” Furthermore, she recalled that countries party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which include Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are obliged to ensure that incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence is prohibited in law and in practice. “All perpetrators and instigators of such acts must be held accountable,” she said.
At least 31 people lost their lives in three separate shipwrecks over the course of four days last week in the Aegean Sea, and an unknown number are still missing, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday. According to the UN agency, between 21 and 24 December more than 160 people were rescued by Greece’s Hellenic Coast Guard – with support from the navy and air force, as well as merchant and private vessels. Commending those efforts, Maria-Clara Martin, UNHCR’s representative in Greece, said “it is heart-rending that, out of despair and in the absence of safe pathways, refugees and migrants feel compelled to entrust their lives to ruthless smuggler”. “More resolute action is needed to curb people smuggling and stop those who exploit human misery and despair. It is disheartening to see preventable tragedies like these repeating themselves. We should not get used to seeing bodies being recovered from the sea”, she added. Series of accidents The first shipwreck took place off Folegandros island on 21 December, with 13 people rescued and three male bodies recovered. One survivor told the Hellenic Coast Guard that as many as 50 people may have been onboard the boat that carried them without any safety equipment. The second shipwreck, north of Antikythera island, resulted in the loss of 11 lives, while 88 people were rescued. And on Christmas Eve, a boat carrying at least 80 passengers capsized off the island of Paros, claiming the lives of 17 people, including a baby. Sixty-three survivors were rescued and brought to Paros, where local authorities and island residents rushed to assist them with blankets, food and clothes. UNHCR estimates that from January until the end of November this year, more than 2,500 people have died or gone missing at sea in their attempt to reach Europe, through the Mediterranean and the northwestern African maritime route.
France should consider the economic and development benefits of partnership with people of African descent, the head of a Working Group appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said in a statement on Monday. Dominique Day, chairperson of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, was speaking in the wake of its visit to Paris from 13 to 16 December. Focus on development Country visits by UN rights experts take place at the invitation of the host government and focus on fact-finding, diagnosis and recommendations. However, the Working Group’s mission was different, as members examined opportunities and obstacles to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specific to people of African descent. These issues include invisibility or disregard of present-day experiences that may stem from the legacies of colonialism and the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. “Despite a narrative of meritocracy, people of African descent at varied stages of their educational and professional development, including those with significant success, reported that benediction by institutional gatekeepers was indispensable to access and recognition, even in the presence of significant skill and talent,” said Dominique Day, the Working Group’s chairperson. “A racialized gatekeeping is contrary to human rights, imposes severe development costs to people of African descent individually and as a whole, and deprives France of a proven economic driver in multiple fields,” she added. Welcoming efforts During the mission, the Working Group engaged with human rights institutions, the UN educational and cultural agency, UNESCO, and a wide range of civil society representatives familiar with the development context. “The delegation welcomed ongoing efforts in some areas to shed light on key barriers and to build networks to ensure people of African descent may access the formal and informal mechanisms necessary to their hiring and professional development,” the statement said. The visit was also an opportunity to offer specific “drivers of development” that the French authorities could use to promote improvements, and the mission was guided by the Working Group’s Operational Guidelines on inclusion of people of African descent in the 2030 Agenda. Ms. Day said UNESCO’s Slave Route Project was a key source of knowledge for the experts, as it helped to highlight the historical and legacy issues driving current experiences reported by people of African descent. “Although the Working Group did not meet at this stage representatives of the French Government, it will share its observations gathered during this visit to initiate a dialogue based on the human rights commitments of the country. France should consider the economic and development benefits of partnership with people of African descent,” she said. The Working Group will share its preliminary observations with the French Government and propose the start of dialogue in the framework of an official country visit. Independent voices Independent experts, Special Rapporteurs and members of Working Groups are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor and report on specific country situations or thematic issues. These persons serve in their individual capacity and are not UN staff, nor are they paid by the UN.
In a message on Thursday, WHO Regional Director Hans Kluge urged Europeans to “be smart, be kind, be safe this holiday season.” The COVID-19 threat remains high across the continent, which was already the epicentre of the pandemic even before the emergence of the new Omicron variant. Use the tools “My message to the people of Europe and central Asia is to exercise caution this holiday season. Use the many tools we have at our disposal. These stabilizers help us to manage the virus and keep people safe,” said Dr. Kluge. He urged people to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible. “Vaccines remain the best way to prevent severe disease and death, even with the arrival of the Omicron variant,” said Dr. Kluge. “If you are eligible for a third dose and it is available to you, take it.” Families and friends meeting up should keep these gatherings small, he added,while recommending that people should take a lateral flow/antigen or PCR test beforehand to ensure they are not infectious. “Follow other preventive measures, even if you are fully vaccinated,” Dr. Kluge advised. “Avoid crowded or confined places, wear a well-fitting mask, observe physical distancing of at least one metre, ventilate indoor spaces by opening windows and/or doors, and keep your hands clean.” Finding the right balance In separate advice to governments and health authorities, WHO Europe called for “a balanced and risk-based approach” to COVID-19 prevention measures this winter season. As people socialize more indoors, or travel to visit loved ones, the opportunities for further virus transmission are significant. WHO Europe said with the right mix of measures, countries can find a balance between keeping coronavirus transmission down and societies and economies open. Government response should be centred around preventing severe COVID-19 disease and stabilizing transmission. Measures include continuing to vaccinate, targeting those most at risk, and prioritizing eligible groups for booster shots. Governments should also strengthen public health actions such as testing, contact tracing and regulations for mass gatherings. Regarding international travel, WHO Europe said while countries may apply appropriate measures to reduce virus transmission, particularly in response to new variants, blanket travel bans will not prevent their international spread. Additionally, decisions on mass gatherings should “rely on a risk-based approach”, and WHO has produced a policy brief and risk assessment tool to support authorities in this regard. New assessment tool WHO Europe recently launched an online mechanism to help governments decide on the type and level of measures to implement in their territories. The COVID-19 Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) Calibration Tool brings together the crucial information required to make an assessment, and then provides a situational report with recommendations on appropriate measures. The (PHSM) Calibration Tool will allow governments and local authorities to quickly adjust measures as needed, which in turn should help reduce virus transmission, among other benefits.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and migration agency IOM, called on Tuesday for an immediate investigation into the deaths of four people near the border between Poland and Belarus, due to causes yet to be determined. In a joint statement, the agencies expressed their condolences to the families of the deceased, all of whose nationalities have yet to be confirmed, although two of the victims were identified as Iraqi nationals who reportedly died of hypothermia. EU-Belarus border crisis In recent months, groups of asylum-seekers and migrants have been transiting through Belarus, to seek asylum in neighbouring EU Member States – Lithuania, Latvia and Poland. Reports of cross-border pushbacks and lack of adequate asylum access for those seeking international protections, shelter and assistance, have been relayed to UNHCR and IOM, who have been closely following the situation. Noting that “groups of people have become stranded for weeks, unable to access any form of assistance, asylum or basic services”, the agencies said that many had been left in dire situations, exposed to the elements, and vulnerable to deadly hypothermia. “Some were rescued from swamps”, the statement added. Human rights protection Recognizing the significant challenges posed by irregular movements, both UN agencies called for the situation to be managed in accordance with States’ international legal obligations, adding that they should work collaboratively to resolve the situation, prioritising human rights.  UNHCR and IOM called for immediate access to those affected, in order to provide lifesaving medical help, food, water and shelter, especially considering the approaching winter. Noting that border management is a country’s sovereign prerogative, IOM and UNHCR called on all States to uphold the rule of law at the borders and to respect the human rights and freedoms of all migrants. The statement added that UNHCR and IOM have been engaging with relevant authorities to explore various options for the people who continue to be stranded at borders; from access to asylum, family reunification procedures, and voluntary return for those found not to be in need of international protection.  IOM and UNHCR concluded by saying that asylum-seekers and migrants should never be used by States as political pawns. Many news outlets in recent days have highlighted the view within the European Union, that Belarusian authorities have been orchestrating the influx of asylum-seekers from the Middle East and Asia, in retaliation for sanctions against the hard-line Government in Belarus, which has led a violent crackdown against the pro-democracy movement there since disputed elections last year.
Migrants are facing “dire conditions” at the European Union-Belarus border, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned on Monday. Reports of cross-border pushbacks and lack of adequate asylum access for those seeking international protections, shelter and assistance, were “particularly alarming”, according to the UN agency. Noting that border management is a country’s sovereign prerogative, the Organization called on all States to uphold the rule of law at the borders and to respect the human rights and freedoms of all migrants, regardless of immigration status. “Migrants should not be instrumentalized. Their protection and respect of human rights must be at the heart of any State response”, IOM said. Countries apply state of emergency Last month the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) voiced concern about a group of 32 Afghans stuck for more than three weeks on the Poland-Belarus border. Acknowledging the challenges posed by recent arrivals to Poland, Christine Goyer, the UNHCR’s representative in the country called on the Polish authorities “to provide access to territory, immediate medical assistance, legal advice, and psychosocial support to these people”. The call came after Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that a new 2.5-metre-high solid fence would be built along the country’s border with Belarus. On Friday, a state of emergency took effect in areas of eastern Poland after thousands of migrants from Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere tried to illegally cross into the country from Belarus in recent weeks. Poland, Lithuania and Latvia have all reinforced their borders and Lithuania and Latvia also declared states of emergency this summer. ‘Unacceptable situation’ According to the IOM, the migrants stranded at the EU-Belarus border have for several weeks had limited access to drinking water and food, medical assistance, sanitation facilities and shelter. Prolonging this “unacceptable situation” is a grievous threat to the migrants’ lives and health, it said. In addition to respect for migrant rights to be upheld, the IOM appealed for restraint, dialogue, and international cooperation and said it “stands ready to support concerned States … to ensure the effective management of migration, that can reduce vulnerabilities and ensure that the vital needs of migrants are met”, spelled out the UN agency.
Former Judge Baltasar Garzón of the Spanish National Court was suspended in 2010 and criminally prosecuted and tried in 2012 for alleged willful abuse of power in two cases of major political significance at the national level. In the first case, Mr. Garzón assumed jurisdiction to investigate enforced disappearances during the Civil War and the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. Trough the second case, called Gürtel, he tried a political corruption scandal during which the former judge decided to monitor communications between defendants and their representatives. Mr. Garzón was acquitted in the Franco proceedings but was convicted of willful abuse of power in the Gürtel case and disbarred from office for 11 years. The Committee emphasized that even if the former judge had committed a judicial error in both cases, it should have been corrected by a review before a higher court and not through the criminal prosecution. First-ever ruling against a State In 2016, Mr. Garzón filed a complaint against Spain before the UN Human Rights Committee – the body of independent experts charged with monitoring signatory States’ compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The former judge alleged that he suffered multiple human rights violations during both two trials. The decision is the first time that the Committee has ruled and condemned a State for the use of criminal law against a judge in the course of his or her duties, thus establishing new jurisprudence. “Judges should be able to interpret and apply the law without fear of being punished or judged for the content of their decisions”, Committee member José Santos Pais concluded. “This is essential to preserve judicial independence”. UN News/Daniel Johnson Human Rights Committee member José Manuel Santos Pais speaks out on the case of Former Judge Baltasar Garzón of the Spanish National Court. (file) Decisions ‘did not constitute serious misconduct’ In the Franco proceedings, the Committee specified that Mr. Garzón’s decisions “were at least a plausible legal interpretation, the appropriateness of which was reviewed on appeal, without it being concluded that such decisions constituted misconduct or incompetence that could justify his inability to perform his duties”. Of the Gürtel case, the Committee considered that “the interpretation of Mr. Garzón, which was shared by other judges and the Public Prosecutor, even if, as claimed by the State, it was erroneous, did not constitute serious misconduct or incompetence that could justify his criminal conviction”. Right to impartial tribunal ‘violated’ Mr. Pais noted that the right to be tried by an independent and impartial tribunal takes on special relevance in the case of judges, as it “ensures that they can carry out their judicial duties without undue interference or obstruction, protecting them against arbitrary criminal or disciplinary proceedings”. The Committee concluded that Mr. Garzón’s right to be tried by an impartial tribunal was violated. The Committee highlighted that some of the Supreme Court judges who tried him intervened in both cases, despite Mr Garzón’s request that they be recused; the trials were conducted simultaneously; the oral trials in the two cases took place five days apart; and the judgements were issued 18 days apart. The members also criticized the fact that Mr. Garzón did not have access to a second instance to appeal, given that he was tried on only once by the Supreme Court, Spain’s highest judicial body. In the Gürtel case, the Committee underlined that the conviction for willful abuse of power against Garzón was “arbitrary and unforeseeable” as it was not based on sufficiently explicit, clear and precise legal provisions. Article 15 of the Covenant establishes the principle of legality and predictability, i.e. that no one can be convicted for acts that were not sufficiently explicitly foreseen at the time they were committed.
Two independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday expressed serious concern over a United Kingdom plan to end prosecutions for grave violations committed during the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland, long known as “the Troubles”. The move was announced by Brandon Lewis, UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in July, and would ban all conflict-related prosecutions through the introduction of a statute of limitations to apply equally to all Troubles-related incidents. This “would effectively institute a de-facto amnesty and blanket impunity for the grave human rights violations committed during that period,” according to the experts. Flagrant violation “We express grave concern that the plan outlined in July’s statement forecloses the pursuit of justice and accountability for the serious human rights violations committed during the troubles, and thwarts victims’ rights to truth and to an effective remedy for the harm suffered, placing the United Kingdom in flagrant violation of its international obligations,” they said in a statement. The experts recalled that in presenting the plan, Mr. Lewis justified the measures by stating criminal justice can impede truth, information recovery and reconciliation. They were concerned that this justification “conflates reconciliation with impunity”, noting that criminal justice is an essential pillar of transitional justice processes. “The essential components of a transitional justice approach – truth, justice, reparation, memorialization and guarantees of non-recurrence – cannot be traded off against one another in a ‘pick and choose’ exercise,” they stressed. Oral history initiative More than 3,500 people were killed, and another 40,000 injured, during the Troubles, which began in the late 1960s. Fighting between British forces and the self-styled Irish Republican Army (IRA), and between other paramilitary groups across the Catholic-Protestant sectarian divide in Northern Ireland, ended, for the most part, with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in April 1998. The UK Government proposal foresees the establishment of a new independent body where people will be able to receive information about their loved ones who died or were injured in the conflict. It also calls for adoption of an oral history initiative. The full truth “The proposed plan does not seem to include measures for establishing the full extent of the truth about the human rights violations perpetrated during the Troubles and about the circumstances, reasons and responsibilities that led to them,” said the experts. They added that the proposal also does not seem to ensure that this truth is accessible to all victims, and to society as a whole, with due consideration of the needs and safety of victims and with their full consent. They further noted the insufficient clarification surrounding the proposed statements of acknowledgement by the various actors in the Troubles, and how this would comply with international standards regarding the provision of public apologies. Independent voices The two experts who issued the statement are Fabián Salvioli, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence, and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. They were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council and are neither UN staff, nor are they paid by the Organization.
Hande Toycan, who is Turkish-Cypriot, and Flora Hadjigeorgiou, a Greek-Cypriot, are among the many women who partner with the UN on the Mediterranean island to strengthen engagement, equality and stability. A shared bond Ms. Toycan was born and raised in the northern city of Famagusta, and still lives there. She is a member of the Famagusta Cultural Association and studied Greek language and literature in Ankara, the cultural capital of Turkey. Ms. Hadjigeorgiou, a retired teacher who fills her time with hobbies and other activities, is part of the Klotho Women’s Initiative. Though coming from different communities, both women have a passion for weaving. However, neither was aware of their shared bond. “In the beginning, our friends Mustafa and Maria who work at UNFICYP told us about the project, funded by the Dutch Embassy, and told us to apply,” said Ms. Toycan. Bringing communities closer UNFICYP, officially the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, has been in the country since 1964. The mission’s “blue helmets” police and monitor a buffer zone between the Republic of Cyprus and the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Listen to our interview with UN Special Representative Elizabeth Spehar, who heads UNFICYP: UNFICYP also facilitates projects to bring the two sides closer together. “They put us in contact with the ladies from Famagusta, and so a bi-communal project began,” Ms. Hadjigeorgiou recalled. Through a centuries-old tradition, the women began to weave a new relationship. “Weaving is part of our past,” Ms. Hoycan explained. “This connection and collaboration between the two associations…is a very positive example of the intercommunal cooperation between the two communities, because it is not always easy for many people to get together and do things.” A new experience Through collaborating on different weaving projects, the women exchanged knowledge, opinions and ideas. The experience marked a first for Ms. Hadjigeorgiou. “Until this, I had no contact with the Turkish-Cypriots at all. The first time I came into contact with a Turkish-Cypriot, was with the Klotho project,” she said. “It helped a lot in reconciliation because on this side, we had no contact with Turkish Cypriots.” Weaving also provided grounds for friendship, and Ms. Toycan’s knowledge of Greek proved especially handy. “For the last three years, I am working as a Greek teacher. I assist them especially in the communication part, the communication in Turkish and Greek,” she said. Forced to separate Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised new challenges. The women were forced to be apart, just as they were beginning to feel comfortable with each other. “Our connection in the Klotho Women’s Initiative was always face-to-face meetings, but our communication didn’t stop completely,” said Ms. Toycan. “We ask about each other and what we are doing. Our work continues, but of course not like in the past.” Nothing divides us Even though everything stopped due to the pandemic, both women plan to continue weaving across the divided island.  “This is a very good example of collaboration,” said Ms. Hadjigeorgiou. “It proves that the two sides can co-exist.  We have so many common interests. There is nothing to divide the ladies from Famagusta and us.”  Although they initially felt like strangers, “through this bi-communal collaboration we got to know that we are the same,” said Ms, Toycan, adding “it is nice to know this.”