Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung | Global Unit for Human Security

🎄 2024 was a rollercoaster of a year for us all; the “super election” year painted a worrying picture in which more than 60 countries held elections amid rampant mis/disinformation campaigns, growing socio-political polarization, and international and internal conflicts with far reaching consequences. In particular, the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan and their unjustifiably high human and environmental costs exposed the catastrophic failures of the international community to protect the world’s most vulnerable. 2024 was a year of mixed emotions for the ones amongst us who continue to believe in international law as an integral part of our fight to increase human security, freedom and peace for/amongst all people(s). Amidst all this, we are cautiously hopeful to end the year on a positive note and witness the fall of the brutal dictatorship of Bashar al Assad in Syria and the return of hope to a people who have paid an unthinkably high price during the past five decades of oppression, war and displacement. In this volatile context, the Global Unit for Human Security is delighted to have further established our relatively young office in Vienna. In particular, we would like to highlight the publication of a 4-episode-podcast series on the Green Understanding of Security, three thought-provoking Human Security Salons, the launch and growth of our Human Security Dossier, and a continued partnership with European Forum Alpbach.   In addition, 2024 took us to the wonderful African continent, in the form of a cooperation with Africa Check on an Africa-wide research on election-related mis/disinformation (research to be published in 2025), a visit to the inspiring Africa Facts Summit in Ghana, and to Senegal as part of our cooperation with SCRIPTS Cluster of Excellence and the brilliant hbs office in Dakar. We look forward to taking the current glimmer of hope with us to 2025 and face the coming challenges and opportunities with determination and commitment to fighting for human dignity everywhere, for all. We will do so with a particular focus on critically exploring the role and promise of international law in the current and future state of human security around the world. We will also continue our work on dis/misinformation and digital policy. You will probably see us in Africa again, expanding our cooperation with and learning from leading scholars, activists and policy makers. We will also continue our exploration of topical discussions in our Human Security Salons in Vienna and expand our cooperation with our European partners. All these will be done with the aim of enabling an open space for critical reflection on topics related to human security, with a particular focus on welcoming and engaging with Global Majority voices and perspectives. Finally, we look forward to fruitful engagement and exchange with all of you, our wonderful network of individuals and organisations! We wish you all a peaceful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.

🎬 Check out our third and last video from the 2024 youth assembly #PencumNdawyi in Dakar, Senegal featuring day 3 of the assembly and the high-level panel discussion at the West African Research Centre (WARC). Heinrich Böll Stiftung Dakar, Senegal SCRIPTS Berlin

📢 Join the latest "böll.global" for an urgent and timely discussion on Syria’s future! "Böll.Global | A New Beginning for Syria: How Can It Succeed?" 🗓 Date: Thursday, 19 December 2024 🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM CET 💻 Where: Online The expert panel will explore: - The shifting dynamics and future scenarios after Assad’s fall. - The roles of Syrian civil society and international actors. - How Germany and the EU can support an inclusive transition. - The future of Syrian refugees in Europe. 🎙 Panelists: Dr. Bente Scheller, Heinrich Böll Foundation Razan Rashidi, The Syria Campaign Mohammad Al Attar, Syrian playwright and dramaturge Moderated by: Layla Al-Zubaidi, Heinrich Böll Foundation 👉 Register here and join the conversation: https://lnkd.in/dEeqyYna

The recent COP29 conference in Baku concluded with outcomes that are clearly setbacks in the pursuit of climate justice. The agreed-upon climate finance target of $300 billion annually by 2035 falls significantly short of the trillions required to effectively support vulnerable nations in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Additionally, the establishment of international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement has introduced new loopholes, potentially enabling continued fossil fuel emissions. These developments underscore the persistent challenges in achieving equitable climate action and highlight the necessity for more ambitious commitments from the global community. If you want to dive deeper in our views on the COP29 please find the link to the article our colleague Linda Schneider in the comments.

An incredible story about how Russian sponsored #disinformation operations work - great courage and work by whistleblower Yalike-Ngonzo, Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) and Forbidden Stories! Africa Check Anton Shekhovtsov

>> The relationship between nuclear weapons and human security is similar to that of the relationship between economic inequalities and social justice: if you have the first, the second is very difficult to obtain. << - Jacqueline Cabasso and Ray Acheson The recent escalation of nuclear rhetoric by Russia in their war of aggression against Ukraine has starkly highlighted the grave dangers posed by nuclear weapons. In this thought-provoking article by M V Ramana, the impact of nuclear arsenals on global human security is analyzed. Nuclear weapons do not just directly threaten peace; they create and exacerbate insecurity, destabilizing regions and escalating conflict. As tensions rise, it’s crucial to understand the broader implications of nuclear deterrence and the global security landscape. The article underscores the need for collective action to curb nuclear proliferation and ensure a safer future for all. 🔗 You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dRu9ggTU

Auf dem #BerlinPeaceDialogue 2024 stellte der Beirat seine neu veröffentlichte Studie vor: Diese skizziert umwelt- und klimaschutzorientierte Ansätze für nachhaltigen Frieden, untersucht Lernerfahrungen aus Projekten mit #EnvironmentalPeacebuilding-Komponente und entwickelt daraus konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen. „Friedensförderung geschieht nicht in einem Vakuum, sondern steht mit diversen Wirkungsfeldern in enger Beziehung. Insbesondere die #Klimakrise hat das Potenzial, als Bedrohungsmultiplikator neue Konflikte zu begünstigen, bestehende zu verschärfen und #Friedensbemühungen zu kompromittieren. Ansätze wie das Environmental Peacebuilding setzen an diesen Verflechtungen an und sind daher geeignet, nachhaltige Entwicklung und langfristigen Frieden voranzutreiben. Hier braucht es mehr Finanzierung und eine stete Einbeziehung von Vertretern der Zivilgesellschaft, um bessere Ergebnisse zu erzielen.“, betont Dr. Kira Vinke, Co-Vorsitzende des Beirats und Co-Autorin der Studie. Die Studie können Sie hier lesen: https://lnkd.in/enajK55u Barbora Sedova; Dr. Abdullah Fahimi; Simon Ilse; Patrick Flamm; Stefan Kroll; Thomas Ritzer; Liane Schalatek; Juergen Scheffran; Anna Sperber; Nina Strumpf; Stefanie Wesch (she/her); PRIF Peace Research Institute Frankfurt; Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik e.V. | DGAP; Forum Ziviler Friedensdienst e.V. | forumZFD; Brot für die Welt; Arbeitsgemeinschaft Frieden und Entwicklung (FriEnt); Berghof Foundation; Vereinigung Deutscher Wissenschaftler e.V.; PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Plattform Zivile Konfliktbearbeitung © Nils Lucas

🎬 Take a look at the aftermovie of the second Day of #PencumNdawyi Youth Assembly and hear what the youth of Senegal has to say!

Many thanks to Barbara Mittelhammer, Leonie Stamm, Lydia Both and colleagues at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung MENA for this clear and concise reflection on the current state of German foreign policy concerning Gaza. We, at the Global Unit for Human Security second the calls for a foreign policy that puts the protection of all individuals and communities at the center, as also promoted by René Wildangel in an earlier contribution. Expanding on the legal recommendations (12-15) in this Policy Brief, we would like to particularly emphasise that, according to the 2006 ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) (Democratic Republic of Congo v. Rwanda, Judgement of 3 February 2006, para. 64), the prohibition of the crime of genocide amounts to jus cogens, i.e. a peremptory norm of general international law from which no derogation is permitted. According to a 2022 report by the International Law Commission on jus cogens norms, states have a duty to “to bring to an end through lawful means any serious breach by a State of an obligation arising under a peremptory norm.” The ILC resolution also states that, “no State shall recognize as lawful a situation created by a serious breach [of such] obligation […] nor render aid or assistance in maintaining that situation.” (Conclusion 19, para. 1-2) Binding legal precedent obliges states to refrain from being complicit through aid or assistance beginning at the moment the state becomes aware of the existence of a serious risk that genocide will be committed (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro, 2007). The provisional measures of the ICJ against the State of Israel (January and June 2024) reaffirm the existence of “real and imminent risk of irreparable prejudice” caused to the rights of Palestinians in Gaza under the Genocide Convention. Hence, the continued support of Germany to the State of Israel in the form of arms exports and other forms of diplomatic shielding puts Germany at risk of being in breach of international legal obligations and complicit in the most heinous crime of all. The German Government MUST use all its power and influence to act according to its obligations, regardless of who is the perpetrator of such crimes, and prevent/stop a genocide in Gaza (which according to countless respected international lawyers, human rights organisations and UN Rapporteurs is underway). In addition to international obligations, this would also be in line with German Basic Law, in particular Article 1 (inviolability of human dignity for all) and Article 26 (restrictions of arms deliveries when used to violate international norms). https://lnkd.in/d4PPA3zi

🎬 The aftermovie from the three-day #PencumNdawyi Youth Assembly is now live! Here you can watch Day one⬇