Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

In this week's issue of Atrocity Alert: 🔺“Genocide unfolding” against Palestinians in Gaza says UN Committee 🔺 Latest global landmine report finds extensive use of antipersonnel mines 🔺 UN resolution marks major step toward treaty on crimes against humanity Full issue: https://bit.ly/3Z5aQIJ

🎙 In our 🆕 episode of Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention our Jaclyn Streitfeld-Hall sat down with Mehret Okubay Berehe, a Tigrayan journalist, human rights advocate and member of Omna Tigray, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the violence committed against civilians during the conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia. Mehret shares an account of life under the blockade imposed on Tigray, detailing the hardships civilians faced daily, as well as the abuses they endured throughout the conflict. She also discusses the ongoing risks to civilians in the region and examines the impact of the federal government's transitional justice policy. Mehret concludes with her insights on how the international community can more effectively support victims and survivors of atrocity crimes in Ethiopia. Listen to the episode ⬇️

University of Leeds is offering scholarships for citizens of Gaza to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level. It is aimed at those who have been displaced as a result of the ongoing conflict in the region and are living in a different country (outside of the UK). Please spread far & wide. Difficult to see how these people will know otherwise https://lnkd.in/ehqJvspn

Last month our Executive Director Savita Pawnday was interviewed by the The Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies (HL-senteret) on gender, genocide and atrocity prevention, highlighting how vulnerable sectors of the population can be further marginalized in both the response to atrocities as well as what comes after due to struggles in accessing seats at the negotiating table. She also discussed the gendered aspects of genocide, reiterating that gender-based violence is not just a byproduct of war, but in many cases a tactic of war. Savita examines how gender-based violence has contributed to mass atrocities and genocide during the genocide in Rwanda, in the former Yugoslavia and the Yazidi genocide in Iraq. Check out the recordings ⬇

Join us on December 9 (#Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day) for a screening of "In Search of My Sister", followed by a panel discussion on Uyghur human rights. The documentary follows Uyghur activist Rushan Abbas as she seeks answers about her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, one of countless Uyghurs forcibly disappeared by the Chinese Communist Party. Through compelling interviews with academic experts, survivors, and members of the Uyghur diaspora, alongside Abbas’ deeply personal narrative, the film exposes the full scope of the Uyghur plight. More info: https://lnkd.in/d7WWVdb6

In this week's issue of Atrocity Alert: 🔺 UN Security Council fails to adopt civilian protection measures in Sudan 🔺 Armed gangs continue to terrorize communities across Port-au-Prince, Haiti 🔺 1,000 days of war across Ukraine Full issue: https://lnkd.in/e8vaawje

The past few weeks at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect have been nothing short of a whirlwind, with a series of high-level meetings and events in New York centered on the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) next year. A key highlight was the annual convening of our International Advisory Board (IAB) during the week of 4 November. The discussions were both constructive and forward-looking, focusing on the future of R2P and the Global Centre and on concrete strategies to better operationalize the norm in these very challenging times. In addition to our IAB meeting, on 5 November we co-hosted the annual Evans-Sahnoun Lecture with the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, New York. Instead of a keynote, the lecture featured a dynamic panel discussion with the current UN Special Adviser on R2P, Mô Bleeker, and the three most recent mandate holders — George Okoth-Obbo, Karen Smith and H.E. Ivan Šimonović — exploring how to close the implementation gaps and better protect populations at risk of atrocity crimes. The lecture also included remarks from our Board co-chair and one of the namesakes of the lecture, Prof the Hon Gareth Evans, alongside remarks from Irish Ambassador H.E. Fergal Mythen and myself. In case you missed it, the event has been recorded and is available on our website! The following day a “special edition” meeting of the UN Group of Friends of R2P was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN with the three co-chairs of the Group of Friends: Croatia, Guatemala and Morocco. At this meeting, Prof Evans reminded member states of the reasons behind the adoption of R2P and challenged them to think about the question: “If R2P is not the right set of standard-setting principles and prescriptions to guide the international community in its response to unconscionable mass atrocity crimes… then what is the alternative?” The meeting also featured remarks by current and former Special Advisers on R2P. The discussion was incredibly invigorating and I believe provided member states with food for thought as we approach next year’s anniversary. Later that evening the Permanent Mission of Australia also hosted a reception for the Group of Friends, the Special Advisers and other stakeholders, offering an informal space to continue these important conversations!

In this week's issue of Atrocity Alert: 🔺 Populations in northern Gaza facing catastrophic conditions amid Israel’s siege 🔺 UN Security Council sanctions RSF commanders amid mounting evidence of atrocity crimes in Sudan 🔺 UN experts warn of systematic repression targeting universities in Nicaragua Full issue: https://bit.ly/3Cu7OpJ

In this week's issue of Atrocity Alert: 🔺 Two years on, atrocities continue in Ethiopia’s Tigray region despite truce 🔺 More sanctions imposed on Myanmar’s military as civilians continue to be targeted 🔺 UN agencies warn of hunger catastrophe fueled by conflict and atrocities Full issue: https://lnkd.in/eW_dyebi

This weekend marked 4⃣ years since the start of the war in Tigray Ethiopia and 2⃣ years since the cessation of hostilities. The conflict in Tigray and beyond has changed the trajectory of the country. Today victims and survivors are struggling to recover from the war crimes, crimes against humanity they've endured and many feel abandoned by the international community and the principles member states are supposed to uphold. The international community should use this somber anniversary to redouble their efforts to ensure victims of atrocities in Tigray and beyond achieve the justice they demand. 👀⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ezScSTxM