Africa Center for Strategic Studies’ Post

The framers of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights foresaw scenarios where national courts would not handle cases involving abuse of executive power, and knew citizens would need an avenue of recourse after exhausting domestic mechanisms. The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights was an effort to institutionalize norms and human rights standards for Africans: https://lnkd.in/ejrjjcss These norms and standards have come under renewed strain in recent years, with captured or co-opted national judiciaries proving the continued need for the Court. Judicial independence is critical to maintaining the impartiality and integrity of electoral commissions. When courts are co-opted, however, they can rubber-stamp illegalities, entrench impunity, and weaken other oversight institutions: https://lnkd.in/easiXu4i

Based on the above, we invite the attention of international human rights organizations to the flagrant cases of violation of democracy and human rights in Armenia. We call on the Council of Europe to strongly condemn the continuous decline of democracy in Armenia and gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” https://lnkd.in/d_cAZtx2

We strongly condemn the latest legislative package introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which threatens the fundamental rights and #freedoms of the LGBTI community in #Georgia. The "Family Values and Protection of Minors" package aims to ban same-sex marriage and legal gender recognition, censor the media and the arts, and severely limit freedom of assembly. These regressive measures not only target the #LGBTI community but also erode democratic freedoms across Georgian society and contravene many of Georgia’s own domestic laws, as well as international human rights standards. We stand in solidarity with Georgian #civilsociety, which has faced increasing threats and violence under a government that is drawing from the Russian playbook of authoritarianism. With parliamentary #elections scheduled for 26 October 2024, there is a critical need to protect democratic rights and prevent the adoption of laws that violate international standards on fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy. We call on the international community, including #EU institutions, the Council of Europe, and their Member States to apply diplomatic pressure, including the use of targeted sanctions against #Georgian leaders responsible for human rights violations, and we urge continued financial support for Georgian civil society groups, particularly those defending LGBTI rights, to ensure their resilience in this challenging period. Photo: TEMIDA

🚨 PRESS RELEASE: CLAIHR has observed with alarm a widespread pattern of State-level repression of pro-Palestine and pro-Palestinian views, opinions and expressions over the past year. Over the past 12 months we have witnessed a rapid deterioration of fundamental freedoms in Canada, a situation which has continued to worsen in recent weeks. CLAIHR is urgently calling on Rapporteurs from both the United Nations (UN) and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to respond to this dangerous erosion of fundamental freedoms of opinion, expression, assembly and association in Canada. See our full press release in ENG and FR: https://lnkd.in/gC_SWM29

Today, four human rights groups — Free Russia Foundation (FRF), Human Rights Foundation (HRF), McCain Institute, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) — added pressure for the release of prominent Russian pro-democracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza. The groups filed a 26-page request with the U.S. Department of State under the 2020 Robert Levinson Act, calling for it to designate Mr. Kara-Murza as wrongfully detained and transfer his case to the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Following the recent murder of Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza has become the Kremlin’s most high-profile target in its extensive crackdown on dissent, symbolizing an unprecedented level of oppression, with an estimated 704 political prisoners currently in Russia. As the Putin regime escalates its suppression of dissent, and considering the rapidly deteriorating health of Vladimir Kara-Murza, FRF, HRF, McCain Institute, and RWCHR request that the U.S. State Department urgently apply the Levinson Act in his case and engage in all possible measures to secure his release and safe return to the U.S. Please click the link to read a full statement by McCain Institute: https://lnkd.in/dEiUD7hd

Only through unwavering respect for fundamental rights and democratic principles can we build a truly democratic, free, and just Europe for all citizens. It is time to act with determination and firmness in defence of democracy and human rights in Europe. #Diem25 https://lnkd.in/deyVuFXR

"In defence of fundamental rights and public liberties in Europe: A radically democratic plea from a legal perspective We find ourselves at a crucial moment for the defence of democratic principles and fundamental rights in Europe. The recent actions by German authorities, such as the prohibition of the Palestine Congress, the denial of entry to DiEM25 co-founder Yanis Varoufakis, and the detention and expulsion of Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah, are clear indications of a concerning decline in respect for human rights and public liberties within the European Union (EU). In this plea, we aim to address these violations from a radically democratic and legal perspective, delving into European jurisprudential doctrine and relevant legislation, in order to urgently call for action in defence of democracy and fundamental rights in Europe."

thanks for solidarity <3 keeping strong #notorussianlaw As human rights defenders across the globe, we are deeply troubled by efforts of the Georgian government to stifle civil society voices through the introduction of the law “on the transparency of foreign influence.” To our friends and allies in Georgia, please know that we stand with you as you stand up against your government's attempt to adopt the law, which clearly targets civil society organizations and independent media. This attack on freedoms of speech and assembly, as well as on basic and fundamental rights for a democratic and pluralist society affects all of us. It is an attempt to dehumanize and stigmatize civil society activity, something that runs contrary to Georgia’s human rights commitments, as well as international human rights standards and values https://lnkd.in/dCu4uWm4

Today is International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims. "The right to the truth is often invoked in the context of gross violations of human rights and grave breaches of humanitarian law. The relatives of victims of summary executions, enforced disappearance, missing persons, abducted children, torture, require to know what happened to them. The right to the truth implies knowing the full and complete truth as to the events that transpired, their specific circumstances, and who participated in them, including knowing the circumstances in which the violations took place, as well as the reasons for them. The purpose of the Day is to: 1) Honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice; 2) Pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all; 3) Recognize, in particular, the important work and values of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, of El Salvador, who was assasinated on 24 March 1980, after denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable populations and defending the principles of protecting lives, promoting human dignity and opposition to all forms of violence." --United Nations Learn more about this day here: #righttotruthday #righttotruth