Human Rights First’s Post

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 2,219 Ukrainian children have been forcibly moved to Belarus. Ukrainian NGOs have submitted a report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) documenting "discriminatory pressure" against children. Ukrainian children are being subjected to ideological re-education to eradicate their Ukrainian identity and turn them against their own people. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko called it “treatment and rest” for Ukrainian children. In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin and other persons responsible for the illegal abduction of 19,546 Ukrainian children by the Russian regime. The real number of children transferred to Russia is likely much higher. HRF condemns the criminal actions of the Lukashenko regime and demands the immediate return of Ukrainian children to Ukraine. Join us in supporting those in need through the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, which enables humanitarian aid to get to the hardest-hit areas of the country. #SupportUkraine https://lnkd.in/g9MV35_N

On 26 February, Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. Ten years ago on that day, thousands of Crimean activists gathered outside the Crimean Parliament to show resistance against Russian occupation and in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. This resistance still continues today in different forms. In this interview, Human Rights House Foundation asked four prominent Crimean human rights defenders and representatives of Human Rights House Crimea member organisations to reflect on the situation in Crimea over the past decade and share their perspectives about the future. In the interview, you will find answers to questions about: - changes in the international community's perception of the situation in Crimea over the last decade - human rights work that is still possible in Crimea - motivations to participate and continue the human rights work of women human rights defenders - the most important challenges and lessons learned during the resolution of the human rights situation in Crimea - the impact of international sanctions The interview is here https://bit.ly/42YFgOb ZMINA Human Rights Center CCE "Almenda" Crimean Human Rights Group Regional Center for Human Rights 

International Human Rights Day – 10 December Today marks a profoundly important moment in human history – the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This landmark document laid the foundations for an international order rooted in dignity, equality, and freedom for every individual. International Human Rights Commission -IHRC, under the leadership of Prof. h.c. Rafal Marcin Wasik IHRC Secretary General Chairperson IHRC Group, continues to work tirelessly to protect and promote human rights worldwide. Thanks to his visionary leadership and the commitment of IHRC members, the organisation carries out numerous initiatives supporting peace, justice, and equality. International Human Rights Day is not only a time for reflection but also an inspiration to take action to strengthen the protection of these rights in our daily lives. As an organisation, the IHRC calls for solidarity and active engagement in combating all forms of discrimination, injustice, and human rights violations. Learn more about our mission and efforts on our websites: www.ihrchq.org www.ihrc.news #HumanRightsDay #IHRC #HumanRights #UniversalDeclarationOfHumanRights #DiplomacyForPeace #IHRCPress #IHRCNews #Charity #Press #PressFreedom #Volunteers #IHRCVolunters #Jurnalist #Reporter #World #Asia #Africa #Europe #America #Switzerland #InterpolUN #IPCUN #Humanrights #Humanity #HumanityFirst #RafalWasik #SMMIHRC #Diplomacy #UnGeneva #Unitednations #UnitedNationsHumanRights

The Order of the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa Vs Israel, dated 24 May 2024. The ICJ reaffirms the provisional measures indicated in its Orders of 26 January 2024 and 28 March 2024, which should be immediately and effectively implemented. The State of Israel shall, in conformity with its obligations under the Convention on the 'Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by civilians in the Rafah Governorate. Immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. Maintain open the Rafah crossing for unhindered provision at scale of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. Take effective measures to ensure the unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip of any commission of inquiry, fact-finding mission or other investigative body mandated by competent organs of the United Nations to investigate allegations of genocides. Decides that the State of Israel shall submit a report to the Court on all measures taken to give effect to this Order, within one month as from the date of this Order. 13 IN FAVOUR: President Salam; Judges Abraham, Yusuf, Xue, Bhandari, Iwasawa, Nolte, Charlesworth, Brant, Gómez Robledo, Cleveland, Aurescu, Tladi. 2 AGAINST: Vice-President Sebutinde; Judge ad hoc Barak. International Court of Justice (ICJ) United Nations Human Rights Watch Amnesty International UNRWA

As representatives from the Communications and Press Office at the International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF), we wish to address several urgent human rights concerns: PALESTINE🇵🇸: We are deeply concerned by the disturbing reports of unarmed civilian casualties in Gaza, Palestine, as a result of military action by Israeli forces. We call for an immediate ceasefire and urge all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law. We also call for the start of peace negotiations through diplomatic channels to ensure a lasting solution to the conflict. PAKISTAN🇵🇰: Observations of recent political shifts in Pakistan towards a possible military government, apparently influenced by external powers such as the United Kingdom and the United States, have led us to call for the restoration of democratic processes and the protection of civil liberties. UNITED KINGDOM 🇬🇧 Our attention has been drawn to the UK's proposed changes to migration policy. We stress the need for these measures to be in line with international law and to respect the rights of individuals seeking asylum and migration. SPAIN 🇪🇸🇪🇺: With regard to Spain, there are reports of plans to build a detention centre for non-criminal immigrants on a remote island under military supervision. We insist on the humane treatment of all migrants and the respect of international human rights standards in these procedures. UNITED STATES 🇺🇸: We are monitoring the situation in the United States regarding the freedom of expression of students and members of the public who are facing unjust and arbitrary action for protesting against alleged human rights violations by Israel against Palestine. We support the protection of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful protest. ARGENTINA 🇦🇷: We are also concerned by reports of actions taken by the Argentine government against the public university system. Such actions threaten academic freedom and the integrity of public education. We urge the Argentine government to uphold the autonomy of educational institutions and respect for academic freedom. URUGUAY 🇺🇾: We express our concern for the health of the former President of Uruguay, the Honourable Mr José Mujica. His integrity, courage and unwavering commitment to humanist values continue to serve as a beacon of good governance around the world. The Communications and Press Office of the International Foundation for Human Rights (IHRF) remains committed to these issues and to the protection and promotion of human rights around the world. #HumanRights #Concerns #IHRF #Palestine #Ceasefire #Pakistan #UnitedKingdom #Refugees #Spain #Alborán #UnitedStates #USA #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomOfExpression #Protest #PeacefullProtest #Argentina #PublicUniversitySystem #Uruguay #PepeMujica

‼️Three hundred academics have co-signed a letter calling for Germany's foreign minister to retract a statement in which she suggested that civilian buildings in Gaza could lose their protected status under international law. ‼️ Germany Must End Its Complicity in Gaza Genocide: A Call to Retract Baerbock's Statement Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has defended Israel's targeting of civilians in Gaza, stripping Palestinians of their fundamental right to protection under International Humanitarian Law. On 10 October 2024, she told the German Bundestag, “When Hamas terrorists hide behind people, behind schools … civilian sites could lose their protected status.” In parroting Israel's old narrative of human shielding, Baerbock provides a flimsy justification for the genocidal campaign against Palestinian civilians. For this claim to hold, Israel would need to prove that Hamas deliberately prevents civilians from evacuating “hostile zones”. Yet, under Israeli occupation, all of Gaza is a “hostile zone”, a concentration camp, where civilians and militants alike are trapped with no means of escape. Baerbock’s position ignores the crucial fact that, even if Hamas were found to be using human shields, Israel, as an attacking force, remains bound by International Humanitarian Law. This includes obligations to uphold the principles of proportionality, distinction, and precautions to minimize civilian casualties. Most critically, Baerbock disregards that Israel, as an occupying power, cannot invoke the right of "self-defense" under international law when dealing with Gaza, a territory it illegally occupies alongside the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 🕊️ #UK #UnitedKingdom Labour Party (UK) The Labour Party House of Commons The Labour Party 10 Downing Street Keir Starmer #Gaza #Palestine #Israel #NeverForget #Lebanese #Lebanon 🕊️ #USA #UnitedStates #Germany #Holland #Netherlands #Dutch #France #London #Birmingham #Manchester David Lammy Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office UK Mission to the United Nations #Fundraising Greater Manchester Combined Authority #Turkey #Argentina #Egypt #Jordan #Sweden I #India #Canada #Australia UK government UK Civil Service HM Treasury Rt Hon Rachel Reeves Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP #Leeds #Bradford Campaign Against Antisemitism

Today, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) released a report that details the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from Kharkiv Oblast to Medvezhonok camp in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. 🚨 This report presents the story of approximately 300 Ukrainian children who were taken to Russia for a three-week summer camp that turned into an indefinite stay marked by separation from their families, indoctrination, and multiple camp-to-camp transfers in Russia. 👨👩👧👦 The parents were presented with an impossible choice: either keep their children in dangerous conditions, with violence and severe shortages of essentials, or send them to Russia for what was promised as a brief break. 🙅♂️ 🙅♀️ The parents did not consent to the Russian government  extending the children’s stay in Russia and to their further transfer from camp to camp. ❗ Unfortunately, this episode is but a fraction of the nearly 20,000 reported cases of unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. The scale of these actions suggests a deliberate strategy at the highest levels of the Kremlin. 🎯 Deported children are subjected to political education and indoctrination as a part of the Kremlin’s effort to erase Ukrainian cultural and national identity. ⛔ Some children have been able to return, but it has been a long, difficult process. In many cases, Russian authorities have obstructed efforts by parents to reunite with their children. 🔎 The findings in this report are based on interviews with parents, legal guardians, and children, as well as corroborated reports from international organisations and media sources. ⚖ Authors believe that the conduct presented in this report amounts to international crimes: crimes against humanity and war crimes of deportation, crimes against humanity of other inhumane actions, and constitutes evidence of the crime of genocide. 📣 IPHR urges the International Criminal Court to include these findings in its investigation into the deportation of Ukrainian children. 📣 IPHR also calls on domestic authorities in Europe and beyond to use diplomatic, economic and accountability tools at their disposal to pressure #Russia into returning the deported Ukrainian children to their families in #Ukraine, and to hold those responsible to account. https://lnkd.in/gR35JB5K

Global Affairs Canada issued a statement on June 23, 2024, detailing Ambassador Jennifer May’s recent visit to Xinjiang. From June 19 to 22, she met with Chinese officials to address significant human rights concerns affecting Uyghurs and other Muslim groups. This diplomatic mission underscores Canada’s commitment to advocating for human rights. #CanadaChinarelations #Chineseofficialsmeeting #diplomaticengagementChina #GlobalAffairsCanada #humanrightsinXinjiang #JenniferMayvisit #UNexpertsinXinjiang #Uyghurchildreneducation #Uyghurrights #thxnews