Middle East Policy Council’s Post

📰 Breaking News on Belarus: What the Experts Want You to Know 📰 AP News has just reported new sanctions against 28 officials in Belarus for alleged human rights abuses. To gain a deeper understanding of these developments, we highly recommend watching our July 18th presentation featuring three speakers from the Viasna Human Rights Centre. 📺 These political dissidents shared their first-hand experiences and insights into repression in Belarus, providing valuable context to the recent report. 📊 Additionally, if you're interested in exploring the interactions between Baltimore and the international community since 1980, our extensive video and audio archives offer rich content that illuminates this dynamic relationship. Refresh your perspective and uncover new insights! 👀🌎 Stay tuned for more updates and continue to engage with our content as we delve into these critical global issues. 📖 Read at AP News: https://lnkd.in/eC8K8zpd 👉 Watch our video: https://lnkd.in/eRe57ugU #InternationalAffairs #GlobalRelations #PolicyDiscussion #Community #Baltimore #Belarus #Democracy #HumanRights #ViasnaHumanRightsCentre #APNews

Ireland and Spain leaders pressure the EU to review their trade agreement with Israel. "In their letter Mr Varadkar and Mr Sánchez write: “Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe posed by the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, and given what has occurred, and continues to occur in Gaza since October 2023, including widespread concern about possible breaches of IHL [International Humanitarian Law] and international human rights laws by Israel, we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship.” Given EU's latest laws which require companies to ensure their supply chain comply with human rights and ESG principles, I expect that European companies too, will review any agreements they have with companies in Israel which may be complicit, including illegal settler occupation. Keen to hear from lawyers, anywhere in the world. Jacqueline Horani Rebecca Steckle Farah A 🍉

Here, you can read my first reaction regarding Edmundo González´s petition for asylum and its impact on the Venezuela crisis. 

EUROPE’S NEXT HUNGARY? SLOVAKIA TARGETS ADVOCACY GROUPS WITH HARSH SANCTIONS 📜 Slovakia’s government is advancing legislation aimed at advocacy NGOs, requiring them to register as lobbyists, disclose meetings, and face severe sanctions for non-compliance. Proponents claim it’s about transparency, but critics warn it’s a direct attack on civil society. ⚖️ Legal experts highlight that these proposals violate fundamental EU democratic standards, including freedom of association, proportionality, and non-discrimination. The law mirrors restrictive measures seen in Hungary, raising concerns about Slovakia’s democratic trajectory. 🇪🇺 The European Commission is unlikely to approve such legislation without substantial changes, but this hasn’t deterred the Slovak government’s push, signaling deeper authoritarian trends under Prime Minister Robert Fico. 💬 NGOs like the Stop Corruption Foundation Nadácia Zastavme korupciu and VIA IURIS decry the move, labeling it an attempt to silence critical voices and undermine Slovakia’s commitment to democratic governance. 📩 Stay informed! Subscribe to our weekly briefing for curated news in English about the state of democracy in Slovakia. Subscribe on our homepage. 🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the full article. hashtag #democracy hashtag #civilrights hashtag #disinformation hashtag #EU hashtag #advocacy Photo credit: Source: SMER - Sociálna Demokracia | YouTube

EUROPE’S NEXT HUNGARY? SLOVAKIA TARGETS ADVOCACY GROUPS WITH HARSH SANCTIONS 📜 Slovakia’s government is advancing legislation aimed at advocacy NGOs, requiring them to register as lobbyists, disclose meetings, and face severe sanctions for non-compliance. Proponents claim it’s about transparency, but critics warn it’s a direct attack on civil society. ⚖️ Legal experts highlight that these proposals violate fundamental EU democratic standards, including freedom of association, proportionality, and non-discrimination. The law mirrors restrictive measures seen in Hungary, raising concerns about Slovakia’s democratic trajectory. 🇪🇺 The European Commission is unlikely to approve such legislation without substantial changes, but this hasn’t deterred the Slovak government’s push, signaling deeper authoritarian trends under Prime Minister Robert Fico. 💬 NGOs like the Stop Corruption Foundation Nadácia Zastavme korupciu and VIA IURIS decry the move, labeling it an attempt to silence critical voices and undermine Slovakia’s commitment to democratic governance. 📩 Stay informed! Subscribe to our weekly briefing for curated news in English about the state of democracy in Slovakia. Subscribe on our homepage. 🔗 Follow the link in the comments to read the full article. #democracy #civilrights #disinformation #EU #advocacy Photo credit: Source: SMER - Sociálna Demokracia | YouTube

Broad political consensus is needed for the country to benefit from some promising decisions made at the recent dialogue. Most of Mali's political parties boycotted the national dialogue organised by the country's transitional authorities from 13 April to 10 May. The Inter-Malian Dialogue for Peace and National Reconciliation

Today we had the pleasure of hosting the International Accountability Platform for Belarus (IAPB) in our #Schwedenhaus as they gave a briefing on their work to the informal OSCE Group of Friends of Democratic Belarus, focusing especially on the various accountability options available. A highly relevant and urgent topic that warrants further discussions. Thanks to all IAPB colleagues for their efforts, both today and overall. The IAPB is a consortium of Belarusian and international NGOs that collects, consolidates, verifies, and preserves evidence of gross human rights violations allegedly committed by Belarusian authorities and others in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election and its aftermath. It was founded in March 2021 in response to a recommendation made in the OSCE Moscow Mechanism report on Belarus to ensure accountability for human rights violations and to prevent a culture of impunity. The Swedish Government has been steadfast in its support for the Belarusian people on their path to a free and democratic Belarus that is a member of the European family. The hosting of today’s briefing was just one of many ways in which Sweden’s long-term commitment to promoting democracy and respect for human rights in Belarus is expressed. #SwedeninOSCE | #SwedeninAT | #Belarus | #IAPB | #HumanRights | #OSCE

There is no peaceful future based on the narrative of the radicals from both sides..... Everyone who wants to claim the territory exclusively for themselves will only find war, violence and destruction, whereas the moderates at both sides hold the key to peace by non-violent interaction and dialog as equals with each other. Only this will bring mutual understanding and empathy; meaning that solely this path leads to replacing fear and hatred by trust and solidarity, and to prosperity for all by solving the conflict forever. The radicals will become speechless. www.pax.ngo & www.convergence.ngo & www.canaan.community

𝐇𝐑𝐂𝟓𝟕: 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐳𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐚'𝐬 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝘉𝘺 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘴 𝘉𝘦𝘨𝘰ñ𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘶𝘥𝘢 / 𝘎𝘐𝘊𝘑   “The Venezuelan Government has taken its repression to unprecedented levels”, as highlighted in the session of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission.   On 20 September 2024, during the ID with the Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, Chair and Member of the Mission Marta Valiñas and Francisco Cox discussed Venezuela’s systematic persecution of opposition figures and civilians, especially after the July 2024 elections.   Key topics included arbitrary arrests of over 2,000 individuals, including children and the disabled, violations of due process, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders and journalists were discussed. The justice system, led by the Supreme Court, has been subverted to serve as a tool for political oppression. During the opening statement, the Mission emphasised that these are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, coordinated effort to eliminate dissent.   𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 (𝗚𝗜𝗖𝗝) condemns these human rights violations and reiterates the need for international accountability mechanisms to protect Venezuelans from further abuses. We call on the global community to act before the repression worsens.   #HRC57 #Venezuela #HumanRights #Geneva4Justice #GenevaInternationalCentreforJustice #GICJ

The recent ICJ ruling, on a case from 2022, that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian lands, is welcome news. Will it stop Israel from it's current genocidal rampage? Given the apartheid regime's blatant disdain of International Court of Justice (ICJ), it may only increase their kill rate. And given the unwavering support of the USA, no matter how obvious the genocide is, Israel will probably continue their bombing of schools, hospitals and refugee camps with impunity. But cracks are already appearing. Sunak is out, and Biden and Francon moving closer to exiting. The UK has resumed funding for UNRWA, with the new government trying to appease Muslim voters who rejected Labour candidates. UPDATE - Biden has stepped down from the electoral race. The new ruling will add further pressure on politicians to back away from supporting Israel. WE NEED TO RAMP UP THAT PRESSURE! Speaking up for justice is not frivolous - it's our duty. #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow #SanctionIsrael #BoycottIsrael #BDS #NoThankYou