Soul City Institute’s Post

People living in disputed territories, from Gaza to Hong Kong, are largely denied the right to self-determination, putting these populations at greater risk of human rights abuses. Review this and other key takeaways from #FreedomInTheWorld 2024: https://lnkd.in/e2KnaThv

The democratic mandate of the majority of South African citizens is that the trio ANC-MK-EFF is the preferred choice for the majority of the country. The citizens of the country have spoken through the democratic process and the trio ANC-MK-EFF must find a way of working together to build a South Africa that will improve the lives of the majority of the citizens of South Africa.

Minister Kumbudzo Ntshavheni’s recent declaration that South Africa will not assist trapped “illegal” miners, instead threatening to “smoke” them out, reveals a troubling stance that disregards fundamental principles of humanity and human rights. This approach not only defies Ubuntu—the African philosophy emphasizing shared humanity—but also breaches obligations under international law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) upholds the right to life and dignity for all individuals, while the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) mandates humane treatment for everyone within a nation’s borders, irrespective of legal status. Furthermore, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights enshrines the right to life and prohibits inhumane treatment. A nation’s duty to uphold human rights does not depend on legal status; every person’s safety and dignity must be protected. Such rhetoric from South African officials not only undermines these universal principles but also reflects poorly on South Africa’s role as a champion of human rights in Africa. If we are to move closer to the vision of a United States of Africa, prioritizing compassion, inclusivity, and respect for life must remain paramount. #HumanRights #Ubuntu #RescueAllMiners #SouthAfrica #UnitedAfrica

The EU has helped to finance the ill-treatment and forced expulsion of migrants at centers in Turkey, an investigation from POLITICO, Lighthouse Reports and other media found. Here, we take a closer look at the realities inside the camps: https://trib.al/JrAXjdi

The implications of Israel’s new laws restricting UNRWA are significant and dire: 1. Humanitarian Crisis: Blocking UNRWA's operations would lead to immediate suffering for millions of Palestinian refugees, depriving them of essential services like healthcare, education, and food aid, exacerbating poverty and instability. 2. Regional Instability: The removal of UNRWA could escalate tensions, increasing the likelihood of unrest not only in Palestine but also in neighboring countries hosting refugees, potentially destabilizing the entire region. 3. Undermining International Law: These laws challenge the UN’s authority and violate Israel’s obligations under international law, weakening the framework protecting refugees globally. 4. Pressure on the International Community: The situation will likely prompt a stronger response from the UN and the international community, potentially leading to calls for sanctions or reevaluating Israel's status within the UN. In short, without UNRWA, millions of Palestinians face a humanitarian catastrophe, regional stability is threatened, and international law is undermined, necessitating urgent global action to uphold human rights and humanitarian principles. __________ ____________ _____________ ENTITY (noun): A force or organization so devoid of humanity that it systematically commits atrocities and hides behind shallow justifications, a symbol of destruction, violence, and pure evil that must be eradicated from the human collective. DO NOT ask me again if I condemned October 7th!!! #BlockTheEmbassies United Nations International Criminal Court International Court of Justice (ICJ)

Unless #Israel can actually prove that #Hamas's infiltration into #UNWRA is pervasive, there is insufficient justification for policies that would unduly hinder its operations. 9 out of 13,0000 staff is not pervasive. Of such allegations, UNWRA responded in May ("UNWRA: Claims vs. Facts"), "Citing alleged intelligence estimates, several media have relayed claims that around 10% of all UNRWA staff in Gaza, or about 1,200 people, have links to Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.  "The Facts: UNRWA has not received any information, let alone any evidence, from the Israeli Authorities or any other Member State about the above claim. UNRWA became aware of this claim first from international media and later from a press briefing by an Israeli government official." We Americans could better tend to our interests in the Middle East by voting out US policymakers who have been unconditionally supporting Israel and voting in Progressive (but not so far left that they become Regressive) policymakers who would respond to this by treating Israel according to the same standard: flimsy allegations of war crimes result in serious reductions in military aid. The more radical Palestinian factions and Iran are also a part of the problem, of course (well I guess not of course from the perspective of the Regressive Left), but we're far less likely to persuade these parties to gravitate toward a more moderation position by demonstrating such a disturbing disregard for human rights ourselves; and far more likely to exacerbate what is already coalescing into a Third World War. Moral outrage is a factor in international relations.

Today Ireland, Norway and Spain have joined the vast majority of the nations of the world, in recognising Palestine. Recognising Palestinian statehood was in our Manifesto, and became part of the Program of Government that we negotiated in 2020, and it is good if overdue to deliver on it today. Now our Green MEPs Ciarán Cuffe and Grace O'Sullivan have been hard at work in Brussels and Strasbourg, making the case that the E.U. must follow suit immediately, as well as acknowledging that Israel is currently in breach of the human rights provisions of the EU-Israel Trade Agreement, and suspending trade with the E.U. until that changes. Hopefully this can be a significant step towards a permanent ceasefire, and a lasting peace based on a two-state solution. #CeaseFireNow #FreePalestine

CILD at the UPR Pre-Session in Geneva 🇺🇳 CILD was thrilled recently to participate in the pre-session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), hosted by UPR Info in Geneva. It was a valuable opportunity to engage in dialogue with international delegations and highlight critical human rights challenges in Italy ahead of the official UPR session in January 2025. 📌Our presentation highlighted three areas of particular concern: -Migration and administrative detention -Criminalisation of civil society and the shrinking of civic space -Freedom of expression and media independence We urged the government to take meaningful steps, including: ✅Establishing a more human rights-compliant reception system for migrants ✅Ending administrative detention and suspending Italy's agreements with Libya and Albania ✅Protecting NGOs, journalists, and the right to protest ✅Creating a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) Promoting human rights should be an urgent priority for the government in Italy. You can read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/dnTjNfKD

🌍 Currently tuned in to the live session of the African Union 2nd Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Accra, Ghana. 🇬🇭 There are 6 countries are expelled for unconstitutional government as this forum resumes. These acts must not be tolerated and Africa must enjoy democracy that follows democratic processes, and we must amplify our voices in preventing unconstitutional changes in governments across Africa. It's crucial to foster stability and uphold democratic principles on our continent. #HWPL #DPCW #PEACE #africanunion https://lnkd.in/dCYJPwh7

🌎For this Blog Post, we’re covering what seven of the main UK political parties have to say about refugees and asylum seekers. 📚We hope that this article will help you decide which party has your vote on Thursday 4th July. ✍️If you’d like to write for our blog, send us a DM! 🖇The link can be found below. https://lnkd.in/ewMVuhcz