Human Rights Centre ZMINA’s Post

Global organization were established for a cause, very important once, when the world were bleeding. People who survived the worst experience put many efforts to support thriving of humanity. Nowadays so called "conflicts" are a huge challenge for current generation of local and global leaders. What do we support? Are the #UN values still in place or should be revised? Do we align our actions with these #values, or which one? Despite the answer, to be honest with ouselves is critically important. Finally, In formal terms, the case of this meeting is a crime. In moral one: "The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil." (c, Hannah Arendt) __ P.S.: And for ones who may missed some other European #news: * Last week: Russia used about 20 missiles of various types, more than 1,100 guided aerial bombs and 560 drones against civilian Ukrainians. * Previous (Monday) night 100 drones were used againsts #Ukrainian cities and towns. * Last evening and this night balistics and 48 drones damaged lives in Kyiv, Kryvyi Rig, Kharkiv. (much more attacks happen on the frontline. These awfull numbers refers to other regions). #goodmorning

[No paywall with this link:] If you’re not worried about world peace and global order as embodied by the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, you’re not paying enough attention. Let’s just take September. The month began with Mongolia rolling out red carpets for Vladimir Putin and ignoring an arrest warrant for the Russian president issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. As a signatory to the Rome Statute which established that tribunal, Ulaanbataar was obligated to handcuff the man who invaded Ukraine and ordered the mass kidnapping of its children (and who obviously wouldn’t have visited if Mongolia hadn’t first reassured him). This snub was only the latest to dent the ICC’s credibility, after the United States and Israel recently impugned the court for opening case files against Israeli leaders. Meanwhile, diplomats from the 193 member states of the United Nations are gathering in New York in preparation for its General Assembly. This year it will include a bombastic “Summit of the Future” as well as a deep dive into the UN’s ballyhooed “Sustainable Development Goals.” What these events and panels will inadvertently show instead is that the UN is better than ever at producing reams of paper and bureaucratic abbreviations such as SDG, and yet worse than at any time since its founding in 1945 at maintaining order in the international system... [Read the whole column] Bloomberg Opinion #UNGA https://bit.ly/3yXL6VI

It’s a sad day when a member state of the International Criminal Court (#ICC) - in this case, Mongolia - acts inconsistently with its legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC’s decisions and enforcement actions, including the arrest of individuals for whom the ICC has issued warrants. Mongolia is allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter the country, despite an active #ICC #warrant for his arrest. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March 2023, accusing him of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine. The warrant obligates all ICC member states, including Mongolia, to arrest Putin if he enters their territory. Mongolia relies on Russia for oil and gas so maybe this is no surprise. But the decision to welcome Putin raises serious concerns about the country’s adherence to international law and its commitment to the principles of justice and accountability - principles that the ICC embodies. While Mongolia's decision might be understandable from a diplomatic standpoint, it sets a troubling precedent for the enforcement of international justice. If ICC member states selectively adhere to their obligations, the authority and effectiveness of the ICC is, in my view, significantly undermined, weakening global efforts to hold powerful leaders accountable for crimes against humanity.

🔴 Joint Statement by Ukrainian NGOs on the Meeting Between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Vladimir Putin Today, we raise our voices in strong condemnation of the meeting between United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, as part of the BRICS summit. Let’s not forget: Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes, including the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. This meeting undermines the authority of the ICC and erodes the principles of international justice that the UN claims to uphold. 🔍 In 2013, guidelines were set by the UN to regulate interactions with individuals subject to ICC arrest warrants. These guidelines state that meetings with such individuals should be strictly limited, yet no adequate justification has been provided for this meeting. This disregard for established rules weakens the legitimacy of the UN’s commitment to justice and human rights. We urge: 1️⃣ The Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute and relevant UN bodies to take immediate action to prevent similar incidents in the future. 2️⃣ The International Criminal Court and the Office of the Prosecutor to respond to this breach of international justice standards, which threatens global peace, security, and the integrity of the ICC. 3️⃣ The Office of the ICC Prosecutor to request information from Mr. Guterres on his meeting with the suspect, as outlined in Article 18 of the UN-ICC Relationship Agreement. The UN must act as a moral guide and stand firm on the principles of justice and accountability. 🔗 Statement: https://lnkd.in/d47QC8qV #JusticeForUkraine #UNday #InternationalLaw #UnitedNations #ICC #BRICS #Ukraine #HumanRights

THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW! Every single country in the world including the USA must recognise the right of full membership for #Palestine to the United Nations a two state solution will not be for the Israeli government to decide... They are the occupiers and should simply follow the ruling of the highest court on this planet..the International Court of Justice (ICJ) 'It found that Israel is obligated to end its illegal military occupation without Palestinian concessions or agreement. The court referenced the Fourth Geneva Convention provision establishing that agreements made between an occupying power and an occupied population are invalid.' The time for justice and peace is now! The USA must respect international law like they expect all other countries to do! Israel’s Settlements Have No Legal Validity, Constitute Flagrant Violation of International Law, the UN Security Council Reaffirms 14 Delegations in Favour of Resolution 2334 (2016) as United States Abstains The Security Council reaffirmed that Israel’s establishment of settlements in Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, had no legal validity, constituting a flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders. Tme for the entire world to recognise Palestinian Statehood!

This article keeps a good track of the fact that the EU HRVP does not hold enough sway over global foreign policy developments (including when other big EU actors who have the last word feel like pushing in a different direction). The same could be said about the UN's Secretary General's ability to steer the Security Council. However, I think many of us will deeply miss HRVP Josep Borrell Fontelles as the moral compass of the EU. How many times have I thought 'at least we have Borrell'. A skilled diplomat-in-chief who tries to speak reason at a time when no one believes anyway in diplomacy. Don't blame Borrell. Blame the unravelling of foreign policy itself in the face of the brutal pursuit of self-interest. Even that, Borrell tried to say it clumsily by referring to the 'Jungle'. Well, we're left with it now, and we're poorer for it.

Dominique de Villepin, former Prime Minister of France, has articulated a compelling call to action regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He highlights two crucial steps for France and the European Union to pursue peace and justice in the region: Recognize the State of Palestine: Villepin emphasizes that recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state is a foundational step toward ensuring equality and fostering a viable peace process. Such recognition would affirm Palestinians' rights under international law and contribute to a two-state solution. Leverage the EU-Israel Association Agreement: The EU has significant economic and political ties with Israel under this agreement. Villepin advocates for using these ties as leverage, conditioning cooperation on Israel's adherence to international law, including respecting human rights and ending illegal settlements. This approach underscores the need for the EU and its member states to align their policies with international norms and advocate for a balanced resolution. Villepin's vision challenges policymakers to move beyond rhetoric, urging concrete actions that support peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians. https://lnkd.in/dx2ZNpHR

What we ultimately have in this ICJ opinion, on the face of it, is a strong set of findings condemning the Israeli occupation and the continued presence of Israel’s civil and military administration, its settlements, and all of its associated colonial infrastructure in Palestinian territory as illegal. That gives rise to a whole set of obligations for Israel itself to withdraw and make reparations, and — assuming that Israel isn’t going to readily comply with those obligations — also for other states engaged in any form of relations with Israel. Thinking back to the point about making the best tactical use of what the law does offer, Palestinian movements, scholars and global solidarity campaigns were quick to emphasize that the ICJ advisory opinion in practice requires trade suspensions, financial divestment, economic sanctions, and energy and arms embargoes.

The below 3/21/2024 opinion piece is brillant, IMO! Full disclosure, Doug Bloomfield is my former boss. I was his Senior Legislative Assist at AIPAC. I know Doug and his family well. He orchestrated AIPAC's numerous, overwhelming, bipartisan legislative victories in the 1980's. Those were the days! Key phrase to me in Doug's piece is "Biden breaks with Netanyahu but sticks with Israel.” My brother and family have lived in Israel for 35+ years. I am still learning about Israeli culture, which is far different than America's. I think 80% of Israelis agree with Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu's Hamas strategy, but Netanyahu is the wrong face and leader for Israel today. Any other Israeli poltician would probably take a similar strategy, yet Israel may regain the higher moral ground, IMO, because of the following: (1) Like ex-President Trump, Netanyahu faces a litany of criminal charges. Staying in office, in power, are both of their "stay out of jail" cards. (2) Unlike Trump, Netanyahu is a professional politican and knows how to work the system. However, while more pure in the past, Netanyahu's interests are all personal now like Trump's. (3) Israel's strategy seems correct. Her messenger is wrong. (4) Eventually, Netanyahu's moving troops from Gaza border to the West Bank pre 10/7/2023 will be found to be a major cause of Israel's unpreparedness on 10/7/2023. (5) The hostages need to be freed. (6) Almost any other Israeli leader will be better than Netanyahu now. (7) Let Israelis decide. I trust Israelis will boot Bibi!! DougAaronFreeman@gmail.com https://lnkd.in/gy8Mh_mQ

Mongolia signs the Ljubljana Hague Convention.The Convention is a landmark in international justice as it considerably expands the scope of crimes that trigger state obligations to extradite or prosecute (aut dedere aut judicare, Article 14) well beyond those already existing under international treaty law. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide does not provide for aut dedere aut judicare obligations on states parties, and there is not yet a finalized international convention on Crimes against Humanity. War crimes committed in violation of the 1977 Additional Protocol II to the 1949 Geneva Conventions also do not trigger the same obligations. However, Article 14 of The Ljubljana – The Hague Convention provides that the aut dedere, aut judicare obligation applies to all crimes covered by the Convention generally, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in non-international armed conflicts. See more https://lnkd.in/geE4x9hK