Some (mostly) human rights links and thoughts

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Some mostly human rights (including significant, relevant links in other fields - such as geopolitics, democracy, or authoritarianism) links: 

• on the climate crisis (noting the UNFCCC) and environment (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• a ship carrying 750 t of diesel has sunk off Tunisia;   the first of possibly many PFAS treatment plants to come is ready;   "forest authorities say Kenya's scheme to let farmers grow crops in forests has slashed illegal logging, as the country aims for 10% of its land in trees by the end of the year";   US President Biden has restored environmental protections;   calls to increase energy efficiency of our houses;  
   
• on the COVID-19 pandemic (noting WHO advice, Article 12 of the ICESCR, and public emergency provisions of the ICCPR and the ICESCR) and other health matters: 
• the challenge of addressing long COVID;   a US federal court judge has taken a grossly irresponsible decision to ban mask mandates;   epidemiologists remain concerned about easing restrictions;   more on China's brutalist and extreme lockdowns;   "the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women is derailing decades of progress on gender equality";  
   
  
• on Rashist  Putin and his cronies’ illegal (it is contrary to Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter  and international law [and the 1928 Pact of Paris which was successfully used in post-WW2 trials], and possibly includes conduct contrary to the "laws" of war and international humanitarian law (IHL)) invasion of Ukraine: 
• Russia’s expected assault in eastern Ukraine is underway;   evidence continue to emerge of abuses by Russians;  Russia has emulated Ukraine’s error of using POWs for propaganda purposes;   a warning that the cyberwar will intensify;   an opinion that Putin has fallen into “the dictator’s trap”;   information on civilian casualties;   the USA is “keeping a close watch on Russia’s nuclear arsenal” (which I would expect them to be doing anyway);   a look to what might come after Putin’s war;   Russia wants land  bridges to both eastern Ukraine and a breakaway part of Moldova to the west of the Black Sea - which would cut off Ukraine’s access to shipping;   Russia appears to have driven nations closer to NATO;  
  
• Putin's illegal invasion has raised  food prices and left a quarter of a billion people at risk of extreme poverty;  
  
• a running fact check on claims relating to the war in Ukraine;   as Putin’s support  erodes (despite attempts to use new missiles as a distraction), a video on “the Russian Siloviki - Putin's inner circle”;   the role of psychopathy in human rights violations;   another caution on the applicability of the genocide convention to Russia's barbarity in Ukraine;   a caution about the impacts of actions on public opinion;   the founder and head of Russia’s notorious human-rights-abusing mercenary group has been sanctioned;   one quarter of Ukraine's population is in need of humanitarian assistance;  
   
• on international affairs (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• permanent members of the security council CAN be removed from the UN;    a warning NOT to rely on China's diplomatic assurances;   calls for “more women to take their rightful place in international security discussions”;
  
• Taiwan;   North Korea is continuing its weapons blitz;   tensions are growing between Pakistan and Afghanistan over “militants”;   DRC's addition to the EAC improves economic opportunities, but also makes the instability in eastern DRC a regional problem;   in the light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the risk of violence resuming in Nagorno-Karabakh - where Russia had negotiated a peace;   instead of getting tetchy over two sovereign nations forming a treaty, maybe we should look at our patronising behaviour and lack of support on key issues like the climate crisis;   “although the overall security situation in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan has remained calm, the “trust deficit” between the two main communities continues to be a great concern”;  
  
• noting particularly Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter, the 1928 Pact of Paris used in post-WW2 trials, the "laws" of war and IHL and Article 20 of the ICCPR:   an article on mercenary armies in Africa - which have been there for some time (for example, see this and this);   violence between Israel and the Gaza strip is increasing;  
   
  
•  on corruption (noting international  agreements and monitoring) and misgovernance: 
• criticism of a corruption investigation after an acquittal (see also this);  
   
• on democracy (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• in Sweden right wing extremists have committed race hate and Islamophobic acts;   Pakistan's political crisis could become physically violent;   ongoing threats to democracy in the USA;   dissent is being suppressed in Libya - and Nicaragua;   Chad's ruling military junta is not moving back towards democracy;   
• the problem of “strategic lies” in election campaigns;   “Philippine fact-checking coalitions are fighting fake news ... ahead of the [9^th] May election”;  
  
• a criticism of Australian politicians for taking the same type of approach for 89 years (voters share blame here too - how have they held MPs and media to account? How have they objected or shown that this approach does not work? . . . or does it stay because it works???);   a critique of neolib approaches on major issues - see also here;   two  criticisms of journalistic reporting;   AEC concerns over conspiracy nutjobs spreading lies;   religious bigots are attacking conservative MPs who showed signs of decency;   the concerning influence of mainstream media;   on transphobic hate in this election - see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,   and here on Morrison's failed character test and the use of this as a distraction;   a human rights organisation's statement on the imminent Australian election;   questions about our increased cyberwar capacity;   staying safe on election day;   China's demand for Australian coal is likely to reduce;   a call to stand up against mainstream media;   blatant lies by a neoliberal to a non-English speaking community;  
   
  
• on human rights (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• allegations that Australia helped Indonesia cover up atrocities committed during the invasion and occupation of Timor Leste;   Tunisia's slide into authoritarianism is paralleled by backsliding on human rights;   communal / sectarian hate and violence appears to be growing in India;   the role of psychopathy in human rights violations;   a call for jailed democracy activists in Hong Kong to get the Nobel peace prize;   “France says Russian mercenaries staged ‘French atrocity’ in Mali”;   one million children have been vaccinated against malaria;   hospitals in Tigray are running out of food;   in a blow to privacy protection and attempts to reduce poverty, Nigeria has cut off access to family, businesses and money for millions of Nigerians;  
   
• noting the Genocide  Convention:  “Southeast Asian governments should urgently revamp their response to Myanmar’s abusive junta by coordinating action with the broader international community”;  
  
  
• noting Article 7 of the ICCPR,   and   the CAT:   Sudan has been accused of using torture;  
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles:   one story showing how “don't say gay” can cost lives;   more on the vicious transphobic hate of the neolibs;   LGBTIQphobia in a remote part of my home state;   official LGBTIQphobia in Hungary;  
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP:   the US state of Florida has decided to hamstring attempts to analyse racism;   staff at a Uni want a flexible leave approach to Invasion Day (which  law expert is opposing on employment grounds - thereby missing the whole point of this);   racism in Australia;   “what Aboriginal people know about the pathways of knowledge”;  
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on refugees:   the UNHCR has stated that the UK's adoption of Australia's offshore refugee abusing (those released are unable to work or even eat [jailing asylum seekers in the USA is also causing trauma] ) scheme breaches international law - and the UK Home Office doubts it would work;   calls for Australia to treat refugees fairly;   Europe's border policies are killing refugees;   refugees in increasingly authoritarian Tunisia appear to have been abandoned;  
  
  
• noting CEDAW:   a human rights activist has launched guidelines at the UN on “collecting evidence of sexual assault”;   the problem of sexual or gender-based and domestic violence after natural disasters;   scientific developments / use of DNA may enable identification of rapists and child rapists in war zones - including Russian soldiers in Ukraine;   the female head of a women's prison in Afghanistan appears to have been disappeared;   Indonesia has finally stopped sexually assaulting female recruits;   a call for a more nuanced approach to femicide;   “the overwhelming absence of women in intellectual history is constructed”;  
  
  
• noting the CRC:   all parties in Yemen have agreed to stop recruiting child soldiers;  
  
  
• noting the CRPD:   ableism from our current PM;  
  
  
• noting Article 19 of the ICCPR:   Malawi police have been accused of hacking an investigative journalism website;   suppression of freedom of expression in Morocco, Algeria, ;  
  
  
• noting Article 6 (4) (5) (6) of the ICCPR,   this, and this:   Pakistan will “legally murder” (my phrase) six men who murdered a man for alleged blasphemy;  
  
  
• noting Article 6 (1) of the ICCPR,   Article 11 of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (iii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 14 (2) (h) of the CEDAW,   Article 27 (3) of the CRC,   Article 28 of the CRPD,   and   Article 20 of the DRIP:    protestors in some Indian states appear to be being punished by having their homes demolished;  
  
  
• violence in Afghanistan,   Afghanistan,   Sudan,   Sri Lanka,   Israel including Jerusalem and Gaza,   Nigeria,   CAR,   Nigeria;
   
• on natural and other disasters (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
• the worsening drought in the horn of Africa is putting 20 million people at risk;   fatal mine explosions in Poland;   one of the indirect costs of natural disasters. 

(Should you elect to write to your elected representatives or others on these matters, it may be useful to familiarise yourself with the links shown in blue - or to at least refer to them. Don't forget to check whether your nation has ratified the treaty concerned.)