Some human rights and other news links and thoughts

Black Lives Matter! Be Anti-Racist, Anti-Sexist, and Actively Inclusive in ALL Areas.
The Climate Crisis is real, urgent and existential!
The Pandemic is Real, and Vaccinations save lives. Stay safe - wash your hands, wear a face mask in public if prudent to do so, and follow informed medical advice.

Some mostly human rights (including significant, relevant links in other fields - such as geopolitics, democracy, or authoritarianism) links (note: the source of news items [but not reference links] is in brackets after each item - normal rules around abbreviations will apply, and abbreviations are listed at the end of this post; links behind hard paywalls have a [$]; also, comments by me are in purple). 

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Content shown in green (which may be only part of a news story) is about what is generally considered “good news”, but personal history may still make such events triggering. Reader caution is recommended.

• on the CLIMATE CRISIS (noting the UNFCCC) and ENVIRONMENT (noting multiple  international agreements): 
• Australia has finally passed climate change legislation (TG);   a climate scientist’s view on hope (TG) - see also this (TG), but also this, warning we’re not changing quickly enough (TG);   the damage done by the former national neolib nitwits to the Climate Change authority is being reversed (TG);   “Australia is funding just one-tenth of its fair share of global climate action” (TG);   “air pollution linked to carbon emissions causes millions of deaths every year. A coalition of health groups have called for a nonproliferation treaty to end fossil fuel use around the world” (DW);   the ozone layer continues to recover (DW);   “‘Green Wall Street’ in Australia won’t save the planet. Markets value profits, not platypuses” (TG);   a billionaire has given his apparel company to a trust to fight the climate crisis (TG), as another apparel company is asked to cut its ties to fossil (fuel) companies (TG);   ocean forests (TC);   yet another call to use heat pumps - on a large scale (DW);   extreme hunger is worst in areas most affected by the climate crisis (TG);  
  
  
• climate / environmental issues have occurred in:   Egypt (HRW),   Nigeria (AJ),   Argentina (AJ),   the Amazon forest (TRF) - see also here (HRW) and here (EuroNews),   Vietnam (TG),   Indonesia (TRF); 
  
  
• 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: 
• China’s lockdowns are so extreme people cannot leave their buildings even during earthquakes (ABC);   “imagining COVID is ‘like the flu’ is cutting thousands of lives short. It’s time to wake up” (TC);   a landlord has been fined for locking out international students during the pandemic lockdowns (TG);   COVID is still killing the elderly (TG);   lessons from the COVID pandemic for the next one (TC);  
  
  
• on NATURAL and OTHER DISASTERS (noting Article 1(3) of the UN Charter): 
  
• the ongoing carnage of the floods in Pakistan (F24) - see also this (DW);   an earthquake in PNG (ABC);   a cholera outbreak in Syria threatens the entire West Asia region (UN);   a risk of multiple famines (UN);  
  
  
• 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: 
• on military matters:   Ukraine has used deception to achieve significant success (F24) - see also this (TG) and this (TND), and this assessment of possible responses by Thug-ssia (TC);   
• on the nuclear (weapons and power) situations:   Ukraine's success MAY increase the risk that Putin uses nuclear weapons (Business Insider);  
• on human rights in the region and globally:   the UN has been documenting human rights abuses by Thug-ssia in Crimea and PoW camps (Jurist.org);  the suffering of Ukrainians continues (UN);   food shortages in central Africa (VoA);   a mass burial site (TG) with victims showing signs of torture (TND);  
  
• inside Russia:   a petition is calling on Putin to resign (F24);  
• internationally:   concerns that China could be re-exporting Russian gas to Europe (DW) - but Russia has acknowledged that China has concerns over the invasion of Ukraine (F24);   to the displeasure of Thug-ssia, Ukraine wants international guarantors for its possible membership of NATO (TG);   concerns that sanctions are not hitting quickly enough (CNN);   Thug-ssia might be looking to the Balkans for support (TG);   
   
• on INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (noting the UN Charter [particularly Chapters VI and VII] and numerous  international  treaties): 
• Burma has been firing into and violating the airspace of Bangladesh (Pressenza);   a consideration of the causes and effects of the decline of the USA (TND);   India is growing its navy to counterbalance possible Chinese “adventurism” (ABC);   “after two years of fighting government forces, Ethiopia’s Tigray leadership have expressed interest in a peace process led by the African Union” (DW);   an opinion that Saudi Arabia duped US President Biden (WP);   a blogger is giving the world a view of the good aspects of Somalia (NA) (her blog is here);  
  
  
• 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 on WAR / CONFLICT:   dozens have been killed in Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes (TG) as Azerbaijan takes advantage of Russia's distraction (DW);   South Korea has warned North Korea against the use of nuclear weapons (AP);  
  
  
• incidents / action of concern in/regarding:   Ethiopia-Tigray (AP);
   
• on CORRUPTION (noting international  agreements and monitoring), MISGOVERNANCE, MAL-/MIS-/NON-FEASANCE and MISCONDUCT: 
• a US Supreme Court justice’s wife has been linked to the attempts to overthrow abortion laws in the USA   (and I note that justice has been specifically asked to recuse himself from action against a former POTUS45 devotee) (TG);   a company has been found allegedly unfit to operate a casino (the company has 14 days to respond to the report, so this is not a final determination) (TND) - see also this, on the broader picture around gambling generally (TND);   a US man “fell into conspiracy rabbit hole before shooting family” (Detroit News);   a woman resorted to robbing a bank in Lebanon to get her money for medical treatment (TG);   the former PM is showing his true colours by signing up with a far right political organisation (TND);   offensive, useless, and tokenistic “compensation” to one victim of the Robodebt scandal (TG);  
  
  
• concerns around past/current/potential corruption/misgovernance in   Australia (PnI);
  
  
• on DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE (noting Article 25 of the ICCPR and monitoring  projects): 
• globally:   US President Biden has vowed to “fight the 'venom and violence' of white supremacy” (TG);   a warning that growing fascism is a sign of civilisational collapse (M);   “Hungary is no longer a full democracy” (TG);   cyberattacks can lead to a loss of trust even if successfully defended against (PVG);   Sweden has moved to the right with a new government that includes far right extremists (TG);   the backlash in Sri Lanka (ABC);   expert commentary pointing out that not everyone in the crowds in the UK associated with the death of their former monarch is there to celebrate that person (TG);   a dangerous call to screen plastic surgery procedures with mental health assessments first - dangerous, as it could be extended to other matters, such as gender realignment (TG);   “lenders urged to cancel Zambia debt as country faces economic collapse” (TG);   inflation has pushed millions of Africans into poverty (F);  
  
  
• in Australia:   a suggestion that we need to do more than just getting rid of the previous neolib nitwit (AIM);   SA may give its government the power to block privatisations (In Daily);   “defence is at “significant risk” from cyber insider threats ... [including] malicious, disgruntled or merely duped employees” (something similar has happened in the water industry) (TG);   a call for higher taxation on those who earn more than $1 million per year (TG);   the overblown media farce (TC) in response to this;   the latest review of education has confirmed what was already known (TC);   an assessment questioning the effectiveness of a youth mental health service fails to consider whether youth  would use other options (TG);   another call to extend voting rights in Australia (TG);  
  
  
• suppression of dissent / media in   Algeria (Le Monde),;
  democracy is also at risk in   Germany (HRW),   Russia (UN),   Burundi (TEA),   Angola (AN),   Burundi (UN); 
  
  
• on HUMAN RIGHTS (noting the various rights and treaties summarised here, IHL, Article 5 of the Rome Statute founding the ICC): 
• a warning that militarisation of security in Mexico will lead to more human rights and impunity problems (AI);   the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the USA (TG);   lessons from the global response to apartheid for the world’s possible response to China’s abuses in East Turkmenistan/Xinjiang (PVG);   criticism of arrests of anti-monarchy protestors in the UK (TG);   Russian mercenaries are targetting civilians in the CAR and Mali (ACLED);   Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is growing to record levels (DS);   the USA has made a modest gesture against Egypt’s human rights abuses (HRW);   CW - sexual assault, torture details of the abuses being committed by Burma’s government forces from one of their victims (Frontier Myanmar);   the USA will now use seized funds to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan (NYT [$]);  
   
• human rights are at risk or abuses have occurred in:   Hong Kong (F24),   ICC/Afghanistan (HRW),   East Turkmenistan / Xinjiang (HRW),   Saudi Arabia (Middle East Eye);   Algeria (NAP),   Türkiye (GW);
  
  
• violence in:   USA (TND),   DRC (HA),   Nigeria (R);
  
  
• noting the GENOCIDE  Convention:   the USA has issued a visa to an Iranian genocidaire (GW);   questions about Australian spending at junta-linked businesses (ABC);   an atrocity alert for Burma, Ukraine and Afghanistan (GCR2P);   lessons from the past (FH);  
  more genocide / mass atrocity issues:   Burma (UN) - see also this (HRW),   Namibia-Germany (DW);
  
  
• noting the conventions and the Global Compact on REFUGEES:   an opinion that Australia’s multi-billion dollar off shore “detention centres” are “torture camps” (TSP) - with a call for UN investigation (TG);   the UK ignored warnings to push through its offshore relocation of refugees scheme (TG);   
  more refugee issues:   Mexico (IDPs) (MN);
  
  
• noting the Yogyakarta Principles on LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE:   some TGD and NB people are finding they can safely stay in rural areas (TG);   under the affliction of "both-sides-ism", the European Human Rights Court has become transphobic - or two of its members with a history of transphobia have taken it down that path (M);   yet more transphobic abuses from a religious school (Bendigo Advertiser [$]);   a non-binary victim of transphobic violence has explained why they forgave their attacker (TG);  
  more LGBTIQA+ issues:   Germany (DW);
  
  
• noting ICERD and DRIP on RACISM:   egregious overreactions against people of colour far outweigh responses to whites doing similar actions (M);   a questioning as to why some people feel so compelled to spout their racist views (M);   the enquiry into the police killing of an Indigenous man has heard evidence of the effects of colonialism (TG) and racism amongst police officers (TG) - and a warning that racism could be normalised (TG);   growing anti-Semitism in schools in one Australian city (SMH);   “govt slammed for declaring Day of Mourning after ignoring similar First Nations calls for years” (SBS);   racist abuse in Parliament may lead to a complaint of a hostile and unsafe workplace (TG);   the challenge of avoiding tokenism (TG);   “judges go bush to learn about Indigenous culture, with aim to deliver fairer justice in courts” (ABC);
  
  
• noting CEDAW on SEXISM:    misogyny in Afghanistan includes harassing female employees of the UN (TG);   women who separate from partners after DV are worse off financially (although the report claims new data, this has been known for decades) (TC);   utility companies will no longer aid DV abusers to find their victims (TA);   a campaign against sexist stereotypes (TG);  
  more sexism issues:   Sudan-Australia (ABC),   Yemen (EU Observer),   Sudan (ST);
  
  
• noting the laws listed here, the conventions listed here, and principles discussed here, here, here, here, and here, on the RIGHTS OF ANIMALS:   a call for recognition of legal personhood (Aeon);  
  
  
• noting Article 17 of the ICCPR,   Article 16 of the CRC,   Article 22 of the CRPD,   and   Article 12 (1) of the DRIP on PRIVACY:   a warning on “privacy washing” (TRF);   
  
  
• noting Article 8 of the ICCPR,   Article 6 of the CEDAW,   Articles 11, and 32 - 36 of the CRC,   Articles 16 and 27 (2) of the CRPD on SLAVERY:   “the Dutch government is said to be planning to apologise for its historic role in slave trade and set up a fund for projects that aim to raise awareness about the legacy of slavery” (F24);   “50 million people are in modern slavery” (UN);   a proposed EU ban on forced labour may be too weak to be effective (EU);   
  
  
• noting Articles 2 (1) (also noting this, this, this, and this), 3, 7, 14 (see here and here), 15, 16, and 26 of the ICCPR,   Articles 3, 5 (a), and 6 (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Articles 2, 12 (2), 37, 39, and 40 of the CRC,   Articles 5, 12, 13, and 14 of the CRPD,   and   Articles 1 - 2, 7 (2), 8 (2) (c), 9 - 10, 12 (2), 20 (2), 27, and 40 of the DRIP on the JUDICIARY / JUSTICE SYSTEM:   the mother of a 14 year old in an adult prison has been denied access and information after a fire (NIT);   “higher prison security level is linked to greater risk of dying after release” (MN);   a juvenile rape victim in the USA had to pay compensation to her rapist's estate after she killed him (TG);   an explainer on the problems with a High Court that allows indefinite detention in WA (NIT);   
  
  
• noting the CRPD on PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:   stereotypes are limiting the employment of people with autism (TC);  
  
  
• noting Articles 6 (1), 7, and 8 (see here) of the ICESCR,   Article 5 (e) (i) (ii) (see here and here) of the ICERD,   Article 11 (1) (a - c) of the CEDAW,   and   Article 27 (1) of the CRPD on WORK and FAVOURABLE WORK CONDITIONS:   “job insecurity does not contribute to employee creative performance or “good citizenship” in the workplace” (TC);   more on work-to-rule (M);  
  
  
• 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 on FOOD, CLOTHING, and HOUSING:    growing housing insecurity amongst older people (TG);   “yes, Australian house prices are dropping, but from staggering heights” (TG);   
   
• from an article advocating the one password approach (although to be fair, the changes will be somewhat of an improvement) “And even with a password manager, our passwords are still stored on the remote website we’re accessing. Although most websites store passwords in a secure (hashed) format, they are still routinely compromised. It’s estimated more than two billion sets of credentials (including passwords) were leaked online in 2021” (TG);
  

(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.)

Abbreviations:   Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project - ACLED;   Aeon Magazine - Aeon;   Africa Centre for Strategic Studies - ACSS;   Africa News - AN;   Al Jazeera - AJ;   Amnesty International - AI;   Associated Press - AP;   Australian Associated Press - AAP;   Australian Broadcasting Corporation - ABC;   Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility - ACCR;   Australian Independent Media Network - AIMN;   Barrons;   Bellingcat (B);   Bloomberg - BB;   Brisbane Times - BT;   British Broadcasting Commission - BBC;   Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - BAS;   Cable News Network - CNN;   Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - CBC;   Centre for Strategic and International Studies - CSIS;   Committee to Protect Journalists - CPJ;   the (US) Council on Foreign Relations (CFR);   Crikey - C [$];   Dabanga Sudan - DS;   Deutsche Welle - DW;   European Union - EU;   Forbes - F;   Foreign Policy - FP;   France 24 - F24;   Freedom House - FH;   Genocide Watch - GW;   Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect - GCR2P;   HumAngle - HA;   Human Rights Law Centre - HRLC;   Human Rights Watch - HRW;   Independent Australia - IA;   International Crisis Group - ICG;   Lawfare Blog - LFB;   Lowy Institute - The Interpreter - Lowy;   mainstream media - MSM;   Medium - M;   Michael West (news media platform) - MW;   Mirage News - MN;   Nation Africa - NA;   National Indigenous Times - NIT;   New York Times - NYT [$];   News24;   North Africa Post - NAP;   Out in Perth - OiP;   Pearls and Irritations - PnI;   Political Violence at a Glance - PVG;   Politico - P;   Premium Times Nigeria - PT;   Q News - QN;   Radio France International - rfi;   Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE);   Reuters - R;   Robert Reich - RR;   (Bruce) Schneier - Sch;   Special Broadcasting Service - SBS;   Star Observer - Star;   Sudan Tribune - ST;   Sydney Morning Herald - SMH;   The Age - TA;   The Big Smoke (TBS);   The East African - TEA;   The Guardian - TG;   The Monthly - TM;   The National Tribune - tNT;   The New Daily - TND;   The Saturday Paper - TSP;   The Shot - TS;   Thomson Reuters Foundation - TRF;   United Nations - UN;   Voice of America - VoA;   Wall Street Journal - WSJ [$];   War on the Rocks - WotR;   Washington Post - WP [$];   Yahoo News - Yahoo; YouTube - YT;