FROM this week’s news ON: human rights and humanitarian aid [Note: Content Warning - links to distressing reports on this topic. Reader discretion is advised]

Note: CONTENT WARNING - some of this content is about upsetting, disturbing or triggering events & attitudes. Seek competent help - including professional - if you need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that linked articles may contains names and/or images of deceased people. READER CAUTION IS RECOMMENDED! For anyone distressed by anything in this post, or for any other reason considering seeking support, resources are available in Australia here, here, and here. In other nations, you will have to do an Internet search using terms such as “mental health support - <your nation>” (which, for instance, may lead to this, this, and this, in the USA, or this, this, and this, in France [biased towards English-language - my apologies]), or perhaps try https://www.befrienders.org/. 

Note: in my “from the news” posts, quotes are shown italicised and blue, my comments are in a different shade of blue, and “good” items are shown in green. I have loosely grouped the posts where such seemed reasonable, but that is subjective (i.e., my opinion - others are free to disagree), and challenging, as some posts belong in multiple “groups”.

 

Fromm this week’s news on human rights, noting that many issues have probably not made it into the news that I see: 

 

• “US warns of impending 'large-scale massacre' in capital of Sudan's North Darfur”   https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240430-us-warns-of-impending-large-scale-massacre-in-capital-of-sudan-s-north-darfur       “Russia arrests Forbes reporter over social media posts on Bucha[, Ukraine] massacre”   https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240426-russia-arrests-forbes-reporter-over-social-media-posts-on-bucha-massacre       “In northern Kosovo, authorities determined to integrate Serb population”   https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20240430-in-northern-kosovo-authorities-determined-to-integrate-serb-population      “Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial”   https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1149211   

• “M23 rebels seize key smartphone mineral mining town in eastern Congo”   https://apnews.com/article/congo-rebels-mining-smartphones-efeccc189dfa64a2a010fd3240fc3880   This is how concern about blood minerals arises ...   

• a podcast (which I have not had time to listen to as yet, but the channel is good):   “What’s Unsaid | Migrants and refugees are easy political targets”   https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/2024/05/02/podcasts/whats-unsaid-migrants-and-refugees-are-easy-political-targets   “‘The safety valve becomes an outsider to blame.’”  
  

• in support of other evidence of the “intersectionality of haters” (i.e., those who are bigotted in one area [against one group] are also likely to be bigotted against other groups),   “Teen t_rr_r accused already charged with gay bashings”   https://qnews.com.au/teen-terror-accused-already-charged-with-gay-bashings/   However, note that all people charged with any criminal offence are innocent until proven guilty   

• “Legal action looms over children allegedly assaulted in police watch houses”   https://nit.com.au/29-04-2024/11103/action-threat-over-children-assaulted-in-watch-houses  
  

• “Victorian premier confronts ‘bloody stains of colonisation’ at historic Indigenous truth-telling inquiry”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/30/victorian-premier-confronts-bloody-stains-of-colonisation-at-historic-indigenous-truth-telling-inquiry   “Truth-telling ‘critical’ to treaty, Victorian premier says before historic appearance at Indigenous-led inquiry”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/28/truth-telling-critical-to-treaty-victorian-premier-says-ahead-of-historic-appearance-at-indigenous-led-inquiry   “Jacinta Allan says failure of voice referendum hardened her resolve to ‘present the facts’ about impacts of colonisation”   “Premier prepared to apologise to First Nations Victorians for injustices suffered at government's hands”   https://nit.com.au/29-04-2024/11104/victorian-premier-says-she-is-prepared-to-apologise-to-first-nations-victorians-for-injustices-suffered-due-to-government-policies      “Aboriginal women continue to be subject to horrific violence – we cannot leave them out of the conversation”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/may/01/aboriginal-women-continue-to-be-subject-to-horrific-violence-we-cannot-leave-them-out-of-the-conversation   “As a survivor of forcible removal, the disproportionate rate of violence against First Nations women shatters my whole being”   

• “Saudi Arabia activist sentenced to 11 years in prison for ‘support’ of women’s rights”   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/may/01/manahel-al-otaibi-saudi-arabia-womens-rights-activist-sentenced-11-years-prison-anti-terrorism-court   “Manahel al-Otaibi, who promoted female empowerment on social media, was arrested under anti-terror laws”   

• “The ‘man who repairs women’ on rape as a weapon and how the world forgot the DRC”   https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/apr/29/denis-mukwege-nobel-democratic-republic-congo-drc-man-who-repairs-women-rape-war-sexual-violence-msf  
  

• “New homicide statistics show surge in intimate partner killings – and huge disparity in First Nations victims”   https://theconversation.com/new-homicide-statistics-show-surge-in-intimate-partner-killings-and-huge-disparity-in-first-nations-victims-228890      “Almost 30% spike in rate of Australian women killed by intimate partner last year, data shows”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/29/30-spike-in-rate-of-australian-women-killed-by-intimate-partner-last-year-data-shows      
• “‘Stop talking and start doing.’ Rosie Batty on trolls, accidental advocacy and treating domestic violence for what it is: t_rr_r_sm”   https://theconversation.com/stop-talking-and-start-doing-rosie-batty-on-trolls-accidental-advocacy-and-treating-domestic-violence-for-what-it-is-terrorism-228617   “Calls for immediate action on national epidemic of violence against women”   https://nit.com.au/29-04-2024/11109/calls-for-immediate-action-on-national-epidemic-of-violence-against-women      “We won’t stop violence against women with conversations about respect. This is not working. We need to get real”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/26/we-wont-stop-violence-against-women-with-conversations-about-respect-this-is-not-working-we-need-to-get-real-ntwnfb      “Eight years ago Australia had a wake-up call on family violence. So how did we end up here again?”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/04/australia-family-violence-against-women-law-changes-reforms   “There was hope for change after Victoria’s royal commission. Now the experts agree that it’s past time for ‘an abundance of words’ to be met by action”      a cartoon: “There’s one question domestic violence victims often hear”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/may/02/theres-one-question-domestic-violence-victims-often-hear      “In a society where male violence seems inevitable we need much more than education and awareness”   https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/30/in-a-society-where-male-violence-seems-inevitable-we-need-much-more-than-education-and-awareness   “If men’s violence is not prevented or treated, it tends to spread like an infectious disease”      Australia’s Prime Minister “Albanese calls for debate on blocking online misogynistic content at snap national cabinet meeting”   https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/may/01/albanese-calls-for-debate-on-blocking-online-misogynistic-content-at-snap-national-cabinet-meeting   “Labor to focus on online harms at national cabinet meeting on women’s safety as others call for further needs-based funding and bail reform”   “National cabinet to meet on violence against women, with Albanese saying everyone ‘must do better’”   https://theconversation.com/national-cabinet-to-meet-on-violence-against-women-with-albanese-saying-everyone-must-do-better-228873      “Not good enough”   https://theaimn.com/not-good-enough/   “What is the problem with men?”   A well written - by a male - assessment      “Aggressive? Homophobic? Stoic? Here’s what thousands of Australian men told us about modern masculinity”   https://theconversation.com/aggressive-homophobic-stoic-heres-what-thousands-of-australian-men-told-us-about-modern-masculinity-228187   “Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people around them. These are some of the findings of a new survey of men in Australia.”      
• “Violence against women is both a legal and cultural problem. What can we do to address it?”   https://theconversation.com/violence-against-women-is-both-a-legal-and-cultural-problem-what-can-we-do-to-address-it-228889   This articles examines legal and cultural issues - and the need to act immediately and continuously         a Monash University Media Release:   “Domestic violence disclosure schemes may not improve safety for victim-survivors of intimate partner violence”   https://theconversation.com/domestic-violence-disclosure-schemes-may-not-improve-safety-for-victim-survivors-of-intimate-partner-violence-228994   “Domestic violence disclosure schemes: part of the solution to improving women’s safety or an administrative burden?”   https://theaimn.com/domestic-violence-disclosure-schemes-part-of-the-solution-to-improving-womens-safety-or-an-administrative-burden/   “This research calls not for the introduction of a DVDS but for evidence-based policies and adequate funding for wraparound specialist support services to support safer outcomes for victim-survivors.”   I support the principle of evidence-based, but reject any suggestion that administrative burden should be an approval consideration, only an aspect of implementation      “Australian government pledges almost $1bn to help women leave violent relationships”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/may/01/leaving-violence-payment-australia-women-violent-relationships   “National Cabinet has committed to a range of strategies to stop violence against women, but has it done enough?”   https://theconversation.com/national-cabinet-has-committed-to-a-range-of-strategies-to-stop-violence-against-women-but-has-it-done-enough-229106   ““Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility.” Those were the words of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.   ...   No Australian government has yet solved this problem. Every Australian government can and should do more to advance women’s safety.   Perhaps the most important outcome from today’s National Cabinet meeting is not just a renewed national commitment on action to end gender-based violence, but an Australia that will hold all governments to account on delivering their promises.”   “Funding to tackle family and domestic violence welcome, but falls short”   https://nit.com.au/01-05-2024/11146/funding-to-tackle-family-and-domestic-violence-welcome-but-falls-short   “Albanese government flags measures to tackle online misogyny in the battle against violence towards women”   https://theconversation.com/albanese-government-flags-measures-to-tackle-online-misogyny-in-the-battle-against-violence-towards-women-229109   “Australia will trial ‘age assurance’ tech to bar children from online porn. What is it and will it work?”   https://theconversation.com/australia-will-trial-age-assurance-tech-to-bar-children-from-online-porn-what-is-it-and-will-it-work-229184   This also examines the very real problems - including privacy risks, but also the need to attempt to do something   “Here’s how you can talk to your kids about gendered violence, and 7 ways to model good behaviour”   https://theconversation.com/heres-how-you-can-talk-to-your-kids-about-gendered-violence-and-7-ways-to-model-good-behaviour-228898   “Labor to launch ad campaign urging parents to learn about the harmful misogyny children see online”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/03/labor-to-launch-ad-campaign-urging-parents-to-learn-about-the-harmful-misogyny-children-see-online         a The Guardian exclusive reports   “National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/30/national-legal-aid-calls-for-300m-funding-increase-to-keep-australian-women-safe   “Exclusive: Peak body unable to meet increased demand for family services as nation grapples with a crisis of murdered women”      “4 things our schools should do now to help prevent gender-based violence”   https://theconversation.com/4-things-our-schools-should-do-now-to-help-prevent-gender-based-violence-228993      
• See also   “Tech-based sexual harassment at work is common, male-dominated and often intended to cause harm”   https://theconversation.com/tech-based-sexual-harassment-at-work-is-common-male-dominated-and-often-intended-to-cause-harm-228102   “‘Make me a sandwich’: our survey’s disturbing picture of how some boys treat their teachers”   https://theconversation.com/make-me-a-sandwich-our-surveys-disturbing-picture-of-how-some-boys-treat-their-teachers-228891      
• but also   “We’re all feeling the collective grief and trauma of violence against women – but this is the progress we have made so far”   https://theconversation.com/were-all-feeling-the-collective-grief-and-trauma-of-violence-against-women-but-this-is-the-progress-we-have-made-so-far-228781      
• Finally, I’ll end with a cautionary note on this: avoid being transphobic - as exemplified by the UN’s Gender Flat Earther Reem Alsalem: transwomen are women, and often suffer even more violence than ciswomen. Similarly, transmen are not victims of some delusion: they are men.  
  

• “When You're Trans and Autistic”   https://youtu.be/wk0tOe83__g?si=TgkbSZKUyjjnGdue   “I got out of my grade school years unscathed only to have grown ass adults with social media poisoning and too much time on their hands take up the mantle of insecure adolescents who build their identities around harming others. I’m talking about gender criticals, by the way . . . And members of the gender critical cult like to call upon the combined forces of cultural transphobia to . . . dismiss gender incongruence expressed by autistic people as fixation or confusion, particularly in trans people who were assumed female at birth. What they never seem to do is ask us about our experiences or speak to the experts who have . . . because . . . [g]ender  criticals don't actually care about child welfare, human well-being, or medical ethics” . . .  they are trying to Trojan Horse their agenda into social relevance by relying on cis, allistic people to have not done the internal work”   Gender criticals are the genocidal  flat earthers of the sex and gender world   Also from this channel:   “I was a victim of Gender Ideology”   https://youtu.be/iKZq5z7M4ds?si=vzrFKTUppbaMbCWz   and   “Autism, Ableism, and Missouri's Attack on Trans Rights”   https://youtu.be/J50N7pKAHdg?si=PMVLf87GvUBaEFWM  
  

• “Policing at Mardi Gras Was ‘Aggressive and Intensive’, Says Report”   https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/policing-at-mardi-gras-was-aggressive-and-intensive-says-report/230336   ““Police violence and over policing at Mardi Gras continues despite negotiations between Mardi Gras and the NSW Police Force,” the study reads.   ”Our findings reveal intensive and aggressive policing characterised by invasive questioning, instances of potentially unlawful policing, and use of force”.”   This exemplifies the - in my opinion - problematic combination of unconscious bias and Newtonian approaches to life (“when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail”) that too many police have, and the problems with drug enforcement and policing in NSW. I decided twenty years ago not to ever attend any such events in NSW   

• “Josh Cavallo Faces Death Threats and Criticises FIFA Over Saudi World Cup”   https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/josh-cavallo-unsafe-fifa-saudi-world-cup/230271   “Josh Cavallo has opened up about facing death threats and expressed concerns about his safety playing football in Saudi Arabia.”   These risks are always the problem when international events are held in backward, repressive societies   
  

• “Coming Out as Disabled Why I Was Reluctant to Share My Invisible Disabilities”   https://youtu.be/MxdWrailavQ?si=9XnnQ5YkTrE9ruoK&t=146   The definition of disability at that time stamp from the USA’s Centre for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/   “A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities (activity limitation) and interact with the world around them (participation restriction)”   is worth noting - as is the discussion around this (especially what happens when asking for accommodations), but the rest of the video is also important    

• “I’m going to be blunt: our neurotypical school system is the problem”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2024/may/02/im-going-to-be-blunt-our-neurotypical-school-system-is-the-problem  
  

• “‘Witches’ are still killed all over the world. Pardoning past victims could end the practice”   https://theconversation.com/witches-are-still-killed-all-over-the-world-pardoning-past-victims-could-end-the-practice-228613  
  

My links for activism post may aid any activism you may decide to do on any/all of these. If you do, don’t get too fixated on specific instances of problems - important though they may well be: take a moment to also consider the broader issues these incidents and groups of incidents may suggest/reveal.

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below.

Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering”.

Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024     NO AI   I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise  replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.     Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis   https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/