Human rights Archives

U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist

4Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Global Trade, Human rights, Types of News: Analysis, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Government Adds Four Spyware Companies To Trade Blacklist

Israeli Spyware Firm NSO Group Named On Commerce Department's Prohibited List November 4, 2021—In a move meant to put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. Commerce Department announced yesterday it is adding four companies to a list of companies subject to trade restrictions. The four companies include Israel-based Candiru and the NSO Group, a Singapore-based company called the Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE (COSEINC), and Russia's Positive Technologies. In effect, the decision puts the companies on trade blacklist that imposes extra licensing requirements. Specifically, companies on the Entity List under Export Administration Regulations face limited availability of most license exceptions for, exports, reexports, and transfers (in-country) to...

Afghan Women, Children and Journalism Struggle Under the Taliban Rule

15Oct

By Ramsha ZubairiNo Comments

Human rights, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Afghan Women, Children and Journalism Struggle Under the Taliban Rule

October 15, 2021—Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, women in the country are showing bravery against a backdrop of severe restrictions against normal life. "Women are not giving up, they are protesting for their rights which are in line with our religion and international human rights." - Samira Hamidi Broken Promises Early on, the Taliban declared amnesty for all citizens and promised to reform their old ways. The government reassured its citizens and international human rights groups it would give "equal rights to women as per the laws of Islam." Furthermore, Taliban officials promised freedom of media and protection of former government employees. But in the few months under the new leadership, the world has witnessed numerous reports from the United Nations and other...

The Hidden Heroes of the Afghan Refugee Crisis

25Aug

By Spencer HayesNo Comments

Human rights, Immigration, Migration, Organizations, IMF, WTO, G7, UN Security Council, Types of News: Brief

The Hidden Heroes of the Afghan Refugee Crisis

August 25, 2021--As observers around the world watch in horror the collapse of human rights in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, humanitarians are stepping up to the plate to assist vulnerable members of Afghan society. Governments Relocating Refugees In a press briefing this week, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price discussed successful relocations from Afghanistan. He credited a number of contributions by countries in the relocation efforts. Specifically, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Bahrain, and Germany. These governments have assisted in the transit of at-risk Afghans, US citizens, and other Afghan evacuees. Alongside those efforts, Germany, Spain, and Italy have deployed armed troops to Afghanistan to assist in the evacuation. These forces are...

In Emergency Meeting, G7 Makes Coordinated Plan on Afghanistan

24Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, International Development, Geopolitics, Human rights, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

In Emergency Meeting, G7 Makes Coordinated Plan on Afghanistan

European Council Urges U.S. Military to Keep Kabul Airport Open 'As Long As Necessary' to Complete Evacuations August 24, 2021--In an emergency meeting on Afghanistan held virtually today along with heads of NATO and the United Nations, leaders in the G7 industrialized countries promised a series of steps to stay active in dealing with a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and the fallout of the ensuing humanitarian crisis. The G7 includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany and Japan. Facing the largest humanitarian crisis of the year due to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, the G7 leaders met to coordinate a diplomatic strategy. Namely, the G7 leaders promised to take the following actions: Coordinate the immediate international humanitar...

China’s Belt And Road Projects Involved With 679 Human Rights Violations, Researchers Say

12Aug

By Spencer HayesNo Comments

Foreign Aid, International Development, Globalization, Disintegration, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

China’s Belt And Road Projects Involved With 679 Human Rights Violations, Researchers Say

Report Takes A Critical Look At China's Development Projects Abroad And Calls for Greater Transparency August 12, 2021-A report released yesterday links China's Belt and Road Initiative with 679 allegations of human rights abuse between 2013 and 2020. "China’s aspiration to become a ‘responsible great power’ is set to be undermined by high rates of human rights abuse linked to its overseas business operations," according to the report publisher, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. Worst-Case Scenarios in Places With Weak Governments Counties with the highest number of abuse allegations include Myanmar, Peru, Ecuador, Laos, Cambodia, and Indonesia. The authors discovered that the highest rates of alleged abuse were prevalent in countries with weaker governance....

Ice Cream Maker Under Fire For Stopping Sales In The Occupied Palestinian Territory

6Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Human rights, Middle East, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Analysis

Ice Cream Maker Under Fire For Stopping Sales In The Occupied Palestinian Territory

EDITORIAL: Backlash Against Ben & Jerry's Draws Attention to Israel's Use of Settlers to Drive Palestinians Out August 6, 2021—A company that takes pride in its logo, "Peace, love and ice cream," finds itself in the hot seat this Summer as the government of Israel, politicians in the U.S. states of Florida, and activists in nonprofit organizations and on social media launch campaigns against it. On July 19, Ben & Jerry's announced that it would no longer sell ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian West Bank. "We believe it is inconsistent with our values for our product to be present within an internationally recognized illegal occupation," the company founders Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen wrote. Ever since that decision, the company and its parent company Unilever have b...

UK, US Diplomats Denounce Taliban’s Crimes Against Humanity

2Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Diplomacy, Human rights, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Brief

UK, US Diplomats Denounce Taliban’s Crimes Against Humanity

August 2, 2021--Following reporting by a human rights organization about retaliatory killing by the Taliban in Afghanistan, diplomats for the United States and the United Kingdom took to Twitter to call for accountability. The latest report comes after an attack against a UN compound in Herat, Afghanistan. It also follows news from the United Nations about a sharp rise in civilian killings in Afghanistan since May. As violence rises, many international diplomats are questioning whether the Taliban could ever be trusted to govern and take part in peace talks. A UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan warns that 2021 is on track to witness the "highest ever number of documented civilian casualties in a single year since UNAMA records began." Retaliatory Killings The Afghanistan Inde...

China Issues Paper On Human Rights, Xinjiang

14Jul

By Spencer HayesNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Human rights, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Brief

China Issues Paper On Human Rights, Xinjiang

July 14, 2021--A day after the U.S. government warned against doing business in Xinjiang, China issued a White Paper today defending its human rights record and asserting that the elimination of poverty supports equal rights. Fighting Poverty And Terrorism "Poverty is a major problem that plagues humanity, and poverty eradication is the most arduous global human rights cause in the contemporary era," the white paper said. It reported that "From 1955 to 2020, Xinjiang’s GDP rose from RMB1.2 billion in 1955 to RMB1.4 trillion in 2020. On a per capita GDP basis, that is RMB241 in 1955 to RMB53,593 in 2020. According to the paper, extremists and terrorists from East Turkistan have incited hatred, discrimination, and violence inside Xinjiang, "taking advantage of people's ethnic and r...

State Department Tells Businesses: Stay Away From Xinjiang, China

13Jul

By Spencer HayesNo Comments

Communism, Dictatorship, Diplomacy, Global Trade, Human rights, Sanctions, Types of News: Analysis

State Department Tells Businesses: Stay Away From Xinjiang, China

July 14, 2021—The U.S. State Department and six other Cabinet departments warned Americans against doing business with any person or entity connected to China's Xinjiang Province. It comes a day after the State Department formally accused China along with four other countries and a terrorist network of committing genocide. In China, the reputed human rights abuse is taking place against the primarily Muslim Uyghur population as well as other minorities. A Warning On Business Relations U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken - By U.S. Department of State The departments of State, Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice, Labor, Treasury, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative warned Americans of the risks of breaking U.S. law for doing business with anyone connected ...

U.S. Bans Solar-Industry Product Made in Xinjiang, China Over Concerns of ‘Modern-Day Slavery’

5Jul

By Spencer HayesNo Comments

Global Trade, Globalization, Disintegration, Human rights, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Bans Solar-Industry Product Made in Xinjiang, China Over Concerns of ‘Modern-Day Slavery’

July 5, 2021-- In the latest move to identify and prohibit products produced by "state-sponsored forced labor," the U.S. government banned imports of a material made in Xinjiang, China. The product, polysilicon, is a key component in the supply chain of solar panels. As a result of the ban, U.S. Customs officials must intercept imports of the product at U.S. ports. The decision is likely to have an impact not only on consumer and manufacture prices but also on foreign relations between the two countries. 'Modern-Day Slavery' Alejandro N. Mayorkas, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, announced the order against Hoshine Silicon Industry in late June. The decision followed discussions among leaders from G7 countries about the use of forced labor global supply chains. It also comes on t...