Impunity Watch Symposium Keynote Senator Romeo Dallaire (4/5)

Impunity Watch Symposium Keynote Senator Romeo Dallaire (4/5)

Impunity Watch Symposium Keynote Senator Romeo Dallaire (4/5) from Impunity Watch on Vimeo.

On Friday April 8, 2011, the Impunity Watch Law Journal of Syracuse University College of Law hosted its annual symposium entitled, Humans as Commodities: Child Soldiers. The symposium addressed the use of child soldiers in armed conflict. It looked at the chilling realities facing child soldiers, the root causes of the phenomena, and explored the persistent human rights dilemma facing the international community.

In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to ensure that States do not use individuals under eighteen years of age in combat, and to explicitly forbid non-state and guerrilla forces from recruiting anyone under eighteen for any purpose. Other provisions of international law have banned the use of soldiers under age fifteen since the 1970s. In spite of these and other international efforts, there are an estimated 250,000-300,000 child soldiers across the globe, actively fighting in at least thirty countries. Almost half of all armed organizations in the world use child soldiers and almost all of those soldiers see combat.

Saudi Women Hit the Road to Protest Driving Ban

by Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – On Friday, between 30 and 40 women in Saudi Arabia took to the streets of the kingdom’s major cities as drivers in protest against a long-standing prohibition against women drivers, the only one of its kind in the world.  No arrests were made, though some women received threats of beatings or damage to their cars.  This was the first time such an action had taken place since November 1990, when 47 women drove around Riyadh.

The issue of permitting women to drive is a controversial one that cuts across all strata of Saudi society.  It returned to prominence following the late May arrest of Manal al-Sharif, who was also jailed for nine days, force to sign a pledge not to drive again, and banned from talking to the media as punishment for the infraction.  Prior to her arrest, she had posted footage of herself driving on YouTube and started a Facebook page calling for the protest.  The campaign, titled “Women2Drive,” calls for continued action “until a royal decree allowing women to drive is issued.”

But the possibility of obtaining that decree is unclear.  The issue is considered a religious one, with no written law in place.  Clerics claim the ban prevents vice by preventing public socialization between the sexes.  According to Dr. Mishal al-Ali, Director of the Saudi Arabian Shura Council’s Commission for Human Rights, no legal or religious impediment exists.  Wajeha al-Huwaider, a noted Saudi feminist who filmed Sharif’s video, agreed with Dr. al-Ali.  “Driving is a basic simple right,” she said.  “Denying it is hurting the image of the country.  Even if the ban has nothing to do with religion, it is also hurting the image of Islam.”

Because they cannot drive, women must instead hire drivers to take them where they need to go or rely on a male chaperone, which would make the clerics’ claim hypocritical.  Additionally, a driver costs approximately $600 per month plus expenses for their coming to and remaining in Saudi Arabia.  Such a price is as significant drain on monthly wages.

Despite this situation, the future seems bright for this small, but shocking protest.  Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud, a more liberal member of the royal family, supported the protest.  “Bravo to the women!  Why should women drive in the countryside and not in the cities?” Waleed Abu Alkhair’s wife was one of the women who drove in the protest.  He supported the cause, saying “We want women to keep fighting this fight and to be free.  It will help to liberate the entire society.”  The cause was also closely followed on Women2Drive’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The Twitter page was at one point trending at a rate of 100 tweets per minute.

But for now, the situation remains unchanged.  King Abdullah has promised reform, but he has been reluctant to act due to the political consequences he will likely face for doing so.

For more information, please see:

Al-Jazeera — Saudi women defy ban to take driver’s seat — 17 June 2011

Arab News — Saudi women drive home a point, again — 17 June 2011

The Guardian — Saudi Arabia women test driving ban — 17 June 2011

New York Times — In a scattered protest, Saudi women take the wheel — 17 June 2011

Dar Al Hayat — A renewed file and a partially opened door — 6 June 2011

Asharq Alawsat — Saudi Arabia: Arrest of female driver sparks debate — 24 May 2011

Impunity Watch Symposium Keynote Senator Romeo Dallaire (3/5)

Impunity Watch Symposium Keynote Senator Romeo Dallaire (3/5) from Impunity Watch on Vimeo.

On Friday April 8, 2011, the Impunity Watch Law Journal of Syracuse University College of Law hosted its annual symposium entitled, Humans as Commodities: Child Soldiers. The symposium addressed the use of child soldiers in armed conflict. It looked at the chilling realities facing child soldiers, the root causes of the phenomena, and explored the persistent human rights dilemma facing the international community.

In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to ensure that States do not use individuals under eighteen years of age in combat, and to explicitly forbid non-state and guerrilla forces from recruiting anyone under eighteen for any purpose. Other provisions of international law have banned the use of soldiers under age fifteen since the 1970s. In spite of these and other international efforts, there are an estimated 250,000-300,000 child soldiers across the globe, actively fighting in at least thirty countries. Almost half of all armed organizations in the world use child soldiers and almost all of those soldiers see combat.

President of Sudan to visit China later this month

By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch, Asia

BEIJING, China – China has invited Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir to visit the country June 27 through June 30. Following his election to presidential office in 1993, Omar al-Bashir and the Government of Sudan have committed genocide in Darfur which has resulted in over two million displaced persons, another 275,000 refugees and approximately 400,000 deaths.

Sudanese leader, Omar al-Bashir, is scheduled to visit China later this month (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian).
Sudanese leader, Omar al-Bashir, is scheduled to visit China later this month (Photo Courtesy of The Guardian).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Al-Bashir’s alleged contribution and orchestration of human rights violations in Darfur have led to two arrest warrants being issued against him in 2009 and 2010 by the International Criminal Court. Al-Bashir is facing a total of ten counts comprised of five counts of crimes against humanity, two counts of war crimes and three counts of genocide.

Al-Bashir is visiting China on the invitation of President Hu Jintao who is highly vested in Sudanese oil production. Two-thirds of the oil produced in Sudan goes to China making Sudan China’s third largest African trading partner and placing China in a position to encourage Sudan’s future success as a nation. Chinese spokesman, Hong Lei, stated that the meeting is intended to conduct talks in efforts to promote peace and stability in Sudan.

U.S. State Department spokesman Victoria Nuland commented on al-Bashir’s visit to China by stating that “China makes its own national decisions” but that they hope China will use the leaders visit as an opportunity to “make strong points to him about the future of his country and the importance of peace.”

Al-Bashir’s invitation to China comes a month before South Sudan is set to split from North Sudan and coincides with a report by the United Nations announcing that the violence on the border of north and south Sudan is currently increasing.

Just as Amnesty International had strongly opposed al-Bashir’s visit to Malaysia, which was subsequently cancelled by al-Bashir, the human rights organization also strongly opposes the leader’s visit to China.

Although China is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and therefore not required to arrest al-Bashir, it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC prosecutor resulting in a resolution encouraging all states to cooperate with the ICC.

Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International, Catherine Baber, has stated that China should not allow al-Bashir to visit the country or should arrest him upon entry because if “China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide.”

For more information, please see:

New York Times – Is Omar Hassan al-Bashir Up to Genocide Again? – 18 June 2011

Business week – China Invites Sudan Leader Accused of War Crimes – 17 June 2011

China Daily – Sudan Leader to Pay Visit – 17 June 2011

Amnesty international – China Must Arrest Sudanese President – 16 June 2011

Forbes – China Invites Sudan Leader Accused of War Crimes – 16 June 2011

International Criminal Court – Darfur, Sudan – 12 July 2010

Call for Ceasefire and Delivery of Humanitarian Aid in Sudan

By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

SOUTH KORDOFAN, Sudan – On Wednesday, June 15, 2011, President Barack Obama appealed to Sudan to enact a ceasefire after 64 people were killed in air strikes conducted by Sudanese government forces.  Thousands were displaced after an upsurge of fighting in the South Korforfan region.  Reports place the number of displaced around  60,000.

Clashes in Sudan began on June 5, 2011, after northern forces attempted to disarm members of the Nuba ethnic group.  During the Second Civil War that started in 1983, those belonging to this group fought for Southern Sudan.  On Monday, Peter Gadet, a former southern general turned military commander, led rebels on an attack that killed 29 people in the state of Warrap.  In previous weeks heavily armed cattle raiders engaged in battles in Lakes, killing at least 71 people.

In the past month, clashes occurred in Abyei and South Kordanfan, raising fears that north-south conflicts will reignite.  The civil war between the north and south, which endured for decades and killed approximately two million people, ended in 2005 with a peace agreement.   Under the agreement, residence of southern Sudan could vote on whether to secede from the Muslim and Arabic-speaking north.  In January, 99% of southern Sudanese voters favored independence.  The South will become independent on July 9, 2011.

With independence, the South will gain control of 75% of the daily oil production in Sudan.  Sudan currently produces 490,000 barrels of oil daily.  Companies from China, Malaysia, and India are the primary producers of Sudan’s oil.

The United Nations describes Tuesday’s violence as an “intensive bombing campaign.”  The UN also reported facing difficulties delivering aid to refugees because Sudanese authorities are blocking aid efforts.   UNHCR spokeswoman Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba stated “we need the cooperation and the support of the government to allow us safe passage wherever we need to go.”  Human Rights Watch also reports witnessing house-to-house searches and “widespread abuse” in Southern Kordofan by the Sudanese government.

Calling for a ceasefire, President Obama stated “There is no military solution.  The leaders of Sudan and South Sudan must live up to their responsibilities.”  He continued by stating that “The government of Sudan must prevent a further escalation of this crisis by ceasing its military actions immediately, including aerial bombardments, forced displacement and campaigns of intimidation” to prevent a return to civil war.

Southern Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin welcomed President Obama’s comments and noted that rather than force, the situation called for a well-planned disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Almost 100 killed in south Sudan clashes – 15 June 2011

BBC – Sudan: Barack Obama calls for ceasefire – 15 June 2011

Bloomberg – Sudanese Fighting Displaces 60,000 in Southern Kordofan State, UN Says – 15 June 2011

Reuters – UPDATE 1-Obama calls for ceasefire in Sudan – 15 June 2011