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Experts Committee on Preventing Mass Violence: A Necessary Good: US Leadership on Preventing Mass Atrocities
Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect: Atrocity Alert: Central African Republic, Iraq, Syria and Eritrea
Atrocity Alert is a weekly publication by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect highlighting and updating situations where populations are at risk of, or are enduring, mass atrocity crimes.
Central African Republic
On 28 October clashes between ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka militias near Bambari resulted in 15 people killed. The following day at least 10 people, including 6 gendarmes and 4 civilians, were also killed in an ambush outside Bambari. These attacks are part of a growing trend of violence that is threatening to destabilize the Central African Republic (CAR) and reignite widespread violence throughout the country. Despite the growing risk to vulnerable civilians, on 31 October France concluded Operation Sangaris, withdrawing 2,000 French troops that had supported the UN Mission in CAR throughout the conflict. The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, is currently on a two-day mission to CAR to meet with the new government, visit camps for internally displaced persons and receive updates on demobilization, disarmament and reintegration programs.
MINUSCA: The UN Deputy Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary General to CAR meet with President Touadera
Iraq
On 28 October the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced that as coalition forces advance on Mosul, there have been credible reports that the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is moving civilians to strategic locations to be used as human shields. Initial reports suggested nearly 8,000 families had been abducted from districts around Mosul, and at least 232 civilians were killed by ISIL on 26 October alone. OHCHR subsequently reported that ISIL had attempted to forcibly transfer another 25,000 civilians, but these efforts were largely unsuccessful. On 1 November Iraqi forces breached Mosul’s city limits – the first time government forces have entered the city in over 2 years. At least 17,748 people have been internally displaced since the start of the offensive on 17 October, and thousands more are expected to flee as the fighting intensifies. It is essential that all parties participating in the battle for Mosul take effective measures to ensure the protection of all civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Syria
Following two attacks on schools in Idlib governorate and western Aleppo last week that resulted in over 25 children killed, the UN Security Council issued a Press Statement on 28 October condemning the attacks and calling for impartial investigations. Meanwhile the Syrian opposition has launched another offensive to break the siege of eastern Aleppo. Both the UN Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, condemned the use of indiscriminate weapons by armed opposition groups. Some groups have indiscriminately attacked the suburbs of western Aleppo, damaging civilian infrastructure and resulting in the deaths of more than 30 civilians, including at least 10 children, since 29 October.
Eritrea
On 28 October the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea briefed the UN General Assembly and asserted that since 1991 populations have endured crimes against humanity perpetrated by the government. The Special Rapporteur was presenting the final report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Eritrea, which found that “the crimes of enslavement, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, torture, other inhumane acts, persecution, rape and murder have been committed as part of a widespread and systematic campaign against the civilian population.” Noting that the government lacks the political will and capacity to prosecute these crimes, the Commission strongly recommended that the UN Security Council refer the situation in Eritrea to the International Criminal Court.
UN Photo: UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea.
Syrian Network for Human Rights: 1106 Civilians Killed in October 2016
The report includes only the death toll of civilians that were killed by the main six influential parties in Syria:
– Government forces (Army, Security, local militias, Shiite foreign militias)
– Russian forces
– Self-management forces (consisting primarily of the Democratic Union Party forces, a branch for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party)
– Extremist Islamic groups
– Armed opposition factions
– International coalition forces
– Unidentified groups
Gay Pardon ‘Turing Bill’ Filibustered in Parliament
By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe
LONDON, England — A bill put forth in Parliament which would have currently and posthumously excused gay men convicted of same-sex offenses when homosexuality was illegal in the United Kingdom was prevented from progressing to a vote after a member filibustered the proposed bill. The bill, named the ‘Turing Bill’ after Alan Turing, was proposed by John Nicolson MP. The Turing Bill would have granted a blanket pardon for approximately 65,000 men – 15,000 of which are alive today.
Sam Gyimah, Justice Undersecretary of the Conservative party in the UK, spoke for 25 minutes, which took up the allotted time allowed for voting on the bill. Gyimah argued that the bill did not protect against men who engaged in sexual relations with a minor, or those who engaged in non-consensual sex.
The government countered Nicolson’s bill by proposing an amendment to the Policing and Crimes Bill, which would posthumously pardon those men who were wrongfully convicted, and allow those who are still alive go through a “disregard process” in order to clear their names. The government stated that it does not support the Turing Bill because they believe it might lead to people being cleared of offenses that are still considered crimes.
LGBTQ-rights organization Stonewall UK voiced their disappointment in the filibuster, however vowed to work with the government and Nicolson to build on the government’s proposed bill and “reach the best possible outcome for those wrongly accused and convicted men.” Iain Stewart, a conservative MP, stated that while he would support the government’s amendment, he believed it would not do enough for those affected.
One of the signatories to the bill was Turing’s great niece, Rachel Barnes. Barnes told reporters that her family has “always considered that it is totally unjust that only Alan was given a pardon. There were 50,000 other homosexuals who were convicted and not given a pardon. We would really like this to be put right now.”
Debate on the Turing Bill will start again in December, however many are skeptical as to how far the bill can progress without support from the government.
For more information, please see:
NBC — Comprehensive Gay Pardon Law Filibustered in UK — 22 October 2016
BBC — ‘Turing Bill’ for Gay Pardons Fails in Parliament — 21 October 2016
The Guardian — Conservative Minister Obstructs Progression of Gay Pardon Law — 21 October 2016
Newsy — Filibuster Kills the UK’s Gay Pardon Bill — 21 October 2016