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Thousands Protest Anti-Abortion Law in Poland
By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe
WARSAW, Poland — Approximately 24,000 Polish men and women gathered in Castle Square in Warsaw, Poland this past Monday to protest the proposed anti-abortion bill. The protest, which was called Black Monday, was not exclusive to the capital Warsaw. 90 other Polish cities saw protests as well, drawing approximately 160,000 protestors nationwide. Other European cities which hosted protests included Berlin, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Belfast, London and Paris.
Some small shops closed in downtown Warsaw, with signs in their windows indicating their observance of the protest. Other businesses which were usually staffed by women were staffed by men for the day. Well-known actor and theater owner Michal Zebrowski sold tickets in his box office in Warsaw on the day of the strike in order to allow his female employee to take part in the protest.
Protestors waved black flags to draw international attention to the proposed ban. They wore black clothing to represent their mourning for their reproductive rights and for the deaths they fear some women would face as a result of being denied the procedure. Some who were inspired by a 1975 women’s strike in Iceland skipped school and work, and are refusing to do domestic household chores.
One of the protestors, Anna Pietruszka-Drozdz, explained that “Women don’t have abortions because they are promiscuous and it’s convenient. They do it because they need to, and it’s often the most traumatic decision ever.” Another protestor, Agnieszka Krysztopolska, states that “… it’s not like I am some kind of hard-line feminist but I do not agree with somebody depriving me of the right to my own health or that of my children. I think this bill is just dangerous.”
The proposed bill poses a dilemma for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government in Poland. Poland remains one of Europe’s most Catholic nations, and PiS came into power based on a promise to the Polish people to increase conservative values. If PiS fails to back the proposed ban, the Catholic Church in Poland might react in the negative. Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski dismissed the protesters, saying “Let them have their fun.” Waszczykowski told a private radio station that “There is no such problem as a threat to women’s rights. If someone thinks that there are no greater concerns in Poland at the moment, let them be.”
For more information, please see:
BBC — Black Monday: Polish Women Strike Against Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016
CNN — Women March Against Poland’s Proposed Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016
The Huffington Post — Women go on Strike in Poland to Protest Anti-Abortion Law — 3 October 2016
LA Times — ‘Black Monday’ in Poland: Women Strike Over Proposed Total Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016
NY Times — Protesters in Poland Rally Against Proposal for Total Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016
Hundreds Starve in War Torn Libya
By Samantha Netzband
Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter
TRIPOLI, Libya– Hundreds of civilians are nearing starvation in a neighborhood of Benghazi, Libya. Civilians are trapped due to the military blockade on the city and the on going fighting in their neighborhood, Ganfouda. Residents are lacking food, water, and electricity.
Libyan children. (Photo Courtesy of Mirror)
According to Amnesty International, civilians are mainly living on rotten food and dirty water. These supplies along with supplies of expired medicine are running out making the situation for Ganfouda residents dire.
Entry roads to the neighborhood have been blocked by Libyan National Army forces, and as airstrikes move closer and closer many are unwilling to leave their homes. The Libyan National Army forces have been fighting off Islamic militants and in the process both sides have allegedly violated international humanitarian law.
Because of the danger of the conflict, getting humanitarian aid to the families is growing more difficult. Islamic militants have also threatened to kill anyone under 14 in the neighborhood, which has added to the atmosphere of fear. There are many young children and babies in Ganfouda who do not have proper access to the nutrients they need to grow. As many of the residents have been trapped for 2 years, one resident was forced to give birth to her daughter 10 months ago. The baby has never had access to clean water. Magdalena Mughrabi, deputy director of Amnesty Internationals’ Middle East and North Africa Program is right when she says “time is running out for civilians in Ganfouda, who are being left to die trapped by the fighting.” Amnesty International is leading the push for residents of Ganfouda to get the humanitarian assistance they need.
For more information, please see:
BBC Africa – Libya: More than 100 Families at Risk for Starvation in Benghazi – 30 September 2016
Daily Star – Hundreds trapped in Libya’s Benghazi amid fighting: Amnesty – 30 September 2016
Fox News – Amnesty: Hundreds Trapped in Libya’s Benghazi Among Fighting – 29 September 2016
Ukraine Proposes Ban on Certain Russian Books
By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe
KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine is considering a proposed bill which would ban any book that contains “anti-Ukrainian” content. The bill would see that all books imported into Ukraine from Russia are checked for such content. In addition, any books that do not recognize the Ukrainian state or people, as well as those that “call for the overthrow of power” in Ukraine would be banned as well.
According to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, the law proposes that the books will be assessed by a special council for “popularisation or propaganda of bodies of an aggressor state and their particular actions which create a positive image of the employees of the aggressor state, employees of Soviet state security bodies, justify or declare as legitimate occupation of Ukrainian territory.” Halya Coynash, a member of the human rights group, brings attention to the fact that the bill does not cover anti-Ukrainian books published in other countries.
In opposition to the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, characterizes the bill’s intent as “humanitarian security.” This past April, Kyrylenko initiated a movement to allow Ukrainian law enforcement to remove any books of Russian origin from Ukrainian bookstores.
Russian publishers do not expect the proposed ban to have an effect on their businesses should the bill be passed. According to Oleg Novikov, general director of Russian publisher Eksmo, imports of Russian books into Ukraine are already at “historical lows.”
On the other hand, the proposed ban is being criticized by Ukrainian writers. Some say that such a ban has the potential to transform Ukraine into a police state in which state authorities have control over the content seen by the population. Oleg Ladyzhensky, a Ukranian science-fiction writer, alleges that the Ukrainian book industry is already in crisis, and would only suffer a larger detriment by the introduction of book bans.
The ban of Russian books in Ukraine is not a foreign concept. In 2015, Ukraine banned 38 Russian-published books on the basis that they allegedly spoke to “hate ideology” and “separatism.”
A draft of the law was adopted earlier this month by Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers.
For more information, please see:
The Guardian — Ukraine Prepares to Ban ‘Anti-Ukrainian Russian Books — 28 September 2016
Channel NewsAsia — Ukraine Moves to Ban ‘Illegal’ Russian Books — 8 September 2016
BBC — Ukraine Bans 38 Russian ‘Hate’ Books Amid Culture War — 11 August 2015
Turkish President Recommends Extension of Country’s Three-Month State of Emergency
by Yesim Usluca
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday, September 28th that he is recommending the country’s three-month state of emergency be extended.
Under President Erdogan’s direction, the National Security Council convened for an approximately six-hour meeting on September 28th in Ankara. It recommended that the country’s state of emergency be extended beyond its initial three-month period for an additional period of at least ninety days.
The statement issued after the meeting indicated “it has been agreed to recommend an extension of the state of emergency in order to ensure the continuity of the effective implementation of the measures aiming at protecting our democracy, the rule of law and the rights and freedoms of our citizens.”
President Erdogan declared that the country’s fight with terrorism requires more time because it is so “deep” as to not be capable of resolution within three months. He further noted that the country is competing against time and “needs time to be cleared of these terror organizations’ extensions.”
The Turkish Constitution holds that a state of emergency can be declared for a maximum period of six months. To enact a state of emergency, the government must see serious indications of widespread violence that could interfere with Turkey’s democratic environment or its citizens’ basic rights and freedoms as established by the constitution.
The opposition Nationalist Movement Party expressed its support for an extension of the state of emergency. It declared that the fight against those behind the coup attempt was continuing at all levels and that this was “natural and right.” The Party’s leader, Mr. Devlet Bahceli, stated that the “deep cleaning” was continuing and that it would be “overly optimistic to expect it to end in short period.”
Turkish authorities also ordered the closure of at least twelve television states and eleven radio stations which were owned, operated or linked to Kurdish individuals or members of the Alevi religious minority. The stations were shuttered on charges of spreading “terrorist propaganda.”
The Turkish government had declared a three-month state of emergency on July 20th following the failed coup attempt, which led to the deaths of over 240 individuals and injured approximately 2,200. At the time, President Erdogan had announced that the three-month state of emergency would enable authorities to act quickly against those responsible for the coup.
The aftermath of the coup attempt and state of emergency has attracted international criticism from international and human rights organizations due to the dismissal of thousands of teachers and court officials, as well as the detention of thousands of police officers and chiefs, journalists and opposition leaders. U.S. State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau had urged “Turkey to abide by its constitutional commitment to fundamental principles such as freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, due process, judicial independence.” She further went on to declare “these are key parts of any healthy democracy and a key part of Turkey’s own constitution of any healthy democracy.” and a key part of Turkey’s own constitution.”
For more information, please see:
International Press Institute— Turkey shutters at least 20 more TV, radio stations—30 September 2016
NPR—Turkey’s President Recommends Extending State Of Emergency—29 September 2016
Anadolu Agency—Turkey’s security council recommends extending emergency—29 September 2016
Reuters—Turkey security council to recommend extending state of emergency—28 September 2016
Hurriyet Daily News—State of emergency to be extended by the government—01 October 2016