NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: “I will not stop asking until I know the whereabouts of my husband”

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Itai Dzamara is a journalist and pro-democracy activist who was forcibly disappeared ten years ago on 9 March 2015 after he criticized the Zimbabwean government about the deteriorating economic conditions in the country. He has not been seen or heard from since and his fate and whereabouts remain unknown. Ten years on, Itai’s wife, Sheffra, has shared her story with Amnesty International

    Everyone knew Itai Dzamara as a journalist and pro-democracy activist who was forcibly disappeared on 9 March 2015 after he criticised the Zimbabwean government.

    Itai was my husband and best friend. He was a great father to our two children Nokutenda and Nenyasha. He was always there for us making sure that we are happy.

    Itai was amazing. He loved to eat sadza (staple food made from white corn) and fish, and would cook it for us on Sundays after church. He used to play soccer on weekends, and he was a big fan of Manchester United. Itai would always wear his Man U jersey whenever they played matches.

    My husband was a kind man. He had people at heart, and that is what led him to write a petition to Zimbabwe’s then-president Robert Mugabe on 17 October 2014, demanding he step down. Following this petition, police arrested Itai and fellow activists and interrogated them for eight hours at Harare Central police station. Itai was fighting for every Zimbabwean regardless of political parties.

    The man who stood against former President Mugabe

    The Constitution of Zimbabwe and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which the country is a state party guarantee the right to peaceful assembly. When Itai started these peaceful protests, the Zimbabwe Republic Police would beat and arrest him and his colleagues.

    Their group, Occupy Africa Unity Square, would hold peaceful protests at a public park opposite Zimbabwe’s parliament building. At one protest in November 2014, police beat Itai until he collapsed. Then they kept on beating him while he was unconscious. He was admitted for treatment for his injuries for two weeks.

    9 March 2015, the day Itai was abducted, was a normal day.

    He went to the barbershop at 9am wearing black shorts and his Manchester United jersey. Looking back at that morning, there are so many things I wish I had said to him. As I was preparing his breakfast for when he returned, my brother came running in, and told me that my husband was taken from the barbershop, by men driving a white Isuzu with no registration number.  

    When I heard this, fear engulfed me. I knew that it was an abduction. It was bad, I started shaking and crying. I did not know what to do or who to call, but I wanted to hear the facts directly from the people who witnessed the abduction. I took my daughter and put her on my back – she was two years old then – and went straight to the barbershop. When I arrived, I was still shaking. Even the barber and his colleague were shaking too as they told me what happened.

    “They told me the whole thing was like a movie.”

    It was very fast. Five men walked in and said they were looking for a cattle thief. While Itai was perplexed, the men grabbed him and said they were taking him to the police to be questioned. Itai has not  been seen since then.

    I walked back from the barber like a zombie. I felt the whole world falling down on me. My head was spinning. I was not myself; I was confused and did not know what to do. I was shattered. I wanted to scream and cry but when I looked at my daughter and son, I knew I had to control myself.

    I got home and changed my clothes, not realizing that I was wearing my skirt inside out. That’s how confused I was. I left my kids with my sister, and went with Itai’s brother Patson, and our lawyer to report the case to the police, who promised to investigate.

    When I returned home around 6pm, I was afraid to go through the gate thinking maybe the abductors would come back and abduct  us as well.  I had to be strong for my kids. I did not sleep that night. My heart was pounding so hard. At 4am, I left the house and went to the barbershop hoping, praying that maybe, they would have brought him back, but he was not there.

    The next day, my kids and I were taken to an organization where we stayed for a month for our safety. I lost weight from fasting and praying for my husband to be released from his abductors. I could not eat or sleep. My heart was always beating fast. I would cry at night so that my kids didn’t t see me.

    10 years later and everyone is still asking ‘where is Itai?’

    Life has not been the same since Itai was abducted. The last 10 years have been hard. I am reminded of him every time I look at my kids because both look like their dad. It hurts not to have Itai in my life and to see my kids missing him and growing up without a father who loved them so dearly. I don’t have any answers, but I feel blessed to have my two kids. When I look at them l feel God’s grace.

    The police never came back to give any update. As far as I know, they never even investigated the case. They were not interested in finding Itai. Even the Zimbabwe High Court order could not get the police find my husband or tell us what happened to him.

    As a family we did everything to get answers. For the past 10 years the government of Zimbabwe has ignored my requests and turned a blind eye to the demand for answers by everyone including friends, activists, civil society organizations, media and the international community.

    I will not stop asking until I know the fate and whereabouts of my husband.

    I wish for Itai to one day walk through the front door and hug me and the kids or to wake up to find that this was all a bad dream. If I must live without him, then I need answers, I need to know where he is.

    Amnesty International has made multiple recommendations to the government of Zimbabwe to uphold human rights and enable a safe environment for human rights defenders, activists and civil society to do their work without fear of reprisals. In the past decade, Amnesty International has campaigned and called for an independent  commission of inquiry to thoroughly, impartially, transparently and effectively  investigate the alleged enforced disappearance of Itai Dzamara, establish his fate or whereabouts and bring to justice those suspected of criminal responsibility in fair trials.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Türkiye: Acquittal of Saturday Mothers protesters brings seven year ordeal to an end

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the acquittal of 45 members of the Saturday Mothers, prosecuted after their 700th peaceful vigil for their forcibly disappeared loved ones was banned and violently dispersed in August 2018, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake said:

    “Almost seven years after the Saturday Mothers’ 700th peaceful vigil was violently broken up by riot police, 45 people standing trial for participating in the vigil have finally been acquitted and their ordeal ended. A prosecution that should have never seen the light of day, dragged on for years.

    For more than one thousand Saturdays, the Saturday Mothers have become a powerful symbol of the importance of peaceful protest

    “The authorities must draw the necessary conclusion from this long-awaited outcome: Saturday Mothers/People have the right to meet on Galatasaray Square every Saturday to demand justice for their disappeared loved ones. We call on the Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya to ensure that all ongoing restrictions on the Square are lifted immediately and permanently.

    “For more than one thousand Saturdays since 1995, the Saturday Mothers and their supporters have become a powerful symbol of the importance of peaceful protest. We must defend this right even in the face of crackdown, violence, detention and prosecutions.”

    Background 

    Members of the Saturday Mothers/People are relatives of victims of enforced disappearances during the 1980s and 1990s who have been holding a peaceful vigil every Saturday at the same spot since May 1995. The 700th vigil, on 25 August 2018, was subject to a ban by the Beyoğlu district governor on the spurious grounds that the authorities had not been notified 48 hours prior to the vigil.  

    Police broke up the vigil using tear gas and water cannons and detained 46 people who were later released but indicted two years later in 2020 on the charge of “attending illegal meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing despite warning.” The first hearing in the trial, initially of 46 people, took place in March 2021. In 2024, one of the 46 defendants was separated from the case because of their absence from the trial proceedings.  If found guilty, the 45 defendants could each have faced up to three years in prison. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Türkiye: acquittal of Saturday Mothers protesters brings end to an ordeal that has lasted almost seven years

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The 45 protesters were prosecuted after their 700th peaceful vigil for their forcibly disappeared loved ones was banned and violently dispersed in 2018

    This was a “prosecution that should have never seen the light of day, dragged on for years”- Dinushika Dissanayake

    Reacting to the acquittal of 45 members of the Saturday Mothers, prosecuted after their 700th peaceful vigil for their forcibly disappeared loved ones was banned and violently dispersed in August 2018, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Europe, Dinushika Dissanayake said:

    “Almost seven years after the Saturday Mothers’ 700th peaceful vigil was violently broken up by riot police, 45 people standing trial for participating in the vigil have finally been acquitted and their ordeal ended. A prosecution that should have never seen the light of day, dragged on for years.

    “The authorities must draw the necessary conclusion from this long-awaited outcome: Saturday Mothers/People have the right to meet on Galatasaray Square every Saturday to demand justice for their disappeared loved ones. We call on the Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya to ensure that all ongoing restrictions on the Square are lifted immediately and permanently.

    “For more than one thousand Saturdays since 1995, the Saturday Mothers and their supporters have become a powerful symbol of the importance of peaceful protest. We must defend this right even in the face of crackdown, violence, detention and prosecutions.”

    Saturday Mothers

    Members of the Saturday Mothers/People are relatives of victims of enforced disappearances during the 1980s and 1990s who have been holding a peaceful vigil every Saturday at the same spot since May 1995. The 700th vigil, on 25 August 2018, was subject to a ban by the Beyoğlu district governor on the spurious grounds that the authorities had not been notified 48 hours prior to the vigil.  

    Police broke up the vigil using tear gas and water cannons and detained 46 people who were later released but indicted two years later in 2020 on the charge of “attending illegal meetings and marches without weapons and not dispersing despite warning.” The first hearing in the trial, initially of 46 people, took place in March 2021. In 2024, one of the 46 defendants was separated from the case because of their absence from the trial proceedings.  

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    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: UN report clearly exposes ‘devastating impact’ of Israel’s gender-based violence against Palestinian women and girls

    Source: Amnesty International –

    ‘The report exposes yet again the horrors of Israeli atrocity crimes in Gaza, and how they specifically impact women’ – Lauren Aarons

    Responding to a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel published today, which concluded Israel has systematically used sexual, reproductive and other gender-based violence against Palestinians since October 2023 and carried out “genocidal acts” against Palestinians in Gaza by destroying women’s healthcare and reproductive health facilities and blocking access to reproductive healthcare, Lauren Aarons, Amnesty International’s Senior Adviser on Gender, Conflict and International Justice, said:

    “These damning findings are another clear illustration of the devastating impact of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its use of gender-based violence to oppress Palestinian women and girls across the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to use sexual violence to perpetuate oppression on Palestinians of all genders, especially in Israeli detention centres.

    “The report exposes yet again the horrors of Israeli atrocity crimes in Gaza, and how they specifically impact women.

     “Palestinian women in Gaza have been subjected to a range of gendered forms of bodily and mental harm, including reproductive and other gender-based violence.

     “Even after the first phase of the ceasefire came into force, horrific conditions of life inflicted by Israel during the offensive have continued to disproportionately affect women and girls. This includes damage and destruction of homes, medical facilities including maternity wards, maternal care clinics and other life-sustaining infrastructure as well as to shelters protecting women and girls from gender-based violence.

     “Israel’s decision to completely block entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza for the past 12 days has already exacerbated the catastrophic conditions facing women and girls.

    “Even prior to the imposition of these measures as a clear form of collective punishment, Israel had banned the entry of mobile homes and heavy machinery to remove the rubble. This means that hundreds of thousands of women and girls continue to live in dire conditions in tents or crowded schools, exposed to violence and with scarce access to clean water contributing to a hygiene crisis.

    “Palestinians released from Israeli detention centres have also told Amnesty that they were subjected to torture and sexual violence while in detention.

    “The publication of the report must prompt the international community to take urgent action to protect the rights of Palestinian women and address gendered crimes being committed against women and men.

     “In addition to a long-lasting ceasefire, urgent measures are needed to repair hospitals, clinics and sanitation facilities. Israel must lift its genocidal siege on the occupied Gaza Strip and restore the electricity supply. It must also repeal its ban on UNRWA, whose work is vital to addressing the humanitarian catastrophe including the needs of women and girls.”

    In a December 2024 report, Amnesty concluded that Israeli authorities committed and are committing genocide in Gaza. Acts included the killing and seriously injuring tens of thousands of women and girls and deliberately subjecting them to conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza, in whole or in part. The organisation has also documented violations of international law by Hamas and other armed groups including launching indiscriminate rocket attacks into Israel as well as deliberate killings of civilians and hostage-taking since 7 October 2023.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Unlawful detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages, including high-ranking political representatives from Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijan – P10_TA(2025)0038 – Thursday, 13 March 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on Armenia and Azerbaijan,

    –  having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas 23 Armenian hostages are being detained in Azerbaijan, including former de facto Nagorno-Karabakh officials and prisoners of war from the 2020 war and the ethnic cleansing that followed; whereas they are undergoing sham trials and facing serious charges that could result in illegal life imprisonment sentences;

    B.  whereas these hostages are being subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment, including through banned psychoactive methods; whereas their rights are not respected, including access to independent attorneys and interpreters and the possibility to appeal, receive family visits and be granted suspensions on health grounds; whereas this constitutes a systematic violation by Azerbaijan of international obligations regarding the treatment of prisoners;

    1.  Condemns the unjust detention of the Armenian hostages; demands their immediate and unconditional release;

    2.  Strongly denounces the ongoing sham trials and systematic violations of the fundamental rights of Armenian hostages, and calls on Azerbaijan to fully respect their right to a fair trial and to have access to medical doctors in compliance with international standards; expects an independent investigation into their ill-treatment;

    3.  Expresses deep concern at the order by the authorities in Baku to close the offices of the ICRC and UN agencies, hindering both support for the Armenian prisoners and humanitarian oversight, and calls on the authorities to review their position;

    4.  Calls for the EU and Member States’ embassies in Azerbaijan to observe the trials and regularly visit all Armenian hostages; calls on the VP/HR and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights to visit them;

    5.  Calls for sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against all Azerbaijani leaders and officials committing human rights violations, in particular prosecutors and judges Jamal Ramazanov, Anar Rzayev and Zeynal Agayev;

    6.  Calls on the International Criminal Court to investigate cases of the forced displacement, persecution and ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh; calls for the full implementation of all orders issued by the International Court of Justice, including Azerbaijan’s obligation to protect from violence and bodily harm all persons captured in relation to the 2020 war;

    7.  Reiterates its strong call to suspend the 2022 EU-Azerbaijan memorandum of understanding on a strategic partnership in the field of energy; insists that any future partnership agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan be conditional on the release of all political prisoners, the improvement of the human rights situation in the country and on Azerbaijan not unduly delaying the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia and its respecting the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians, including the right to return;

    8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the Member States and the Presidents, Governments and parliaments of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Democracy and human rights in Thailand, notably the lese-majesty law and the deportation of Uyghur refugees – P10_TA(2025)0036 – Thursday, 13 March 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas on 27 February 2025, the Thai authorities violated international law by deporting at least 40 Uyghur refugees to China, where they risk arbitrary detention, torture and serious human rights violations; whereas other safe countries had offered to resettle the Uyghur refugees;

    B.  whereas prior to their deportation, these individuals were detained in Thai immigration centres for over a decade, where at least five Uyghurs, including minors, reportedly died due to inhumane conditions;

    C.  whereas Thailand’s lese-majesty provisions, under Article 112 of its Criminal Code, are among the strictest in the world and are not in line with Thailand’s obligations under the ICCPR;

    D.  whereas, since 2020, over 1 960 pro-democracy activists, human rights defenders and journalists, including over 280 minors, have been indicted or condemned for their opinions under repressive laws that curb freedom of expression, including the lese-majesty law, the Sedition Act, the Public Assembly Act and the Computer Crimes Act; whereas prominent activists, including Arnon Nampa, Mongkhon Thirakhot and Anchan Preelert, were sentenced to disproportionately long prison terms for peacefully criticising the monarchy, with some facing up to 50 years’ imprisonment;

    E.  whereas the Constitutional Court has dissolved the largest party and 44 of its MPs have been indicted for proposing amendments to the lese-majesty law, facing potential lifetime bans from politics; whereas several MPs, including Piyarat Chongthep, Rakchanok Srinok and Chonthicha Jangrew, are being prosecuted for their political activities and statements;

    1.  Condemns the deportation of Uyghur refugees to China; calls on the Thai authorities to immediately halt any further forced returns of refugees, asylum seekers and political dissidents to countries where their lives are at risk;

    2.  Urges the Thai Government to grant the UNHCR unrestricted access to all detained Uyghur asylum seekers and provide transparent information on their status;

    3.  Calls on China to respect the fundamental rights of the deported Uyghurs, ensure transparency about their whereabouts, grant the UNHCR access to them and release those detained;

    4.  Calls on Thailand to ratify the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol thereto and to implement a transparent, fair and humane asylum system;

    5.  Stresses that Thailand is an important EU partner; encourages Thailand to strengthen its institutions in line with democratic principles and international human rights standards; calls on the government to amend or repeal Article 112 and other repressive laws to guarantee the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and political participation;

    6.  Demands that amnesty be granted to all MPs and activists prosecuted or imprisoned under lese-majesty provisions and other repressive laws;

    7.  Calls on the Commission to leverage FTA negotiations to press Thailand to reform repressive laws, particularly the lese-majesty law, release political prisoners, halt the deportation of Uyghur refugees and ratify all core ILO conventions; calls on the Member States to suspend extradition treaties with the PRC;

    8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the Thai and Chinese authorities.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Text adopted – Social and employment aspects of restructuring processes: the need to protect jobs and workers’ rights – P10_TA(2025)0039 – Thursday, 13 March 2025 – Strasbourg

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 151 and 153 thereof,

    –  having regard to the European Pillar of Social Rights,

    –  having regard to its resolution of 5 October 2016 on the need for a European reindustrialisation policy in light of the recent Caterpillar and Alstom cases(1),

    –  having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2013 with recommendations to the Commission on information and consultation of workers, anticipation and management of restructuring(2),

    –  having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2021 on democracy at work: a European framework for employees’ participation rights and the revision of the European Works Council Directive(3),

    –  having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments(4),

    –  having regard to its resolution of 2 February 2023 with recommendations to the Commission on Revision of European Works Councils Directive(5),

    –  having regard to the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) 2015 guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all,

    –  having regard to the La Hulpe Declaration on the future of the European Pillar of Social Rights of 16 April 2024,

    –  having regard to the Tripartite Declaration for a Thriving European Social Dialogue of January 2024(6),

    –  having regard to the Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality(7),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640),

    –  having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the Just Transition Fund(8),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 1 July 2020 entitled ‘European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience’ (COM(2020)0274),

    –  having regard to the opinion of the European Committee of the Regions of 25 May 2023 on zero long-term unemployment: the local and regional perspective(9),

    –  having regard to the Commission communication of 1 February 2023 entitled ‘A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age’ (COM(2023)0062),

    –  having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    –  having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs,

    A.  whereas the transition to a green, digital and competitive European economy is necessary to maintain the European social model, but can itself only be achieved if people are sufficiently protected from the potential adverse social consequences of major economic changes; whereas protecting the environment and climate is imperative for long-term prosperity and well-being;

    B.  whereas social dialogue, collective bargaining and strong trade union involvement are essential for ensuring workers’ information and consultation rights during restructuring processes; whereas workers’ involvement through information-sharing, consultation and participation in company decision-making processes is more important than ever to ensure a fair and just transition, competitiveness, and the economic growth of companies and to protect jobs and workers’ collective interests, such as decent working conditions, fair wages and equal treatment; whereas the just transition is about supporting social justice and upward social convergence and ensuring fair burden-sharing, while safeguarding a sustainable, resource-efficient and competitive economy, reaching climate neutrality and fighting climate change;

    C.  whereas restructuring processes can lead to both job losses and job gains and can include and take different forms, such as internal restructuring, business expansion, closure, bankruptcy, merger/acquisition, offshoring/delocalisation, outsourcing, relocation and reshoring; whereas Council Directives 98/59/EC(10), 2001/23/EC(11) and 2002/14/EC(12) lay down the information and consultation rights of workers in the event of the restructuring of enterprises;

    D.  whereas only 40 % of European trade unions report having sufficient resources to represent workers effectively during restructuring processes(13); whereas trade union representatives trained in restructuring negotiations are 50 % more effective in preserving jobs(14); whereas, according to Eurofound, a lack of resources and skills, as well as time, have been identified as a key obstacle for social partner engagement in shaping the just transition, particularly at the local and regional levels; whereas the capacity of European Works Councils to influence restructuring processes is found to be limited and needs to be further strengthened;

    E.  whereas it is essential to ensure job creation and decent working conditions, supporting the transition to a sustainable and profitable economy, long-term economic viability and environmental sustainability; whereas the transformation of our industrial base provides an opportunity to strengthen European autonomy, reverse deindustrialisation, create secure and stable jobs and help us meet climate and environmental targets, while protecting workers’ rights and people at the heart of a social Europe; whereas retraining funding for workers made redundant as a result of large-scale restructuring has been provided through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, benefitting thousands of European workers;

    F.  whereas companies that are restructuring should prioritise long-term objectives, such as economic sustainability and long-term employment stability, in combination with other objectives such as economic profits, while strengthening trade union involvement and corporate social responsibility in their restructuring plans; whereas small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular should be supported in this;

    G.  whereas shortages of skilled workers, including vocationally trained experts, in key sectors are a significant obstacle to the competitiveness of the EU economy and its ability to accomplish the green and digital transitions;

    H.  whereas the manufacturing industry, including the automotive, steel and microchips and semiconductors sectors, is one of the vital economic pillars in Europe; whereas these sectors provide millions of direct and indirect jobs;

    I.  whereas it is important to move towards the decarbonisation of road transport, which must be achieved in such a way as to limit job losses in the car industry, and to include all stakeholders and social partners in the transformation process; whereas affected workers should be supported by providing upskilling, reskilling and training opportunities and relevant safety nets in the event of temporary unemployment;

    1.  Underlines the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and, in particular, principle 5 on secure and adaptable employment, including the right to fair and equal treatment regarding working conditions, principle 7 on information about employment conditions and protection in case of dismissals and principle 8 on social dialogue and involvement of workers; stresses the urgent need for an ambitious competitive European industrial policy with significant investment that will support the services of general interest(15) and innovation, while reducing the administrative burden in Member States, and deliver quality jobs in every region and sector, strengthen social progress and meet climate targets; underlines that this policy should be combined with resilient and strong national public services, such as access to social protection, decent and affordable housing, affordable, efficient and climate neutral transport, affordable and available childcare, elderly care, and support for people with disabilities;

    2.  Recognises that the EU needs to reform its economy in order to maintain its competitiveness and achieve the green and digital transitions, including through a European industrial policy; welcomes the establishment of a European Competitiveness Fund, as envisaged by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen; reiterates its call for the economic governance framework to be strengthened by a common investment instrument(16) at EU level in order to achieve the EU’s current and future priorities, including the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights; believes that such an instrument should ensure that the necessary resources are available in all relevant sectors for developing an industrial policy and for policies that support the protection and creation of quality jobs and that contribute to upward social convergence; reiterates its previous call on the Commission and the Council to reinforce the European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an emergency instrument (SURE) to support short-time work schemes, workers’ income and workers who would be temporarily laid off in the context of the green transition, while taking into account the outcome of the final evaluation report and considering that SURE saved 40 million jobs(17);

    3.  Highlights that the delivery of a European industrial policy for quality jobs requires the full involvement of social partners and needs to be implemented through social dialogue and collective bargaining; calls on the Commission to present an ambitious quality jobs roadmap and to implement the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights; calls on the Commission to ensure the full involvement and consultation of social partners in the design and implementation of the upcoming European clean industrial deal and to include the overall objective of ensuring job quality and stability at EU level;

    4.  Calls for the EU to adopt trade policies that promote and protect quality jobs; stresses that future trade agreements must include labour clauses in line with ILO standards to ensure that global trade protects workers and SMEs;

    5.  Urges the Commission in the context of the forthcoming revision of the European Public Procurement Directive(18) to further promote collective bargaining and the use of the social clause, and preferential treatment for companies whose workers are covered by collective agreements; underlines that contracting authorities must exclude from public tenders economic operators that have engaged in criminal activities; maintains that public procurement should strategically strengthen corporate social responsibility; highlights the importance of ensuring that European and national funds are used to facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral economy, including by promoting social dialogue and collective bargaining; considers, furthermore, that no EU financial support should go to undertakings that do not comply with the applicable working and employment conditions and/or employer obligations resulting from EU or national labour law or the relevant collective agreements; believes that this support should also be used to promote European industrial competiveness and the creation of quality jobs in the EU and promote collective bargaining and compliance with EU and national labour rights and laws, including decent working conditions; calls for EU funding and State aid by Member States to be aligned with a European industrial policy, in order to offer high-quality jobs, promote collective bargaining, respect of EU labour rights and standards, improve the competitiveness of European businesses and ensure improved working conditions;

    6.  Calls for European investments in vital sectors and essential products to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy, as well as the digital and green transitions, such as zero-emission transport, renewable energy, clean tech and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence; insists that these investments must fully respect existing legislation on workers’ rights and strengthen community development;

    7.  Invites the Commission to monitor the trends in restructuring and their impact on employment, using data from tools such as the European Restructuring Monitor and the EU Fair Transition Observatory, which should be launched in 2025, to track the number of jobs created or lost and the companies concerned;

    8.  Acknowledges that achieving digital and green objectives will create opportunities and might at the same time require transformations or restructuring processes in many sectors; stresses that social dialogue in the anticipation and management of these processes is essential to safeguard and create quality jobs and manage unavoidable job losses with enough support and can contribute to achieving a climate-neutral economy that sustains its social, economic and environmental standards; highlights that restructuring processes must respect fundamental workers’ rights, such as the right of information and consultation; calls on the Commission and the Member States to take action to reinforce and promote collective bargaining, in full respect of the autonomy of the social partners and of the right of collective bargaining; emphasises that workers should be beneficiaries of restructuring, including when they transfer to a new equivalent job within their current firm or sector, or as they reskill to transfer to a job in a future-proof sector, all while being adequately assisted and compensated;

    9.  Emphasises that developments leading to restructuring processes should be anticipated by management, and plans for changes should start as early as possible to prevent insolvency and job losses, while involving workers’ representatives and trade unions at an early stage to ensure meaningful social dialogue, including in the case of preventive restructuring frameworks as provided for in Directive (EU) 2019/1023(19); calls on the Commission and the Member States to work in close cooperation with social partners to identify risks early and develop comprehensive plans to address employment and economic stability needs; supports, in that regard, investment in the training and capacity building of trade unions and workers’ representatives engaged in restructuring processes;

    10.  Stresses that restructuring processes also have an impact on the supply chain and can pose a considerable risk to indirect employment across the EU; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support companies, including SMEs, undergoing restructuring processes in order to integrate into their plans the impacts on other European companies in their supply chain; further calls on the Commission and the Member States to support companies indirectly impacted by these restructuring processes to mitigate the consequences on employment;

    11.   Stresses that the EU must address shortages of skilled workers in strategic sectors in order to enhance its competitiveness; points out that addressing skills shortages and supporting workers who need to transition to a new job following a restructuring process are complementary objectives; emphasises the fact that sufficient access to reskilling and upskilling is a precondition for a successful transition to a new job in another sector; urges the Commission to take account of this in its proposals for a clean industrial deal and the Union of skills, including by expanding the role of Centres of Vocational Excellence; calls on the Commission to improve the recognition of skills across Member States and to ensure that its programmes better address the needs of vocationally trained experts;

    12.  Underlines that restructuring processes must not be used as a pretext to violate workers’ information and consultation rights, as well as the right of collective bargaining and trade union rights(20); deplores the violation of the fundamental rights of collective bargaining and of information and consultation before a decision is made; believes trade unions should be equipped with sufficient resources and capacity to assess a company’s decision to restructure and to engage the support of an independent expert; calls on the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to put in place further safeguards to ensure collective bargaining and to prevent the misuse of restructuring processes as a means to forego employers’ obligations; underlines that penalties should be imposed in instances of infringements and non-compliance;

    13.  Is alarmed that European company law provisions, as well as their interpretation in some legal cases, are creating loopholes and are enabling the circumvention of mandatory national board-level participation rules(21);

    14.  Emphasises that one of the most effective ways to prevent the need for restructuring is through the proactive anticipation and management of change through collective bargaining and information and consultation; urges the Member States to ensure quality upskilling or reskilling, life-long learning, employee training and career development support; points out that upskilling and reskilling should be prioritised as far as possible before job cuts are considered;

    15.  Underlines that gender equality should be an integral part of transition strategies and should be mainstreamed across related policy and legislative measures to strengthen the fairness of our societies; believes it is essential to ensure equal treatment and equal access to economic opportunities for women, paying attention to the most vulnerable, such as women with disabilities, single mothers, women belonging to minorities and migrant women;

    16.  Considers that an industrial plan agreed with the social partners is essential to promote the economic viability of European industrial companies and, in the worst case, prevent closures and forced redundancies; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support companies, in particular SMEs, to prevent forced redundancies; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put in place mechanisms that help to avoid forced redundancies, such as temporary support programmes to protect employment during transitions, avoiding the loss of strategic industrial capacity and skilled workforces; calls on European enterprises and employers in the process of restructuring to devise and implement plans at an early stage in order to avoid job losses and maintain decent working conditions and high social standards, to the extent that this is possible; demands stronger protections against unfair dismissals and demands the necessary support for workers affected by restructuring to give them access to retraining opportunities and support, such as income support, including while searching for new employment; reaffirms that the dignity and rights of workers as well as the economic and financial sustainability of the company are important objectives to consider in the context of restructuring processes;

    17.  Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that it will propose a clean industrial deal that, in addition to speeding up decarbonisation, maintains and creates quality jobs in the green and digital sectors in the EU; emphasises that the clean industrial deal should focus on strategic industries, avoiding the delocalisation of production and loss of jobs, while strengthening the European social model and social justice;

    18.  Calls on the Commission, in close collaboration with the social partners, to consider the establishment of a framework directive to address the challenges and complexities associated with employers’ obligations in subcontracting chains and labour intermediaries in Europe to ensure decent working conditions and the respect of worker’s rights; calls for the framework directive to include measures regulating the role of labour intermediaries, other than temporary work agencies, and to introduce an EU general legal framework limiting subcontracting and ensuring joint and several liability through the subcontracting chain, in order to end abusive subcontracting and protect workers’ rights and their claims over issues such as wage arrears, the non-payment of social contributions, bankruptcy, disappearances and ‘letterbox subcontractors’ who do not pay as agreed; calls for this directive to include provisions ensuring the respect of information and consultation rights and the right to collective bargaining, including for subcontracted workers;

    19.  Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support the social partners in their efforts to include issues related to the green transition in collective bargaining at the appropriate levels; highlights that collective agreements can cover the impact of an undertaking’s activities on the environment, the protection of workers from the effects of climate change and the impact of the green transition on working conditions; calls on the EU and the Member States to further support actions and initiatives that will incentivise employers and workers to adapt to the green transition and to make collective bargaining a key tool for ensuring balanced production models that protect the environment and create quality jobs;

    20.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

    (1) OJ C 215, 19.6.2018, p. 21.
    (2) OJ C 440, 30.12.2015, p. 23.
    (3) OJ C 251, 30.6.2022, p. 104.
    (4) OJ C, C/2024/4224, 24.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4224/oj.
    (5) OJ C 267, 28.7.2023, p. 2.
    (6) European Commission, Val Duchesse Social Partner Summit, https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1632&langId=en.
    (7) OJ C 243, 27.6.2022, p. 35.
    (8) OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1056/oj.
    (9) OJ C 257, 21.7.2023, p. 18.
    (10) Council Directive 98/59/EC of 20 July 1998 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to collective redundancies, OJ L 225, 12.8.1998, p. 16, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1998/59/oj.
    (11) Council Directive 2001/23/EC of 12 March 2001 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the safeguarding of employees’ rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of undertakings or businesses, OJ L 82, 22.3.2001, p. 16, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2001/23/oj.
    (12) Directive 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2002 establishing a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the European Community, OJ L 80, 23.3.2002, p. 29, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/14/oj.
    (13) European Trade Union Institute for Research, 2021.
    (14) International Labour Organization, 2022.
    (15) Services of general interest comprise three different categories: economic (basic services that are carried out in return for payment, such as postal services), non-economic (such as the police, justice systems and statutory social security schemes) and social (responding to the needs of vulnerable citizens, based on the principles of solidarity and equal access, such as social security schemes, education, healthcare, employment services and social housing. Commission communication of 20 December 2011 entitled ‘A Quality Framework for Services of General Interest in Europe’ (COM(2011)0900).
    (16) European Parliament position of 23 April 2024 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the effective coordination of economic policies and multilateral budgetary surveillance and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97, (Texts adopted, P9_TA(2024)0311).
    (17) Commission report of 2 June 2023 on the European instrument for Temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak pursuant to Article 14 of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 – SURE after its sunset: final bi-annual report (COM(2023)0291).
    (18) Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EC, OJ L 94, 28.3.2014, p. 65, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2014/24/oj.
    (19) Directive (EU) 2019/1023 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on preventive restructuring frameworks, on discharge of debt and disqualifications, and on measures to increase the efficiency of procedures concerning restructuring, insolvency and discharge of debt, and amending Directive (EU) 2017/1132, OJ L 172, 26.6.2019, p. 18, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1023/oj.
    (20) Study – ‘Study on monitoring the application of the EU Quality Framework for anticipation of change and restructuring’, European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Publications Office of the European Union, 2018, https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/1c22896d-4e10-11ea-aece-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.
    (21) ‘European Court of Justice jurisprudence on the transfer of de facto company head offices’, https://worker-participation.eu/european-court-justice-jurisprudence-transfer-de-facto-company-head-offices.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Commend Palau on Project for Accessible Homes, Raise Questions on Accessible Public Transport and Persons with Disabilities in Emergency Situations

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded its review of the initial report of Palau, with Committee Experts commending the State on a project focused on making homes for the elderly more accessible, while raising questions on the accessibility of public transport, and how persons with disabilities were included in the response to emergency situations.

    A Committee Expert welcomed the financial measures and information provided on the project which aimed to make homes for the elderly accessible in Palau. 

    Another Committee Expert congratulated Palau for its commitment to the area of accessibility and desire to create a more inclusive society.  However, concerns persisted, including the lack of accessible public transport. What measures had been taken to ensure free access to information for different types of disability?  An Expert asked what steps were being taken to facilitate the transportation and movement of persons with disabilities?  Another Expert asked if accessibility requirements were included throughout the purchase of public infrastructure? 

    Gerel Dondovdorj, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, asked if the State party had reviewed national legislation related to the situation of risk and humanitarian emergency, including the national disaster risk framework, to include the safety and protection of persons with disabilities?  Could information on mechanisms of early warning for persons with disabilities be provided?  Did the State party have existing mechanisms to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in the planning, designing and implementation of activities relating to emergency situations? 

    The delegation said unfortunately, public transport in general was underdeveloped in Palau, and had only begun around two years ago, with a small number of buses with a limited route. Unfortunately, the buses being used were currently not accessible to persons with disabilities, and it was up to the families to take care of the transport of their family members and children with special needs.  The State had purchased vehicles, including a van that was disability equipped, which currently was only available by request.  The question was whether all public transport needed to be accessible, or due to numbers should it just be a specific programme with enough equipment catered to the needs of the population? 

    The delegation said at this time, the Government had not currently conducted a review of the national disaster risk framework legislation.  However, there were regular reviews, post-disaster, to determine gaps in emergency preparedness and disaster reduction.  Palau had the National Emergency Management Office, governed by the National Emergency Committee, comprised of all government agencies and civil society, including the Palau Red Cross.  All emergency preparedness and disaster response were coordinated through the Committee. 

    Being a small community, Palau could identify people individually and had a database on people’s specific needs. This knowledge was incorporated into exercises and drills.  Community health workers assisted during disasters to ensure everyone had equal access to shelters. 

    Introducing the report, Jeffrey Antol, Director, Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of State of Palau and head of the delegation, said while Palau faced unique challenges, from geographical and resource limitations to the increasing impact of climate change, these only reinforced the determination to advance the rights of persons with disabilities and build a more inclusive society.  One of Palau’s most significant milestones was the enactment of RPPL 11-36 in September 2024, a landmark piece of legislation that established a Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities and an Office of Persons with Disabilities. 

    In closing remarks, Mr. Antol extended appreciation to the Committee and all those who had contributed to the dialogue. Palau firmly believed that inclusion was not merely a policy goal, but a fundamental human right.  The enactment of the persons with disabilities act and the development of the national disability inclusive policy marked significant milestones in the journey towards full alignment with the Convention. 

    Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, thanked the members of the delegation of Palau for their presence and the open dialogue with the Committee. The State was commended for its commitment in working towards the implementation of the Convention.  From the goodwill expressed by the delegation, it was expected that the State would proactively ensure the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.   

    The delegation of Palau was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of State; the Ministry of Health and Human Services; the Office of the President; and the Permanent Mission of Palau to the United Nations Office at Geneva. 

    Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-second session and other documents related to the session can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10. a.m. on Thursday, 20 March, to hold a day of general discussion on article 29 of the Convention on participation in political and public life. 

    Report

    The Committee has before it the initial report of Palau (CRPD/C/PLW/1).

    Presentation of Report

    GAAFAR J. UHERBELAU, Special Advisor to the President of Palau, introduced the delegation of Palau. 

     

    JEFFREY ANTOL, Director, Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of State of Palau and head of the delegation, said while Palau faced unique challenges, from geographical and resource limitations to the increasing impact of climate change, these only reinforced the determination to advance the rights of persons with disabilities and build a more inclusive society. 

    One of Palau’s most significant milestones was the enactment of RPPL 11-36 in September 2024, a landmark piece of legislation that established a Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities and an Office of Persons with Disabilities.  This legislation addressed critical gaps in disability governance, with key provisions that included the development of a new national policy on persons with disabilities; the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms through the allocation of annual tax revenues from alcohol, cigarettes, and tobacco products to support disability programmes and services; and a multi-stakeholder governance structure, ensuring the active participation of government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and persons with disabilities. 

    Palau had taken major steps towards accessibility in recent years, including conducting access audits for schools, public buildings, and parks, leading to infrastructure improvements, including accessible ramps and parking.  The Ngermalk Accessibility Ramp and Airai Accessibility Ramp project set new standards for inclusive design, enabling inclusive access to the sea waters and leisure. RPPL No. 11-11, enacted in September 2021, established the Palau severely disabled assistance fund and child raising subsidy, now supporting 186 children and elderly persons with disabilities. The child raising subsidy provided financial assistance to parents and legal guardians for the costs of raising a Palauan citizen child under the age of 18 who resided full-time with the applicant in Palau.  The meal programme provided nutritious meals to support Palauan citizens aged 55 and older, homebound individuals, and adults with special healthcare needs residing in Palau. 

    To enhance inclusive education, 22 teachers had been trained in assistive technologies to support students with disabilities.  Access to individualised education programmes was expanded to provide tailored learning support. 

    However, the State needed to do more to bridge the gap in specialised learning resources, inclusive curricula, and teacher training.  Palau’s workforce innovation and opportunity act trained persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities, and empowered them to access the job market. Entrepreneurship programmes were being expanded to provide persons with disabilities with opportunities to create and manage their businesses.

    Women and girls with disabilities experienced two to three times the level of gender-based violence compared to those without disabilities.  To address this, the revised national gender mainstreaming policy would integrate disability-specific protections, including targeted legal amendments, training law enforcement and service providers, and expanding access to shelters and psychosocial support services.  Palau’s national gender mainstreaming policy was undergoing revision to fully integrate disability perspectives. 

    As a climate-vulnerable nation, Palau understood the critical importance of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction.  In September 2024, the guidelines on disability inclusive disaster risk reduction were launched, ensuring accessible emergency shelters with ramps, assistive devices, and trained staff; early warning systems adapted for persons with sensory disabilities; and community engagement programmes to ensure that persons with disabilities were active participants in disaster preparedness planning.

    While Palau had made significant progress, challenges remained.  Data collection efforts were being expanded to disaggregate statistics by gender and disability, ensuring targeted interventions that addressed the unique vulnerabilities of women, girls, and children with disabilities.  Palau was also working towards accessible voting procedures, ensuring that persons with disabilities could exercise their right to vote independently.  It was also promoting representation in Government advisory bodies.  Mr. Antol reaffirmed Palau’s commitment to working closely with development partners, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, to address these challenges head-on.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, thanked the State party for the comprehensive initial report.  Ms. Dondovdorj appreciated the quality of alternative reports of organizations of persons with disabilities provided to the Committee.  Palau had made some progress in implementing the Convention, which would be addressed later in the dialogue.  Although some legislative measures had been taken by the State party, some of these were not fully compliant with the Convention, including the disabled persons anti-discrimination act, which could not fully respond to the challenges faced by women with disabilities. 

    Concerns persisted about the lack of progress made to abolish the guardianship regime and implement the supported decision-making system in Palau.  It was essential to ensure the meaningful participation of women with disabilities in decision-making.  The Government of Palau was encouraged to pay attention to this issue. 

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, said the enactment of RPPL 11-36 outlined the State’s commitment to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.  What steps were being taken for the State to appeal and amend legislation which was not in line with the Convention?  What would be the process and timeline for harmonising definitions?  What steps were in place to address the lack of timelines of the implementation of the decisions of the Coordinating Committee of the Office of Persons with Disabilities?  How were organizations of persons with disabilities being involved in the formulation of programmes and policies? 

    Currently Palau did not have a law on reasonable accommodation.  What specific steps were being taken to amend relevant legislation to include disability as a prohibited ground of discrimination?  What were the timelines to ensure the disabled person anti-discrimination act encompassed all forms of disability-based discrimination, including the denial of reasonable accommodation?  What mechanism would be put in place to track the progress of the anti-discrimination policies under discussion?  How would it be ensured they were well implemented and monitored? What was in place to eliminate multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination? 

    How did Palau plan to strengthen gender mainstreaming to ensure women and girls with disabilities were included in all relevant policies and programmes?  Did it include amending the family protection act?  What steps were being taken to ensure the voices of women and girls with disabilities were heard?  What steps were being taken to ensure their participation?   How was the participation of children being monitored? What measures was the State taking to prevent negative stereotypes of persons with disabilities, particularly in rural communities?  What plans were in place to ensure training and awareness raising about persons with disabilities at all levels?

    What steps was the Government taking to identify existing barriers to accessibility in the public and private sector, and provide the necessary resources to remove these barriers?  What measures would be taken to bridge the digital divide? 

    It was commendable that the Washington Group’s short questions on disability had been used and integrated into the census.  What steps was the State adopting to promote inclusivity and improve disability data collection?  What processes were in place to collect the issues around access to justice? 

    Could more information be provided about the newly established Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities, including its members, mandate and budget?  How were representatives of persons with disabilities represented on this Committee?  What steps were taken to involve persons with disabilities into international cooperation?

    There was no national human rights institution established in line with the Paris Principles in Palau.  Had there been any progress on this?  Was there a mechanism to oversee the implementation and monitoring of the Convention? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said harmonising legislation had been a challenge in Palau.  Through the new legislative process, one of the first tasks would be to have a full assessment and legislative review of relevant laws which needed to be revised, to ensure no discrimination was implied by language used in legislation moving forward.  It was expected that Palau could work with lawmakers and the National Congress to undertake a comprehensive legal review and carry out the changes.  It was hoped this could be achieved within 12 to 24 months. 

    The Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities was working on a disability policy with representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities.  There were practices at the national level to provide reasonable accommodation in employment, as well as access to voting.  Palau understood there was a need to improve measures in this regard.

    The State was excited about the new legislation, which would create a new body with the task to mainstream any data, enabling the State to look at specific needs.  The Government would ensure the new body was sufficiently resourced to undertake its tasks.  It would examine Convention articles and look at how Palau could do better in this regard.

    There were currently gaps in the implementation of the family act, including a lack of training of law enforcement officials on the act itself.  The State would examine the gaps in the next six to 12 months. 

    Palau had a gender office within the Ministry of State.  Many programmes required the representation of women and the parents of children with disabilities.  Aside from the Ministries and civil society organizations for women and children with disabilities, a lot of data was non-existent outside of those agencies. Palau had made efforts to reorganise ministries to ensure the family protection act was housed in the department of health and public services.  Data collection methods and tools would be streamlined to ensure a more comprehensive data set, used to assist women and girls with disabilities. 

    There was currently no strategy for awareness raising.  The State had an upcoming project which would train Government stakeholders on disabilities and persons with disabilities.  There was a need for a legislative review in this regard. 

    Persons with disabilities in Palau accounted for between three to four per cent of the population, meaning it was easy for the general public to ignore, such as in the case of disability parking spots.  The Government needed to change the culture and attitude, including towards the overall concept of disability.  The newly established Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities would ensure that every programme planned would welcome the input of women and children with disabilities. 

    There were many gaps in data collection in Palau with regards to persons with disabilities, and this varied between sectors.  The State was in the process of consolidating data sets, streamlining collection and ensuring information was credible, relevant and secure for sharing.  The work of the new established committee would supplement and enhance this work. 

    Regarding the newly established Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities, the members included several Ministers, including the Minister of Justice, Finance and Health.  There would also be representatives from an organization representing persons with disabilities, governors, and a religious and state-based organization.  The Committee was the first time that Palau was forced by law to have representation. The work of the Committee would also reach policy makers directly, which often did not happen.  It held the State accountable to ensure specific resources would be directly available to the Committee.  Currently, only one organization of persons with disabilities was represented on the Committee, as well as a civil society organization. The Committee and the policy were under a strict timeline to be developed by the end of June. 

    Persons with disabilities had been represented in different committees, subcommittees and bodies.  Palau worked collaboratively with the Government of Australia and representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities were consulted in the process across certain projects. 

    Funding constraints were the number one barrier to establishing a national human rights institution in Palau. The State understood the value and purpose, but funding was the constraining factor.  Palau recognised the need for a robust data system, which could be used as a tool to guide policy development.  Palau would rely on the newly established Coordinating Committee on Persons with Disabilities to monitor all aspects of the implementation of the Convention. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert congratulated Palau for its commitment to the area of accessibility and desire to create a more inclusive society.  However, concerns persisted, including the lack of accessible public transport. What measures had been taken to ensure free access to information for different types of disability?

    Another Expert asked how many girls and women with disabilities had been provided with training on small and medium sized enterprises.  The Committee was delighted to hear that the State was analysing the many limitations faced by women with disabilities, particularly those facing violence.  The Committee would like to ensure that the State was addressing the correct data in this regard.

    An Expert asked what steps were being taken to facilitate the access of persons with disabilities to technologies? What steps were being taken to facilitate the transportation and movement of persons with disabilities? How could organizations representing children with disabilities be supported? 

    Another Committee Expert asked if accessibility requirements were included throughout the purchase of public infrastructure?  It was very good that there was good access to the internet for persons with disabilities. Were accessibility standards being taken into account when web content was created?

    An Expert asked about the political environment when discussing issues related to persons with disabilities? Was the Congress willing to make important changes in legislation and approve specific legislation to incorporate Convention principles?  How could the international community support Palau to bring about these changes sooner rather than later?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said unfortunately, public transport in general was underdeveloped in Palau, and had only begun around two years ago, with a small number of buses with a limited route. Unfortunately, the buses being used were currently not accessible to persons with disabilities, and it was up to the families to take care of the transport of their family members and children with special needs.  The State had purchased vehicles, including a van that was disability equipped, which currently was only available by request.  Being an island, it was also important for the State to purchase boats which were disability accessible.  Palau’s citizens had access to relatively cheap internet, but the issue was devices.  The State had not taken further steps to identify specific technologies that persons with disabilities might need.  Therefore, those with visual impairments would have to source their digital devices out of Palau.  The State would look at the data and determine if this was something which required additional investment. 

    A majority of those who had received training were women, and some percentage would be women with disabilities. Data specific to violence against women and girls with disabilities needed to be disaggregated in the State’s data set. 

    The question was whether all public transport needed to be accessible, or due to numbers should it just be a specific programme with enough equipment catered to the needs of the population? There were one or two vans which could respond to requests currently.  Would this be enough, or would there be a growing need for accessibility vehicles?  Currently, more equipment was required.  It would make sense that all equipment should be accessible, but that had more costs. The State was looking at this with a phased approach.  For small countries like Palau, things were only addressed when there was a visible need, as opposed to putting in place standards to address things beforehand, and this applied to access to information. However, it did not take away from the need for the State to think holistically. 

    The political will to ratify the treaties was there, but there were challenges when it came to prioritising budget allocation.  The onus was on the delegation to return to Palau and continue raising awareness. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, asked if the State party had reviewed national legislation related to the situation of risk and humanitarian emergency, including the national disaster risk framework, to include the safety and protection of persons with disabilities?  If not, what were the plans to review and amend the legislation?  Could information on mechanisms of early warning for persons with disabilities be provided?  How accessible were these systems to persons with diverse disabilities, including those who were blind and deaf?  Did the State party have existing mechanisms to ensure the participation of persons with disabilities in the planning, designing and implementation of activities relating to emergency situations?  What measures had the State party taken to ensure adequate budget allocation for this purpose? 

    Palau still promoted the guardianship regime, which meant a person’s legal capacity could be restricted, based on a court declaration.  Were there specific plans to end the guardianship regime, and implement supported decision-making for persons with disabilities?  Could data on the number of persons with disabilities under guardianship be provided?  How many people had repealed these decisions?

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, said information had been received about barriers in accessing justice for persons with disabilities, due to a lack of reasonable accommodation, particularly those with psychosocial disabilities.  What measures would be taken to review all legislation, including criminal laws, to ensure compliance with the Convention?  What measures were being taken to ensure age appropriate and gender sensitive accommodation in judicial and administrative proceedings for all persons with disabilities?  Was information provided in an accessible format, and how was the accessibility of court buildings ensured?  How was information communicated, for example through sign language? 

    Had regular monitoring been conducted to ensure persons with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities were not subjected to arbitrary or forced treatment, including confinement? What was the most recent monitoring result, and efforts taken to improve the situation?  Was there disaggregated data on persons with disabilities deprived of their liberty in Palau? 

    GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, asked about services provided by the Victims of Crime Office, reopened in 2022, including access to shelters? Was sign-language interpretation provided and reasonable accommodation ensured?  Was information about existing services disseminated to persons with disabilities through accessible formats?  Did the State party have any targeted measures to ensure all persons with disabilities, including women with disabilities, were free from all types of violation and exploitation?  Were there any specific targeted policies and strategies targeting women with disabilities? 

    Information had been received on the tragic case of a blind woman who was sterilised without consent, but with the consent of her family members.  What legislation was in place to protect persons with disabilities from being subjected to treatment without their free and informed consent, including forced sterilisation and abortion?  Did a monitoring mechanism exist in this regard?

    How many persons with disabilities had been placed in institutions, including mental health hospitals?  Were there any plans or strategies to promote the independence of persons with disabilities at the community level? What were the plans to implement the deinstitutionalisation plan, to ensure everyone was given the opportunity to live in the community?

    What measures were in place to ensure that persons with disabilities in Palau could access high-quality and affordable assistive devices?  Were these exempt from import taxes?  What measures were being taken to eliminate physical restraints in all settings, including prisons and institutions?  Did Palau have any plans to ratify the Convention against Torture?  Had any monitoring of cases of torture being undertaken?  Could information be provided about the State’s existing complaints mechanism? 

    Responses by the Delegation 

    The delegation said at this time, the Government had not currently conducted a review of the national disaster risk framework legislation.  However, there were regular reviews, post-disaster, to determine gaps in emergency preparedness and disaster reduction.  Based on existing legislation, there was no need to change too much.  Palau had the National Emergency Management Office, governed by the National Emergency Committee, comprised of all government agencies and civil society, including the Palau Red Cross.  All emergency preparedness and disaster response were coordinated through the Committee.  Once the President declared a national emergency, this gave the Government access to all resources and the authority to commandeer accommodation such as shelters for the response.  The Government would conduct a legislative review to see if there was anything missing in the law which should be amended in relation to persons with disabilities. 

    The State had working relationships with civil society, including the Red Cross, which was actively involved in drills and exercises in response to disasters.  Being a small community, Palau could identify people individually and had a database on people’s specific needs.  This knowledge was incorporated into exercises and drills. Community health workers assisted during disasters to ensure everyone had equal access to shelters. 

    A health care coalition, enacted through an executive order of the President, represented persons with disabilities and parents’ organizations, bringing them together to plan activities. A month was dedicated to preparedness awareness each year, during which simulation exercises were held, as they were last year.  At this point, Palau did not see the need to have too many members, including from the Government, in the National Emergency Committee during an emergency.  It was more important to capture feedback, participation and input from non-governmental organizations during the planning, training and exercises phases, to execute the best response. The delegation would investigate if there was a need to expand the Committee to include persons with disabilities.  At this point, the State prioritised local revenue for the response; there were no external funding sources. 

    The State party understood the guardianship act was not in line with the Convention.  However, efforts were being made to consult persons with disabilities before they were held in institutions.  The various ministries coordinated together to ensure the Convention was not being violated.  The guardianship act would be considered for the upcoming legislative review.  The delegation would also debrief on this upon their return.  At present, data on those under the guardianship law was not available.  This was noted as a priority task and this data would be collected in the future. 

    The full and systematic review of legislation to ensure compliance with the Convention was long overdue.  This would be conducted once the delegation returned to Palau.  It was expected the review would take 12 to 24 months; draft amendments would then be proposed for enactment. 

    The family protection act was a landmark milestone for Palau, allowing for a more uniform and standardised procedure for all people who experienced gender-based or domestic violence, while also allowing the State to assess the gaps in the process.  There were currently no courtrooms in Palau which were accessible.  This needed to be changed immediately and would be enacted when the delegation returned to Palau.  The recommendation would also focus on better equipping the courtrooms with audio visual aids.     

    In Palau, if persons with psychosocial conditions in prison were required to be confined, this would take place after an assessment with a psychiatrist, and they would be held outside of the general prison.  This would also be reviewed to ensure the protocols were being adhered to.  Every case received was monitored; however, monitoring ceased once the individual left the facility.  This was something that should be tracked and that was something the State planned to accomplish. 

    Palau maintained a strong belief in cultural values, which was a source of solutions and issues.  Often families were still expected to care for the elderly and family members with disabilities.  The line was often blurred on where the Government should step in. A transition centre had been built for those who did not have accommodation to return to.  It had taken years to build as many community members felt that under Palau culture, family members had the obligation to care for their family members. 

    The Victims of Crime Office provided services, including counselling and temporary housing for victims, in partnership with non-governmental organizations.  The State aimed to introduce training programmes with neighbouring jurisdictions, but this was dependent on costs.  In the few cases received where victims required sign-language communication, this had been done virtually with ad-hoc partners.  But there was a need to formalise a mechanism for whenever that was needed. 

    A member of the delegation said she had been a victim of exploitation, and this had been a call for the ministries to come together and strengthen the family protection act, and to take account for specific provisions for protecting women and girls with disabilities. This act would also be reviewed during the legislative review. 

    The number of cases of forced sterilisation was extremely low, but these situations did happen. There was no legislation which specifically addressed this.  The State was cautious to enact legislation which contradicted and caused tension between culture, and the more Western doctrine of rights and laws. Abortion was mostly illegal in Palau, unless the physician determined there was a threat to the life of the mother or the child.  Forced treatment and sterilisation was something consulted with the patient, their family and the healthcare provider.  It needed to be determined if legislation was really the avenue to address this, or if was more important to have more clarity on those blurred lines between cultural expectation and family consent and the healthcare needs of the patient.  This would be added to the list for the legislative review. 

    A project had been launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess certain households for accessibility, to be redesigned for independent living.  The findings of the project would be utilised this year to promote more independent living.  There was only one mental health facility in Palau, and confinement was only for mental health issues.  There had been no cases where persons with other types of disabilities had been confined or admitted without any mental health issues.  The plan would be rolled out nationwide and expanded in the future to ensure persons with disabilities could independently live in their own homes, rather than be confined to an institution. 

    At present, due to cost, Palau dealt with needs for assistive technologies on a case-by-case basis.  At present, there was no tax exemption for such equipment unless it was donated.  Maintenance and a lack of parts were an ongoing issue.  The newly created Office on Persons with Disabilities would undertake a review in this regard. 

    Palau did not have the need to develop specific measures for the protection of persons with disabilities from ill-treatment.  Palau’s culture did not require laws in this regard.  Tomorrow, the delegation of Palau would meet with relevant United Nations representatives to further discuss the process of the ratification of the Convention against Torture.  There was no active monitoring of case reviews, but the State party undertook case reviews to determine if there were instances of torture.  The State had a school health screening programme, where the provider looked for indications of ill-treatment, as well as the victims of crimes assistance programme.  Part of the awareness strategy included promoting reporting within the community, which was currently a challenge.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked if there were any plans to strengthen the mechanisms and legal safeguards for persons with disabilities, including those with psychosocial disabilities and migrants with disabilities, to ensure they were provided with reasonable accommodation under the 72-hour detention act?  What measures were taken to ensure stateless children, including those with disabilities, were granted citizenship?  Was there a plan to amend legislation to allow stateless individuals, including those raised in Palau, to apply for citizenship? 

    Another Expert welcomed the financial measures and information provided on the project which aimed to make homes for the elderly accessible.  What measures were being undertaken to improve the disability inclusiveness of mainstream services, such as retail, health, education and housing?   

    One Expert asked who had trained prison officers in appropriate care?  What evaluation had there been for this training?  Had the State party implemented the guidelines on deinstitutionalisation?

    A Committee Expert asked if there was any follow-up strategy in relation to article 19, enabling persons with disabilities to manage themselves? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the 72 hours was not always adhered to exactly, despite legislation, and was typically handled on a case-by-case basis.  This would be included in the legislative review to see if this timeline was still applicable. 

    A bill had been introduced in the National Congress to examine the possibility of issuing stateless persons with a national identification.  While this did not guarantee citizenship, it would enable them to have an identity and hopefully be expanded to include means to travel.  Migrants were afforded access to public services like citizens; it was a matter of different costs.  The population of Palau was 18,000, and therefore transport could be provided by the Government for those who requested it.  This allowed persons with disabilities to access mainstream services.  There were ongoing efforts to work with the national health insurance to see if beneficiary coverage could be expanded to include the cost of assistive technologies. 

    At present, there was no training for law enforcement in mental health first aid.  The Government was working to ensure the relevant training was provided. Currently, the Government would call in specialised professionals, including psychiatrists, but it was important to train first responders as they were typically the first to arrive on the scene.  Palau was so small they could assign a specific health care professional to assist persons with disabilities when they came in for medical services.  The transition centre was intended only to be a temporary situation, while the State looked at longer term solutions for independent living.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    CHRISTOPHER NWANORO, Committee Vice-Chairperson and Taskforce Member for Palau, said persons with disabilities in Palau faced major barriers in accessing information.  How was the Government ensuring that freedom of speech and access to information, including the mass media, was available to persons with disabilities in Palau?  What efforts was the Government making to enable deaf persons to access information in the State party?

    Persons with disabilities in Palau did not have equal access to education; what was the Government doing to provide an enabling environment for education for persons with disabilities, including for deaf and blind persons?  The Government should provide an enabling environment for everyone to enjoy education equally. 

    How accessible was the medical environment for persons with disabilities?  Could blind people communicate with medical staff via braille? How was it ensured that all persons with disabilities could enjoy medical facilities in the hospitals?

    What efforts was the Government of Palau making to ensure equal opportunities were provided when it came to employment for persons with disabilities?  For those working, what was being done to provide them with an enabling environment?  Were ramps and elevators available to allow them to navigate their workplaces?  What training was given to employers in this regard? 

    Palau’s law said persons with mental and intellectual disabilities were not allowed to participate in elections, including voting.  Was there any percentage within the law mandating persons with disabilities to be elected to government positions?  If persons with disabilities wanted to vote, how accessible was the environment?  Were there ramps and sign language?  What was the Government doing to ensure that persons with disabilities were given a fair chance to participate in politics? 

    What was Palau doing to ensure people with disabilities could access cultural life and leisure, including sports? Were people with disabilities in Palau participating in sports?  What efforts was the Government making to encourage their participation?

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, asked how information on medical records, such as from institutions and mental health systems, was protected? How would data protection for persons with disabilities be strengthened, particularly for those with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities?

    What specific initiatives were in place to strengthen awareness raising regarding persons with disabilities, particularly regarding the rights to family and parenthood?  How would it be ensured that persons with disabilities could start their own families or adopt children if they chose?

    GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, asked if there were plans to undertake an analysis of rehabilitation services, and ensure they were in line with the Convention?  Were there plans to develop a comprehensive strategy and policy around assistive devices and technologies? 

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, said the majority of social protection actions in Palau happened at home.  What mechanisms were in place to support social protection and families and the disability-related expenses of individuals?  How would the Government address the lower level of disability pensions? What was being done to raise the disability pension?  Did persons with disabilities who worked in Palau still receive the disability allowance? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said sign language and audio-visual equipment in schools and classrooms were among the State’s weak points.  Palau did provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to express themselves through the media, but the lack of sign language was an issue.  Work was being done with the Ministry of Education to equip teachers and schools, and then this would be branched out to the media. There had been two cases in Palau where youth with disabilities had graduated from high school and college through vocational studies.  Palau’s Ministry of Education received some funding from the United States Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which was a starting point to train teachers. 

    At present, Palau did not have training for doctors and teachers, but this was something the State was working on. Most clinics in the hospitals were designed to be accessible, but the main challenge was sign language.  Women and children with disabilities had free access to information, and a healthcare provider was assigned to every person with disability who came in.  The State recognised there was more to be done and was working to enhance this area. 

    Legislation obligated the Government to ensure persons with disabilities had ramps in the places where they were hired and working.  This legislation just covered the public sector currently and was yet to cover the private sector, which was a shortfall.  There were around 33 persons with disabilities working in Palau’s Government, which was an impressive number considering the country’s population. Due to cultural beliefs in Palau, families of persons with disabilities sometimes did not encourage them to work due to fear of stigma and bullying, which was a challenge. 

    Palau election personnel were not equipped to provide braille. Currently, if a person with a disability wished to vote, an election official had to vote for them which meant the voting was no longer private; the State was working to address this.  Palau would work to change the law on voting for persons with intellectual disabilities, as this was an outdated law.  Nothing barred persons with disabilities for running for public office.  There were no quotas in place for persons with disabilities to run for office in Palau. There were no political parties in Palau, everyone ran individually.  No one was barred from running for Government.

    Discussions had been underway to join the Paralympics.  Palau would be hosting Pacific mini games, and there would be considerations for persons with disabilities to join such events.  Family members presented a challenge; they sometimes felt their family members with disabilities would be a source of shame to the family and prohibited them from participating publicly, particularly when it came to sports. The Government was working to help families feel confident in allowing their family members with disabilities to participate in the public view. 

    Patient records and confidential information was closely safeguarded in the Ministry of Health and in clinics. This applied to all patient records, including for persons with disabilities.  It was expected the medical privacy act would be enacted in one to two years. 

    Palau had an inclusive culture; there were no cultural barriers preventing persons with disabilities from getting married or raising children.  There were persons with disabilities in Palau who had birthed and raised children and enjoyed the fruits of a full family life, with community support. 

    There were efforts to create an appropriate list of assistive products from the World Health Organization list, to ensure they were appropriate for the Pacific region.  Rehabilitation was still regarded as a medical or clinical service, which was a challenge.  A rehabilitation department was now going out to the community to train caregivers and family members to assist those with specific needs. 

    Palau had the Severely Disabled Assistance Fund which had been increased in the past year, to ensure persons with disabilities could afford the cost of living.  There was a newly established child raising subsidy, provided to all Palau children under the age of 18.  The pension and social security amounts were always a hotly debated issue in Palau’s Congress.  The State would continue to push for an increase in funds for beneficiaries.  The Assistance Fund did not include deaf people, which was something which needed to be amended.  Palau was looking to increase the minimum wage this year, which would benefit persons with disabilities who were employed. 

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked how many persons with disabilities participated in tertiary education in Palau?  What kind of reasonable accommodations were provided to these students?  The Committee frowned upon the continued use of sheltered workshops to stimulate employment of persons with disabilities.  What was the extent of sheltered workshops in Palau and what was being done to remove them from the labour market?

    Another Expert asked about the Government actions to ensure access to education for persons with disabilities. How were these being implemented? Were there any incentives for persons with disabilities to run for public office?  The Expert congratulated Palau’s involvement in the Paralympics. It was hoped this would be the first of many. 

    An Expert asked if persons with disabilities were given the same wages as the rest of the population? 

    One Committee Expert asked what Palau was doing to raise awareness in the population, so no one was left behind or neglected?  What was being done to put an end to discrimination against persons with disabilities? 

    A Committee Expert asked if Palau had any experiences with accessible tourism, and if it was using this as a tool for economic growth?  Had Palau requested technical cooperation to increase the flow of tourists with disabilities?  Was Palau considering job creation and entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities? Had the State thought about establishing a national centre for arts and crafts which could showcase the products made by persons with disabilities? 

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, asked if people working in Palau still received the disability allowance? 

    GEREL DONDOVDORJ, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for Palau, asked if there were any plans to address policy areas regarding the right to vote for persons with intellectual disabilities? 

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Palau only had one community college which provided a two-year associate degree.  However, persons with disabilities did attend college, including one individual who graduated from a mechanics course.  The college was not entirely equipped, but did make accommodation for the specific needs of students. 

    There were no agencies, companies or businesses which only employed persons with disabilities in Palau. Palau had a law which required all students to attend kindergarten to grade 12, including children with disabilities. Minimum wage laws in Palau applied to everyone, including persons with disabilities who received the same wage and tax refund benefits which applied to a certain band of salary earners. Overall, Palauan culture was very accepting.  Non-governmental organizations in Palau helped the Government to raise awareness in the community, ensuring inclusiveness in all events and policies. There was no specific budget for sports activities for persons with disabilities, but this was something the Government would look into.

    Palau was regarded as a good tourism destination.  However, it was expensive to get there, and there were rarely tourists who were persons with disabilities.  The Government aimed to ensure their own citizens with disabilities were taken care of before tourists.  There were workshops with local crafts and a giftshop, where persons with disabilities could sell their artwork.  There was also a national museum and it could be a good idea to hold a special exhibition there for persons with disabilities. 

    The Palau Severely Disabled Fund was for those who had no employment, and if they were gainfully employed, they lost this eligibility.  There were only two main non-governmental organizations in Palau working to represent persons with disabilities, but the population was small.  They were given the right to decide who they employed and who they allowed to represent them.  The Government did not want to overstep and dictate in this regard. 

    Closing Remarks

    JEFFREY ANTOL, Director, Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of State of Palau and head of the delegation, extended appreciation to the Committee and all those who had contributed to the dialogue.  Palau firmly believed that inclusion was not merely a policy goal, but a fundamental human right.  The enactment of the persons with disabilities act and the development of the national disability inclusive policy marked significant milestones in the journey towards full alignment with the Convention.  Palau was more convinced than ever of the urgent need to undertake legislative review and the importance of data and reporting, and would take steps to facilitate these actions.  The country remained steadfast in ensuring that no one was left behind.

    GERTRUDE OFORIWA FEFOAME, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member for Palau, thanked the members of the delegation of Palau for their presence and the open dialogue with the Committee.  The State was commended for its commitment in working towards the implementation of the Convention.  The Committee acknowledged with interest the establishment of the Committee of Persons with Disabilities and looked forward to its action as planned.  There was a need for the State to strengthen systems and ensure effective and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities. The absence of a national human rights institution was a concern; the Committee urged Palau to consider its establishment in line with the Paris Principles.  From the goodwill expressed by the delegation, it was expected that the State would proactively ensure the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations.

     

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CRPD25.007E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scanlon, Raskin, Jayapal Mobilize House Dems to Demand Answers in Trump Administration Attack on Free Speech

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

    Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today joined Reps. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, in leading 103 Members of Congress in demanding answers from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio regarding the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil and attempt to revoke his Green Card.

    Khalil is a lawful permanent resident of the United States. The administration does not allege that he has committed any crime nor that he has ever been charged with a crime. Instead, the administration has invoked an obscure clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act as justification for arresting and attempting to deport him. 

    “This maneuver evokes the Alien and Sedition Acts and McCarthyism. It is the playbook of authoritarians, not of elected officials in a democratic society who claim to be champions of free speech,” the members wrote. 

    The members continued, “The Constitution guarantees everyone in our country, including lawful permanent residents, the right to speak freely without fear of retribution from the government. (…) Weaponizing the immigration system to crush and chill protected free speech puts our nation on the side of authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.”

    “While there may be disagreement with Mr. Khalil’s speech, it is his Constitutional right in our democracy to express his political views. That is why every American should be outraged by this brazen attempt to use the power of the United States government to silence and punish people who do not agree with the sitting President. President Trump has said Mr. Khalil’s arrest and attempted removal is the ‘first of many.’ Silencing dissent is the work of despots, not democracies,” the members concluded.

    U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman issued an order temporarily preventing the government from removing Mr. Khalil while the court considers the legality of the arrest and detention. 

    The Members are requesting a response from Noem and Rubio by March 27th, 2025.

    Find the full letter here. 

    Find the full list of the 103 Members of Congress who signed onto the letter here. 

    The letter was endorsed by 18 Million Rising; A New Policy; Action Corps; Adalah Justice Project; Alliance of Baptists; America’s Voice; American Civil Liberties Union; American Friends of Combatants for Peace; American Friends Service Committee; American Humanist Association; American Immigration Council; American Immigration Lawyers Association; American Muslims for Palestine (AMP); Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action); Amnesty International USA; Arab American Institute (AAI); Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote); Bend the Arc: Jewish Action; CASA; Center for Constitutional Rights; Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law; Center for Jewish Nonviolence; Center for Victims of Torture; Christians for a Free Palestine; Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA); CODEPINK; Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP); Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); DAWN; Defending Rights & Dissent; Detention Watch Network; Emgage Action; Franciscan Action Network ; Freedom Forward; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Hindus for Human Rights; Human Rights First; IfNotNow Movement; IMEU Policy Project; Immigrant Defense Project; Immigrant Justice Network ; Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC); Immigration Equality; Indivisible; International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN); International Refugee Assistance Project; J Street; Jewish Voice for Peace Action; Justice Democrats; MADRE; MoveOn; MPower Change Action Fund; Muslim Advocates; Muslim Legal Fund of America; Muslims for Just Futures; National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; National Immigrant Justice Center; National Immigration Law Center; National Immigration Project; National Iranian American Council; NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice; New Israel Fund; New Jewish Narrative; Nonviolent Peaceforce; P Street; Partners for Progressive Israel; Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus; Peace Action; Prayers for Peace Alliance; Presente.org; Project South; Rabbis for Ceasefire; ReThinking Foreign Policy; Right to the City Alliance; Rising Majority; RootsAction.org; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Sunrise Movement; T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights; The Nexus Project; The Southern Poverty Law Center; Unitarian Universalist Association; United Church of Christ; United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR); United We Dream Network; US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action; USAHello; Win Without War; Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation ; Arlington For Palestine; Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago; Borderlands for Equity; CAIR- Philadelphia; CAIR-WA; Dignidad/The Right to Immigration Institute; Elmahaba Center; Estrella del Paso; Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef); Jews For Racial & Economic Justice; Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition; Mennonite Action Philadelphia; Miami Valley Immigration Coalition; New York Immigration Coalition; North Carolina Muslim Bar Association; OneAmerica; Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans – PANA; Pax Christi New Jersey ; Peace Action Montgomery; Prayers for Peace Alliance; Saratoga Black Lives Matter; Showing Up For Racial Justice Bay Area; SURJ Northern Virginia; West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship; Wind of the Spirit Immigrant Resource Center; Woori Juntos.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Roy, McBath, Biggs, and Cohen Lead Bipartisan Effort to Simplify Federal Criminal Code

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Chip Roy (R-TX)

    Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Chip Roy (TX-21), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), and Steve Cohen (TN-09) re-introduced the “Count the Crimes to Cut Act of 2025” that would require the Department of Justice and federal agency heads to compile a comprehensive report detailing all federal criminal statutes and regulations entailing criminal penalties.

    Congressman Roy, Chairman on the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, said:“Freedom is just an illusion when the government buries its own citizens under ridiculous and never-ending criminal laws. Almost any adult in this country could be indicted for some kind of infraction at any given time, whether or not they were even aware they were in violation. This needs to change; getting a proper accounting is a necessary first step to fixing this problem and ensuring Americans are not in the crosshairs of overcriminalization.”

    Congresswoman McBath, Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, said:“My first priority in Congress has always been maintaining the safety and well-being of my constituents. With the Count the Crimes to Cut Act, Americans will no longer have to fear being excessively punished and criminal justice professionals can better protect the public. I’m proud to take up this bill, and I thank my colleagues for their collaboration as we seek to expand safety and justice for the American people.”

    Congressman Biggs, Chairman on the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, said: “An estimated 4,000 federal criminal offenses is dwarfed by an estimated 300,000 federal regulatory offenses, but no government agency can even provide an official count. We have a duty to protect Americans’ right to liberty, and this begins with scaling down the massive overreach in federal criminal offenses.”

    Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said: “Apparently no one knows how many federal crimes there are. Our founders warned of laws being too ‘voluminous’ or ‘incoherent’ that they could not be understood. The Count the Crimes Act simply seeks to request that information from the Department of Justice as a starting point for future reform. I am pleased to work with Congressman Roy and others on both sides of the aisle to pass this necessary legislation.”

    The Count The Crimes to Cut Act of 2025 would:
    Require the Attorney General, in cooperation with the agency heads, to produce a full report of all federal criminal statutes and federal regulations with criminal penalties.  For each offense, the report is required to provide the following details:

    • The elements of each offense.
    • The potential penalties for each offense.
    • The number of prosecutions brought in the last 15 years for each offense.
    • The mens rea required for each offense.

    The legislation is endorsed by Families Against Mandatory Minimums, the Due Process Institute, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the R Street Institute, and Right on Crime. 

    Read the full legislation here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lower Sackville — Missing Person: Help the RCMP find Bernard Harris

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 46-year-old Bernard Harris, who was last seen March 1 at the Metro Transit bus terminal, Walker Ave. in Lower Sackville.

    Harris is described as 5 foot 6 inches with a slim build. He has brown (graying) hair and blue eyes. A clothing description is unknown.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bernard Harris is asked to contact RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment RCMP at 902-490-5020 or local police. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Homicide, Whangārei

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Attributable to Detective Senior Sergeant Michelle Harris:

    A homicide inquiry has been launched following the death of a man in Whangārei yesterday.

    Emergency services were called to the Norfolk Street address shortly before 5pm, after a report of a man being injured.

    He was found unresponsive, and sadly died at the scene.

    A 53-year-old man, known to the victim, was arrested at the address and is assisting with our inquiries.

    No charges have been filed at this stage.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of The United States by Tren De Aragua

    Source: The White House

    class=”has-text-align-center”>BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    A PROCLAMATION

    Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States. TdA operates in conjunction with Cártel de los Soles, the Nicolas Maduro regime-sponsored, narco-terrorism enterprise based in Venezuela, and commits brutal crimes, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and human, drug, and weapons trafficking. TdA has engaged in and continues to engage in mass illegal migration to the United States to further its objectives of harming United States citizens, undermining public safety, and supporting the Maduro regime’s goal of destabilizing democratic nations in the Americas, including the United States.

    TdA is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime, including its military and law enforcement apparatus. TdA grew significantly while Tareck El Aissami served as governor of Aragua between 2012 and 2017. In 2017, El Aissami was appointed as Vice President of Venezuela. Soon thereafter, the United States Department of the Treasury designated El Aissami as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, 21 U.S.C. 1901 et seq. El Aissami is currently a United States fugitive facing charges arising from his violations of United States sanctions triggered by his Department of the Treasury designation.

    Like El Aissami, Nicolas Maduro, who claims to act as Venezuela’s President and asserts control over the security forces and other authorities in Venezuela, also maintains close ties to regime-sponsored narco-terrorists. Maduro leads the regime-sponsored enterprise Cártel de los Soles, which coordinates with and relies on TdA and other organizations to carry out its objective of using illegal narcotics as a weapon to “flood” the United States. In 2020, Maduro and other regime members were charged with narcoterrorism and other crimes in connection with this plot against America.

    Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA. The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States. Indeed, in December 2024, INTERPOL Washington confirmed: “Tren de Aragua has emerged as a significant threat to the United States as it infiltrates migration flows from Venezuela.” Evidence irrefutably demonstrates that TdA has invaded the United States and continues to invade, attempt to invade, and threaten to invade the country; perpetrated irregular warfare within the country; and used drug trafficking as a weapon against our citizens.

    Based upon a review of TdA’s activities, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, on February 20, 2025, acting pursuant to the authority in 8 U.S.C. 1189, the Secretary of State designated TdA as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

    As President of the United States and Commander in Chief, it is my solemn duty to protect the American people from the devastating effects of this invasion. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., hereby proclaim and direct as follows:

    Section 1. I find and declare that TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. I make these findings using the full extent of my authority to conduct the Nation’s foreign affairs under the Constitution. Based on these findings, and by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including 50 U.S.C. 21, I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are, by virtue of their membership in that organization, chargeable with actual hostility against the United States and are therefore ineligible for the benefits of 50 U.S.C. 22. I further find and declare that all such members of TdA are a danger to the public peace or safety of the United States.

    Sec. 2. I direct the Attorney General, within 60 days of the date of this proclamation, to prepare and publish a letter under her signature declaring the policy described in section 1 of this proclamation as the policy of the United States and attaching this proclamation. I direct the Attorney General to transmit this letter to the Chief Justice of the United States, the chief judge of every circuit court of appeals, the chief judge of every district and territorial court of the United States, each Governor of a State and territory of the United States, and the highest-ranking judicial officer of each State and territory of the United States.

    Sec. 3. I direct that all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation are subject to immediate apprehension, detention, and removal, and further that they shall not be permitted residence in the United States.

    Sec. 4. Pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove every Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Secretary of Homeland Security retains discretion to apprehend and remove any Alien Enemy under any separate authority.

    Sec. 5. All executive departments and agencies (agencies) shall collaborate with law enforcement officials of the United States and with appropriate State, local, and tribal officials, to use all lawful means to apprehend, restrain, secure, and remove Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation.

    Sec. 6. Pursuant to my authority under 50 U.S.C. 21 to direct the conduct to be observed on the part of the United States toward the Alien Enemies subject to this proclamation, to direct the manner and degree of the restraint to which such Alien Enemies shall be subject and in what cases, to provide for the removal of such Alien Enemies, and to establish any other regulations which are found necessary “in the premises and for the public safety,” I hereby direct the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to execute all the regulations hereinafter contained regarding the Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are further directed to cause the apprehension, detention, and removal of all members of TdA who otherwise qualify as Alien Enemies under section 1 of this proclamation. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are authorized to take all necessary actions under the Alien Enemies Act to effectuate this proclamation, consistent with applicable law. In doing so, and for such purpose, they are authorized to utilize agents, agencies, and officers of the United States Government and of the several States, territories, dependencies, and municipalities thereof and of the District of Columbia. All such agents, agencies, and officers are hereby granted full authority for all acts done by them in the execution of such regulations when acting by direction of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, as the case may be.

    Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Alien Enemies Act, 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., I hereby declare and establish the following regulations which I find necessary “in the premises and for the public safety”:

    (a) No Alien Enemy described in section 1 of this proclamation shall enter, attempt to enter, or be found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any such Alien Enemy who enters, attempts to enter, or is found within such territory shall be immediately apprehended and detained until removed from the United States. All such Alien Enemies, wherever found within any territory subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, are subject to summary apprehension.

    (b) Alien Enemies apprehended pursuant to this proclamation shall be subject to detention until removed from the United States in such place of detention as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations.

    (c) Alien Enemies shall be subject to removal to any such location as may be directed by the officers responsible for the execution of these regulations consistent with applicable law.

    (d) All property in the possession of, or traceable to, an Alien Enemy, which is used, intended to be used, or is commonly used to perpetrate the hostile activity and irregular warfare of TdA, along with evidence of such hostile activity and irregular warfare, shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.

    The Attorney General is further granted authority, pursuant to the Alien Enemies Act and 3 U.S.C. 301, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, to issue any guidance necessary to effectuate the prompt apprehension, detention, and removal of all Alien Enemies described in section 1 of this proclamation. Any such guidance shall be effective immediately upon issuance by the Attorney General.
    This proclamation and the directives and regulations prescribed herein shall extend and apply to all land and water, continental or insular, in any way within the jurisdiction of the United States.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
    fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Several charged in firearms conspiracy linked to weapons at Canadian border

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    HOUSTON – Seven people have been arrested following the return of a nine-count indictment in a conspiracy to provide false information to federal firearms licensed dealers, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Authorities have now taken the final man charged into custody in Chicago. Gemale Sheali, 23, Houston, is expected to make his initial appearance there and will then be ordered to appear for his arraignment in Houston in the near future. 

    The other six – Eddylson Patino, 23, a Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston, Mozambique citizen Muhammad Dagha, 22, who also illegally resided in Houston, and Abuelgasim Siddig, 23, Omar Farooq, 24, Erik Aguirre, 23, and Andres Ferman, 24, all of Houston – were previously taken into custody and made appearances in federal court.

    According to the charges, the investigation began following the discovery of 68 firearms, including a suppressor, firearm magazines and ammunition, in Neche, North Dakota, along the Canadian border. The indictment alleges some of the Houston-area conspirators had purchased some of the recovered firearms. Further investigation allegedly revealed the conspirators had been acquiring the weapons on behalf of the conspiracy by providing false information to federal firearms licensed dealers. 

    According to the indictment, beginning around 2024, the conspirators acquired firearms by providing false information as to being the actual purchaser to federal firearms licensed dealers. The investigation allegedly linked two guns, respectively recovered in Mexico and Canada, to the conspiracy.

    It is alleged that Patino was responsible for obtaining firearms for later exportation out of the United States, while Dagha recruited conspirators to purchase them on behalf of Patino. Both are charged with conspiracy and aiding and abetting providing false information to federal firearms licensed dealers.

    Siddig, Farooq, Aguirre, Sheali and Ferman are all charged with conspiracy, and providing false information to a federal firearms licensed dealers during the acquisition of firearms

    All seven face up to five years in federal prison on each count as charged and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Houston and Fargo, North Dakota, and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Canadian law enforcement and the Houston Police Department. 

    Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee of the District of North Dakota. 

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Let juries judge disruptive protesters like Just Stop Oil on their integrity – expert view

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Graeme Hayes, Reader in Political Sociology, Aston University

    The UK Court of Appeal recently ruled on an appeal brought by 16 environmental activists serving prison sentences for planning or participating in a series of disruptive non-violent protests.

    The cases include the five-year term being served by Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, and the terms of two years and 20 months handed down to Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland respectively, for throwing soup over Van Gogh’s Sunflowers while the painting was on display at the National Gallery in London.

    Some news reports emphasised the reduction of sentences for some of the defendants (Hallam’s term was reduced to four years, for example), but the court’s decision upheld most of the sentences. There were only minor sentence reductions where the court found the initial sentences to be “manifestly excessive”, while the appeals of ten activists were dismissed outright.

    In Holland and Plummer’s case, the court rejected original trial judge Christopher Hehir’s insistence that throwing soup over a painting was violent (equivalent to assaulting a person, Hehir had argued). Yet the court still upheld the lengthy prison sentences Hehir handed down, maintaining that the soup action was “disproportionate or extreme”.

    The defendants’ motives for such disproportionate actions – to raise awareness about climate change and pressure the UK government to issue no new licences for the exploration and production of fossil fuels – were not considered relevant by either Hehir or the Court of Appeal.

    Does this amount to a fair and appropriate hearing? In an article published in the Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, we suggest that the cases of non-violent disruptive protesters should be governed by what we call “the integrity principle”. This would spur a radical rethink of how the courts approach the trials of such protesters.

    Integrity in protest trials

    The trials of protesters are different from most criminal trials. Just as legal philosopher Anthony Duff once argued, we consider that the purpose of all criminal trials is to “call the defendant to account”. Duff tells us that we can be held responsible as citizens, to the community, for our moral wrongs. A criminal trial is not just about deciding “did they do it”, but also about communicating what, as a society, is considered right and wrong. For that to happen, a trial must engage defendants in a discussion as to why they did what they did.

    It is here where the trials of non-violent protesters should be different from “ordinary” criminal trials. There are two reasons. First, unlike in most criminal trials, defendants prosecuted for staging disruptive protest rarely dispute the facts of what they did. Instead, they seek to explain why they did it.

    Second, they do so because their action is not intended for personal gain, but to improve the life of the community. Political philosophy tends to maintain that disobedient and disruptive actions can be morally justified if they are motivated by an attempt to uphold the fundamental rights of, or avoid harms caused to, others, or highlight injustices and the failures of political processes.

    In other words, these activists are seeking to act as citizens, and give a public account of their action as justified and proportionate. In Duff’s reasoning, this sort of accountability must be central to a criminal trial. But this depends on the defendants’ ability to explain their motives to a jury, in ways that are consistent with their beliefs and values. In short, the trial should allow defendants to demonstrate to the jury they had acted with integrity.

    If the trial is a site of moral communication that engages the sense of right and wrong of the community – and, like Duff, we argue it should be – then protest defendants should be able to offer a legally relevant account of their actions, and the jury should be able to decide whether they accept this account.

    Yet, as we have previously written, the law in England and Wales has been reframed over the past five years to reduce the defences that activists are able to rely upon. What protest defendants can say in court is inconsistently policed by judges. But in all cases, even where defendants can explain their motivations, they cannot now do so as part of a legal defence. Instead, they must rely on juries deciding (in rare cases) with their conscience rather than legal direction. This breaches the integrity principle, because juries are not able to decide, in law, whether they accept the account of action that might otherwise be put to them by the defence.



    Read more:
    Just Stop Oil’s harsh sentences are the logical outcome of Britain’s authoritarian turn against protest

    If the jury does decide to convict, we argue that the integrity principle must also apply to sentencing. Where they are found guilty, it is illogical that activists should be expected to express remorse for their actions. This would be to disavow their motives, moral consistency and public accountability. Rather than remorse, their the integrity of their intentions and the honesty of their explanation of them should be regarded as a mitigating factor.

    Integrity and democracy

    Disruptive protest directs our attention to the failure of the democratic process to properly address pressing social problems. For the courts to punish those who attempt to highlight this failure only exacerbates it. Crucially, it denies both the moral purpose of criminal law and the social function of juries. Yet this is exactly what is happening right now in British courts.

    We can see in the Court of Appeal’s judgment how the courts are failing to follow the integrity principle. Not only did the court sideline the motivations of the defendants, holding that the harm caused was too serious to take them into account, but it also acted to endorse more severe and deterrent sentences.

    If we reorganise the trials of activists to place their integrity at the heart of the process, enabling them to give a legally meaningful account of their action, the law would finally recognise that disruptive protest is not an irritant outside of the democratic process, but is integral to it.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Graeme Hayes receives funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust for the project ‘Justifying Protest in the Courts: Voice, Democracy, and the Law’

    Steven Cammiss receives funding from the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. Let juries judge disruptive protesters like Just Stop Oil on their integrity – expert view – https://theconversation.com/let-juries-judge-disruptive-protesters-like-just-stop-oil-on-their-integrity-expert-view-251949

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Moroccan National Arrested for Being an Illegal Alien in Possession of Ammunition

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    BOSTON – A Moroccan national residing in Medford has been charged for unlawfully possessing ammunition as an illegal alien.

    Ayoud Haddad, 24, was charged with one count of unlawful or illegal alien in possession of ammunition. Haddad was arrested yesterday and was ordered detained pending an hearing scheduled for March 17, 2025 in federal court in Worcester. 

    According to the charging documents, Haddad, a Moroccan national, is an alien who was admitted into the United State on or about April 12, 2012, on a B-2 non-immigrant visa. Haddad’s visa was obtained by his parent on his behalf as he was a minor at the time. His visa expired on Oct. 12, 2012. 

    In the afternoon of June 6, 2024, law enforcement responded to several calls reporting shots fired outside a multi-floor apartment complex in Lawrence. Surveillance footage identified one of the vehicles believed to be allegedly involved in the shooting – a white BMW leased to Haddad. Surveillance footage also allegedly identified Haddad as the driver of the vehicle. When stopped by law enforcement on June 8, 2024, Haddad was driving the BMW which authorities had towed. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a rifle with no serial number and 20 pieces of live .223 Remington Bronze full metal jacket rifle rounds under the hood.

    In 2019, Haddad was arrested and charged by the state with carrying a firearm without a license; receiving a firearm with a defaced serial number; possession with intent to distribute a Class D substance; conspiracy to violate the drug laws; and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. It is alleged that, in or about March 2019, Haddad, was encountered by federal immigration authorities while being held at a correctional facility on these charges because his B-2 visitor visa had expired. According to the charging documents, the firearms charges were dismissed on June 10, 2019 and the remaining charges were dismissed by nolle prosequi on Sept. 4, 2020 after a period of “general continuance.”

    The charge of unlawful or illegal alien in possession of ammunition provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon competition of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston; Acting Lawrence Police Chief Millix Bonilla; and Medford Police Chief Jack D. Buckley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Skyward Specialty Welcomes Patricia Ryan as General Counsel

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Skyward Specialty Insurance Group, Inc.™ (Nasdaq: SKWD) (“Skyward Specialty” or “the Company”) a leader in the specialty property and casualty (P&C) market, has recruited Patricia Ryan as the Company’s new General Counsel effective Tuesday, April 1 following the upcoming retirement of Leslie Shaunty, Skyward Specialty’s long-time General Counsel, after nearly 12 years of dedicated service. Ms. Shaunty will continue through the end of 2025 in a support and transition capacity.

    Ms. Ryan has extensive experience across a broad range of insurance legal competencies including compliance and regulatory matters, corporate governance and enterprise risk management, securities, products and contract law. With more than 20 years in the insurance industry, she has held Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and other senior legal and human resources leadership positions at Trean Insurance Group, HDI Global, QBE North America, and Allianz/Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. Additionally, Ms. Ryan spent more than a decade in private practice before joining the insurance sector.

    Ms. Ryan holds a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics and history from the University of Illinois.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Patty to the Skyward Specialty team,” said Robinson. “Her deep legal expertise and proven leadership in the industry make her a welcome addition to our executive team. We look forward to her contributions as we continue to drive innovation and excellence in the industry.” said Andrew Robinson, Chairman and CEO of Skyward Specialty.

    Robinson further commented, “Leslie has been a key member of our executive leadership team providing product development, legal, compliance and strategic leadership. Her expertise, drive and work rate were central to our highly successful IPO, each subsequent follow-on offering, and performance as a public company. We are incredibly grateful for her many contributions. On behalf of the entire executive leadership team, we thank Leslie for her lasting impact and wish her the very best in her retirement.”

    About Skyward Specialty
    Skyward Specialty is a rapidly growing and innovative specialty insurance company, delivering commercial property and casualty products and solutions on a non-admitted and admitted basis. The Company operates through eight underwriting divisions — Accident & Health, Captives, Global Property & Agriculture, Industry Solutions, Professional Lines, Programs, Surety and Transactional E&S.

    Skyward Specialty’s subsidiary insurance companies consist of Houston Specialty Insurance Company, Imperium Insurance Company, Great Midwest Insurance Company, and Oklahoma Specialty Insurance Company. These insurance companies are rated A (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best Company. For more information about Skyward Specialty, its people, and its products, please visit skywardinsurance.com.

    Media Contact
    Haley Doughty
    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
    713-935-4944
    hdoughty@skywardinsurance.com

    Investor Contact
    Natalie Schoolcraft
    Skyward Specialty Insurance Group
    614-494-4988
    nschoolcraft@skywardinsurance.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government must close Glasgow company aiding Russia say Greens

    Source: Scottish Greens

    15 Mar 2025 External Affairs

    The UK must close the loopholes in the sanctions placed on Russia.

    More in External Affairs

    The UK Government must take action to end the operations of a Glasgow-based company key to Russia’s gas exports says Scottish Green MSP Ross Greer.

    Writing to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds MP, Greer accused unethical businesses of exploiting loopholes in the sanctions placed on Russia and supporting their brutal invasion of Ukraine.

    Raising the example of Seapeak Maritime Ltd, based in Glasgow and London, Greer noted that the company operates seven oil tankers which export Russian liquified natural gas from Siberia to Europe. 

    Mr Greer said:

    “It’s been three years since Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine, and over a decade since they seized Crimea. Their brutal and illegal war has left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded and forced many more to flee for safety. 

    “Scotland has taken a firm position in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, but Seapeak operating from an office in Glasgow shames and undermines our efforts. 

    “The Russian war machine is dependent in no small part on the profits made by their gas exports. I’m glad the UK Government has sanctioned many individuals and companies who have aided the Kremlin, but for some reason Seapeak remains untouched. They’ve made a fortune from shipping gas out of Russia, throwing a lifeline to Putin’s war economy as a result.

    “It’s time for Seapeak’s operations here to be shut down and their ships sanctioned. Ukraine desperately needs our help if it is to survive the Russian onslaught and Trump’s betrayal. The least we do is stop companies based here from enabling Putin’s regime.”

    The Green MSP has worked with Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand since the full-scale invasion began and it was through their efforts that Seapeak’s activities were uncovered.

    Speaking on behalf of Razom We Stand, founder and executive director of the organisation, Svitlana Romanko says:

    “Three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, we are disheartened to see that the UK and Scottish governments still allow Glasgow-based Seapeak to bring Russian gas to Europe and profit from this ongoing gas trade.

    “Let’s be brutally honest – the fossil fuel industry choosing blood money over basic human decency comes as no surprise to anyone. Every tanker of Russian gas that sets sail spits in the face of both morality and global security. They’re just counting their cash while Ukraine burns. 

    “With Seapeak’s vessels openly trading Russian LNG on the spot market, without constraints, both the UK and Scottish governments’ continued inaction is nothing short of complicity. There’s no grey area here – this is brazen war profiteering happening in Glasgow, right inside Britain itself. 

    “Each day the British and Scottish governments hesitate to curtail this home-based trade only serves to strengthen Putin’s ability to wage his war against Ukraine and Europe. 

    “This Arctic gas that Seapeak transports, represents a double catastrophe; funding Russian aggression in Ukraine and unleashing enormous carbon emissions making a mockery of our climate commitments. 

    “And it’s not only about Ukraine. The Kremlin’s continued efforts to expand its gas export infrastructure in the Arctic leads to environmental devastation and massive carbon emissions, directly undermining the urgently needed response to the climate crisis.”

    Letter to Secretary of State for Business and Trade

    Jonathan Reynolds MP
    Secretary of State for Business and Trade
    By Email

    7th March 2025

    Ending indirect support for Russia via LNG exports

    Dear Jonathan,

    As I’m sure you are aware, Russia’s brutal and illegal war against Ukraine is dependent to a significant extent on the economic returns generated by the export of fossil fuels. Three years into this war governments and businesses across the world, including our own, have adopted a wide range of measures to ensure that they are not complicit in Putin’s horrific crimes through engagement with the Russian energy industry. These measures remain incomplete however, and loopholes are being exploited by businesses who have no objection to supporting the Russian war economy.

    Last year my office was made aware of the case of Seapeak Maritime Ltd, operating out of Glasgow and London. Seapeak is involved with Yamal LNG, Russia’s largest LNG plant, as well as private joint stock company Novatek, their largest LNG exporter and second-largest gas producer.

    Seven LNG tankers, the Yakov Gakkel, Eduard Toll, Nikolay Yevgenov, Vladimir Voronin, Georgiy Ushakov, Rudolf Samoylovich and Seapeak Yamal appear to have been travelling from the Yamal LNG port at Sabetta in Siberia to different European destinations. The Sabetta port is a joint venture of Novatek and the Russian state. All seven of these ships are managed and operated by Seapeak Maritime Ltd and Seapeak Maritime Glasgow Ltd.

    Last year I worked with the Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand and with Sky News to break this story. To my knowledge, Seapeak’s activities since then have not changed and they continue to play a key role in Russian LNG exports by operating roughly one third of all the tankers used for this work. I commend your expansion of sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ and would urge you to take similar action against Seapeak and its fleet immediately.

    I would be happy to provide your officials with further information compiled by my office and Razom We Stand, if that would be of use.

    Best wishes,
    Ross Greer MSP

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Rainbow Warrior arrives in Marshall Islands to call for nuclear and climate justice on 40th anniversary of Rongelap evacuation

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, Tuesday 11 March 2025 — Greenpeace flagship vessel the Rainbow Warrior was welcomed back to the Marshall Islands today, marking the start of a six-week mission around the Pacific nation to elevate calls for nuclear and climate justice; and support independent scientific research into the impacts of decades-long nuclear weapons testing by the US government.[1] 

    Escorted by traditional canoes, and welcomed by Marshallese singing and dancing, the arrival of the Rainbow Warrior marks a significant moment in the shared history of Greenpeace and the Marshall Islands — 40 years since Greenpeace crew evacuated over 300 people from the Rongelap atoll to Mejatto island, after toxic nuclear fallout from the Castle Bravo test rendered their ancestral lands uninhabitable.[2]

    The ship was given a blessing by the Council of Iroij, the traditional chiefs of the Islands; with speeches from Senator Hilton Kendall (Rongelap atoll); Honorable Boaz Lamdik on behalf of the Mayor of Majuro; Farrend Zackious, Vice Chairman Council of Iroij; and keynote address from Minister Bremity Lakjohn, Minister Assistant to the President.

    Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:

    “We’re extremely grateful and humbled to be welcomed back by the Marshallese government and community with such kindness and generosity of spirit. Over the coming weeks, we’ll travel around this beautiful country, bearing witness to the impacts of nuclear weapons testing and the climate crisis, and listening to the lived experiences of Marshallese communities fighting for justice.

    “For decades, Marshallese communities have been sacrificing their lands, health, and cultures for the greed of those seeking profits and power. But at the same time, the Marshallese people have been some of the loudest voices calling for justice, accountability, and ambitious solutions to some of the greatest issues facing the world. Greenpeace is proud to stand alongside the Marshallese people in their demands for nuclear justice and reparations, and the fight against colonial exploitation which continues to this day. Justice – Jimwe im Maron.”

    Over the six-week mission, the Rainbow Warrior will travel to Mejatto, Enewetak, Bikini, Rongelap, and Wotje, undertaking much-needed independent radiation research, and reaffirming its solidarity with the Marshallese people — now facing further harm and displacement from the climate crisis, and the emerging threat of deep sea mining in the Pacific.

    Jobod Silk, a climate activist from Jo-Jikum, a youth organisation responding to climate change, said:

    “Marshallese culture has endured many hardships over the generations. Colonial powers have each left their mark on our livelihoods – introducing foreign diseases, influencing our language with unfamiliar syllables, and inducing mass displacement “for the good of mankind”. Yet, our people continue to show resilience. Liok tut bok: as the roots of the Pandanus bury deep into the soil, so must we be firm in our love for our culture.  

    “Today’s generation now battles a new threat. Once our provider, the ocean now knocks at our doors, and once again, displacement is imminent. Our crusade for nuclear justice intertwines with our fight against the tides. We were forced to be refugees, and we refuse to be labeled as such again.  As the sea rises, so do the youth. The return of the Rainbow Warrior instills hope for the youth in their quest to secure a safe future.”

    Dr Rianne Teule, Senior Radiation Protection Advisor at Greenpeace International, said:

    “It is an honour and a privilege to be able to support the Marshallese government and people in conducting independent scientific research to investigate, measure, and document the long term effects of US nuclear testing across the country.

    “As a result of the US government’s actions, the Marshallese people have suffered the direct and ongoing effects of nuclear fallout, including on their health, cultures, and lands. We hope that our research will support legal proceedings currently underway and the Marshall Islands government’s ongoing calls for reparations.” 

    The Rainbow Warrior’s arrival to the Marshall Islands on March 11 also marks the 14th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster. Whilst some residents have returned, there are many areas that remain too contaminated for people to safely live.[3]

    ENDS

    Photo and video of the welcome ceremony will be uploaded in the Greenpeace Media Library as the events progress.

    Notes:

    [1] Between 1946 to 1958, the US government detonated 67 nuclear weapons on Bikini and Enewetak Atolls in the Marshall Islands. In 1954, the US launched its largest test, Castle Bravo, which impacted the people on Rongelap and rendered the island uninhabitable.

    [2] On Marshall Islands Remembrance Day, Greenpeace calls for nuclear justice and reparations from the United States 

    [3] 14 years since Fukushima nuclear disaster: Greenpeace statement

    For more information or to organise an interview, please contact Kate O’Callaghan on [email protected] or 0406 231 892

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley Highlights Health Care Priorities to CMS Nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, laid out his health care priorities during a hearing to consider Dr. Mehmet Oz’s nomination to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Oz committed to supporting Grassley’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs, strengthen rural health care, help kids with exceptional medical needs, preserve transitional health plans and improve the agency’s responsiveness to Congress.

    Video and excerpts from Grassley follow.

    [embedded content]

    PBMs:

    “I’ve been working to hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable to lower prescription drug costs. I expect you to work with us to hold these powerful drug middlemen accountable and support rural pharmacies.”

    Rural Health Care:

    “I expect you to protect and support access to rural health care. To help achieve this, I believe CMS could take the following actions right away:

    1. Fill the open spots in the Rural Community Hospital demonstration program,
    2. Distribute the new physician residency slots to rural hospitals as the law requires, and
    3. Ensure the Rural Emergency Hospital Program is working for rural communities.”

    Kids with Exceptional Needs:

    “I expect you to take action to improve care and reduce red tape for kids with complex medical needs. This includes working with states so they can establish health homes for these kids, as my bipartisan ACE Kids law enabled.”

    Transitional Health Plans:

    “Since 2013, CMS under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden have issued non-enforcement memos to allow transitional health plans to be maintained. About 35,000 Iowa farmers and small business owners have maintained health insurance coverage with these plans for over a decade. This is health insurance that was purchased after Obamacare became law, but before it was implemented. I expect you to keep access to these health plans.”

    Waste, Fraud and Abuse:

    “Improper payments in our major health care programs have averaged $122 billion annually over the past five years. I’m the author of major and more recent updates to the federal government’s most powerful tool in fighting fraud, the False Claims Act.

    “Since the enactment of these reforms, the federal government has recovered more than $78 billion lost to fraud. It has saved billions more by deterring would-be fraudsters. CMS with the Justice Department must aggressively go after waste, fraud, and abuse and empower whistleblowers.”

    Congressional Oversight:

    “Oversight allows us to hold bureaucrats accountable to the rule of law, and it helps keep faith with taxpayers. I expect CMS to provide timely and complete responses to congressional oversight.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Grassley, Johnson Release Records Showing FBI Obtained Trump, Pence Cell Phones, Conducted Sweeping Interviews to Advance Anti-Trump Arctic Frost Investigation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

    WASHINGTON – In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) made public legally protected whistleblower disclosures showing the FBI, as part of its Arctic Frost investigation, acquired the government cell phones of President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence, among other government officials. FBI agents used taxpayer dollars to crisscross the country and conduct dozens of interviews in support of the political probe.

    The unclassified FBI records convey the alarming scope and speed of the FBI’s 2022 investigation of President Trump, which they dubbed “Operation Arctic Frost.” The investigation – launched by anti-Trump FBI agent Timothy Thibault in a breach of FBI protocol – formed the basis of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s elector case against Trump. Upon opening the investigation, Thibault vowed it would be “prioritized over all others in the Branch” and commented that “it frankly took too long for us to open this [investigation].”

    “Sunshine is the best disinfectant,” the chairmen wrote to Bondi and Patel. “The American people deserve to know the complete extent of the corruption within the DOJ and FBI that led to the investigation into President Trump. We are making this information public for purposes of public accountability and to provide specific examples of past behavior at your institutions that must not be repeated. Quite simply, the public has a right to know what happened in Arctic Frost and, based on what we’ve exposed to date, the American public deserves better from its law enforcement agencies. It is important that every individual at your agencies maintains the highest level of professionalism, and does not allow political bias to motivate or guide their investigative work.”

    Within weeks of opening Arctic Frost on April 13, 2022, FBI agents began taking aggressive action to build out their case. The following is a summary of some Arctic Frost investigatory updates, based on unclassified internal FBI records:

    Update 1 (April 22-25, 2022):

    • FBI begins scheduling over a dozen interviews in coordination with 13 FBI field offices.
    • DOJ and FBI begin the process of acquiring Trump and Pence’s government phones, which were in the Biden White House’s possession.

    Update 2 (May 2-3, 2022):

    • FBI begins analyzing communications between Trump team members and Republican electors.
    • FBI meets with Justice Department (DOJ) officials to discuss possible search warrants for the Trump and Pence cell phones.           

    Update 3 (May 10, 2022):

    • FBI attempts to contact individuals in states throughout the country to schedule interviews.

    Update 4 (May 13-17, 2022):

    • FBI obtains Trump and Pence’s government phones and enters them into evidence for the case.
    • FBI interviews the first Trump administration’s Deputy White House Counsel.
    • Additional interviews are planned with Trump administration officials, including employees from the Offices of the President and Vice President, DOJ and former Director of National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe.
    • DOJ and FBI begin discussing the possibility of merging the DOJ Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation, which included former Acting Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for the Civil Division, Jeffrey Clark, with the FBI’s Arctic Frost investigation.
    • DOJ OIG makes plans to seek search warrants for phones associated with former AAG Jeffrey Clark, John Eastman, Mark Meadows and Ken Klukowski.

    Update 5 (May 21-24, 2022):

    • FBI makes the decision to add former AAG Jeffrey Clark to the Arctic Frost investigation.
    • FBI drafts a search warrant for the Trump and Pence cell phones in its possession.
    • Plans continue for additional interviews with former Trump administration officials.

    Update 6 (May 27, 2022):

    • FBI plans to conduct approximately 50 interviews, coupled with subpoenas, across at least seven states during the week of June 20, 2022. Interviews are set to take place with those who “signed and/or mailed the certificates in each state, as well as the Trump Campaign’s Directors of Election Day Operations for the relevant states, and certain GOP officials who are believed to have facilitated the scheme by communicating with individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the ‘fraudulent’ or ‘alternate’ electors.”
    • The DOJ OIG investigation that includes Jeffrey Clark is formally merged with the FBI Arctic Frost investigation, providing FBI access to phones and email accounts from a variety of DOJ officials, including former Attorney General Bill Barr.

    Resources and Staffing

    • Over the course of just four days in June 2022, the FBI Arctic Frost team spent approximately $16,000 in taxpayer-funded travel to “conduct more than 40 interviews, serve subpoenas and execute several cellular device search warrants.”

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lee Introduces Stop CARB Act for 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee

    Legislation would reduce California’s control over national emissions standards

    WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced the Stop California from Advancing Regulatory Burden Act, or Stop CARB Act, to rein in California’s outsized influence over national emissions standards. For decades, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has used federal waivers under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to set unreasonably stringent emissions standards, forcing businesses and consumers nationwide to comply with California’s radical environmental agenda. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jim Justice (R-WV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Ted Cruz (R-TX). Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) has introduced the companion bill in the House of Representatives.  

    “California has abused the Clean Air Act’s waiver provision for years, essentially imposing ridiculous emission standards on the other 49 states,” said Senator Lee. “Fortunately, the rest of the country isn’t governed by far-left extremists like California, and we shouldn’t have to answer to them. By putting an end to this overreach, our legislation will keep costs lower for hardworking American families, increase consumer choice, and restore economic freedom.”

    “The radical liberal state of California should never be able to govern for our great state of Texas,” said Congressman Nehls. “California should not be legislating for the rest of the country. My bill will ensure that California only governs California, not hard-working patriots in my district, by repealing California’s waiver.” 

    In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, granting California the ability to apply for waivers that allow the state to set emissions standards higher than federal levels. Currently, California holds over 100 active waivers, imposing stringent requirements that affect industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to farming and construction. Other states can adopt these burdensome standards without modification, and 17 states plus the District of Columbia have done so, subjecting nearly half the nation’s new vehicle registrations to California’s draconian rules.

    The Stop CARB Act will:

    • Repeal California’s waiver exemption in Section 209 of the Clean Air Act;
    • Repeal Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, which allows other states to adopt California’s emissions standards; and
    • Nullify any active or pending waivers granted to California.

     The legislation is endorsed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), American Petroleum Institute (API), American Trucking Associations (ATA) and American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM).

    “California should not be setting what can amount to national emission standards for new motor vehicles and nonroad engines. Yet this is exactly what can happen. If the EPA gets rid of its de facto EV mandate, that’s not the end of the war on gas-powered cars. Among other threats, California has a rule that would kill off gas-powered cars, banning the sale of new gas cars by 2035. There’s nothing de facto about it. The Biden EPA just gave the green light for California to move forward with this car-killing rule. Other states can then adopt the same requirements and even if they don’t, manufacturers may simply adopt the stringent California standards to have a single set of requirements. CEI commends Senator Lee for introducing legislation that would put an end to this attack on our cars and defend consumer freedom. It would do so by finally repealing the special and unjustified treatment California gets under the Clean Air Act. As a result, the extreme and harmful vehicle emission policies of California could no longer set national policy.”  -Daren Bakst, Director, Competitive Enterprise Institute

    “Congress must take the keys away from California regulators whose unachievable EV mandates are undermining our supply chains and derailing the tremendous progress we have made to reduce emissions.  We are grateful for Senator Lee and Representative Nehls’ leadership to restore common sense to our environmental regulations and stopping California from exporting its bad ideas to other states.  We look forward to working with Congress and the Trump Administration to develop realistic, technology-neutral federal emissions standards that will benefit our environment, preserve and create jobs, and set our industry up for success,” -Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the American Trucking Associations.  

    Stop CARB Act: One-pager | Bill text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Votes No on Republican Continuing Resolution 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) today voted against congressional Republicans’ Continuing Resolution (CR), which would give the Trump Administration authority to strip funding without oversight by Congress and cut billions from previously bipartisan programs and initiatives. Senator Welch released the following expanded statement on the CR: 
    “Instead of funding the government, this bill makes drastic cuts to critical programs Vermonters rely on and gives unprecedented power to President Trump and Elon Musk to continue their reckless, illegal rampage. I could not vote for a bill that makes radical cuts—totaling billions of dollars—to funding for law enforcement, infrastructure re-development, disaster response and mitigation, cancer research, and more. I could not vote for a bill that gives a blank check to President Trump to inflict more punitive tariffs on American businesses, farmers, and families. I could not vote for a bill that allows Trump and Musk to cut federal funding at their whim and defund programs entirely without congressional approval or oversight,” said Senator Welch.  
    “It’s wrong for congressional Republicans to jeopardize Vermonters’ health, safety, and financial wellbeing so they can play games with the budget process. Republicans walked away from bipartisan negotiations on a budget because President Trump told them to.  They are, yet again, ceding Congress’s constitutional authority to Donald Trump and hurting Americans in the process,” concluded Welch. 
    The Republicans’ CR makes drastic cuts to funding, and would result in fewer jobs, higher prices, and more chaos: 

    The bill cuts more than $247 million from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program, which funds community safety and policing grants to local, state, and tribal governments. 
    The bill cuts congressionally directed medical research programs at the Department of Defense by more than half, totaling $859 million.  
    The bill gives an $8 million blank check to the Trump Administration to use for mass deportations.  
    The bill underfunds rental assistance by $500 million, which could result in fewer housing vouchers for Vermonters who need safe, affordable housing. 
    The bill only provides an additional $2.2 billion for FEMA’s disaster recovery, at a time when FEMA is estimated to require an additional $17 billion, in addition to the current funding levels, to respond to future natural disasters. 
    The bill will cut $1.4 billion in funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, eliminating all funds from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which Congress passed in 2021. This could put flood recovery projects supported by the Army Corps in Vermont at risk. 
    The bill will cut the budget of the Federal Public Defender program, which would prevent them from filling vacant positions and require delayed payments to private panel attorneys. 
    The bill will cut $280 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), opening a pathway for Secretary Kennedy to remove spending from:

    Infectious diseases  
    Alzheimer’s 
    Lyme Disease  
    The Rural Residency Planning and Development Program 
    Maternal Health Innovation Program 
    Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program 
    Cancer Prevention Programs 
    Medication assisted treatment programs 
    First Responders grants 
    Child Abuse Prevention Program  
    Runaway and Homeless Youth Program; and  
    Elder Abuse Prevention and Adult Protective Services 

    The bill will cut $1.2 billion from the Department of Veterans Affairs, military construction and related agencies, and potentially strip funding from health care efforts including:

    Homelessness prevention programs 
    Rural health  
    Suicide prevention 

    The bill will cut more than $1 billion from Washington D.C.’s budget, impacting education, law enforcement, housing and more. 

    Senator Welch announced he would vote against the bill on Wednesday. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CLG Workshop at Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 to Address Legal and Strategic Solutions in Congo

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), March 14, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF), taking place from March 24-26 in Brazzaville, will feature a workshop led by legal firm CLG (formerly Centurion Law Group) that aims to address the unique challenges faced in Congo’s energy investment sector. As part of a strategy to spur energy investment and socioeconomic development, the Republic of Congo has initiated a number of strategies to drive resource monetization, project development and local capacity building.

    As such, the Mastering Business in Congo: Legal Challenges and Strategic Solutions for Success session will take place on 24 March, offering an understanding of the legal structures underpinning corporate law, taxation, immigration, labor law and regulatory compliance. During the session, a panel of legal experts from CLG will delve into all aspects of growing investments in the African energy sector, offering insights into the legal nuances that can directly influence investments decisions. 

    Set to showcase how Congo’s investment landscape can accelerate monetization of the country’s natural resources, CLG’s experience in the African market has the potential to empower businesses with effective management skills and knowledge for participating in Congo’s energy sector. The country is set to release its Gas Master Plan (https://apo-opa.co/3DF5fSI) and new Gas Code (https://apo-opa.co/3Fsijey) at CEIF 2025, with a promise to reducing energy imports in the country and raising electricity access for its population, which currently stands at 50%.

    Meanwhile, Congo is also preparing to launch an international oil and gas licensing round (https://apo-opa.co/4bu0dF8) at CEIF 2025, aiming to attract investment in both marginal and deepwater blocks. This initiative is part of the country’s strategy to increase oil production from the current 274,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 500,000 bpd by 2027. These major developments align with Congo’s broader national goals to mitigate production declines and stimulate further exploration on- and offshore. are expected to usher in a new wave of investment in sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth largest oil producing market.

    The Mastering Business in Congo: Legal Challenges and Strategic Solutions for Success will offer attendees the opportunity to master the complex regulatory landscape and learn how it affects various investment types within the energy sector. During the session, CLG will provide delegates with knowledge to develop actionable strategies to mitigate legal risks and safeguard investments from future potential strategies.

    “At CEIF 2025, we recognize that navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape is crucial for successful investment in Congo’s growing energy sector. This workshop, led by CLG, is a pivotal opportunity for investors and stakeholders to gain valuable insights into the legal frameworks that underpin the energy market. By addressing key challenges and offering strategic solutions, we aim to empower businesses with the knowledge to unlock the full potential of Congo’s energy resources,” states Daoudou Mohammad, Tax and Legal Director, CLG.

    CLG is a leading provider of specialized legal and tax advisory services, catering to a diverse portfolio of multinational companies operating globally. With a team of experts boasting extensive experience and knowledge across multiple sectors and with offices in Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia and South Sudan; CLG delivers bespoke solutions tailored to address the unique challenges and complexities faced by clients in various industries.

    CLG’s expertise spans a wide range of industries – including energy, infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and ESG to name a few –  enabling the firm to provide comprehensive guidance and support to clients navigating Africa’s dynamic business landscape. By combining technical excellence with a deep understanding of local markets and regulatory environments, CLG helps clients achieve their business objectives and capitalize on opportunities for growth and expansion.

    Registration (https://apo-opa.co/3FspgMZ) for the workshop is now open.

    The inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Natioanle des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Police rescue kidnapped Pakistani businessman

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, March 14, 2025

    Police rescued a 55-year-old Pakistani businessman and arrested four kidnappers in different locations in Gauteng on Thursday, following an intelligence-led operation. 

    “According to a preliminary report, the victim was kidnapped in Graaff-Reinet, in the Eastern Cape, earlier last month, by an unknown group of individuals who introduced themselves to the victim as immigration officials,” the South African Police Service 9SAPS) said in a statement. 

    “The victim allegedly accompanied these individuals to the nearest police station, but never returned home,” the police said.

    The victim’s family reported the kidnapping to the police after the kidnappers had allegedly demanded a ransom for the release of the victim.

    A multi-disciplinary team comprising members from National Crime Intelligence, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation in the Eastern Cape (DPCI – HAWKS), DPCI Tactical Operations Management Section (TOMS), Soweto Flying Squad and private security arrested two South Africans and two Pakistani nationals.

    One kidnapper was arrested in Killarney and an unlicensed firearm was seized during the arrest. 

    The team also seized a vehicle during the operation.

    The suspect led the team to the location of the victim in Evaton where two more kidnappers were arrested.

    Further investigation resulted in the arrest of a fourth kidnapper in Benoni. A vehicle which is believed to have been used in the commission of the crime was also seized.

    The four suspects are expected to appear before a magistrate’s court soon, while further investigations continue. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Youth Must Have Leadership Role in Dismantling Patriarchal Norms, Financing Gender Equality, Women’s Commission Hears as It Concludes First Week

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Gender Justice Cannot Be Achieved without Ending Discrimination against Indigenous Women, Girls, Those with Disabilities, Speakers Stress

    The Commission on the Status of Women wrapped up its first week today, with a dialogue among youth representatives who stressed the need to include the next generation of leaders not only in conversations about women and girls’ empowerment but in leadership roles that fight for disability inclusion, finance gender equality, dismantle patriarchal norms and defend Indigenous voices. 

    The United Nations kicked off the sixty-ninth session of the Commission this week, focusing on accelerating the adoption of the Platform for Action adopted at the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women.  Leaders gathered in Beijing 30 years ago to pledge to achieve gender equality and uphold women’s rights.  Discussions this session also focused on contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

    Kateryna Levchenko, Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy of Ukraine and Chair of the meeting, said that 30 years after its adoption, the Beijing Platform for Action still mobilizes Member States, the United Nations, feminist movements, civil society organizations, young people and other stakeholders.  “It continues to be an unprecedented consensus on the actions needed to advance gender equality and women’s and girls’ human rights and their empowerment,” she said.

    However, 30 years after the 1995 World Conference on Women, no country has fully achieved gender equality.  That’s why Member States must recommit to its full implementation, she stressed, and identify synergies with other global commitments, working in partnership with civil society, young people, the UN and the private sector.  With just five years until the 2030 target date for achieving the SDGs, the Platform holds the key to unblock bottlenecks and accelerate much needed progress.

    Fenna Timsi, UN Youth Representative for Human Rights and Security of the Netherlands, said that today’s youth representatives represent large networks who have been on the frontlines of fighting for women and girls rights.  “They will reflect on the progress made since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, sharing insights, voicing challenges and proposing solutions to persistent issues such as gender-based violence, access to education and economic empowerment,” she noted.  The 2024 review and appraisal of the Beijing process with more than 150 States reporting on their actions is a “a clear testament” to the pact’s continued relevance and power. 

    30 Years after Landmark Women’s Conference in Beijing, Gender Equality an Unfulfilled Promise

    Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), delivering opening remarks, commended the young representatives for their activism and “for your constant reminder to us all to do more, to do better, to be better”. Thirty years on, gender equality remains an unfulfilled promise.  “But one thing is clear, you, young people, are not waiting,” she emphasized.  “Each of your contributions has spoken to a truth that we cannot ignore,” she said, stressing:  “Progress cannot be partial.  Change must be transformative and inclusive.”

    The Beijing Platform for Action remains the most powerful framework for gender equality, she went on.  “Since its adoption, we have seen strides — more women in politics, stronger laws against gender-based violence, greater access to education,” she described.  But progress has been too slow and too uneven.  Women still hold only 27 per cent of parliamentary seats, which, while up from 11 per cent in 1995, is not enough.  One in three women globally continues to face physical or sexual violence, “a crisis we cannot accept as inevitable”.  In the face of climate crisis, economic inequalities and humanitarian disasters, it is young women and adolescent girls who bear the brunt, are displaced, denied education, and made more vulnerable to violence. 

    World Not Designed for Women with Disabilities to Thrive

    Eva Chisom Chukwunelo, Amputee Peer Counselor at the Mobility Clinic Limited in Nigeria, said that all women, no matter where they come from, should have the right to education, healthcare and leadership.  But as a young woman with a disability, she wondered, “did that promise include me?”  At 17, she said she stood at the crossroads, between two versions of her life. “One moment, I was a teenage girl with dreams, and the next, I was a girl with a disability, unsure of what my future held,” she added.  “That was when I realized the world is not designed for women with disabilities to thrive, and if we do not demand justice, it never will be,” she said.  Gender justice is incomplete if it does not include women and girls with disabilities. 

    How many girls with disabilities are missing from classrooms, not because they lack intelligence, but because inclusion is seen as too expensive, she asked.  How many women with disabilities are absent from decision-making spaces, not because they lack vision, but because the world refuses to see their potential, she also wondered.  “If you are not counted, then you do not count,” she said, urging countries to disaggregate data by gender, disability and age.  Governments must actively engage young women with disabilities in policy creation and leadership.  Schools must be built for all learners, healthcare systems must train providers to respect and serve women with disabilities, and leadership spaces must be welcoming, “not just in words, but in action”. 

    Meaningful Youth Engagement Key to Shaping Policy

    “Meaningful youth engagement in the Beijing processes is crucial to shape policies that address our concerns, reflect our aspirations and make us part of the leadership, rather than just part of the conversation,” said Ema Mecaj, member of the Beijing+30 Youth Steering Committee.  Over the past few days, the voice of young people has been clear.  “We should not take this progress for granted, but we need to speak up for the challenges and voice the untold stories of many women and girls who daily face the impacts of misogyny and gender stereotypes,” she said. 

    She noted that, according to the World Bank, 712 million people live in extreme poverty, with women and girls being disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of the climate crisis and displacement.  Globally in 2023, 51,000 women and girls were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. “These statistics are unacceptable and unfortunately reflect the broken reality,” she said.  As a medical student, she said that prevention strategies are needed to eradicate poverty, especially the feminization of poverty, and respond to technology facilitated gender-based violence.  

    Role of Boys and Men in Tackling Patriarchal Masculinities

     “We must stop placing the burden on women to endure and navigate the toxicity of patriarchal systems and instead confront patriarchal masculinities as the root cause of their oppression,” said Ahdithya Visweswaran, Governance Coordinator at Young Diplomats of Canada.  It is essential to tackle the ideological roots of patriarchal norms that perpetuate inequality and violence.  Young men and boys must see themselves not as inherent opponents, but as natural allies and co-beneficiaries of the gender equality agenda.  “Men and boys must no longer be seen as peripheral participants, but as indispensable stakeholders in this broader struggle for justice and equality,” he said. 

    But transformation cannot be simply achieved through narratives, it requires institutionalization, and the active participation of families, schools, communities and Governments, he stressed.  For far too long, efforts to engage men and boys have been limited to pilot programmes, often disconnected from the broader systems and the broader work that’s being done.  The socialization of boys is one of the most powerful yet underutilized tools for advancing gender equality.  “We’re shaped by the environments in which we are raised,” he said, adding that positive role models can cultivate a new generation of men who embrace equity, reject violence, and build healthier masculinities.  

    Systemic and Structural Discrimination against Indigenous Women

    Laura Huertas, Founder of ANYAR (Indigenous youth organization), said that many of the Beijing commitments have still not been fulfilled, particularly in rural areas, Indigenous areas, and in other marginal sectors of Latin America and the Caribbean.  There and in other regions of the Global South, socioeconomic and political inequalities persist, despite progress in terms of access to education, health, and political participation of women. 

    “Being an Indigenous woman in Latin America is not easy, because we face the forced displacement within our territories, systematic discrimination, and structural discrimination,” she said.  “In my territory alone, 76.9 per cent of people live in multidimensional poverty, and more than 62 per cent have to live outside their ancestral lands,” she said.  Beijing+30 is “a cry of resistance”, she said, adding that “we don’t want just hollow roundtables”. 

    Financial Freedom and Justice Key to Advance Women’s Agency

    Sanjana Chhantyal, Manager at the Criterion Institute, said that financial system was not designed for women and undervalues women’s care work.  “It decides what is valuable, and by extension, who is valuable,” she said.  Systemic barriers have prevented women from building wealth and acquiring financial assets such as land and property; yet financial institutions traditionally look for the presence of financial assets or collateral to decide who gets access to finance. 

    “Let us call it what it is, a poverty trap,” she said.  Gender equality cannot be achieved without financial freedom and financial justice for all women and girls.  “Financial independence supports our agency and our ability to advocate for our rights, step away from abusive situations and make choices about our health, education and careers,” she said.  Empowered women empower other women and their communities.  “Justice is not only about the absence of barriers, but also presence of opportunities,” she stressed. 

    __________

    *     The 9th & 10th meetings were not covered.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Inner north-east Melbourne auctions targeted in autumn blitz

    Source: Government of Victoria 2

    Our Consumer Affairs Underquoting Taskforce kicked off its autumn sales season inspection blitz on Saturday, monitoring more than 50 property auctions in the Doncaster area to check compliance with underquoting laws.

    The taskforce has been monitoring sales campaigns in Melbourne’s north-east, following complaints about real estate agent conduct in the area.

    During the blitz, taskforce officers are speaking with estate agents and consumers, checking for estate agent compliance with auction and sales rules and monitoring for potential underquoting.

    Since its launch in 2022, the taskforce has now issued more than 220 official warnings and more than 160 fines to estate agents caught breaching their obligations. Fines have totalled more than $1.8 million.

    The taskforce has now monitored more than 2,300 sales campaigns and attended more than 220 auctions.

    Investigations have also led to court proceedings for estate agent and Australian Consumer Law breaches.

    Underquoting is a still a big concern for homebuyers in Melbourne’s property market and is one of the top real estate issues reported to Consumer Affairs Victoria.

    There have been more than 3,740 complaints through the Consumer Affairs dedicated underquoting webform from purchasers, estate agents and buyers’ advocates. These reports and other intelligence are used to identify agents who may be breaking the law.

    More than 30% of the webform reports in 2024 were made by other estate agents, showing that agents doing the right thing are no longer willing to tolerate having to compete against unfair and unlawful practices in their industry.

    New laws recently passed by the Victorian Parliament and due to come into effect later this year will increase the penalties for underquoting and other related estate agent legal breaches. These will mean more protections for Victorians looking for a home and will ensure that agents who do the right thing aren’t unfairly disadvantaged.

    If you suspect underquoting, report it to us.

    Find more information about underquoting.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Two charged following Henley St incident

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Two charged following Henley St incident

    Saturday, 15 March 2025 – 7:00 am.

    Police have charged a 29-year-old woman with aggravated assault and firearm offences and a 40-year-old man for damage to property and firearm offences following an isolated incident in Henley Street, Lindisfarne yesterday afternoon.
    Police were called to a residential property about 2:20pm following reports a firearm had been shot towards a house.
    The road was closed and police secured the scene, locating a firearm inside the house, and taking two people into custody.
    Both people involved are known to each other, and no one was injured in the incident.
    The woman and man have both been detained and will appear in court this morning.
    Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Arrest – Escape custody – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 21-year-old man who escaped custody in Darwin on Tuesday evening.

    The man was arrested without incident a short time ago by members from the Territory Safety Division after he was sighted on a public bus in the Malak area.

    He remains in police custody.

    Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Anti-Secession Law a strong, effective deterrent to ‘Taiwan independence’

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Two decades ago, China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), voted to adopt the Anti-Secession Law with an overwhelming majority.
    It was a milestone event in mainland-Taiwan relations as the law embodies both the will of the state and the common interests of Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait, and codifies the fundamental policy to foil “Taiwan independence” and advance national reunification.
    To mark the 20th anniversary of the law’s enforcement, a symposium was held in Beijing on Friday, stressing firm action against “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and external interference.
    Against the backdrop of the current situation in the Strait, the symposium has sent a clear signal and offered an important guide for compatriots across the Strait to press forward together on the right path.
    Since it took effect, the law has achieved remarkable results in safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in cracking down on separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence” and in guarding against foreign interference, among others.
    It is emphasized in the law that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, and that resolving the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. The law also clearly draws a legally-binding red line, stipulating the use of force to foil separatist forces and their activities seeking “Taiwan independence” if such a red line is breached.
    The law has brought powerful deterrent effect on separatist forces. Over the past 20 years, they have not dared to cross the red line, though they have tried various plots and tricks. In recent years, the mainland has further enriched the legal framework for punishing “Taiwan independence” separatist activities, forming an even stronger deterrent to separatist forces aimed at “Taiwan independence.”
    The law also envisions vast space and prospect for the peaceful reunification of the motherland and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. However, for some time, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities and the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces have propagated secessionist fallacies, pushing Taiwan to the brink of perils.
    The mainland is willing to strive toward peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost efforts. Meanwhile, it will leave no room for any separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence” in any form.
    The separatist forces should wake up to the fact that the Anti-Secession Law is neither a “scarecrow” nor an ornament, and their provocative acts to test or even cross the red line will be met with resolute countermeasures. 

    MIL OSI China News –