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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 194th Meeting of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 194th Meeting of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)

    Union Minister Announces Establishment of 10 New ESIC Medical Colleges, Supporting PM’s Independence Day (2024) Pledge of 75,000 New Medical Seats in Next 5 Years

    Gives Extension to Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana for a period from 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2026

    Announces Provision of Medical Care to ESIC Beneficiaries under convergence program of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on PAN India basis

    Approves Starting of Para-medical & B.Sc (Nursing) Courses at ESIC Medical Colleges

    Approves Recruitment of Nursing Officers through NORCET

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 6:15PM by PIB Delhi

    Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports chaired the 194th meeting of the ESI Corporation at ESIC Headquarters in New Delhi today. Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises was also present on the occassion. At the meeting, the Union Minister announced several key decisions of ESI Corporation for further strengthening the infrastructure and medical facilities of ESIC. 

    Establishment of 10 New ESIC Medical Colleges

    ESI Corporation has approved in-principle for the establishment of 10 New ESIC Medical Colleges at Andheri (Maharashtra), Basaidarapur (Delhi), Guwahati-Beltola (Assam), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Ludhiana (Punjab), Naroda-Bapunagar (Gujarat), Noida & Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Ranchi (Jharkhand).

    This decision will support the announcement made by Prime Minister during the independence day (2024) speech of creating new 75000 medial seats in next 5 years.

    Extension of Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna for a period from 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2026

    In order to provide relief to insured persons, who have been rendered unemployed, a scheme namely “Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna” was introduced in ESIC on a pilot basis for a period of two years w.e.f. 01.07.2018. The scheme was intended to provide support in the form of an Unemployment Allowance during the period when an insured person searches for a new engagement for earnings.

    After completion of two years since its inception, the scheme was extended for another one year from 01.07.2020 to 30.06.2021. It was further extended upto 30.06.2022 and then upto 30.06.2024.

    Further, this scheme has been extended for a further two years with effect from 01.07.2024 to 30.06.2026.

    Provision of Medical Care to ESIC Beneficiaries under convergence program of ESIC with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) on PAN India basis

    This decision will help the ESIC beneficiaries to get treatment at empanelled hospitals of Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantra Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in unserviced/deficient areas of country. There shall not be any expenditure limit for Insured Persons of ESIC in emapanelled hospitals under PMJAY.

    Starting of Para-medical & B.Sc (Nursing) Courses at ESIC Medical Colleges

    ESI Corporation has approved Para-medical & B.Sc (Nursing) Courses in ESIC Medical College Alwar (Rajashtan), Bihta (Bihar), Faridabad (Haryana), Joka (West Bengal), K.K. Nagar (Tamil Nadu), Sanathnagar (Telangana) & Rajajinagar (Karnataka).

     

    Nursing Officer Recruitment through NORCET in line with the AIIMS recruitment policy

    ESI Corporation has approved for the adoption of recruitment for the post of Nursing Officer, in line with the AIIMS recruitment policy, for conducting the recruitment of Nursing Officers through NORCET organized by AIIMS. This will ensure that there is no shortage and vacancy of nurses in ESIC Hospitals/Colleges and Dispensaries.

    ESI Corporation approved for the Acquisition of land parcels for construction of Hospitals/Dispensaries/DCBOs at different locations

    After analyzing the norms and strengthening ESIC’s infrastructure to deliver and meet the medical needs of insured workers, the corporation approved the proposals for Acquisition of land for construction of following projects: –

    (i) 100 bedded ESI Hospital at Guntur, Andhra Pradesh

    (ii) 01 Doctor Dispensary at Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh

    (iii) DCBO at Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh

    (iv) 350 bedded ESI Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra

    (v) ESI Dispensary and Branch Office, Dhubri, Assam

    (vi) 100 bedded ESI Hospital at Muzaffarpur, Biha

    (vii) DCBO at Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh

    Further, Construction of 717 new staff quarters at ESIC residential colony, Sector-56, Noida, Uttar Pradesh has also been approved.

    Various agenda items pertaining to improvement in Medical Care Services, Administration, Financial Matters were deliberated upon and decided during the meeting along with the review of ongoing construction projects.

    The 194th meeting of the ESI Corporation was attended by Ms. Dola Sen, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Shri Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Shri N.K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary (L&E) and Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General, ESIC. Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the state governments, representatives of employers, employees and experts in the medical field were also present during the meeting.

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    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2063239) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan today launches several schemes and laid the foundation stone of 500 km newly paved roads in Madhya Pradesh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan today launches several schemes and laid the foundation stone of 500 km newly paved roads in Madhya Pradesh

    Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan launches Awas Sakhi mobile app and village road survey & planning tool under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

    Survey of kuccha houses is starting from today across the country, names left out in the list of pucca houses will be included, survey will be completed within 6 months: Shri Chouhan

    Minimum support price for Rabi crop is about to be announced, for me serving people is like worshipping God: Shri Chauhan

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 6:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the Rural Self Employment Programme of the Ministry of Rural Development at Bhairunda, Madhya Pradesh. He launched the Awas Sakhi Mobile App under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and inaugurated 100 Community Managed Training Centres – CMTCs in 18 states. He laid the foundation stone for 500 km of newly paved roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and launched the Gram Sadak Survey & Planning Tool. Also, approval was given for setting up 5 new RSETI training centers in Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shri Mohan Yadav, Minister of State for Rural Development Shri Kamlesh Paswan, Panchayati Raj Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Prahlad Patel, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Kumar and many officials of the ministry and state government were present at the event.

    Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that survey of kuccha houses is starting across the country from today and the names of those who were left out in the list of pucca houses of 2018 will now be included. This survey will be completed within 6 months so that no sister or brother is left out. He also added that name of people will be added to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana even if they own a phone, motorcycle or scooter. Along with Ladli Behna, the campaign to make Lakhpati Didi will also run across the country. Lakhpati Didi means that every Didi should have an income of more than 10 thousand rupees every month. The Government of India is continuously working under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Earlier, only those earning 10 thousand rupees were eligible for the Awas Yojana, but now even if the income is 15 thousand rupees per month, the name will be added to the Awas Yojana. 100 crore rupees have been allocated for the Lakhpati Didi initiative. Farmers with irrigated land up to 2.5 acres and non-irrigated land up to 5 acres are eligible for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana benefits. The cabinet makes daily decisions to support farmers. To counteract falling soybean prices due to foreign oil imports, the Government of India will impose a 27.5 percent tax on imported oil, aiming to increase domestic soybean prices. The central government has approved purchasing soybeans in Madhya Pradesh at the minimum support price, and registration is open. Madhya Pradesh has already purchased the entire moong crop. Additionally, the minimum export rate on Basmati rice has been abolished, allowing foreign export and potential price increases.”

    Shri Chouhan said our government has taken various initiatives for farmers including purchasing lentils, black gram, and pigeon pea at minimum support prices, releasing 109 new seeds varieties. The minimum support price for the Rabi crop is about to be announced. For me, serving you is worship of God and Sehore district will also not be left behind. The central government and the state government will give money. He said that in Madhya Pradesh, 3 lakh 68 thousand houses have been given to the poor which will be given by the state government. Your service is the mission of my life. The central government will leave no stone unturned for Madhya Pradesh. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the poor will continue to be served and agriculture will also continue to progress. We will double your income. He added that more CM state schools will be opened. Shri Chouhan also congratulate the government for giving bonus on tendu leaves and wished Navratri to all the people present at the event.

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    SS

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    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Round Table Conference on IPR and Commercialization in Ayush Systems organised

    Source: Government of India (2)

     Round Table Conference on IPR and Commercialization in Ayush Systems organised

    Integration of traditional wisdom with modern technologies to protect intellectual property and foster innovation

    Global Partnerships in the last decade led to tremendous Growth in the Ayush Manufacturing Sector: Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ayush

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 7:00PM by PIB Delhi

    A Round Table Conference focusing on “Intellectual Property, Regulatory Framework, and Commercialization Aspects in Traditional Knowledge of Ayush Systems” was organised by the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) in collaboration with the School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur here today. The conference gathered leading experts from academia, government, and industry to address the critical challenges and opportunities in protecting and advancing traditional knowledge in Ayush systems.

    The event was graced by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, as the Chief Guest. Prof. (Vaidya) Kartar Singh Dhiman, Vice Chancellor of Shri Krishna Ayush University, Haryana, Prof. Anupam Srivastava, Head of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana at NIA, Jaipur, Prof. Rupesh Chaturvedi from the School of Biotechnology, JNU were among other dignitaries who graced the event.

    In his address, Prof. Kotecha emphasized the essential role of research and teaching in Ayurveda and how these pillars drive the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) agenda in traditional medicine.

    Highlighting the Ministry’s initiatives to strengthen Ayush systems, he said, “The evolving digital ecosystem and the generation of scientific evidence are crucial for advancing the Indian system of medicine. We integrate traditional wisdom with modern technologies to protect intellectual property and foster innovation.” Prof. Kotecha praised the Ayurveda Biology Program at JNU for its forward-thinking approach, which contributed to the modernisation and internationalisation of Ayurveda research.

    He also elaborated on India’s collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), focusing on developing global standards for traditional medicine. He credited these initiatives for contributing to India’s burgeoning Ayush manufacturing sector, which has witnessed tremendous growth over the past decade. Prof. Kotecha stressed that the collaboration between academia and industry is critical to further enhancing the global competitiveness of Ayush products while ensuring the protection of traditional knowledge through appropriate IPR frameworks.

    Prof. (Vaidya) Kartar Singh Dhiman, Vice Chancellor of Shri Krishna Ayush University, Haryana, was the Guest of Honor at the conference. He underscored the need for greater cooperation among all Ayush agencies to address common challenges in research and commercialisation. “A molecular understanding of traditional medicine and developing research tools specific to Ayush systems are essential. Moreover, we must include IPR as a core subject in postgraduate courses to prepare future scholars for the challenges ahead,” he remarked.

    Addressing a session, Prof. Anupam Srivastava, Head of Rasa Shastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana at NIA, Jaipur, traced the evolution of Ayush systems from the Department of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) to the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush. He emphasized the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library’s (TKDL) critical role in protecting India’s traditional medicinal knowledge from biopiracy. He proposed a six-month course on IPR, specifically tailored to the needs of Ayush professionals, to address gaps in intellectual property awareness.

    Prof. Rupesh Chaturvedi from the School of Biotechnology, JNU, spoke on the importance of protecting traditional knowledge in India and globally. He stressed the need to bridge research gaps to facilitate the commercialisation of Ayush products. “The proprietary issues surrounding Ayush systems can only be resolved through dedicated research and innovation. We must safeguard our traditional knowledge while ensuring its global integration,” he said.

    The conference concluded with a series of panel discussions that brought together leaders from Ayurveda, Unani, and Homeopathy. These sessions explored the creation and protection of intellectual property for Ayush innovations, the necessary regulatory frameworks, and strategies for commercialisation and benefit sharing.

    This conference marked a pivotal moment in addressing Ayush systems’ regulatory and intellectual property challenges. The discussions centred on crafting a shared vision to strengthen research, policy frameworks, and educational initiatives promoting India’s traditional knowledge globally. The event also fostered collaborations to advance Ayush systems’ contributions to global healthcare.

    As India continues to assert its leadership in traditional medicine, the dialogue initiated at this conference will catalyse further advancements in research, commercialisation, and intellectual property protection in the Ayush sector. The Ministry of Ayush remains committed to ensuring that Ayush systems continue to grow as an integral part of global healthcare solutions.

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    MV/AKS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS 70TH NATIONAL FILM AWARDS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS 70TH NATIONAL FILM AWARDS

    CONFERS DADASAHEB PHALKE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD ON SHRI MITHUN CHAKRABORTY

    FILMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ARE THE MOST POWERFUL MEDIUMS TO BRING CHANGES IN SOCIETY: PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 7:53PM by PIB Delhi

    The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu presented the 70th National Film Awards in various categories in New Delhi today (October 8, 2024). She also conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award for the year 2022 on Shri Mithun Chakraborty.

    Speaking on the occasion, the President said that our films reflect the artistic sense of our society. Life is changing. The standards of art are changing. New aspirations are arising. New problems are emerging. New awareness is rising. Amidst all these changes, the unchanging values ​​of love, compassion, and service are still making our individual and collective lives meaningful. We can see all these values portrayed in the films awarded today.

    The President said that Indian cinema is the largest film industry in the world, with films being produced in multiple languages ​​and in all regions of the country. It is also the most diverse art form. She congratulated the all award winners and appreciated the people associated with the film industry.

    The President congratulated Shri Mithun Chakraborty for receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award. She said that in his artistic journey of almost five decades, Mithun ji has not only portrayed serious characters on screen but has also portrayed with success many ordinary stories with his unique energy.

    The President said that though the languages ​​and backgrounds of award-winning films may be different, they all are reflections of India. These films are a treasure trove of experiences of Indian society. Indian traditions and their diversity come alive in these films.

    The President said that films and social media are the most powerful mediums to bring changes in society. These mediums have, as more impact in creating awareness among people than any other medium. She noted that out of more than 85 awards distributed today, only 15 awards have been received by women awardees. She said that the film industry could make more efforts towards women-led development.

    The President pointed out that meaningful films often do not find an audience. She urged aware citizens, social organizations, and governments to work together to increase the reach of meaningful cinema to the audience.

    Please click here to see the President’s Speech – 

     

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    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2063284) Visitor Counter : 76

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurates GST Bhawan at Nangal Raya, Janakpuri, Delhi, today

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurates GST Bhawan at Nangal Raya, Janakpuri, Delhi, today

    Shri Chaudhary asks CBIC to showcase how the Government is helping taxpayers by simplifying tax compliance

    CBIC’s large-scale expansion in office and residential infrastructure reflects growth of the department over the years: CBIC Chairman

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 9:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurated the state-of-the-art Goods and Services Tax (GST) office building in Nangal Raya, Delhi, today. Representing a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to improve tax administration and enhance public service, this new facility will serve as the official complex for various CGST Delhi formations.

    Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, Member GST, Member Tax Policy of CBIC, Principal Chief Commissioner of CGST Delhi Zone, Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs Delhi Zone, Director General DG Audit and senior officers of CBIC were also present at the inauguration.

     

    In his address on the occasion, Shri Chaudhary emphasised the critical role of GST infrastructure in Delhi, noting that the city’s strategic location positions it as a vital transit hub for goods flowing to and from neighbouring states. This underscores the necessity for seamless GST implementation to facilitate efficient interstate commerce.

     

    Shri Chaudhary added that while on one hand the integrated tax system simplified the indirect tax framework and broadened the tax base; on the other, it highlighted the urgent need to enhance the operational capacity of central GST structures.

    Shri Chaudhary further elaborated that as a significant contributor to the national exchequer, the effectiveness of GST in Delhi has a direct impact on overall tax revenue and the economic vitality of the country and advised officers to specially ensure in their interactions with MSMEs, that they not only remind them of their obligations but also showcase how the Government is helping them by simplifying tax compliance. The Union Minister of State also advised officers to use simple & clear communication with the taxpayers.

    While delineating the modern and advanced facilities installed in the building, the Union Minister of State stated that such modern facilities are not just about accommodating more officials; they are essential for enabling the department to effectively manage the increasing workload, maintain high service standards, and build an efficient tax administration system. He also appreciated that this new facility will save the government ₹5 crore annually in rental costs — recovering the cost of the building, with interest, in a short period of time.

    In his address of the occasion, Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, CBIC, emphasised that over the past 10 years, CBIC has seen large-scale expansion in office and residential infrastructure, which reflects the growth of the department over the years. In the last 10 financial years (2014-24), approvals have been received for infrastructure projects costing over ₹4,000 crore. Not only have approvals been secured, but the pace of construction on the ground has been unprecedented. He mentioned projects such as NACIN Palasamduram; Office and residential complex at Wadala, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Shri Aggarwal said that all projects are being closely monitored by the CBIC.

    While discussing the GST Bhawan at Nangal Raya, Shri Aggarwal emphasised that with its advanced facilities, including air-conditioned offices, modern workspaces and 24×7 security arrangements, it will streamline the work of our officers while offering greater convenience to taxpayers. One of the building’s key advantages is its proximity to the taxpayers’ jurisdiction as it is located closer to the vibrant and growing tax base of Delhi West & Delhi South, it will allow taxpayers to interact more easily with departmental officials. The newly established GST Suvidha Kendra inside the office building will further enhance this interface, improving both the ease of business and taxpayer compliance, Shri Aggarwal said.

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    NB/KMN

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lights, Camera, Awards!

    Source: Government of India

    Lights, Camera, Awards!

    President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu confers 70th National Film Awards

    Mithun Chakraborty receives Dada Saheb Phalke Award for his Lifetime achievement in Indian cinema

    President Draupadi Murmu says the films & social media are the most powerful medium to change society

    Government to set up India’s first Indian Institute of Creative Technology in Mumbai soon

    Government’s vision is to develop the film industry around three key pillars; To develop talent pool, Infrastructure & simplification of process involved in filmmaking: Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 9:27PM by PIB Delhi

    “Never allow your dreams to sleep, even if you are asleep”. These are the golden words of film legend Mithun Da to young awardees who received the 70th National Film Award in various categories in the national capital. The entire auditorium of Vigyan Bhawan rose to their feet in a standing ovation when President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu honoured Mithun Chakraborty with the Dada Saheb Phalke award for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. Addressing the gathering, Mithun Da, shared the experiences of his struggle in the film industry. He recalled the discrimination he faced due to his dusky complexion and shared his dancing success mantra with the awardees and audience present in the auditorium. His message to the aspiring young talent artists was to identify their talent while chasing their dreams.

    At the 70th National Film Awards ceremony, President of India Smt. Draupadi Murmu said that the films & social media are the most powerful medium to change society. She also praised the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for giving a level playing platform through these awards to the budding talents where they can come at the same platform along with the big names and production houses in the country.

    The Award ceremony saw the participation of award winners such as Manoj Vajpayee, Vishal Bhardwaj, Neena Gupta, Karan Johar, Rishabh Shetty etc. Other personalities from Indian cinema such as Sharmila Tagore, Prasoon Joshi, etc were also present. Esteemed personalities such as A.R. Rahman and Mani Ratnam were among the awardees who received the prestigious National Film Award for the seventh time, a testament to their enduring brilliance and influence on the industry. Their achievements continue to inspire both aspiring and established artists in the ever-evolving landscape of Indian cinema.

    Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting (I&B), Railways and Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for I&B Dr. L. Murugan, Sh. Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of I&B, Shri Rahul Rawail, Sh. Nila Madhab Panda, & Shri Gangadhar Mudaliar as Jury were also present at the event.

    Sh. Ashwini Vaishnaw warmly welcomed all the attendees, expressing his honor to be part of this prestigious event, which celebrates the brilliance of filmmakers, actors, technicians, and all stakeholders involved in the art of cinema.  He also paid tribute to legendary actor Mithun Chakraborty, who was honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his extraordinary contributions to Indian cinema and society. “Mithunda, your life is your message. You are an icon for our society, both on and off the screen,” he said, acknowledging the veteran actor’s exemplary career and public service.

    Shri Vaishnaw highlighted the remarkable achievements of nine debut directors, applauding their bold storytelling, and celebrated the role of young innovators, whether in the film industry or startups, in driving the creative economy.

    Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT)

    To further support the growth of creative industries, Sh. Vaishnaw  announced a landmark initiative – the establishment of the first Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) in Mumbai. Modeled after prestigious institutions like the IITs and IIMs, which have produced some of the world’s finest technical and managerial talent (some of them leading the big giants like Google, Microsoft, etc), the IICT will focus on developing creative skills and knowledge. This new institution will serve as a hub for innovation, creativity, and talent development, ensuring India stays at the forefront of the global creative economy.

    He also outlined the government’s vision to develop the film industry with three key pillars:

    1. Development of Talent Pipeline: Recognizing the increasing role of technology in filmmaking, he emphasized the need for a strong talent pipeline. Drawing parallels with India’s success in IT and semiconductor sectors, he highlighted the importance of nurturing talent in creative technologies, with IICTs playing a pivotal role.

    2. Infrastructure Development: Shri Vaishnaw stressed the need for world-class infrastructure to support the evolving needs of the film industry. He invited industry leaders to contribute ideas for creating a foundation that will propel Indian cinema to global standards.

    3. Simplification of Processes: The Minister discussed simplifying permissions for filmmakers, making it easier for them to use diverse locations, such as railways, forests, and archaeological sites, in their projects. Streamlining these processes will encourage creativity and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

    Shri Vaishnaw also emphasized the importance of preserving India’s rich film heritage, from classic films to posters and newspaper clippings. He shared that decisions have been made to safeguard these invaluable treasures for future generations.

    On this occasion, Secretary Shri Sanjay Jaju, also mentioned that 309 films in 32 different languages were received in Feature Films category and 128 films in 17 languages in Non-Feature Films category of 70th National Film Awards, thereby signifying the richness of our cultural landscape and inclusivity of our story telling. Recognising the resilience of Film industry in the background of global pandemic, he praised the film makers for captivating the audience through their art of storytelling.

    Highlights from the 70th National Film Awards

    This year’s National Film Awards continue the tradition of recognizing excellence across a diverse array of films and talent. The awards for 2022 feature several standout winners:

    • Best Feature Film: “Aattam (The Play)”, a Malayalam film directed by Anand Ekarshi, has won this prestigious award for its artistic brilliance.

    • Best Non-Feature Film: “Ayena (Mirror)”, directed by Siddhant Sarin, takes home this honor

    • Best Actor in a Leading Role: Rishab Shetty wins the award for his captivating performance in “Kantara” (Kannada)

    • Best Actress in a Leading Role: The Best Actress award will be shared by Nithya Menen for her portrayal in “Thiruchitrambalam” (Tamil) and Manasi Parekh for “Kutch Express” (Gujarati).

    • Best Direction: Sooraj R. Barjatya wins for his work in the Hindi film “Uunchai”

    Some of the other award winners include “Brahmastra – Part 1: Shiva” in the Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comic) category, “Kantara” for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and “Kishore Kumar: The Ultimate Biography” for Best Book on Cinema.

    Full list of awards can be found at the link below:

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2045960

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    Dharmendra Tewari/Kshitij Singha

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi Announces $30.5 Million for UCSF to Research Drug Side-effect Prevention

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced that the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) will receive up to $30.5 million in new federal funding for its research into preemptively identifying the side-effect targets a drug might have to design the drug to avoid them.  This funding comes from the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) initiative, which was developed by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo and established by March 2022 government funding legislation that then-Speaker Pelosi led in negotiating and enacting.

    “UCSF has long been a beacon of excellence in scientific research and medical treatment, especially its leadership on HIV/AIDS with Ward 86,” Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said.  “With this new federal funding, UCSF will be able to support the cutting-edge research of San Francisco scientists into proactively preventing side-effects for FDA-approved drug therapies.  We are grateful for President Joe Biden’s leadership and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s authorship in championing the ARPA-H legislation which has offered so many families across America hope for a better future.”

    “The AVOID-OME project leverages high-throughput drug discovery and machine learning to flip the process of predicting adverse reactions on its head and markedly improve the time and cost involved in candidate drug discovery. This work will create a “public good” dataset and algorithm that the drug discovery community can leverage and grow to develop future drug candidates more efficiently and effectively,” said Harold Collard, Vice Chancellor for Research, UCSF.

    UCSF will soon be able to draw on a $30.5 million federal budget to support its “structurally enabling the ‘avoid-ome’ to accelerate drug discovery” project.  This initiative promises a more proactive and data-driven approach that will ultimately accelerate the delivery of new drug therapies to patients.

    Modeled on successful defense and energy research initiatives, ARPA-H supports break-through research efforts with the potential to improve health outcomes for those living with devastating medical conditions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – B10-0116/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Raphaël Glucksmann, Pina Picierno
    on behalf of the S&D Group

    B10‑0116/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas in 2014 the Xinjiang People’s High Court convicted Ilham Tohti on politically motivated charges of “separatism” and sentenced him to life in prison; whereas his family was not allowed visiting him since 2017; whereas he is in solitary confinement since under arrest; whereas in 2024 his Uyghur prison guard Ghopur Abdurishit was jailed for leaking information regarding Tohti’s conditions; whereas Ilham Tohti was awarded the European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2019;

    B. whereas Gulshan Abbas is serving a 20-year sentence since 2019 on fallacious terrorism-related charges; whereas Gulshan Abbas was detained six days after her sister, a Uyghur human rights defender, criticised the persecution of the Uyghur people in China; whereas Gulshan Abbas suffers from a number of health complications;

    C. whereas the repression against Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas reflect the Chinese government’s abuses against the Uyghurs in the Xinjian Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR);

    1. Urges the Chinese authorities to quash the conviction of Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas and to immediately and unconditionally release them along with all those arbitrarily detained in China;

    2. Demands the Chinese authorities to guarantee their access to medical care and unrestricted access to their lawyers, to provide their families with their whereabouts and to ensure family visiting rights, including through virtual communication;

    3. Condemns the human rights violations perpetrated by the Chinese authorities, including against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic people in Xinjiang; Calls on Member States to swiftly adopt additional sanctions against high-ranking officials and entities involved in the Human Rights violations in XUAR;

    4. Requires the Chinese authorities to halt their repression in the XUAR, targeting Uyghurs with policies that amount to  crime against humanity, as reported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2022, and represent a serious risk of genocide;

    5. Strongly condemns China’s lack of implementation of the OHCHR and the Universal Periodic Review recommendations as well as the lack of cooperation with UN human rights bodies; invites OHCHR to issue a comprehensive update on the situation in Xinjiang and to present an action plan to hold the Chinese government accountable;

    6. Calls on the EU institutions and Member States to use every opportunity to request the release of Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas to the PRC authorities and to implement the OHCHR report;

    7. Urges the Member States to apply, without delay or restrictions, the principle of non-refoulement to all persons fleeing persecution from Xinjiang and to offer international protection;

     

    8. Urges Member States to mitigate all risks of transnational repression against Chinese dissidents and Uyghur people on their territory and to prosecute responsible individuals;

    9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Chinese authorities, the HRVP, the Commission, the Member States, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the UN Secretary-General.

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – B10-0115/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Urmas Paet, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    Document selected :  

    B10-0115/2024

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0115/2024

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0115/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to the 2019 Sakharov Prize to Ilham Tohti, an economist fighting peacefully for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority,

    –  having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure; 

     

    1. whereas respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law is a major preoccupation of the EU relations with the PRC;
    2. Whereas China systemically persecutes Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongols and other minorities, human rights and democracy defenders, religious groups, and journalists, especially in Xinjiang, Tibet, Hong Kong and Macao;
    3. whereas in 2014 Ilham Tohti was sentenced to life imprisonment for ‘separatism’ and in 2019 Gulshan Abbas was sentenced to 20 years after her sister spoke publicly about the situation in Xinjiang; whereas both are held incommunicado and their health is deteriorating;
    4. Whereas the Xinjiang Police Files provide evidence of the involvement of the Central Government in Beijing and Xinjiang Region officials in the mass internment of 1-2 million Uyghurs and others;
    5. Whereas the PRC stifles discussion of these repressions through massive censorship on social media and in academia;

     

    1. Strongly condemns the persecution of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang Region and the systematic human rights violations, including forced labour, sterilisations and acculturation and destruction of cultural heritage, that amount to crimes against humanity and genocide;
    2. Reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of unjustly imprisoned Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas and to ensure their regular contact with family and lawyers, and medical care;
    3. Urges the PRC and local authorities to cease its brutal repression in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong, and for the release of all arbitrarily detained activists, including Ekpar Asat, Rahile Dawut, Jimmy Lai, Chow Hang-tung, Anya Sengdra,  Chadrel Rinpoche, Chen Yunfei, Ding Jiaxi, Ding Yuande, Gao Zhisheng, Go Sherab Gyatso, Golog Palden, He Fangmei, Huang Qi, Huang Xueqin, Hushtar Isa, Yalkun Isa, Li Yanhe, Peng Lifa, Qin Yongming, Qin Yongpei, Ruan Xiaohuan, Semkyi Dolma, Tashi Dorje, Tashpolat Tiyip, Wang Bingzhang, Wang Jianbing, Pastor Wang Yi, Kamile Wayit, Xu Na, Xu Qin, Xu Yan, Xu Zhiyong, Yang Henjung, Yang Maodong, Yu Wensheng, Pastor Zhang Chunlei Zhang Zhan,  and EU citizen Gui Minhai as well as ending the harassment of their families and providing information about their location as well as medical conditions while allowing contact with their families;
    4. Calls for establishing an independent international mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang; urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide an update on the situation in Xinjiang and recommendations for holding the Chinese government accountable;
    5. Regrets that the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue lacks goodwill on the part of China and does not produce tangible results; calls on the HR/VP to invite MEPs to this Dialogue and to initiate further human rights sanctions on all PRC officials involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang and elsewhere in China;
    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Member States, the HR/VP, the PRC and the UN.

     

     

    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – B10-0117/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Sebastião Bugalho, Miriam Lexmann, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Paulo Cunha, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Luděk Niedermayer, Ana Miguel Pedro, Mirosława Nykiel, Marta Wcisło, Vangelis Meimarakis, Loránt Vincze, Danuše Nerudová, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Tomáš Zdechovský, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Jörgen Warborn, Wouter Beke, Željana Zovko
    on behalf of the PPE Group

    B10‑0117/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on the People’s Republic of China (PRC),

    –  having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    A. whereas the promotion of and respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law should be at the centre of the EU’s relations with China, in line with the EU’s commitment to uphold these values in its external action and China’s commitment to adhere to them in its own development and international cooperation;

     

    B. whereas Ilham Tohti, who has worked tirelessly to foster dialogue and understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese for more than two decades, was given a life sentence by the Chinese for his activism in September 2014;

     

    C. whereas Gulshan Abbas, a retired Uyghur doctor who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on terrorism charges and seriously disrupting social order in a secret trial in March 2019, a sentence which  is believed to be linked to her sister, Rushan Abbas’s work in exposing the regime’s crimes against humanity committed against the Uyghurs;

    whereas doctor Abbas urgently needs medical treatment for her multiple chronic diseases;

     

    D. whereas since 2017, various NGOs have repeatedly reported that China has been pursuing the mass detention of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in Xinjiang;

     

    1.  Calls for an end to China’s brutal repression across mainland China, including Xinjiang, Tibet, as well as Hong Kong and Macau; condemns China’s state-directed repression, crimes against humanity and arbitrary detention against the Uyghur minority, which violated fundamental human rights;

     

    2.  Reiterates its calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the scholar and 2019 Sakharov Prize Laureate Ilham Tohti and Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and at the meantime to ensure that they have regular and unrestricted access to their family and the lawyers of their choice and medical treatments;

     

    3. Calls on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to set up an independent international mechanism   to monitor, report on, and investigate allegations of severe human rights violations in China, including crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and present an action plan to hold the Chinese government accountable;

     

    4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The case of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – B10-0118/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Alberico Gambino, Mariusz Kamiński, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Veronika Vrecionová, Alexandr Vondra, Roberts Zīle, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Reinis Pozņaks, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Charlie Weimers, Ivaylo Valchev, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Michał Dworczyk, Jaak Madison, Carlo Fidanza, Ondřej Krutílek, Assita Kanko, Şerban‑Dimitrie Sturdza, Claudiu‑Richard Târziu
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    B10‑0118/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to its previous resolutions on the People’s Republic of China (PRC),

     

    –  having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    1. whereas the PRC is implementing increasingly oppressive domestic policies, repressing any form of dissent, cracking down on all civil and political freedoms and targeting religious and ethnic minorities;

     

    1. whereas Ilham Tohti, who has worked tirelessly to foster dialogue and understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese, was sentenced to life in prison in September 2014 for advocating for the rights of Uyghurs and other minority groups in the PRC; whereas his family is denied any official information about his whereabouts and physical and health conditions; whereas Tohti was awarded the Sakharov Prize in 2019;

     

    1. whereas in September 2018, local authorities in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), forcibly disappeared Gulshan Abbas, a retired medical doctor; whereas in 2019, Abbas was reportedly sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of “participating in a terrorist organization,” “aiding terrorist activities,” and “gathering a crowd to disrupt social order.”; whereas reportedly her medical condition is worrying;

     

    1. Whereas aforementioned cases demonstrate the PRC’s efforts to silence those brave enough to speak out against the government’s discriminatory practices and other human rights abuses, which include genocide and crimes against humanity in XUAR;

     

    1. whereas since April 2017, over one million innocent Uyghurs have been arbitrarily detained in a network of internment camps, where they are forced to renounce their ethnic identity and religious beliefs and swear loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP);

     

    1. whereas during the 39th EU-China joint Human Rights Dialogue, the EU called for the immediate release of Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas, among others;

     

    ***

     

    1. Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas and other human rights defenders, lawyers and intellectuals who are arbitrarily detained in in Xinjiang and other parts of China;

     

    1. Calls on the PRC authorities to allow Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas unimpeded access to their families and the lawyers of their choice, to provide information on their whereabouts and health status;

     

    1. Condemns once again the PRC’s ongoing atrocities in Xinjiang; calls on the PRC to respect and protect the human dignity and human rights of all, including persons belonging to religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities in China; urges the PRC authorities to terminate systemic repression and to close all detention camps;

     

    1. Insists that China respects and guarantees the right to freedom of religion or belief and refrain from monitoring, harassing, detaining or otherwise intimidating leaders and members of religious groups; condemns continuous actions to restrict religious activities in China; invites businesses operating in PRC, in particular XUAR, to carry out more thorough human rights due diligence;

     

    1. Calls on the Council to continue imposing human rights sanctions on all officials involved in human rights abuses in XUAR and elsewhere in China;

     

    1. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Government and the National People’s Congress of the PRC;

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law – B10-0088/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Rima Hassan
    on behalf of The Left Group

    Document selected :  

    B10-0088/2024

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0088/2024

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0088/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

    (2024/2858(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    –  having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    1. whereas Iraq’s Personal Status Law, governs matters of marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance for Muslims, was considered one of the most progressive in the region; whereas despite widespread protest and condemnation, amendments to the law were passed in their second reading by the Parliament; whereas according to UN experts if enacted, it would constitute a serious roll-back of women and children´s rights, particularly in areas such marriage, divorce, and child custody and would likely exacerbate the prevalence and forms of violence against women and girls;

     

    1. whereas the draft amendment would legalize the unregistered marriages which are often done as a way to circumvent legal restrictions on child marriage, polygamy, and forced marriage and to evade having to pay spousal maintenance in case of divorce; whereas women in unregistered marriages faced severe challenges in accessing government services and social protection; whereas according to a  report by the UNAMI, 22 percent of unregistered marriages involved girls under 14;

     

     

     

    1. Calls on the Iraqi authorities to reconsider the amendments to the Personal Status Law and to ensure the protection of the rights of all Iraqi citizens while promoting equality and women´s rights;
    2. Praises the women, including members of the Parliament, that have condemned the reform and fought to preserve one of the most progressive in the region;
    3. Urges the authorities to adopt a national action plan to eliminate child marriage and to set the minimum age of marriage at 18;
    4. Asks to reform the relevant laws governing citizenship and birth registration, to permit the registration of all births and the obtention of Iraqi citizenship and associated legal documents;
    5. Urges the authorities to ensure that existing legislation, including articles 41(1), 128, 398 and 409  of the Iraqi Penal Code, is revised to comply with international standards on women´s rights and to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child;
    6. Calls on the authorities to combat gender-based violence including discrimination against LGBTIQ+ and to ensure accountability of perpetrators without delay; in particular urges the Council of Representatives to adopt a law to combat Violence Against Women and to fully criminalize marital rape in all circumstances; requires to de authorities to ensure avenues to seek shelter, medical care, legal recourse and reparations for persons at risk of such violence;
    7. Demands to increase and improve access to reproductive healthcare, for all girls and women in rural and urban areas, by allocating greater resources from national health expenditure;
    8. Denounces that  the West countries´ double standards on demanding the respect of human rights and international law, feeds those who do not want to respect international norms;
    9. Urges the EU to direct funding towards organizations working on women´s rights in particular early and forced marriage, violence against women, and assistance to issue or reissue documents and legalize their marriages;
    10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Iraqi authorities.
    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas – B10-0114/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Rima Hassan
    on behalf of The Left Group

    Document selected :  

    B10-0114/2024

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0114/2024

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0114/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the cases of unjustly imprisoned Uyghurs in China, notably Ilham Tohti and Gulshan Abbas

    (2024/2857(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions and reports on the situation in China,

    – having regard to Article 4 and 36 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    1. Whereas massive and structural violations of human rights against Uyghur persist, notably in Xinjiang ;
    2. Whereas in May 2022 for the first time in 17 years, a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has been able to travel six days in China ; whereas OHCHR issued shortly after an assessment of human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang following allegations of serious violations against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities, in a context of the Chinese Government’s policies and measures to combat terrorism and extremism;

     

    1. Whereas in 2022 the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on China to immediately investigate all allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang;
    2. Whereas on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, eight OHCHR Special Rapporteurs have warned against acts of harassment, intimidation, violence and incitement based on religion or belief that have risen to “alarming levels” across the world, including by State actors, in particular against Muslims;

     

    1. Reiterates its call for the release Ilham Tohti, Gulshan Abbas and other Uighurs unjustly imprisoned;
    2. Reiterates its call for unrestricted access to their family and the lawyers of their choice; 
    3. Calls on the Chinese and local authorities to put an end to the repression of Uyghurs and recalls that the Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region have been subjected to intense surveillance, forced labour, involuntary sterilisations and birth prevention measures, among other rights abuses, which may amount to crimes against humanity, as acknowledged in the 2022 OHCHR report;
    4. Recalls that China has ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
    5. Calls on UN Human Rights office to promptly issue a comprehensive update on the current situation in Xinjiang;
    6. Supports a resolution at the Human Rights Council to set up an independent international mechanism to monitor and investigate allegations of severe human rights violations, including potential crimes against humanity in Xinjiang ;
    7. Praises the work of Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calling again on the authorities to undertake a full review of the legal framework governing national security and counter-terrorism;
    8. Notes a worrying increase, around the world, including China, of the use of the fight against terrorism to repress populations or political opponents;
    9. Calls for an impact assessment on the new regulation on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market in view to remedy loopholes, notably on alternative trades to prevent supply chain disruption;
    10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and to the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China.

     

     

    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law – B10-0091/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Abir Al‑Sahlani, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Raquel García Hermida‑Van Der Walle, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    Document selected :  

    B10-0091/2024

    Texts tabled :

    B10-0091/2024

    Texts adopted :

    B10‑0091/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

    (2024/2858(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq;

    – having regard to Rules 150 of its Rules of Procedure;

    1. whereas Iraq is drafting a new, highly restrictive bill on women’s rights amending Personal Status law 188/1959; whereas family matters, including on marriage, divorce and child custody, would effectively fall under the remit of religious courts rather than civil courts, entailing disturbing discrepancies along religious and socio-economic lines; whereas the minimum legal age for girls to marry would be nine years and there are fears of increased violence against women in the future; whereas the Supreme Court approved the most problematic amendments before a third reading which was postponed on October 2nd;whereas the situation of women rights in Iraq was already under heavy criticism before;
    2. whereas Iraq’s UN mission UNITAD, which worked on sexual crimes committed by Daesh against women, particularly Yazidis, has had to close on September 17, 2024 following the decision, supported by Russia and China, to discontinue their UNSC mandate a year ago; whereas Iraq’s UN Mission UNAMI will also have to close in 2025, while UNICEF has been downsizing; whereas all mentions of gender have since been deleted from public reports, including on sexual crimes and women’s role in conflict resolution, at the request of Iraqi authorities; whereas since April 2024 a new law has criminalized the LGBTQ community with up to 15 years in prison; whereas last August, on the event of the ten year commemoration of the Daesh massacre of the Yazidi people in Iraq, Kurdish Iraqi politicians shared hate speech against them ahead of elections;
    1. urges the EU High Representative to publically deplore Iraq’s repressive personal status bill and underlines that the bill would violate Iraq’s international obligations as regards women’s fundamental rights;
    2. calls on the EU delegation to Iraq to intensify its dialogue with Iraqi civil society on the bill, and to pre-condition development grants to judicial training and the establishment of women shelters;
    3. calls to reinforce EU-Iraq cooperation in criminal justice reform, notably to include internationally recognised criminal offenses, notably the use of sexual violence in armed conflicts, to fight impunity for crimes committed by Daesh against women and girls; calls on Iraqi authorities to refer to relevant and competent organisations to specifically train judges and prosecutors on sexual and gender-based violence;
    4. urges EU-Iraq security and counter-terrorism partnerships to include, as strategic priority, the prosecution of international crimes that include sexual and gender-based violence;
    5. calls for a reinforced partnership with the Human rights committee of Iraq’s Parliament, involving legal experts in the process of cancelling the bill, to align with international obligations, in particular on forced marriage and the rights of women and girls, in line with the Convention for the Elimination of Discriminations against Women;
    6. is highly concerned by the lack of legal protection for domestic violence against women and children;
    7. instructs its President to translate this resolution into Arabic and forward it to Iraq’s Parliament and Government.
    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law – B10-0094/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
    pursuant to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure

    Joachim Stanisław BrudzińskiClaudiu, Adam Bielan, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Alberico Gambino, Veronika Vrecionová, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Alexandr Vondra, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Charlie Weimers, Ivaylo Valchev, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Emmanouil Fragkos, Beatrice Timgren, Marion Maréchal, Bogdan Rzońca, Michał Dworczyk, Marlena Maląg, Ondřej Krutílek, Carlo Fidanza, Assita Kanko, Şerban-Dimitrie Sturdza, Richard Târziu
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    B10‑0094/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

    (2024/2858(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    —  having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq,

    —  having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    1. Whereas the human rights situation in Iraq is increasingly alarming, as evidenced by the recent proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law and the stalemate over the adoption of a domestic violence law, sent by the Presidency to the Iraqi parliament in 2019;

     

    1. Whereas the amendments to Personal Status Law conflict with certain constitutional provisions, such as Article 14 on the right to legal equality, as well as with international human rights law; whereas the amendments would violate the human rights of women and children and in particular legalize child marriages for girls as young as 9 and boys as young as 15, while also undermining women’s rights in other aspects, such as divorce and inheritance, and puts them at increased risk of sexual, physical and domestic violence, mental and physical health consequences, social isolation, and dropping out of school;

     

    1. Whereas the amendments would weaken legal protections for women as it allows couples to choose whether to follow civil law or specific Islamic schools of jurisprudence; whereas in case of dispute over which sect’s law should apply, the sect of the husband takes precedence, violating then Iraq’s obligations under international law to uphold equal rights for women; whereas women and girls may end up coerced into accepting religious practices not of their choosing which is in direct violation to the fundamental right to the freedom of religion or belief;

     

    1. Whereas the dominance of the Coordination Framework, the hard-line ruling Shi’te coalition, plays a significant role in this regression in terms of human rights as they are often influenced by strict interpretations of Sharia law;

     

    1. Calls on the Council of Representatives to reject the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law that threaten the human rights of women and girls, and to ensure that any proposed legislation protects the rights of women and children, in line with Iraq’s international human rights commitments;

     

    1. Underlines that these amendments could deepen sectarianism in Iraq and undermine freedom of religion or belief as a human right, create a parallel authority to that of the state and lead to unequal treatment as sect, not citizenship, would dictate which rights Iraqis are afforded in their personal life;

     

    1. Urges the Council of Representatives to adopt the long awaited law against domestic violence;

     

    1. Recalls that the current Personal Status Law requires children whose at least one parent has converted to Islam to become Muslims themselves; deplores that the proposed amendments to the law, if enacted, would lead to an even more radical application of Sharia law; states that these new provisions would also undermine the Iraqi State and affect the country’s minorities; expresses its deep concern about the consequences of these amendments for Iraq’s Christian communities;

     

    1.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EUSR for Human Rights, the Government and Council of Representatives of Iraq.

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the situation of women’s rights in Iraq and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law – B10-0090/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    B10‑0090/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the situation of women’s rights in Iraq and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law#TXTTITLE@TITLE@#

    (2024/2858(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

     

     

    A. whereas since the regime change in Iraq in 2003 after the US military invasion, the situation of women in Iraq has continued to deteriorate; whereas practices such as child marriage, temporary marriage, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, honour killings continue to exist; whereas according to the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, there has been a disturbing increase in domestic violence cases, with 53,889 incidents, recorded over past three years; whereas, although the law allows for the marriage of girls from 15 years of age only in exceptional circumstances, more than 1 in 4 girls (28 %) had married before they reached the age of 18;

     

    B.  whereas since 2003, Christians in Iraq, many of them women, have been severely persecuted, and have been victim of systemic displacement, violence and legal discrimination; whereas the Christian population in Iraq has drastically reduced from 1,5 million in 2003 to 150,000 today; whereas Iraq’s blasphemy laws have been used to arrest and intimidate people for their religious beliefs;

     

    C. whereas the proposal to amend the Iraqi Personal Status Law no. 188 of 1959 would allow for the application of the Sharia jurisprudence on women and girls in personal status matters;  whereas this will lead to a rise in temporary marriages and legitimise child marriages;

     

    1. Emphasises that the unequal treatment of women in Iraq is determined and held in place by cultural norms, customs, tribal traditions and religious practices and that these unequal treatments of women are also reflected in both civil and penal law;

     

    1. Is deeply concerned about the consequences of mass migration from the MENA countries for the security of women across Europe;

     

    1. Notes that the European Union’s development policy in Iraq in this field has not led to the desired results and that the situation is only deteriorating; calls for development aid to Iraq to be linked more strictly to conditionalities, above all cooperation in the repatriation of Iraqis illegally staying in the European Union back to their home country; calls for all development aid to Iraq to be stopped if Iraq does not cooperate in the repatriation of Iraqis from the European Union back to their home country;

     

    1. Notes that in case C-646/21 regarding two sisters of Iraqi nationality, the European Court of Justice has ruled that the very identification with the fundamental value of equality between women and men during a stay in a Member State, constitutes a “reason for persecution”, capable of leading to recognition of refugee status; is worried that this will only encourage further migration;

     

    1. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

     

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Dangerous escalation in the Middle East – P-001945/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001945/2024
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Kostas Papadakis (NI), Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

    Iran’s missile attack on Tel Aviv was an expected retaliatory move in response to Israeli brutality and marks an escalation in the military showdown between the two countries.

    Backed by the US, NATO and the EU, Israel is continuing its genocide against Palestinians, has occupied further territory in Gaza and the West Bank, has invaded the independent state of Lebanon and is continuing its killing spree against political leaders.

    The EU has organised ‘Aspides’, a dangerous military operation in the Red Sea, which the Greek Government is taking part in by sending a warship and hosting the operation headquarters in Larissa.

    How does the EU High Representative/Vice-President view:

    • 1.The fact that the EU military operation ‘Aspides’ provides a justification for the escalation of Israel’s savage project, contributes to the escalation of armed conflict in the wider Middle Eastern region and turns people in the region and Europeans into retaliation targets, with unpredictable consequences?
    • 2.The call for all support to Israel to be withdrawn, for the EU’s ‘Aspides’ operation to be terminated, for the Greek frigate and the other ships that joined the mission to be withdrawn and for a pull-out from the war in the Middle East?
    • 3.The fact that the EU continues to support Israel, citing its commitment to the latter’s security for the sake of stability in the Middle East, when this very same region is in severe turmoil precisely because of Israel’s aggression and the policy pursued by its Government, whose plans are supported by the EU?

    Submitted: 3.10.2024

    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law – B10-0092/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Evin Incir, Nicola Zingaretti
    on behalf of the S&D Group

    B10‑0092/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on Iraq, notably the situation of women’s rights and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

    (2024/2858(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Iraq,

     

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

     

    A. whereas women’s movements have played a key role in fighting political and religious extremism in Iraq;

     

    B. whereas the European Parliament awarded the 2016 Sakharov Prize to Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, two Yazidi women from Iraq, for their struggle against conflict-related sexual violence;

     

    C. whereas amendments to the Personal Status Law 188 of 1959 were presented in the Parliament of Iraq,

     

    D. whereas the proposed amendments constitute a serious reduction of rights in areas such as marriage, divorce, and child custody,

     

    E. whereas article 14 of the Constitution of Iraq states that “Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination based on gender […]”,

     

    1. Expresses concern about the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law 188 of 1959 in Iraq,

     

    2. Believes that, if enacted, the amended law will undermine the rights and equal treatment of women and children, in violation of UN conventions, including ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW, and CRC, to which Iraq is a state party; and failing to uphold such obligations will seriously erode core human rights and the protection of women and children,

     

    3. Recalls that States parties to the CEDAW Convention should adopt family or personal status laws that provide for equality irrespective of their religious or ethnic identity; and that in the absence of a unified family law, the system of personal status laws should provide for individual choice as to the application of religious law, ethnic custom or civil law,

     

    4. Reiterates CEDAW´s concerns that identity-based personal status laws and customs perpetuate discrimination against women and that multiple legal systems are in itself discriminatory against women,

     

    5. Calls on Iraqi political and religious leaders, parliament, judicial authorities, and social institutions, to consider the significant negative consequences of the proposed amendments and appeals to place the interests of women and children at the centre of deliberations,

     

    6. Urges Iraqi authorities to withdraw the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law and to undertake a series of reforms, such as:

     

    a) a national action plan to eliminate child marriage,

     

    b) minimum age of marriage at 18 with no exceptions,

     

    c) criminalizing marital rape in all circumstances,

     

    d) a comprehensive domestic violence law, and acceding to CEDAW Optional Protocol,

     

    e) ensuring that people subjected to child or forced marriages can seek an annulment without undue burden placed on the victim,

     

    f) repealing the articles of the Iraqi Penal Code which give a husband a legal right to “punish” his wife “within limits prescribed by law or custom” and provide a reduced sentence for individuals who kill or assault their wives in the act of adultery,

     

    7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the Council and of the Commission, to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to the Parliament of Iraq.

     

    MSG#

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0097/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Lucia Yar, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Helmut Brandstätter, Benoit Cassart, Olivier Chastel, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Nathalie Loiseau, Jan‑Christoph Oetjen, Hilde Vautmans
    on behalf of the Renew Group

    B10‑0097/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Türkiye’s international legal obligations and to its own domestic constitutional and legal stipulations to uphold the rule of law, respect for due process protect human rights;

    – having regard to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure;

    A. whereas the 20 month prison sentence against journalist Bülent Mumay was upheld in an appeal court on 20th August;

    B. whereas the charges against Mumay focus on his alleged “illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data”,  and constitutes an attempt to suppress press freedom and freedom of expression in Türkiye;

    C. whereas on May 20, 2024, Turkish court further censored Mumay with the removal of his tweets and blocking access to news reports;

    D. whereas the process against Mumay is in line with the broader effort of the Turkish government’s to intimidate independent journalists through legal threats, censorship, and financial pressure, including those residing abroad, thereby undermining democratic discourse and accountability in the country; whereas the Turkish government has closed dozens of media outlets, routinely blocks online articles, is reported to control 85% of national media; whereas it passed a so-called “disinformation law” in 2022 and is reportedly planning to introduce a “foreign agent law” by the end of 2024, further undermining the freedom of press;

    E. whereas Türkiye as a long-standing member of the Council of Europe is expected to apply to the highest democratic standards and practices, including the press freedom and freedom of expression;

    1. condemns the prison sentence of Bülent Mumay not only as a serious infringement of his personal rights but also on the wider respect for press freedom and freedom of speech in Türkiye and urges the Turkish authorities to review his case and uphold the respect for human rights, the rule of law including the fundamental freedoms and the freedom of speech;

    2. calls on the Turkish government to end the systematic targeting of journalists and reiterates its profound concern at the on-going deterioration in press freedom in Türkiye as per the official records of independent organisations dedicated to protect journalists such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ); condemns the use of arbitrary detention, judicial and administrative harassment, censorship, and financial coercion as the means of curbing investigative journalism;

    3. express full solidarity with Bülent Mumay and the other journalists, who also have been prosecuted, jailed or faced other forms of intimidation; urges Türkiye to stop deporting exiled Syrian journalists to their country of origin where they face grave danger;

    4. points out that this decision  reconfirms the authoritarian character of the current political leadership in Türkiye, which imposes a violent crackdown of political opponents, fundamental rights activists and minorities and shows the lack of willingness of the government to make real reforms in the field of fundamental rights and rule of law;

    5. instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, HRVP, and the President, Government and Parliament of Turkey and asks for this resolution to be translated into Turkish language.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0095/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    B10‑0095/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas on 6 May 2023, journalist Bülent Mumay was sentenced to 20 months in prison for his social media posts on alleged money laundering schemes; whereas on 20 August 2024, an appeal court upheld the conviction; whereas Mumay’s remaining legal recourse is an individual application to the Constitutional Court;

    B. whereas Mumay’s case is part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment, intimidation, censorship and financial coercion targeting independent media and journalists; whereas on August 26, 82 X accounts operated by Kurdish politicians, journalists and media houses were blocked by a court for “making terrorist propaganda”; whereas 90% of the national media are under government control;

    1. Condemns the sentence of Bülent Mumay as well as the judicial harassment, intimidation, censorship and financial coercion faced by independent media and journalists; calls on Turkish authorities to end all harassment and protect independent journalists and guarantee the right to information in the country;

    2. Deplores the serious backsliding on fundamental freedoms and human rights in Türkiye and the continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law;

    3. Urges the authorities to put an end to the repression of political opponents, human rights defenders, civil servants, journalists, writers and academics; calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all people arbitrarily detained such as Figen Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş, Osman Kavala, Çiğdem Mater, Mine Özerden, Can Atalay, and Tayfun Kahraman, and that the charges against them be immediately dropped or cancelled; calls to cease the judicial persecution against Hakan Altınay, Mücella Yapıcı and Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, ahead of their next hearing on 9 October 2024;

    4. Calls on Turkish authorities to put an end to the systematic repression against opposition voices including HDP;

    5. Strongly condemns the use of the justice system for political purposes; requires to ensure the independence of the judiciary, and to guarantee the right to due process; calls to hold accountable those violating press freedom in the country;

    6. Urges the authorities to ensure that existing legislation – in particular the anti-terror Law, the Criminal Code, the law on assemblies and demonstrations and the law on disinformation– and protected communication in messenger services and free communication in social media , is revised to comply with international standards;

    7. Requires to the Council to ensure that full implementation by Türkiye of its rule of law and fundamental rights obligations be an integral part of the EU-Türkiye relationship; in that sense, condemns that despite the continued erosion of democracy and the rule of law, the EU has announced further financial support to Türkiye for restrictions on the entry of refugees and migrants to the EU; reiterates that Human Rights should not be undermined by migration management, commercial interests or counter-terrorism actions;

    8. Calls on the EU Member States to simplify the procedure for Turkish journalists to obtain Schengen visas;

    9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Turkish authorities.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0099/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Sebastião Bugalho, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Michael Gahler, Luděk Niedermayer, Ana Miguel Pedro, Mirosława Nykiel, Marta Wcisło, Vangelis Meimarakis, Danuše Nerudová, Tomáš Zdechovský, Jörgen Warborn, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Željana Zovko, Miriam Lexmann
    on behalf of the PPE Group

    B10‑0099/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous reports and resolutions on Türkiye,

    – having regard to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, which ranks Türkiye 158th out of 180 countries,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas, on 6 May, 2023, Bülent Mumay, a Turkish journalist and coordinator of the Istanbul bureau of Deutsche Welle Turkish editorial office was sentenced to 20 months in prison for social media posts about a pro-government company’s seizure of Istanbul Municipality’s subway funds; whereas his appeal was rejected, leaving the sentence upheld;

    B. whereas, on August 20, 2024, the Istanbul 26th Regional Court, acting as an appeals court, upheld the sentence and also ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority to block access to news reports about the upheld prison sentence;

    C. whereas, the verdict, coupled with repeated censorship, demonstrates the escalating pressure on press freedom in Türkiye and Bülent Mumay’s case not being an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of judicial harassment and censorship targeting Türkiye’s independent media;

    D. whereas Türkiye, as an EU candidate country, is required to uphold the highest standards of democracy, including respect for human rights, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and the universal right to a fair trial, and strict respect for the principle of presumption of innocence and the right to due process;

    1. Strongly condemns the imprisonment and suspension sentence against Bülent Mumay, which is a thinly veiled attempt to silence critical journalism; calls on the Turkish authorities to immediately release Bülent Mumay, and all arbitrary detained media workers and journalists;

    2. Is deeply concerned for the deterioration of democratic standards in Türkiye, relentless crackdown on any critical voice, independent media and freedom of expression, particularly around the election periods, and ongoing harassment on press freedom and freedom of expression in Türkiye; deplores the fact that the Turkish Government, with a number of laws, including the 2020 social media law, the 2021 anti-money laundering law and the 2022 disinformation law, has built a complex web of legislation serving as a tool to systematically control and silence journalists;

    3. Calls on the EU to take restrictive measures against individuals involved in artificial persecution of journalists under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime;

    4. Underlines that if not addressed, the deteriorating human rights situation in Türkiye could hamper the “Positive EU-Türkiye agenda” proposed by the European Council;

    5. Calls on the EEAS to adequately support the EU Delegation to Türkiye in intensifying trial observation of detained journalists and media workers, in coordination with representations of EU Member States and like-minded countries, and raising their cases with the authorities at all levels;

    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the  Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the President, Government and Parliament of Türkiye.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0096/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Vladimir Prebilič, Erik Marquardt, Mélissa Camara, Ville Niinistö, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Mounir Satouri, Leoluca Orlando, Catarina Vieira, Sergey Lagodinsky
    on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group

    B10‑0096/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Türkiye, in particular the ones of 13 September 2023 and of 5 May 2022,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A.  whereas on 6 May 2023, the journalist Bülent Mumay was given a suspended 20-month sentence because he reported on social media on alleged corruption schemes by a construction company with close links to the government; whereas on 20 August 2024, an appeals court upheld the conviction and ordered internet service providers to block access to news reports related the sentence; whereas Mumay’s only remaining legal recourse is filing an individual application to the Constitutional Court;

    B. whereas Mumay’s case is emblematic of Erdoğan’s systemic pressure on media, which is characterised by legal persecution, censorship, financial pressure, hate speech and threats against journalists, resulting in self-censorship, lack of pluralism and depriving the Turkish public of access to relevant information regarding matters of public interest;

    1. Is appalled that despite a decreased number of jailed journalists, Erdoğan’s decades-long systemic pressure campaign against journalists and critical voices continues and an important number of political prisoners remains; regrets that journalists, including Mumay, live under a constant threat of imprisonment for merely practising their profession;

    2. Urges the Turkish authorities to immediately end their harassment campaign against independent media and critical voices and to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Osman Kavala and Selahattin Demirtaş;

    3. Expresses its deep concern about the political instrumentalisation of the Turkish judiciary and its systemic lack of independence; considers that in the case of Mumay, the judicial system may not be able to provide redress and may instead deliver a verdict that further violates the rights to freedom of expression and information;

    4. Calls on the future HR/VP and the new Commission to put the situation of fundamental rights, the rule of law and democracy at the centre of their engagement with the Turkish authorities, to focus on working towards reversing the decades-long erosion of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, including media freedom, freedom of expression and freedom of information, as well as pushing for the immediate implementation of Türkiye’s international obligations as a member of the Council of Europe, in particular for the swift and full implementation of the ECtHR verdicts concerning Kavala and Demirtaş;

    5. Calls on the Commission, the Member States and the EU Delegation in Ankara to publicly condemn Türkiye’s harassment campaigns against independent media and critical voices, and to attend and monitor trials against journalists and political dissidents;

    6. Calls on the Commission to focus EU funding for Türkiye on supporting civil society and independent media;

    7. Calls on the EU and Member States to issue emergency visas and facilitate temporary shelter in the EU for journalists and human rights activists from Türkiye;

    8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the HR/VP and the Government and National Assembly of Türkiye.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0100/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Adam Bielan, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Assita Kanko
    on behalf of the ECR Group

    B10‑0100/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of the Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas Bülent Mumay is a journalist working in Türkiye for Deutsche Welle (DW) who posted a story on Twitter (now X), naming a construction company that had unfairly seized the funds from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) that were meant for a Istanbul subway project;

    B. whereas the construction company Mumay exposed, Met-Gün İnşaat, got the Criminal Judgeship of Pease to issue a ban on Mumay’s tweet based on ‘violation of personal rights’;

    C. whereas Mumay was charged with ‘illegally obtaining or distributing personal data’ and sentenced to 20 months in prison for social media posts where he criticized the pro-government construction company’s seizure of Istanbul Municipality’s subway fund; whereas Mumay’s appeal was rejected by the Appeals court on 20 August 2024;

    D. whereas the Turkish court orders Twitter (now X), to remove any post related to the issue after already ordering the removal of Bülent Mumay’s posts at the request of the construction company owner while simultaneously ordering the Information and Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access to any news reports that Mumay’s  appeal was rejected;

    E. whereas Türkiye had 13 journalists jailed as of a census counted in 2023, which is considered an improvement from the previous count of 40 in 2022 while many of those freed are still under investigation or are awaiting trial;

    1. Calls for the immediate and unconditional annulment of all charges against Bülent Mumay.

    2. Recognises that 90% of the national media in Türkiye is now under government control, while DW Germany’s state-owned broadcaster, had their websites blocked in the country in 2022 because the company did not have the necessary licenses and decided not to apply for them.

    3. Recognises that the number of jailed journalists has decreased considerably in Türkiye in the past two years, yet remains concerned with the deterioration of free and open press within the country.

    4. Recognises that within the context of gross regional instability, the attempted coup d’etat in 2016 and frequent terrorist attacks and cross border raids, Türkiye’s “Disinformation Law”, which allows the state to sentence someone to up to 3 years for sharing, liking or reposting posts on social media that the Turkish government considers to be disinformation that is meant to cause panic, should be revised and implementation  closely monitored so it is not used punitively against free and independent press.

    5. Considers the freedom of the press to be under constant duress under Erdogan’s government and recognises the pattern of levelling arbitrary charges against journalists.

    6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the EEAS, the Vice-President of the Commission/HRVP, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, Members of the Parliament and government of Türkiye.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye – B10-0098/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

    Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Nikos Papandreou
    on behalf of the S&D Group

    B10‑0098/2024

    Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the case of Bülent Mumay in Türkiye

    (2024/2856(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on Türkiye,

    – having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

    A. whereas on May 6, 2023, Bülent Mumay was sentenced  to 20 months in prison for “spreading personal data” and for his social media posts about a pro-government construction company’s alleged seizure of Istanbul Municipality’s subway funds in the period of the previous administration,

    B. whereas a Turkish court ordered to block access to his tweet, which alleged that the contractors were government-affiliated,

    C. whereas on August 20, 2024, an appeals court upheld the 20-month prison sentence, and ordered the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to block access to news reports about the upheld prison sentence,

    D. whereas the charges against Bülent Mumay include illegally obtaining or disseminating personal data, and appear to be only an attempt to silence critical journalism,

    E. whereas several press organizations have condemned the recent sentence, citing it as a grave assault on press freedom,

    F. whereas Bülent Mumay was also arrested and later released in 2016 in the days following the coup attempt in Türkiye,

    G. whereas Türkiye ranks 158th in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index,

    1. Is deeply concerned for the conviction of journalist Bülent Mumay following his press investigations and social media posts criticizing the seizure of municipal funds by a pro-government company,

    2. Deplores the decision by Turkish appeals court to uphold the 20-month prison sentence and to order the blocking of access to related news reports,

    3. Calls for the revision of the sentence and for the immediate release of Bülent Mumay, in the patent absence of solid legal charges, in line with Türkiye’s international and constitutional obligations; 

    4. Considers that the sentence on Bülent Mumay follows a broader pattern of judicial harassment targeting independent journalists, activists and opposition members in Türkiye, where legal intimidation, censorship, and financial coercion are often reported as ways to suppress criticism and investigative press,

    5. Recalls its previous positions condemning the prosecution, censorship and harassment of journalists and independent media in Türkiye;

    6. Calls again on the Turkish authorities to respect press freedoms in accordance with international standards and to let journalists practise its profession freely, as this provides for an overall healthier democracy and society;

    7. Continues to condemn the lack of independence of the prosecution and judiciary and the political instrumentalisation of the judicial system in Türkiye;

    8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the Council and the Commission; asks that this resolution be translated into Turkish and forwarded to the President, Government and Parliament of the Republic of Türkiye.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal Statement on Lack of Accountability for Killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    SEATTLE, WA — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement more than a month after the killing of U.S. citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank:

    “It has been 32 days since Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed in the West Bank, and we have seen no movement toward an independent investigation by the U.S. government and no additional information on changes in the practices of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units that are using live ammunition on those who are peacefully protesting.

    “I have had numerous briefings with State Department officials, and I have been in close touch with Eygi’s family, as her father is my constituent. I am frankly appalled with the lack of movement on this case. I have received no information that gives me any assurance that the killing of a U.S. citizen by the IDF is being treated with the urgency it deserves. Secretary Blinken called the killing of Eygi ‘unprovoked and unjustified’, and the Israeli government has acknowledged that it is ‘highly likely’ that Eygi was killed by the IDF. The Washington Post conducted its own investigation into Eygi’s killing, based on eyewitness accounts. That report directly challenged the Israeli government’s account of what happened.

    “As Senator Murray and I detailed in our letter, this is not the first time Israeli forces have killed U.S. citizens. We are seeing history repeat itself in a dangerous and unacceptable way. In 2003, Rachel Corrie, a U.S. citizen from Washington State was killed in the West Bank, and despite more than 70 Members of Congress calling for an independent investigation, no such action was taken. Just this year, three U.S. citizens have been killed in the West Bank. U.S. citizens must be safe abroad and if they are killed, our government must act. It is that simple.

    “The U.S. is the largest backer of military assistance to Israel. If the Israeli government is unwilling or unable to follow our own domestic laws as well as international humanitarian laws, we must demand accountability by stopping certain offensive U.S. military assistance. In this situation, to ensure the trust of our own U.S. citizens, we must initiate our own investigation into Eygi’s killing, use our leverage to demand changes to the IDF’s rules of engagement, and apply our domestic laws to this situation for full accountability. 

    “Recently, 102 members of Congress wrote a letter calling for an independent investigation into Eygi’s killing. My colleagues and I will not rest until we have answers.”

    Issues: Foreign Affairs & National Security

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Congressman Greg Casar’s Statement on Oct. 7

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas) released the following statement:

    “October 7th is a dark and horrific day for Israelis and Jewish people across the world. More Jewish people were killed at once than any day since the Holocaust, and Hamas still holds Americans and scores of Israelis hostage. In the days after October 7th, tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli government’s bombardment of Gaza and operations in the West Bank. Over two thousand Lebanese people have been killed, and more than a million have been displaced. The region is on the brink of what could be an even more massive war. Hardly a soul is safer or more free.

    “We must change course toward peace. We must stop this cycle of violence by all parties before it consumes even more innocent families across the region and across the world. Israel should stop its bombing, Iran and Hezbollah should stop their bombing, Hamas should return the hostages, and the United States should be brokering peace, rather than further contributing to the devastation by shipping weapons. Let us honor the dead by protecting the living.”

    ###

    Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA Stands Ready to Assist San Carlos Apache Tribe Businesses and Residents Affected by the Watch Fire

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to San Carlos Apache Tribe businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced.

    The declaration covers the San Carlos Apache Tribe as a result of the Watch Fire that occurred July 10‑17.

    “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Arizona’s small businesses and residents impacted by the Watch Fire,” said Administrator Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    As soon as Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open throughout the affected area, SBA will provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants. Additional information and details on the location of disaster recovery centers is available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

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    About the U.S. Small Business Administration

    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SBA to Close Business Recovery Center in Richmond

    Source: United States Small Business Administration

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Francisco Sánchez Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration, announced today that SBA will close its Richmond Business Recovery Center at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11. “SBA opened the center to provide personalized assistance to businesses that were affected by the Hurricane Beryl that occurred July 5-9,” said Sánchez.

    Until the center closes, SBA customer service representatives will continue to meet with business owners to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each individual complete their electronic loan application. No appointment is necessary.

    FORT BEND COUNTY
    Business Recovery Center
    TW Davis Family YMCA
    911 Thompson Rd.
    Richmond, TX  77469
    Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    Closes 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11

    SBA continues to provide one-on-one assistance to disaster loan applicants in all the federal-state Disaster Recovery Centers and SBA Business Recovery Centers located throughout Texas. Please see a complete listing of locations and hours at SBA.gov/disaster.

    Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.

    For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.

    “SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” Sánchez continued. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”

    Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property, including personal vehicles.

    Interest rates can be as low as 4 percent for businesses, 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations, and 2.688 percent for homeowners and renters with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

    Interest does not begin to accrue until 12 months from the date of the first disaster loan disbursement. SBA disaster loan repayment begins 12 months from the date of the first disbursement.

    Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    The deadline to apply for property damage is Oct. 10, 2024. The deadline to apply for economic injury is April 14, 2025.

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    About the U.S. Small Business Administration
    The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit http://www.sba.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Peters Convenes Hearing to Examine Potential Conflicts of Interest in Federal Contracting that Put National Security at Risk

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters
    Published: 10.03.2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing to examine the national security risks posed by federal contractors with conflicts of interest. Specifically, the hearing examined conflicts that can arise when federal contractors, such as consulting firms and technology providers, do business with both the U.S. government and foreign adversaries or have clients with connections to adversarial nations. During the hearing, Peters and the witnesses discussed examples of recent troubling conflicts of interest from some federal contractors, and highlighted the need to prevent future conflicts of interest. Prior to the hearing, Peters sent a letter urging the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council to issue a rulemaking to prevent conflicts of interest in government contracting after missing its deadline by more than three months. This overdue guidance was required by Peters’ Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest in Federal Acquisition Act, which was signed into law in 2022.  
    “From modernizing and enhancing the safety of our infrastructure and power grid – to providing critical intelligence that safeguards our nation from foreign and domestic threats – the scope of government contractors’ support is immeasurable. To ensure that government contractors are truly working in the best interests of Americans – we must ensure they are meeting the highest standards of integrity, impartiality and transparency by removing conflicts of interest from their work,” said Peters during his opening statement.  
    Peters continued: “I am confident that we can all agree that Americans deserve full assurance that federal contractors are providing transparency and avoiding any potential conflicts before they are awarded taxpayer dollars.”   
    To watch video of Senator Peters’ questions, click?here.
    During the hearing, Peters and the witnesses discussed what steps Congress should take to mitigate future risks relating to federal procurement and how federal agencies are currently addressing potential conflicts of interest in federal contracting. The committee discussed the importance of enforcing requirements and monitoring contracts to avoid risks, especially in relation to data, while also stressing the need to ensure the procurement process remains competitive. The witnesses highlighted that conflicts of interest can pose serious threats to our national security and warned that not addressing these concerns could potentially harm U.S. interests. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brown Statement on Passing of Former Congressman David Hobson

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
    Brown Statement on Passing of Former Congressman David Hobson
    CLEVELAND, OH – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) offered his condolences to the family of former Congressman David Hobson following news that he passed away. Brown served with Hobson in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2007.
    “Dave Hobson embodied the best of Ohio, the state he loved and served his entire life. When I first came to Congress, Dave and I worked together to create the Western Reserve National Cemetery for Ohio veterans – it wasn’t in his district, but he loved our state and understood the importance of serving Ohio veterans everywhere. Dave also understood how important the aerospace industry is to Dayton and to our state – he is one of the reasons Ohio is the number one aerospace state in the country. He always put politics aside to protect our national security and ensure that Wright Patterson Air Force Base remains the crown jewel of the Air Force.
    “Whether in Congress or retirement, Dave always worked to deliver for his beloved Springfield, for the Miami Valley, and for Ohio, and he’d work with anyone, of either party, to get things done for our state.
    “Connie and I send our deepest condolences to Carolyn and their family. He’ll be missed.”

    MIL OSI USA News –