AMNESTY WEEKLY HEADLINES ON 4-10 NOVEMBER 2023
13 November 2023
Amnesty International Thailand
Israel/OPT: Amnesty petition demanding ceasefire to end civilian suffering backed by more than one million signatures
10 November 2023
More than a million signatures from people around the world have been gathered for an Amnesty International petition demanding an immediate ceasefire to end the unparalleled escalation of hostilities in Gaza and Israel since 7 October 2023. In response, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns at Amnesty International, said:
“The world is watching in horror as more and more civilians lose their lives each day amid Israel’s relentless bombardment and ground operations, and the unfolding of an unprecedented, man-made humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied Gaza Strip. More than 10,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza including at least 4,200 children in the last four weeks. In Israel at least 1,400 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage, including 33 children, by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October.
For more than one month the international community has failed to act in the face of staggering levels of civilian bloodshed, destruction and unimaginable human suffering in Gaza.
Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International
“Israel’s further tightening of its illegal blockade of Gaza has left 2 million people without access to drinking water, food, medical supplies and fuel, leading to the collapse of the health system at a time when the number of those injured is over 25,000. At least 1.5 million Gazans have been forcibly displaced from their homes due to the attacks and as a result of orders from the Israeli army to move to the south of the Strip.
“Outraged over the devastating toll on civilians, a global chorus of Amnesty International members and supporters are calling for the protection of all civilians at risk by signing our petition to demand an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to protest across the world to demand a ceasefire, yet their calls have gone unheeded by the international community as warring parties continue to display a callous disregard for civilian lives.”
“Israeli authorities continue to dehumanize Palestinians in their rhetoric as Israeli forces bomb densely populated refugee camps, hospitals, UN-run schools, bakeries, mosques and churches, roads and civilian homes wiping out entire families. Civilian hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza remain in danger, and ongoing indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel places civilians at risk.
“For more than one month the international community has failed to act in the face of staggering levels of civilian bloodshed, destruction and unimaginable human suffering in Gaza. This failure is a shameful stain on humanity. Instead, some states continue to arm parties to the conflict with weapons used in flagrant violations of human rights.
“The only way to prevent further loss of civilian lives and allow lifesaving aid to reach those in desperate need in Gaza is for states to act now to demand an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the conflict in the occupied Gaza Strip. A ceasefire will also provide opportunities to secure the release of hostages and for independent international investigations to take place into the war crimes committed by all parties to address long-standing impunity. Ultimately, justice and reparation for all victims and dismantling Israel’s entrenched system of apartheid against Palestinians are essential to ending the cycle of recurrent horrors.”
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Russian Federation: Authorities must disclose whereabouts of Maksym Butkevych following enforced disappearance
10 November 2023
Responding to the forcible disappearance of Ukrainian human rights defender and prisoner of war Maksym Butkevych, whose whereabouts were last confirmed on 22 August, Amnesty International’s acting Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Director, Denis Krivosheev, said:
“It has been eleven weeks since Maksym Butkevych’s whereabouts were last known. Given his sham trial, the nature of his conviction and the evidence of mistreatment, his family and many of us have serious concerns about his fate and wellbeing. We demand the Russian authorities immediately disclose where he is and allow him to contact his family and his lawyer.
“This is just the latest in a litany of abuses against Maksym Butkevych since he was taken prisoner of war in June 2022. His 13-year imprisonment was imposed on him by the so-called Supreme Court in Russian-occupied Luhansk in secret proceedings, based on a video confession that was almost certainly coerced, alongside other flimsy evidence. We believe that the charges were wholly motivated as a reprisal from the Russian authorities for Maksym’s previous activism and prominent human rights work.
“Depriving a prisoner of war of the right to a fair and regular trial is a war crime. So is enforced disappearance, which is what his current treatment amounts to. The Russian authorities must quash the sentence handed down to Maksym Butkevych, immediately release him from custody imposed by the so-called supreme court in Luhansk and stop violations of international law and abuse of the rights of prisoners.”
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Nigeria: Amnesty International and others demand justice for victims of enforced disappearances in Northeast
3 November 2023
Responding to the Nigerian government’s receipt of our application filed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice to demand justice for cases of enforced disappearances recorded in the Northeast of Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria Director said:
“By allowing the military to carry out thousands of enforced disappearances in the country’s Northeast and subsequently failing to genuinely and effectively investigate and prosecute those responsible, the Nigerian government has violated its international and regional human rights obligations and has failed victims.
“The ECOWAS Court represents one of the few remaining avenues for accountability and justice for victims of enforced disappearances in Northeast Nigeria and their families, who deserve to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones. The ECOWAS court can help bring about justice by clearly calling out as human rights violations the failure of the Nigerian authorities to properly investigate and prosecute.”
We welcome the receipt of our application by the Nigerian government, symbolizing that this is now a pending case, and the victims will get their day in court. But this is just the first step. We call on the Nigerian authorities to cooperate closely with the Court in its proceedings, to conduct an independent, impartial and effective investigation into all cases of enforced disappearances in Northeast Nigeria, and where admissible evidence exists, to prosecute all those suspected of criminal responsibility in relation to the disappearances.
Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International Nigeria Director
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Global: Fossil fuel production will be double the level needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C
8 November 2023
Reacting to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report today, showing that production of fossil fuels by 2030 will be more than double the limit required to keep global warming within the internationally agreed goal of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels this century, Amnesty International’s Climate Justice Researcher Candy Ofime said:
“Going into the COP28 climate summit, we see leading fossil fuel producing countries in thrall to the profit seeking of major fossil fuel companies rather than meeting their human rights obligations and commitments under the Paris Agreement. This must be remedied at COP28 by parties agreeing to urgently and equitably phase out all fossil fuels.
“As the report indicates, increased production and use of fossil fuels is not compatible with a safe and liveable future. Climate change impacts the rights to life, health, food, water, culture and to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment of present and future generations. Marginalized communities and Indigenous peoples are bearing the brunt of climate harm today, and this will only worsen with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of more fossil fuels.
An increase in global coal production until 2030, and global oil and gas production until at least 2050, sets us on a course towards further climate chaos.
Amnesty International’s Climate Justice Researcher Candy Ofime
“2023 is projected to be easily the hottest year on record, yet governments are still irresponsibly fuelling a rapidly worsening climate crisis. An increase in global coal production until 2030, and global oil and gas production until at least 2050, sets us on a course towards further climate chaos.
“This must change to avert a human rights catastrophe. States must take urgent steps now to phase out all fossil fuel production including by ending subsidies, halt all new expansion projects, and accelerate a just and equitable transition to renewable energy. States that bear the greatest responsibility for historical emissions as well as high income fossil fuel producing states must move further and faster, and provide adequate assistance to states that need it to help decarbonize their economies.”
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Pakistan: Halt mass detentions and deportations of Afghan refugees
8 November 2023
The Government of Pakistan must immediately halt the continued detentions, deportations and widespread harassment of Afghan refugees, said Amnesty International today.
“Thousands of Afghan refugees are being used as political pawns to be returned to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan where their life and physical integrity could be at risk amidst an intensified crackdown on human rights and an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. No one should be subjected to mass forced deportations, and Pakistan would do well to remember its international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement,” said Livia Saccardi, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Campaigns for South Asia.
“If the Pakistani government doesn’t halt the deportations immediately, it will be denying thousands of at-risk Afghans, especially women and girls, access to safety, education and livelihood.”
According to the government, more than 170,000 Afghans, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades, have had to leave the country since 17 September as the government gave an ultimatum for all ‘unregistered foreign nationals’ to leave Pakistan. Since the expiry of the 1 November deadline imposed by the Government of Pakistan, the police have moved from registering cases under the Foreigners Act, 1946 which among other things criminalizes illegal entry into Pakistan, to directly detaining refugees deemed ‘illegal’ at deportation centers.
Amnesty International has concerns about the complete lack of transparency, due process and accountability in the detentions and deportations over the last week. This has been exacerbated by increased incidents of harassment and hostility against Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
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