Human Rights Defenders Under Threat

                  This post is a summary of a report published with the incomplete title above at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act30/6011/2017/en/

                   While are increasingly the toxic narratives of fear and division, those who dare to make a stand against injustice and defend human rights are under attack. This report is part of Amnesty International's Global Campaign: "Brave", launched to combat measures by the powerful to threaten and attack human rights defenders (HRD). It provides an overview of the dangers human rights defenders face and calls on those in power to take immediate measures to ensure that human rights defenders are recognized, protected and equipped to conduct their work without fear of attack in a safe environment.  Across the world, toxic narratives of "us versus them" are being used. Those who dare to make a stand for human rights are coming under attack in more and more places, on an alarming scale. They are facing an onslaught of harassment, intimidation, smear campaigns, ill-treatment, and unlawful detention. They are even being killed, just for standing up for what is right. What we are witnessing today is a full-frontal assault by governments, armed groups, corporations and others on the right to defend human rights. Human rights defenders come from all walks of life. They are students, community leaders, journalists, lawyers, victims of abuses, health professionals, teachers, whistle-blowers, environment activists, and more. They are people challenging abuse of power, protecting the environment, defending minorities, standing up against abusive labour conditions. In the face of injustice, discrimination and abuse, they get in the way. The nature of the threat is insidious. The whole ecosystem of protest is being corroded. By taking away their right to protest, putting them under surveillance, and either directly targeting them or failing to protect them from harassment and threats, governments are cutting the oxygen supply to those defending human rights. It is now almost two decades since the international community gathered at the U.N. and adopted the Declaration to protect human rights defenders and recognize them as agents of change, crucial in promoting and protecting human rights. In backing the Declaration, governments promised to support human rights defenders and enable them to work without fear of reprisals. Governments in many countries are adopting policies which make the work of human rights defenders riskier and more difficult. From allow for mass surveillance, to banning access to foreign funding or imposing stringent requirements to register organizations, the space to stand up for human rights is increasingly tight. Meanwhile, human rights defenders are labelled as criminals, undesirables. they are called "foreign agents", "anti-nationals", "terrorists". They are painted as a threat to security, development or traditional values. However, in spite of the assault on peaceful protest, people will not simply roll over and accept injustice. Our spirit of justice is strong and it will not be suppressed. Now more than ever, we need people standing up against injustice and those who undermine human rights. In 1998, 50 years after the adoption of the UDHR, the UN General Assembly reaffirmed the principles of freedom and justice by adopting by consensus the UN Declaration on the Right of Individuals, Groups and Organs to Promote and Protect Human Rights (referred to as the HR Defenders Declaration). Crucially, it places the responsibility on states to implement and respect all of its provisions, particularly the duty to protect HR defenders from harm as a consequence of their work. Today, however, HRDs and the civic space they work is being targeted instead of supported and protected in line with the requirements of the HRDs Declaration. This report explores the measures used to silence them. They range from threats, beatings and even killings to the use of legislation to criminalize human rights-related activities; methods of surveillance and attacks on HRDs' capacity to communicate as well as restrictions on their freedom of movement. It concludes with a series of recommendations to state and non-state actors, as well as regional and international bodies, which must be urgently addressed in order to reverse the ongoing attempts to shrink the space in which HRDs and civil society operate. HRDs are often subjected to personal attacks by governments or non-state actors as a way to deter them from carrying out their work. Whether committed by state or non-state actors, these actions aim to put an end to human rights activities and to send a message to others that they should refrain from defending human rights. Rarely a day goes by without reports of attacks against of HRDs. According to Front Line Defenders, an NGO founded to protect HRDs at risk, 156 HRDs were killed in 2015 and 281 in 2016. Over half of those killings in 2015 and more than three quarters in 2016 were in the Americas region. In Colombia, 10 HRDs were killed in January 2017 alone, nearly double the monthly average for 2016. NGOs and families often strive for years to bring perpetrators to account for their crimes and their attempts to obtain justice or even to find the truth about a killing can place them and others in danger and result in further threats and killings. HRDs are frequently subjected to criminal proceedings on unfounded charges. Arbitrary detention is being employed as a way to interfere with their ability to defend and promote human rights. Criminal prosecutions can have the effect of stigmatizing HRDs regardless of whether they are convicted or not. The situation is compounded by the fact that judicial proceedings exhaust HRDs' energy and resources. Whistle-blower Edward Snowden is facing a 30-years prison sentence in the US for disclosing information. The former NSA subcontractor shared intelligence documents with journalists in June 2013, revealing the alarming extent of unlawful mass surveillance operated by the US and UK governments. His actions sparked a global debate which led to a change in laws that helped to better protect the right to privacy. Edward Snowden said he acted "to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them". Senior US officials have condemned him without a trial and flouted his right to the presumption of innocence. His case raises questions as to where he would receive a fair trail in the US since he could be prevented from presenting a public interest defence for his actions. 

Education at a Glance 2023

                     All around the world, governments have realized the importance of education, they are investing more and expecting good results. Became a widespread consensus that education needs an upgrade to meet the demands of the technological evolution. On 5th of December, OECD will disclose the results of the international test PISA and more statistics about education. This post is a summary of the book with the title above published in 2023 at   https://www.oecd.org/education/education-at-a-glance/

                           Governments are increasingly looking to international comparisons of education opportunities and outcomes as they develop policies to enhance individuals' social and economic prospects, provide incentives for greater efficiency in schooling, and help to mobilise resources to meet rising demands. This book addresses the needs of a range of users, from governments seeking to learn policy lessons to academic requiring data for further analysis and the general public wanting to monitor how their countries' schools are progressing in producing world-class students. High-quality early childhood education helps to give children an equitable start in life. Once children reach the age of 3, education is the norm in the vast majority of OECD countries, with an average enrollment rate of 74%. Nevertheless, in four countries the proportion of children enrolled remains in the single digits. Upper secondary attainment is often considered the minimum requirement for successful participation in the labour market. However, on average, 14% of all 25-34 year-olds across the OECD had not completed upper secondary education in 2022. While this share is still high, it represents a significant improvement compared with 2015, when it was 18%. Adequate funding is a precondition for providing high-quality education. Most OECD countries invest 3-4% of their GDP in primary and secondary education, rising to at least 5% of GDP in Colombia and Israel. Many OECD countries are facing teacher shortages. Competitive salaries are crucial to retaining and attracting more individuals to the profession. The extent to which education is combined with employment in early adulthood varies considerably across countries. The share of adults in education and employed for 18-24 years-olds is over 35% in Australia, Netherlands and Norway. Over two-thirds of 18-24 year-olds are ot in education in Colombia, Israel, New Zealand and Turkiye. As with other measures of civic engagement, there is a positive relation between posting about politics online and educational attainment. Among adults in tertiary education, digital media literacy fosters online political participation. Adult learning is becoming a crucial tools for societies as they look to adapt to emerging challenges and benefit from new opportunities. Technological change means an increasing number of jobs can be automated, while demographic change will mean fewer young people entering the labour market. These trends are already having impacts on labour markets. On average, 13% of women and 10% of men participate in training across OECD. This share ranges from just 1% in Bulgaria and Turkiye, to over 20% in Denmark and 30% in Sweden. Larger enterprises invest a larger share of their labour costs in training. There is a growing consensus about the importance of high-quality early childhood education. Research from a variety of context suggest that high-quality early education is associated with positive outcomes in both the short and long term. The proportion of students who drop-out from vocational programmes are relatively high in some countries, with at least one in four dropping out in Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal and Spain. High drop-out rates are worring, as young people who fail to complete upper secondary education are most at risk of becoming unemployed. There are countries where short-cycle tertiary programmes, which are mostly vocational, are relatively popular. For instance, in the year after their upper secondary graduation, 19% of general upper secondary graduates in Spain are enrolled in a short-cycle tertiary programme, followed by 18% in Canada and 15% in Colombia. In Canada, for example, colleges offering short-cycle tertiary education are very popular and play a key role in preparing young people for entry into the labour market. For those students who do not immediately pursue further studies, countries should ensure that upper secondary education prepares them for entry labour market, as well as for higher education. In Finland. for instance, the gap years between upper secondary education and tertiary level are common, mainly due to restricted entry to tertiary education or voluntary breaks to decide on what career to pursue. In 2021, 27% of new entrants chose one of the science, tech, engineering and math fields, followed by business, administration and law, chosen by 24% of all students, health and welfare with 14%, arts and humanities 10% and social science and journalism with 10%. Many OECD countries are aiming to reduce the age at which students complete tertiary education, so that they can enter the workforce early as possible. In 2021, the average age of graduates was 26 across OECD countries. However, there is notable variation between countries ranging from 22 in Japan to 29 in Latvia. International students are in significant numbers in some countries in short-cycle tertiary education. Australia has the largest share with 32% and is followed by Canada where 24% of short-cycle tertiary students are foreign, 19% in Iceland and 13% in Portugal. Between 2019 and 2020, total government expenditure on education increased in most OECD countries. Governments invested in various aspects of remote learning infrastructure, including technology, online learning platforms and teacher training for virtual instruction. Governments have allocated funds to support students by providing devices and internet access to disadvantaged students and supporting schools in implementing health and safety protocols. However, there are some exceptions: Brazil, Chile, Hungary and Turkiye, reported reductions of at least 5% in government spending on education between 2019 and 2020.

Eradicating Impunity for Serious Human Rights Violation

                        We all should always help combat serious human rights violations and help deliver justice to the victims, so if you witness any violation of human rights record it and help the victims have a evidence of the crime committed against them. Nothing is more important than justice to combat future possible violations, because this is what generally happens when the victims don't have the justice they deserve. This post is a summary of the book with the title above published in 2011 at   https://rm.coe.int/1680695d6e

                       Recalling that those responsible for acts amounting to serious human rights violations must be held to account for their actions. Considering that a lack of accountability encourages repetition of crimes, as perpetrators and others feel free to commit further offences without fear of punishment. Recalling that impunity for those responsible for acts amounting to serious human rights violations inflicts additional suffering on victims. Considering that impunity must be fought as a matter of justice for the victims, as a deterrent to prevent new violations, and to uphold the rule of law and public trust in the justice system. Considering the need for states to co-operate at the international level in order to put an end to impunity. Recalling the importance of the right to an effective remedy for victims of human rights violations, as contained in numerous international instruments and conventions such as the "U.N. Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power." Adopts the following guidelines and invites member states to implement them effectively and ensure that they are widely disseminated, in particular among all authorities responsible for the fight against impunity. These guidelines address the problem of impunity in respect of serious human rights violations. Impunity arises where those responsible for acts that amount to serious human rights violations are not brought to account. When it occurs, impunity is caused or facilitated by the lack of diligent reaction of institutions or state agent to violations. In these circumstances, faults might be observed within state institutions. States are to combat impunity as a matter of justice for the victims, as a deterrent with respect to future human rights violations and in order to uphold the rule of law and public trust in the justice system. They are addressed to states, and covers the acts or omissions of states, including those carried out through their agents. They also covers states' obligations under the Convention to take positive action in respect of non-state actors. For the purposes of these guidelines, "serious human rights violations" concern those acts in respect of which states have an obligation under the Convention to enact criminal law provision. Such obligations arise in the context of the right to life, the prohibition of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment, the prohibition of slavery, and of the right to respect for private and family life. The term "victim" refers to a person who has suffered harm, including physical or mental injury, emotional suffering or economic loss, caused by a serious human rights violation. States should elaborate policies and take practical measures to prevent and combat an institutional culture within their authorities which promotes impunity and promote a culture of respect for human rights and systematic work for the implementation of human rights. It is important making authorities aware of their obligations, including taking necessary measures, with regard to preventing impunity, and establishing appropriate sanctions for the failure to uphold those obligations and conducting a policy of zero-tolerance of serious human rights violations. Combating impunity requires that there be an effective investigation in cases of serious human rights violations. This duty has an absolute character. The obligation to protect the right to life requires that there should be an effective investigation when individuals have been killed. States have a duty to effectively investigate credible claims of violations of the right to respect to private and family life. States should support, by all possible means, the investigation of serious human rights violations and the prosecution of alleged perpetrators. States should ensure that victims may participate in the investigation and the proceedings to the extent necessary to safeguard their legitimate interests through relevant procedures under national law. States have to ensure that victims may, to the extent necessary to safeguard their legitimate interests, receive information regarding the follow-up and outcome of their complaints, the progress of the investigation and the prosecution, the execution of judicial decisions and all measures taken concerning reparation for damage caused to the victims. States should ensure that, at all stages of the proceedings when necessary, protection measures are put in places for the physical and psychological integrity of victims and witnesses. States should ensure that victims and witnesses are not intimidated, subject to reprisals or dissuaded from complaining or pursuing their complaints. Irrespective of any legal proceedings, victims and their families have the imprescriptible right to know the truth about the circumstance in which violations took place and, in the event of death or disappearance, the victims' fate. While respecting the independence of the courts, when serious human rights violations have been proven, the imposition of a suitable penalty should follow. The sentences which are handed out should be effective, proportionate and appropriate to the offence committed. International co-operation plays a significant role in combating impunity. In order to prevent and eradicate impunity, States must fulfil their obligations, notably with regard to mutual legal assistance, prosecution and extraditions, in a manner consistent with respect for human rights, including the principle of "non-refoulement". States should take all appropriate measures to establish accessible and effective mechanisms which ensure that victims of serious human rights violations receive prompt and adequate reparation for the harm suffered. This may include measures of rehabilitation, compensation, restitution and guarantees of non-repetition. The right to reparation is elaborate in the "U.N. Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Violations of International Human Rights Law." 

120th Birthday of George Orwell - Part III

                           We can never normalize or even tolerate human rights violations, they are serious crimes and must be always combatted and when they happen, justice must follow them with the due reparations. Never think that they can't happen to you, don't take your rights for granted. This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published at     https://www.ipl.org/essay/Human-Rights-And-Violence-In-George-Orwells-PCYDG7RAWG. The second was published at https://theconversation.com/what-orwells-1984-tells-us-about-todays-world-70-years-after-it-was-published-116940

                        In George Orwell's novel 1984, the theme of violation of human rights is thoroughly present, from violation of privacy, violation of the freedom of speech, and the loss of humanity in general from the ever present form of Big Brother who represents the government, has absolute control over the citizens's lives. 1984 effectively conveys the dangers of a totalitarian government. The word humanity refers to the human race as a whole and the qualities that make us human, such as the ability to love and have compassion. In our modern world, we take human nature for granted, but in 1984, he shows us a society in which there is no humanity, and those that fight for it die trying. The totalitarian goverrment, known as the Party, uses isolation, fear, and lies to destroy humanity in their citizens. The novel describes the journey of Winston Smith as he rebels against the Party and tries to maintain his human qualities. Art can be used to portray political message and is a powerful weapon to show the public about political leaders. George Orwell uses his novel to portray political evils and totalitarian political leaders. He gives us a warning that what society can become if they allow totalitarianism to accomplish supremacy. Imagine your TV is always on and always watching your every move. Welcome to 1984. From now on you must be very careful what you think for you must always live in fear of committing a thought crime. Even one negative thought about Big Brother could force the Thought Police to erase you from existence. This is the daily life in this fictional country called Oceania. George Orwell wrote 1984 back in the midst of World War II, which is allude to multiple times in the book. He discussed what this world might turn into if we don't take action against the totalitarian European leaders. The book depicts a over-controlling government, referred to as the Party, which is constantly spying on the citizens. Winston Smith realizes the wrongdoings of the government and starts to rebel against them. Throughout the entirely book he can be seen as a hero by his defiance against the Party. In a world where thought is monitored and actions are watched continuously by neighbors, strangers and cameras, the conflicts that exist in that type of world are astronomical. This is the type of world that Winston Smith lives his life in. So it is no surprise that he faces many forms of conflicts. Living through the first half of the 20th century, George Orwell watched the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia. He witnessed the brutalities of the Nazis and Stalinists first hand. His experiences awakened him to the evils of a totalitarian government. Sex creates an extremely exclusive bond between two individuals; it is an unspoken contract of trust and love. Not only are sexual experiences private, but they also fulfill humanity's instinctual desire and promote individuality. However, when this intimacy is either erased or condemned by society, individuals lose touch with that vital part of their humanity and individuality. In 1984 sexuality plays an important role in both totalitarian government and Winston's rebellion against his oppressors; Winston revolts against the Party's manipulative political control, the destruction of individuality, the absence of human connection and the practice of sexual puritanism. The Party strives for sexual puritanism in order to eradicate true humanity and demonize sex. Actual sexual acts are portrayed as filthy deeds since young childhood. The choice between conforming to societal standards and remaining an individual is similar to choosing between freedom and oppression. Individuality is the distinction between qualities of oneself and others, requiring independent thoughts and opinions. The foundation of ones autonomy consists of ones ability to think independently. In 1984 all aspects of the citizen's lives are being influenced by the Party. Winston's beliefs illustrates the corruption they experience for they are unable to think for themselves and are forced to accept whatever they are told to believe. In 1984 the government regulates the information that citizens have access to, as well as ensuring that the citizens have no knowledge of the true history or condition of the world or their own personal past. 1984 warns that society should be aware of totalitarianism. People should worry about how the government abuses its power and takes away citizens' rights. In 1984 people lost their will to fight and acted as if the society they are living in is normal, but there are only two people who rebel against the government. Totalitarianism is when the government takes over private and public matters as much as they can. In 1984 people are being watched nonstop. In many ways The Hunger Games are similar in government. For instance, it states, "even here, even in the middle of nowhere, you worry someone might hear you, so I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that no one could ever read my thoughts". This displays how people may fear the government spying on their citizens and how it corrupts how citizens feel.                                                                                                                                                                 Eric Blair, writing under a pseudonym George Orwell, published "1984", now generally considered a classic of dystopian fiction. The novel tells the story of Winston Smith, a hapless middle-aged bureaucrat and he is under constant surveillance. The society portrayed in 1984 is one in which social control is exercised through disinformation and surveillance. One of the key technologies of surveillance in the novel is the "telescreen", a device very much like our own TV. The telescreen display a single channel of news, propaganda and wellness programming. It differs from our own TV in two aspects: It is impossible to turn off and the screen also watches its viewers. The dominant reading of 1984 has been that it was a dire prediction of what could be. In the words of Italian essayist Umberto Eco, "at least three-quarters of what Orwell narrates is not negative utopia, but history." The media scholar Mark Miller argues that TV nowadays teaches a different kind of conformity than that portrayed in the novel. In the novel, the TV is used to produce conformity to the party, the government. In our real TV produces conformity to a system of rapacious consumption, through advertising. This inert watchfulness can exist because TV allows viewers to watch strangers without being seen. Scholar Joshua Meyrowitz has shown that the kinds of programming have normalized looking into the private lives of others. For example, it might seem just marketing that one of the longest-running and most popular reality shows in the world is entitled "Big Brother". The stress of participants under surveillance 24/7 on "Big Brother" has led the show to employ a team of psychologists. While these reality shows don't order participants to directly harm each other, they are often set up as a small-scale social experiment that often involves intense competition or even cruelty. 

International Day of Peace 2023 - Part II

                    The U.N. should do more to reinforce peace around the world, including I think the peacekeepers army should be bigger and more present in many countries to defend human rights of the population. The policymakers in Brazil should read about what cause the persistent high rate of homicides in Brazil. The right to life must be respected and killers must have a harsh punishment. This post is a summary of the book with the title of, "Pathways for Peace" published in 2018 at   https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/2b4001d9-eaf2-56c9-957f-ea16b21fbd2a/content

                    In 2015, the U.N. set ambitious goals for the world with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which offers a unique framework to come together around a renewed effort at preventing human suffering. The agenda, which is universal, not only aims to end poverty and hunger, to ensure healthy lives and quality education, but also to reduce inequalities and promote peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Violent conflict is recognized as one of the big obstacle to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030. Its dramatic resurgence over the last few years has caused immense human suffering and has global impact. It is projected that more than half of the people living in poverty will be found in countries affected by high levels of violence by 2030. As the human, social and financial costs and complexity of violent conflict and its global impact grow, we must ask ourselves: how can the global community prevent violent conflict? This upsurge in violence occurs in a volatile global context where the balance of geopolitical power is in flux, and transnational factors like advances in information technology create risks and opportunities to be managed at multiple levels. Because violent conflict tends to persist once it takes root, its impacts accumulate. Infrastructure and institutions are quickly destroyed. Exposure to violence can have devastating lifelong impacts on psychological well-being. Drops in investment, together with the cost of responding to violence, put intense strain on state capacity. This surge in violence afflicts both low- and middle-income countries with relatively strong institutions and calls into question the long-standing assumption that peace will accompany income growth and the expectations of steady social, economic, and political advancement that defined the end of the 20th century. The best way to prevent societies from descending into crisis, including but not limited to conflict, is to ensure that they are resilient through investment in inclusive and sustainable development. For all countries, addressing inequalities and exclusion, making institutions more inclusive are central to preventing the fraying of the social fabric that could erupt into crisis. The primary responsibility for preventive action rests with states, both through their national policy and their governance of the multilateral system. Exclusion from access to power, opportunity, services, and security creates fertile ground for mobilizing group grievances to violence, especially in areas with weak state capacity in the context of human rights abuses. This study points to specific ways in which states can seek to avert violence, including through more inclusive policies. A comprehensive shift toward preventing violence and sustaining peace offers life-saving rewards. This book presents an agenda for action to ensure that attention, efforts, and resources are focused on prevention. Today, the consequences of failing to act together are alarming evident, and the call for urgent action has perhaps never been clearer. The time to act is now. While the rate of homicides seems to be declining around the world, it remains very high in Latin America and the Caribbean. A 2017 World Bank study calls the problem "staggering and persistent" in "the world's most violent region", which houses 42 of the 50 most violent cities. Homicides in Brazil can be attributed to the prevalence of the drug trade and the activity of violent gangs in certain neighborhoods, exacerbated by corruption and poor training among police forces and ineffectiveness in the court system. Violence in Venezuela is on the rise, with the capital Caracas ranked the most murderous city in the world. In Mexico, violence driven by drug cartels remains very high. On the other hand, homicides rates in Colombia have declined significantly in the last decade. Many countries have used the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the universal treaties that derive from it as a shared foundation for normative and legal change. International tools like fact-finding missions, routine reporting, investigative commissions and special rapporteurs have often focused on maintaining dialogue with governments on violations on rights, discrimination, and abuses as part of efforts to reduce the risks of conflicts. This study highlights and elaborates how synergies between peace and development can be effectively pursued. Where the SDGs call for inclusivity and for the imperative of leaving no one behind. While there is no single formula for effectively preventing violence, this study demonstrates that prevention works, saves lives and is cost-effective. It estimates that "savings" generated from prevention range from US$5 billion to US$69 billion a year. Preventing violence is a continuous process requiring long-term domestic efforts to promote inclusive institutions. Targeted engagement, through different entry points, is critical. It is time to address distorted incentives and to do the utmost to prevent human suffering and avoid the exorbitant costs of conflict. The time to act is now. The agenda for humanity is a five point plan that outlines the changes needed to alleviate suffering, reduce risk, and lessen vulnerability on global scale. In the 2030 Agenda, humanity: people's safety, dignity and right to thrive is placed at the heart of global decision making around five core responsibilities, including the prevention and ending of conflicts.