One-Year-Olds in US Court; Fortress Europe? Get Real: Daily Brief
Fortress Europe is a bad idea; Democracy under attack as Trump comes to Europe; terrible news from Myanmar; more support for International Criminal Court needed; Iran beyond the nuclear deal; EU faces test on fundamental rights & Ukraine; Balkan Summit in London.
Children as young as 1 are being made to appear in court in the US to defend themselves against deportation. Many of them, and hundreds of other kids, are still separated from their parents at the US border because of the Trump administration's extreme "zero tolerance" immigration policy and lack of any plan to reunite families.
Good news! Peru and Djibouti became the 76th and 77th countries to join the Safe Schools Declaration today. Their endorsements are further signals of a growing global support to protect kids and education worldwide during times of war.
European teams advancing in the World Cup finals can thank immigration for much of their success. Some of the star players on the French, Belgian, and English teams are first and second-generation immigrants. It's a good reminder to world leaders to celebrate diversity in Europe rather than limit it.
From earlier today: "Barbed-wire fences and remote camps might make voters feel safe today but they won’t address the actual forces that drive migration or resolve the situation of people on the move." As politicians grapple with how to respond to migration, sealing Europe's borders is not the answer.
As United States President Donald Trump travels to Europe this week for a NATO summit in Brussels and meetings with UK Prime Minister Theresa May and Russian President Vladimir Putin, there is a lot to be worried about and protest against. Fundamental rights are under attack on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Awful news today from Myanmar, where two jailed Reuters journalists have been charged with 'obtaining secret state documents'. The pair, whose investigative reporting on crimes against humanity against Rohingya Muslims prompted their arrest, should be released.
The 20th anniversary of the International Criminal Court is coming up, and support is more important than ever. There's good news from Germany, where parliament has urged the government to increase its active support for the court.
Not many cities around the world have more significance than Brussels for Iranians these days. This, of course, is because of the EU negotiations on how to help the Iran nuclear deal survive after the United States withdrew in May and threatened new sanctions. But Brussels’ relevance for Iran doesn’t end there. The EU, as the main international actor engaging seriously with the government of Iran, should also include discussions about the rights of millions of Iranians with disabilities.
As European and Ukrainian leaders gather in Brussels today, it's time to highlight the need for further protection of fundamental rights and freedoms in Ukraine.
And Western Balkan and European Union leaders are meeting in London this week for a summit that could be a chance to revive stalled reforms and focus attention on critical issues. Unfortunately, there is every chance it will turn out to be full of hot air...