EU Parliament Freezes Trade Deal with China: Daily Brief
European Parliament votes to freeze trade deal with China; Israel/Palestine ceasefire begins; Indonesia needs to suspend and revise new internet regulation; another surge in Covid-19 deaths in India; Ugandan student faces prison over a tweet; the US fails to provide justice for Tulsa race massacre; and an important step toward justice in South Sudan.
Good news: only a few months after the conclusion of a controversial trade deal between the EU and China, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to freeze its ratification. The European Parliament raised concerns about forced labor in China and its lack of human rights protections and redress mechanisms. The deal is frozen as long as China's baseless counter-sanctions against EU institutions remain in place.
A ceasefire between Israel and Palestine was reached and began early on Friday, hopefully bringing to an end 11 days of fighting in which more than 240 people were killed. The attacks may amount to war crimes and highlight the importance of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC prosecutor, who opened an investigation on the situation will need support from the international community.
In Indonesia, a new rule requires all private digital services and platforms to register with the Ministry of Communication and to provide access to their data. Those that fail to register will be blocked in the country. The government should suspend and revise the regulation to meet international human rights standards.
Hundreds of corpses, many suspected victims of Covid-19, are being left along riverbanks in northern India. Amidst this surge in Covid-19 deaths, Indian authorities should focus on solutions, not misguided, abusive policies.
Ugandan authorities should drop the abusive charges against a 24-year-old law student. He was jailed and denied access to his family and lawyers for 5 days for a tweet parodying police spokesperson.
Instead of providing comprehensive reparations for the May 31, 1921, Tulsa race massacre, the city and state authorities are carrying out centennial commemoration activities in ways that continue to harm Tulsa’s Black community.
A new report highlights the importance of the International Criminal Court's first major hearing on Darfur crimes - and barriers remaining for transitional justice.