Will EU Address Beijing’s Assault on Rights? Daily Brief
European Parliament calls for a more robust China strategy; people with disabilities in Iraq face election barriers; Eritrean refugees targeted in Ethiopia's Tigray region; UN Commission of Inquiry finds ample reason to remain concerned about Burundi's human rights situation; massacres persist in DR Congo; broad facial recognition use undermines rights in Russia; and some very welcome news from the Philippines.
In a landmark report published on Thursday, the European Parliament has urged the European Union to adopt a new China strategy and place human rights squarely at the heart of it. The report makes a number of detailed recommendations to the EU and its member states, including calls to adopt targeted sanctions against senior Chinese officials responsible for abuses in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The EU would be wise to follow these.
Iraq has one of highest disabled populations in the world, but many people with disabilities are unable to vote or run in elections due to discriminatory legislation and inaccessible polling places. Will the authorities finally take steps to let people with disabilities participate in parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 10? It is their right. Read our new report on-topic, watch the accompanying video, and see what you can do to help make sure that people with disabilities can vote in Iraq!
Eritrean government forces and Tigrayan militias have committed killings, rape, and other grave abuses against Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. All warring parties should cease attacks against refugees, stay out of refugee camps, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
There is ample reason to remain very concerned about the dire human rights situation in Burundi, a report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, published today, finds. “We call on everyone concerned for Burundi to look under the surface", said Doudou Diène, the Commission's Chairperson. "Since President Ndayishimiye’s inauguration 15 months ago, not only have grave human rights violations continued to occur, but in some respects the situation has deteriorated”.
Attacks on civilians by armed groups have continued in two conflict-ridden provinces of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo since the government imposed martial law in May 2021. At least 739 civilians have been killed by various armed groups as well as Congolese security forces in Ituri and North Kivu provinces between the start of martial law on May 6 and September 10, according to data collected by the Kivu Security Tracker, a joint project of Human Rights Watch and the Congo Research Group.
Authorities in Russia continue expanding their use of facial recognition technology across the country, with no regulation, oversight, or data protection and against the backdrop of misidentification reports.
And there is some very welcome news from the Philippines.