Taliban Disappearing People in Afghanistan: Daily Brief

In a new report released today, Human Rights Watch takes stock of the first few months of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: despite promises of an amnesty, the Taliban have summarily arrested, executed, or forcibly disappeared more than a hundred people who served in the security forces of the prior governments in just four provinces since taking control. With the Taliban's promises of improvement no more than a public relations façade, the international community should act and set up accountability mechanisms, including robust monitoring, investigations, and public reporting.

In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic showing no signs of abating, and the ominous appearance of the new, more transmissible and possibly vaccine-resistant Omicron variant, a minority of high-income countries have been hoarding vaccines and continue to block wider vaccine production globally by opposing the intellectual property waiver on vaccines (TRIPS). After the TRIPS Commitee met yesterday, the World Health Organization's Technical lead on Covid-19 put it simply: there's no time to waste on vaccine inequity. 

Around October 26, 2020, during the 2020 elections, in Zanzibar, the Tanzanian security forces killed, arrested, detained, and tortured opposition supporters. Despite a public outcry within the country and international calls for investigations, a year after, neither the Tanzanian, nor Zanzibari authorities have acknowledged, let alone investigated, the full scale and toll of the violence. 

A far-right mob harassed and called for violence against the Roma residents of Irpin, in Ukraine, on October 17. A policeman called it "a peaceful gathering" and city officials, including the mayor, refused to condemn the hate speech and threats. It's a stark reminder that, no matter how often Roma people face violence in the country, impunity for hate crimes is still the norm.  

Today, journalists in Guatemala will be protesting against how their government is failing to guarantee the necessary conditions for media freedom. Alejandro Giammattei's first year as the country's president saw escalating attacks against press freedom, which worsened with the Covid-19 related information restrictions. Guatemalan Journalist’s Day was created to celebrate the essential role of media freedom in Guatemala, and that's just what this protest will do. 

Finally, if you want to support our work to investigate abuses, expose atrocities, and pressure governments, corporations, rebel groups, and more to create real, sustainable change, join the Giving Tuesday movement and donate to Human Rights Watch. Thanks!