Beijing Olympics a “Celebration of Crimes against Humanity”: Daily Brief

More countries have joined a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, citing China’s extensive human rights abuses, and particularly the mass atrocity crimes in Xinjiang province. So far, we’ve counted Australia, Canada, the UK and the US in support, and more countries are sure to follow. It’s an important “step in the right direction”, but of course, much more needs to be done to put pressure on Beijing to end its abuses.

A full year has passed since Eritrean government forces massacred Tigrayan civilians in Ethiopia’s historical town of Axum. But survivors of that massacre and of other atrocities in Tigray are still no closer to accessing justice and redress. Until there is accountability for past atrocities, expect new atrocities to keep happening. Members of the UN Human Rights Council need to rise to the challenge, support the call for a special session, and secure the establishment of a robust investigative mechanism without further delay.

The climate crisis threatens catastrophic impacts on human rights around the world. As the EU's top greenhouse gas emitter, Germany has a special responsibility to address the issue. The new German government should urgently take more ambitious climate action to do its part to prevent the worst climate impacts and protect human rights.

The UK government could strip individuals of their British citizenship without any warning under a proposed rule change “quietly added” to a new nationality and borders bill. It’s by far not the only problem with the “horrific anti-refugee bill”, which envisions offshore detention centers – a tried-and-failed policy. The bill has sadly just passed a critical stage in the House of Commons.

France will take over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from January. It comes at a critical juncture, as several EU governments are deliberately rejecting the democratic values on which the EU was founded. Can France reverse the EU’s course?

A major UN disarmament conference is set for Geneva next week, and healthcare professionals and burn survivor organizations from around the world are adding a compelling voice to the diplomatic debate around incendiary weapons. In an open letter, they are urging governments to reevaluate and strengthen international law on these weapons, which burn people and set fire to civilian structures and property. Those who have treated or experienced burn injuries bring a unique authority to the call for more robust law.

Finally, is it appropriate for a Muslim to congratulate non-Muslims on their religious holidays? That’s not for us to say, of course, but we can say that threatening someone with eight years in prison for merely asking that question is absurd and makes Uzbekistan’s authorities look rather ridiculous.