Rights and Security International

Happening tomorrow, hosted by Prevent Watch! RSI's I. Sabah Hussain will be part of this webinar. UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) reports: "British counter-terrorism strategies “have created an atmosphere of suspicion towards members of Muslim communities and continue to have a negative impact on the exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, education, health and freedoms of religion and peaceful assembly.” The UN published this report less than a week after the British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commissioned a rapid review to inform a new “counter-extremism” strategy on tackling “extremist ideologies”.

Our NI Human Rights Officer, Declan Owens, is in the The Irish News responding to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's concluding observations on the UK: https://lnkd.in/e8ZQz_6b For more information, see the summary on our website: https://lnkd.in/eUFAMgWf

Is the UK's 'good character' requirement racist, and what can be done about it? Join us at The Abbey Centre for a thought-provoking discussion on the controversial 'good character' requirement in the UK. Is it discriminatory? What impact does it have on individuals and communities? Let's explore these questions together and brainstorm solutions. Don't miss out on this important event! Get your tickets on Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/eFAQ5fDu

Today is the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples   In April, RSI published an investigative report on how the UK is exporting its highly problematic ‘Prevent’ counter-extremism programme to Indonesia. As a result of this work, Jacob Smith, RSI’s UK Accountability team lead, was recently invited to give evidence to the Permanent People’s Tribunal during its session on state and environmental violence in West Papua, a region of Indonesia where Indigenous activists have faced killings and other repression. The Tribunal is examining the environmental impacts of development in the region, and the persecution, human rights violations and extra-judicial killings allegedly committed against the West Papuan people. The session took place at Queen Mary University in London, and during the session Jacob provided testimony that the UK supports harmful counter-extremism practices in Indonesia – even though the Indonesian government has official policies of repressing non-approved faiths and has long engaged in violence against protesters. Jacob's testimony also highlighted training that the UK is carrying out for police and military officers from Indonesian departments and units that have allegedly gone on to commit serious crimes. As we mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we must keep highlighting and pushing back on the harmful use of security laws against Indigenous groups in Indonesia and elsewhere. The UK should not be supporting human rights violations in the name of countering ‘extremism’. 

RSI condemns Islamophobic, anti-migrant, racist riots Our full statement is also on the website: https://lnkd.in/eYH6ec-v

Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eWD-JEAU

In July 2024, RSI – along with human rights partners in El Salvador – made a joint stakeholder submission to the Human Rights Council ahead of El Salvador's 4th cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In the submission, we raise concerns about the Salvadoran government's ongoing 'state of exception,' a counter-terrorism measure that has suspended various constitutional rights, such as freedom of association, for over two years. The policy has also enabled authorities to arbitrarily detain people en masse on suspicions of gang activity or associations. As a result of mass incarceration, the country's detention facilities have become extremely overcrowded. Research from our partners indicates that many people held on counter-terrorism charges in these facilities are deprived of their liberty due to the likelihood of being detained indefinitely, and even before they have been formally tried or convicted. The government has also used collective trials to convict people with similar charges in one proceeding. Such proceedings have been carried out by anonymous judges, and raise further concerns about the impartiality and fairness of the trials. For these reasons, RSI and our partners in El Salvador have called on reviewing States to recommend that El Salvador:  1. End the 'state of exception' and re-instates constitutional rights, such as freedom of association; 2. End excessive and indefinite pre-trial detention measures that arbitrarily deprives people of their liberty, and allows for them to be incarcerated indefinitely before they have been tried or convicted, and; 3. Guarantee the right to a fair trial by ending the use of collective trials and anonymous judges. Read our full submission in Spanish and English: https://lnkd.in/e2eqgBC3

Rights & Security International (RSI) is seeking a part-time Finance and Grant Management Officer to maintain our internal financial controls, assist with budgeting, and oversee our expenditures, especially by continually tracking our grant spending. The successful candidate will bring a strong knowledge of financial management, and will be comfortable creating budgets and forecasts. Ideally, they will be familiar with charity funding, especially restricted grants. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eMKWHi4g

The Centre for Climate Crime and Justice at Queen Mary University of London will host a Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal on State and Environmental Violence in West Papua from June 27th to 29th. RSI's Jacob Smith will give evidence in the said tribunal. You can get tickets here: https://lnkd.in/g4PJwxur

Civil society organisations in the Eastern Africa region are condemning the unlawful detention of activists and human rights defenders during yesterday’s protest in Nairobi against the Finance Bill 2024, and are urging international action. Rights & Security International (RSI) reports today. According to RSI’s partner organisations in the region, hundreds of peaceful protesters were detained in an operation that involved excessive force and intimidation. Protesters were demanding the complete withdrawal of the Finance Bill, which seeks to introduce new and higher tax measures and a review of the Government’s overall budget to reduce waste and enhance access to public services. Mombasa-based activist and RSI partner Hussein Khalid was among the detained. Read our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eKWX3iMJ