Natasha Hall’s Post

In advance of this Human Rights Day, I wrote this reflection on why peace and human rights should not be pitted against one another: https://lnkd.in/gK5Qkj3C

The Human Rights System Is Under Threat: A Call to Action. The drivers of these human rights crises and their consequences often transcend borders and cannot be solved by governments acting alone. Understanding and responding. https://lnkd.in/euFKdms4

🛑I’m calling on #journalists & #reporters 🛑 @SenatorCardin must realize that everyday that he spends in stalling and blocking the bipartisan #MAHSAAct (HR589/S2626) which already passed almost unanimously in the House, is equivalent to 1000s of lives lost in seeking dignity, basic human rights and democracy against a tyrannical dictatorship in Iran. The Iranian people are our best allies and assets in demolishing the #Islamic_terror-propagating regime. The #MAHSAAct (HR589/S2626) will bring sufficient international pressure on the regime’s leadership to isolate them via U.S. law and codified human rights abuse and terrorism sanctions which will NOT be lifted in any potential future NUCLEAR negotiation with this criminal regime. It will instead bring to light their crimes against humanity on a global international scale and be used to show a unanimous and nonnegotiable stance for human rights, the value of life and human dignity. ( as recent report by United Nations charged with committing Crimes against humanity https://lnkd.in/g6Hb79zd) This will undoubtedly support the Iranian women and men’s fight for their own liberation and freedom from the regime terrorizing them and the world for the past 45 years. We desperately need you, @SenatorCardin as Chair of @SFRCdems to take this first step, not just for the Iranian’s cause for freedom and democracy but for the safety of the entire world against IR’s terrorism and its impending nuclear proliferation and threat to all living beings. Please bring our two Nations together for good and for a common cause of freedom and democracy, which we share and value. Please MarkUp the MAHSA Act in your committee instead of silencing the voice of the voiceless‼️ We thank you for your bipartisan efforts in marking up the #SHIPAct and while its passage is absolutely critical in defunding the terror regime, it will NOT carry the same message to politically isolate and hold accountable the regime’s leadership for committing human rights abuses and terrorism with less resources and oil money to fund their domestic and international terror. Ultimate GOAL 👇 🛑supporting the OVERTHROW the regime by the Iranians, which #MAHSAAct will support our biggest allies, the brave people of Iran in this cause. The choice is clear, #Maximumsupport for Iranian people in the name of #mahsaamini and the 1000s who gave up their lives for freedom and democracy on this #International_Womens_Day And #maximumPressure the totalitarian regime in maintaining its foothold in our motherland‼️ once the land Cassandance, the wife of Cyrus the Great and Artunis, a woman lieutenant commander in his army. 👉We will not desist 👉We will not fall. We will not fail 👉We will uphold #WomanLifeFreedom https://lnkd.in/gHahh_E3 🦁🌞🇮🇱🇺🇸 narrative from X👇please open #SenatorRisch @hill @thomasomelia @POLITICOMag @SenMarcoRubio @RepTenney

An important extract about the plurality of contexts human rights defenders work in from the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (widely known as "The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders" (United Nations, 1998): "Acknowledging the important role of international cooperation for, and the valuable work of individuals, groups and associations in contributing to, the effective elimination of all violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms of peoples and individuals, including in relation to mass, flagrant or systematic violations such as those resulting from apartheid, all forms of racial discrimination, colonialism, foreign domination or occupation, aggression or threats to national sovereignty, national unity or territorial integrity and from the refusal to recognize the right of peoples to self-determination and the right of every people to exercise full sovereignty over its wealth and natural resources." Good point for understanding that by fighting Russia, Ukrainians do not only fight for territorial integrity, but protect their right for self-determination and most importantly, protect the rights of others who were stripped of rights and freedoms in result of "...foreign domination or occupation, aggression or threats to national sovereignty, national unity or territorial integrity". Yet another proof that we should continuously expand our understanding of who is a human rights defender and not limit this definition to affiliations and titles. And by the way, in my opinion, this is exactly a kind of function of the #UN - a knowledge database, whereas we often give it more power attributions than it actually has.

On this World Day of International Justice, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding global justice, accountability, and the rule of law. International justice is crucial for promoting peace, security, and human rights for all individuals, irrespective of their nationality or background. We acknowledge the vital role of international courts in holding perpetrators accountable for atrocities and providing justice to victims. Continued support and cooperation among nations are essential to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes face justice. Let's recommit to fostering a culture of accountability and justice at both national and international levels. Working together, we can ensure fair access to justice and hold those who commit crimes against humanity accountable. Our collective efforts can pave the way for a more just and peaceful world for generations to come. Let's unite in our pursuit of international justice, standing firm in upholding justice and human rights for all. #InternationalJustice #Peace #HumanRights #Accountability

Read Andrew Clapham on the "human right to peace." We should be asking if methods of warfare such as siege and blockade are admissible at all in the 21st century. How can starving anyone into submission be countenanced as a method of war when we all agree that torture is no longer acceptable as a matter of human rights? Why are we considering a humanitarian way to impose a siege - when the institution of wartime siege should be defunct in the modern world? We do not today spend time considering rules for ensuring that slavery is exercised under humane conditions. 

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, together with the staff of the Department of Monitoring Compliance with Information Rights of the Secretariat of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, I participated in the International Human Rights Conference "Freedom or Fear" organized by the Office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman. During the event, panel discussions took place on various topics: From tranquility to peace; How human rights help overcome dictatorship; TED Talk «Remembering the past, fighting for the future»; Freedom from fear: an algorithm ensuring effective security guarantees based on the rule of law; Justice for everyone, from documenting crimes to achieving justice in post-war Ukraine (reconstruction, return, peace). «The key to the country's success is respecting human rights worldwide. The return of people and territories is enshrined in the formula for peace, so freedom must be fought for, overcoming fear for the sake of peace and human rights!» - noted by Dmytro Lubinets.

While peace is undeniably crucial for the protection and fulfillment of human rights, it would be overly simplistic to label it as the sole progenitor of all other rights. Human rights encompass a diverse array of principles and freedoms, each with its own significance and interdependence. While peace certainly facilitates the realization of these rights, other factors such as justice, equality, and accountability also play indispensable roles in ensuring human dignity and well-being. Therefore, while acknowledging the vital role of peace, it is essential to recognize the multifaceted nature of human rights and the complex interactions that contribute to their advancement.

Reflections on Human Rights: The world has been witnessing sporadic conflicts involving both state and non-state actors. The protection of human rights benefits all, aiding in the evolution towards a less barbaric society and establishing minimum humane standards to be followed in conflicting situations. Thus, were the findings of my unawarded PhD thesis. International & domestic counter - terrorism laws are political instruments that set the tone for conflict and conflict resolution, and its implementation adds another layer. Therefore, human rights for all are fundamental to start with in order to restore human civilization to a humane state and to work on prevention of terrorism and wars. Hard power tactics fail because it incubates wrongdoers, leading to unpredictable retaliation.

When it comes to the global revolution unfolding against war criminals and international human rights violators...this is just the beginning. 🚀 Here are the key facts: 📍 Compared to the 1990s marked by Rwandan & Bosnian genocide, in the past decade trials for crimes against humanity have surged 4-fold 📍 Civil society groups are using domestic courts and universal jurisdiction to prosecute when international bodies fail to act 📍 In 2022 alone, 91 charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide were filed across 12 countries Here's the thing: These groups are reshaping global accountability, using innovative legal strategies to dismantle cultures of impunity. 🚨Their prosecutions deter future atrocities and forge an expectation of justice in conflict zones 🚨The US recently closed loopholes allowing war criminals to seek haven here 🚨 Momentum is accelerating - it marks a new era of civil society leadership Read more on the movement: https://lnkd.in/eXG-cGqZ