Schlagwort: human rights

UN member states should urgently support a halt on the sale, transfer and use of spyware to end the endemic unlawful surveillance of activists, journalists, lawyers, and political leaders, Amnesty International said today.

107, 273 people from 180 countries and territories signed the organization’s petition demanding UN member states support a global moratorium on surveillance technology until there is a proper regulatory framework that protects human rights.

“There is an urgent need for stronger human rights protections on the export of surveillance technology. 

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

“We are witnessing a global spyware crisis in which activists, journalists and lawyers are targeted with invasive surveillance as a means to silence and intimidate them,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

“There is an urgent need for stronger human rights protections on the export of surveillance technology. UN member states must stop using, and stop tolerating, spyware as a tool of repression. And until this happens, states must step up and support a global moratorium on the export of spyware.”

Those who signed Amnesty’s petition join UN experts and civil society groups from across the globe in calling for a halt on the sale, export and transfer of spyware technology. Unlawful surveillance violates the right to privacy and can also violate the rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association, and peaceful assembly.

The voices of victims of spyware abuses will be heard at the heart of the UN in New York on Friday, as Amnesty and partners push UN member states to support a global moratorium.

Julia Gavarrete, a journalist from El Salvador, detailed the impact of spyware on her life: “Being targeted led me to change my way of communicating, the places I used to go, and also to think twice about the type of information I want to share with others — not only because of my own security, but to protect the integrity of those who communicate with me.  As a journalist, I have to guard my sources, but as a woman, I need to protect my family and friends.”

Amnesty International

Companies continue to profit from the sale of spyware used for unlawful surveillance. Every month, new cases are confirmed of people being unlawfully targeted with spyware. The past year has seen cases in El Salvador, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Israel/Occupied Palestinian Territories, Morocco-Western Sahara, Poland and Thailand. The unregulated and opaque nature of the spyware industry means that we may never know the full extent of similar abuses involving other actors.

States are obligated under international law not only to respect human rights, but also to protect people from abuses by third parties, including private companies.

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Responding to the unlawful killings of at least eight people since last night by Iran’s security forces as they again opened fire on mourners and protesters in at least four provinces and building on growing international calls for a UN mechanism on Iran, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

“The Iranian authorities’ reckless and unlawful use of firearms against protesters, including live ammunition, reveals yet again the tragically high cost of international inaction. All member states of the UN Human Rights Council must take decisive action now and immediately convene a special session on Iran in order to prevent further loss of life. Failure to act decisively will only embolden the Iranian authorities to further crackdown against mourners and protesters set to gather in the coming days during commemorations marking 40 days since the first deaths of protesters after the deadly repression began in mid-September. ”

 Failure to act decisively will only embolden the Iranian authorities to further crackdown against mourners and protesters

Heba Morayef, Amnesty International

“The UN Human Rights Council must make clear to the Iranian authorities that their crimes under international law will not go uninvestigated — or unpunished — by establishing an independent reporting and accountability mechanism on Iran. The ongoing failure to enact such mechanism, despite widespread unlawful killings of protesters since the nationwide protests of December 2017-January 2018 is indicative of how such brutal tragedies in Iran have seemingly become normalized. It is long overdue for the international community to hear the cries of victims’ families and human rights defenders for justice.”

Background

On 26 and 27 October 2022, Iran’s security forces intensified their use of unlawful force — including by shooting firearms with live ammunition, metal pellets and teargas — against protesters and mourners who had gathered in Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah and Lorestan provinces.

On 26 October, thousands of people gathered in Saqqez, Kurdistan province, to mark the 40^thday after Mahsa (Zhina) Amini’s death in custody on 16 September. Security forces fired metal pellets and teargas to disperse the crowds, injuring several people.

Iran’s security forces also unlawfully used firearms against demonstrators today in Mahabad, Western Azerbaijan province, where thousands had gathered to protest the killing of Esmail Moloudi, a protester who was shot dead in the city by security forces on 27 October 2022. As a result, a woman, Kobra Sheikheh, and two men Zaniar Aboubekri and Shahou Khezri were killed.

In the evening of 26 October 2022, security forces killed Mohammad Shariati and Afshin Asham in Sanandaj, Kurdistan province, and Ghasreshirin, Kermanshah province, respectively, during protests.

At least one protester was also killed today in Baneh, Kurdistan province. Amnesty International is seeking to verify his name.

Yesterday, UN experts, including the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, called on the Human Rights Council to urgently take action, including by establishing an international mechanism on Iran during a special session. The German minister of foreign affairs also spoke out in support of an independent UN mechanism on Iran.

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Reacting to news that Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, President of the Union of Turkish Medical Associations, has been arbitrarily placed in pre-trial detention on accusations of “making propaganda for a terrorist organization” after she called for an independent investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Senior Research Advisor for Europe, said:

“Jailing this leading human rights defender simply for calling for an independent investigation into the alleged use of banned weapons is an appalling abuse of power. Arbitrarily imprisoning Şebnem Korur Fincancı has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with silencing her and sending a chilling message to others.

“Detaining Prof Fincancı contradicts Turkey’s obligations to protect human rights defenders in the course of their vital work. Instead of harassing and persecuting her, the Turkish authorities should instead take steps to ensure she can conduct her work free from fear and intimidation.

“Şebnem Korur Fincancı must be immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against her must be urgently dropped.”

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Three months after UN peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) violently cracked down on protesters, in which 36 people were killed and 170 others injured, victims’ families are still searching for justice, Amnesty International said today.

We are still waiting for the results. Victims’ families deserve to know the truth, including the role played by MONUSCO peacekeepers.

Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

Five UN staff members were among those killed after violent demonstrations erupted in several cities in the east of the DRC from July 25-27. The protesters had been calling for the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to immediately withdraw from the country. They also accused MONUSCO, which has been in the DRC since 1999, of failing to dismantle armed groups and protect civilians amid the resurgence of M23, an armed rebel group in North Kivu.

“In July this year, the UN said it would work together with the DRC authorities on an investigation into the deaths of demonstrators. We are still waiting for the results. Victims’ families deserve to know the truth, including the role played by MONUSCO peacekeepers. The UN must be transparent about the crackdown and support the provision of access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families,” said Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa.

Victims’ families told Amnesty International that apart from receiving USD $2000 to cover funerals fees, they have received no further information or compensation from the government or the United Nations.

‘I want to know who killed my brother’

Witnesses to the brutal crackdown have alleged that UN forces resorted to excessive use of force against demonstrators, including live ammunition.

The brother of one victim told Amnesty International: “I want to know who killed my brother, and why. Even if he would have been part of the protests, [UN peacekeepers] are expected to know how to deal with unarmed protesters without causing unnecessary casualties. They have tear gas and other tools they could have used to disperse the people, instead of shooting them in the head.”

Kassim Diagne, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to the DRC, has denied allegations that UN Peacekeepers opened fire on protesters, yet committed to investigating the deaths with DRC officials to determine those suspected to be responsible.

 Anyone suspected to be responsible for the killings of demonstrators and United Nations staff must face justice. 

Muleya Mwananyanda

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Reacting to the news that Russia’s State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, has approved the first reading of a bill which extends a ban on so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to all age groups, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“In Russia’s new era of repression, state-sanctioned homophobia is about to be ramped up to a whole new level. The new draft ‘gay propaganda’ law not only brazenly deprives LGBTI people of their right to freedom of expression and endorses their discrimination, but will likely also lead to an increase in violent attacks and other hate crimes against them.

If approved, this new law will very likely be used to shutter NGOs, block LGBTI-themed websites, stifle social media pages and intimidate activists with extortionate fines.

“Nine years ago, the Russian authorities enacted a law that banned the promotion of ‘non-traditional sexual relations’ to minors, under the pretext of protecting young people from alleged ‘harmful’ influence. Yet now, all pretence has gone. If approved, this new law will very likely be used to shutter NGOs, block LGBTI-themed websites, stifle social media pages and intimidate activists with extortionate fines. It will certainly encourage further homophobia and abominable discrimination.

“From banning films and books with openly LGBTI characters to ostracizing LGBTI people, the passing of this new law will be yet another disaster for human rights.”

Background

On 27 October, the State Duma approved the first of three required readings of a draft law that seeks to ban the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations” to all age groups. Individuals caught committing this “offence” could be fined between 50,000 and 400,000 rubles (US$815 to 6,520) while organizations could be fined up to five million rubles (US$81,500).

The strictest penalties would apply to “propaganda” shared with minors through the media or the internet, or when “committed” by a foreign citizen or stateless person.

The bill requires approval by both houses of the Russian Parliament and must be signed into law by President Putin before it is enacted, yet this could happen within days.

For more information please call Amnesty International’s press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or +44 (0)77 7847 2126, email: press@amnesty.org, twitter: @amnestypress

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