Human Rights in Saudi Arabia

Human Rights in Saudi Arabia is criticized by many Human Rights Groups or organizes for there lack of enforcement of Human Rights that they have ratified from the UN. Saudi Arabia has signed or ratified some of the UN Human Rights conventions or treaties, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in 1950, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1997, the Amendment to article 8 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 2003, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2000, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 1997, the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1996, the Amendment to article 43 (2) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography in 2010, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. It is unclear if they have ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Women’s rights are still poor in Saudi Arabia despite the ratifying the convention for women’s rights, but they have improved a decent deal over the last decade or so. In 2009, for the first time a woman was appointed to the cabinet for Deputy Minister for Girls' Education by King Abdullah and also women can now hold commercial licenses. However, by no means are women now treated as equals to men, they still cannot vote, legally drive a car, travel inside or outside the country without a male relative, and many laws discriminate against women. Sectarian tensions were a very big concern, because of the religious police attacking Shiite pilgrims in Medina in February of 2009. This triggered some unrest in the Shiite community in the Eastern Province to the point where political activists were threatening violence if the government did not do something about the protection of the Shiite people. The freedom of religion is none existent in Saudi Arabia, all Saudis must be Muslim by law. However the government does recognize the right to practice other religions in private but that right is not really carried out. No political parties are permitted in Saudi Arabia, so parties have to go outside the country and to oppose the government from a foreign country, most in London. Corruption is another problem in Saudi Arabia, some foreign companies have reported having to pay off government officials or other people just to get deals or move the company into the country. Saudi Arabia is by far not a free country, and does not enforce the Human Rights acts it has ratified. Some improvement has happen but the country has a long ways to go.

Actions Louder than Words

     When analyzing human rights on a global scale, it becomes immediately apparent that the global system and international actors are extraordinarily influential on the status of human rights within a state. This is nowhere more evident than the relationship between powerful western countries and economically/democratically developing nations in the world today.
     Less than two weeks after a revolution that deposed a corrupt regime, British Prime Minister David Cameron became the first world leader to visit Egypt yesterday.While this would seem a politically benign, perhaps even beneficial move on the part of a government invested in the successful creation of a stable Egyptian state, Cameron was accompanied on his visit by bosses from major arms and aerospace companies such as BEe Systems, Qinetiq, Thales, Cobham Group, Ultra Electronics and others. Despite claims that any deals made between these companies and the governments of Egypt and perhaps Kuwait will not be used to repress the population, these promises ring hollow. In 2004, the "deal in the desert" between Tony Blair and Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi gave British gas company Shell a £120million contract in exchange for equipment and military training for Libyan soldiers. This weekend, over 200 casualities were reported as the result of violent suppression of civilian protesters in Libya.
      Interestingly enough, the arms dealers joined Cameron mere hours after his public condemnation of the brutal repression of Libyans by Colonel Gaddafi, calling the killings "completely appalling." Of course, arms deals facillitated by Western nations are not illegal, nor should they be, however, it is important to use judgment when the lives of civilians are at stake.  Human rights violations on a state level cannot be eradicated when "the powers that be," mainly powerful Western nations, continually arm and encourage violence in unstable, dictatorial regimes. Nations cannot condemn violence while at the same time, turning around and providing the means for that very violence. The Cold War may be over, but the attitude of powerful nations in dealing with dictatorial regimes at the cost of citizen's lives has changed little in the past 20 years.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359316/Prime-Minister-David-Cameron-takes-arms-dealers-Egypt-promote-democracy.html
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/africa/110221/egypt-cameron-cairo-hosni-mubarak#
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23925174-desert-deal-that-went-bad.do

Facts about Egypt

Egypt was granted partial independence from the British in 1922, but did not acquire full sovereignty until 1952.

Capital: Cairo

Population: 80,471,869 (as of July 2010) – largest Arab country

Location: North Eastern Africa, Mediterranean Sea to the North, Libya to the West, Gaza Strip to the East, Sudan to the South

Languages: Arabic (official), English and French are widely spoken

Terrain: Mostly desert land

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas

· The highly fertile Nile River runs through the country, where provides the country with most of it’s economy activity

President: Hosni Mubarak – currently being ruled by the Egyptian Military

On July 12, 2010 the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir for acts of genocide in the region of Darfur, following the previous arrest warrant issued in 2009 for war crimes and crimes against humanity regarding Darfur. Al-Bashir’s arrest warrant is a significant step forward for the ICC because it was the first warrant ever issued for genocide. The warrant accuses Al-Bashir of being the indirect perpetrator and co-perpetrator of the horrific act of genocide that has taken place in Darfur.

Although Sudan is not a member of the court, the ICC has jurisdiction over international crimes against humanity that have taken place in Dafur. The ICC was able to do this Under Security Council Resolution 1593, which specifies that Sudan must cooperate with the ICC.

Not to mention the research conducted by Human Rights Watch, which has discovered that al-Bashir has directly targeted innocent civilians in Darfur in the form of “ethnic cleansing”. Yet al-Bashir denies all the alleged charges of crimes against humanity and genocide issued to him by the ICC.

A Few Facts About Congo

Congo is situated in Western Africa in between Angola and Gabon, and gained independence from the French in 1960. Before Congo became a republic, the country experienced a phase of government characterized by Marxism, which ended in 1990. However, Congo now has established a three-branch government, including legislative, executive, and judicial bodies. Congo has a population of roughly 4,125,916 individuals who are unfortunately susceptible to a slew of diseases such as aids and malaria. Currently, CIA world fact book estimates that a total of 79,000 adults are living with HIV or aids. The life expectancy of the Congolese people is approximately 54.54 years (males at 53.27 years and females, 55.85 years), which is seemingly short for a modern day society. The national language is French, however, the Congolese also speak Lingala and Monokatuba as well as Kikongo. And the largest religion is Christian, followed by animist and then Muslim. Congo also has a voluntary military, in which men and women ages 18 through 49 can decide to serve.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cf.html

Migrants in the UAE

One of the most threatening issues to human rights in the United Arab Emirates is the abuse of migrant workers. These abuses are especially high in areas like the UAE where only twenty percent of the population are citizens. Immigration policies allow migrants to be subject to abuses such as "labor exploitation, violence, trafficking, mistreatment in detention, and killings". Along with these injustices, migrants are among the groups of people who often have no resources to fight back and seek justice.

"Migrants are consistently among those at highest risk of abuse, but also among those least likely to have access to services or justice. Many governments make things worse with policies that aggravate discrimination or make it hard for migrants even to approach authorities for help." - Nisha Varia

As a fast growing country, the UAE has a significant need for construction workers, most of whom are migrants. When these abuses, injustices and human rights violations occur, migrant workers are not allowed the same equality as other citizens and do not see the same support and justice as the UAE's citizens.

Sources - Human Rights Watch. "Global: Flawed Policies Expose Migrants to Abuse" http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/11/global-flawed-policies-expose-migrants-abuse.

Syria is a country that has long been under a dictorial reign of President Bashar Al-Hasaad, and before him, his father Hafez Al-Hasaad since 1970. Syria is not an electoral democracy. Under the 1973 constitution, the president is nominated by the ruling Baath Party and approved by popular referendum for seven-year terms. In practice, these referendums are orchestrated by the regime, as are elections for the 250-seat, unicameral People’s Council, whose members serve four-year terms and hold little independent legislative power (freedomhouse). Almost all power rests in the executive branch. According to freedomhouse.org, Syria rated 7 on a scale of freedom in political rights (7 being the least free) and 6 in the category of civil liberties (once again 7 being the least free). This has not changed in decades.

Freedom of expression is heavily restricted in Syria. Many journalists, writers, and intellectuals have been arrested for writing even vaguely worded articles that may tarnish the image of the state, or tamper with the “goals of the revolution”. The 2001 press law permits the authorities to arbitrarily deny or revoke publishing licenses and compels private print outlets to submit all material to government censors. Just last June, a group of bloggers were arrested for writing a “controversial” piece on a popular independent site for Syrian news and analysis. Syrians can only access the internet through state run servers, which block over 160 different sites associated with the opposition. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and you-tube, are also blocked.

Academic freedom and freedom of assembly are very heavily restricted in Syria. Several private universities have recently been founded, and there is a very low extent of academic freedom. University professors have been dismissed or imprisoned for expressing dissent. Public demonstrations are illegal, unless the government has given consent. Consent is usually only given to progovernment groups. The security department of Syria has intensified in 2006 by restricting any group of five or more people to publicly speak about political or economic topics. This rule has been enforced by intense surveillance. This intense activity by intelligence services in Syria has ensured that a culture of self-censorship and fear prevails, and ordinary Syrians are unwilling to discuss politics under most circumstances.

In general, Syria is a country in need of freedom, and of the political and civil rights that we as French and American citizens have taken for granted. I think that there is going to be a huge outcry of Syrian citizens, such as what we have seen in Egypt, very soon.

"Syria." Freedom House . Freedom House, 13/01/2011.

Web. 21 Feb 2011.

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Tunisia: What is in store for the future of Islam in politics?

Summary of some basic facts about Tunisia not included in my last post:
Capital: Tunis
Population: 10,432,500
Neighboring countries: Algeria, Libya, Mediterranean Ocean to the north
Colony of France from 1883-1957
Politics: Constitutional Republic according to constitution (before Jasmine Revolution)
Demographics: 98% Arab, 2% European (French and Italian primarily)
Language: Tunisian Arabic
Religion: Islam (98% of the population), president required to be Muslim, state religion = Islam but allows for freedom of religion as well
Organizations: United Nations, Arab League, Organization of the Islamic Conference, World Trace Organization, Mediterranean Dialogue Group

In current news, Tunisian citizens are starting to worry about the role Islam could play in the new government of Tunisia that is slowly taking form. The country, as outlined above is almost entirely Muslim yet is extremely liberal in many respects by allowing abortion, banning polygamy, allowing women to wear bikinis at the beach, and allowing wine to be sold at supermarkets (Fuller, 2/20/2011). This liberal practice of Islam may be under attack, though, with religious zealots protesting to shut down brothels. The debate about how far Islam should permeate into society will be a contentious debate in the formation of a new government in Tunisia. Many feminists worry that the tradition of secularism present in the past Tunisian government will be stripped away but religious, conservative forces. This threat could be countered by the dependence of the Tunisian economy on foreign investment and the general understanding that “politics ruins religion and religion ruins politics” by the general population (Fuller, 2/21/2011). Some are not convinced though and many feminists are torn about their opinions on the revolution. Pre-revolution, there were laws and police forces in place to crack down on extreme Muslim groups to help protect the rights of women (Fuller, 2/20/2011). Only time will tell, though, as to what direction Tunisia’s new government will take as the debate continues.

This article is significant to human rights because it deals with religious and women’s freedom. While almost the entirety of the population is Muslim, the religious freedoms of the small, European minorities should also be protected. A government ruled by Muslim law could choose to squash these rights, hence, Tunisia must be careful if it wants to continue its practice of religious freedom. Similarly, the rights of women under Muslim law often suffer. Women are generally forced to cover their bodies with burkas and hold no legal rights under extreme circumstances. I don’t believe Tunisia will take this route because of its long history with liberal, Islamic practices but persuasive and extreme figures will need to be watched carefully so they do not assume power under the guise of popular support.

Source: Fuller, Thomas. "Next Question for Tunisia: The Role of Islam in Politics," New York Times on the web. 20 February, 2011, http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/world/africa/21tunisia.html?_r=2&ref=tunisia.

Israel - Facts and Figures

Since I did not include basic facts about my country, Israel, in last week’s post, I will dedicate my post this week to giving some general information about the state of Israel. All of my information was gleaned from the CIA World Fact Book online. After WWII, the United Nations separated the area into Jewish states and Arab states. Israel lies between Egypt and Lebanon. Interestingly enough, Israel is only the size of New Jersey – it is very small! The government functions on a parliamentary democracy. With its capital in Jerusalem, Israel became an independent nation in 1948. Israel is well known for its advanced technology and its strong military force – the Israel Defense Force (IDF). At the age of 18, the IDF requires every Jewish person to join the military to show their support for their country. Most of Israel’s conflicts with other countries derive from the dispute over land in the West Bank and Gaza strip. This information should give a better frame of reference for my last post about Israel’s record of human rights.

Since I did not include basic facts about my country, Israel, in last week’s post, I will dedicate my post this week to giving some general information about the state of Israel. All of my information was gleaned from the CIA World Fact Book online. After WWII, the United Nations separated the area into Jewish states and Arab states. Israel lies between Egypt and Lebanon. Interestingly enough, Israel is only the size of New Jersey – it is very small! The government functions on a parliamentary democracy. With its capital in Jerusalem, Israel became an independent nation in 1948. Israel is well known for its advanced technology and its strong military force – the Israel Defense Force (IDF). At the age of 18, the IDF requires every Jewish person to join the military to show their support for their country. Most of Israel’s conflicts with other countries derive from the dispute over land in the West Bank and Gaza strip. This information should give a better frame of reference for my last post about Israel’s record of human rights.

Human Rights and a Call for Political Reform

Current News:

Sunday, February, 20^th, 2011- Peaceful protest broke out in cities in Morocco rallying for political reform. Under a monarchy, the state of Morocco has been under rule of Mohammed VI since 1999. Demonstrations broke out in the capital Rabat along with other cities such as Casablanca, Fez and Tangiers. The use of technology and the internet helped gain the momentum for thousands to show up at the rally in Rabat. Unlike other areas demanding political reform this rally had official permission and there were no riot police present during the protest in Rabat. Other locations though, turned violent which led to 5 dead. The demand for political reform is to have the king give up some of his power to the people and allow for certain human rights such as education, release of political prisoners, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViFIR6EmLKc&feature=player_embedded

Sources
un.org
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-morocco-unrest-20110221,0,4078326.story

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/world/middleeast/21morocco.html?_r=1&ref=moroc

Chad Update

A current human rights concern that is currently going on in Chad is the problem with child soldiers. Children are not well educated and are very poor, making them easy recruitments (Chad must end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict 2011). They are sometimes lured with the notion that they will be paid 20 US dollars if they join (Chad Must 2011). A former child soldier said: “There is nothing to do here; there is no work, no school, no money and I am poor…. In the JEM I am not paid but, when we are in combat, we take stuff from the enemy.” (Chad Must 2011). If you are between the ages of 13 and 17 you will be fighting, any younger and you will be a messenger (Chad Must 2011). In 2007 the Chadian government with the help of UNICEF launched a demobilization and reintegration program for the children associated with but it has not been successful (Chad Must 2011). The situation has caught Amnesty International’s eye, and they are concerned with how things are going (Chad Must 2011). Asking questions such as why no one has been prosecuted for the crimes for recruiting children (Chad Must 2011). 40 former soldiers have told their stories in a report called A compromised future: The plight of children recruited by armed forces and groups in eastern Chad ( Chad Must 2011). It will be interesting to see how things progress with the release of the report.

References

Chad must end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict Amnesty International. (2011, February 9). Amnesty International Working to Protect Human Rights. Retrieved February 20, 2011, from http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/report/chad-must-end-recruitment- and-use-children-armed-conflict-2011-02-09

World: A Somali-American's Improbable Return - nytimes.com

“If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be.”

Posting for Tuesday February 22, 2011.

Let's Discuss the differences of one person, and if the statement "One person can change the world" is realistic.

Somalia---Fighting for survival

The focus of this blog is mainly Human Rights, but before we explore that area I would like to give some insight into the country known as Somalia. Somalia is also known as the Republic of Somalia while under communist rule the country was known as Somali Democratic Republic. Somalia has not had a consistent form of central government since 1991, after the people overthrew President Siad Barree. Since the overthrow the country has been subjected to an unheard of amount of famine, genocide, and little to no "freedom of speech".

Often times coming from the United States one is not as aware of the inflictions upon other regions of the world, but in order to grow and understand the world we live in we must also remain up to date about the crisis or progress of other regions.

Population: 9.3 million (UN, 2010)

Capital: Mogadishu

Area: 637,657sq km (246,201 sq miles)

Major languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, English

Major religion: Islam

Life expectancy: 50 years (men), 53 years (women)

Monetary unit: 1 Somali shilling = 100 cents

Main exports: Livestock, bananas, hides, fish

In addition, the country of Somalia being categorized as a "failed state" the area has been taken over by many tyrannical authoritators who find it better to rule in their own interest oppose to the interest of the people. The current President is Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, elected in 2009 after Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed resigned a month before. The country itself is not under one ruler, which probably is what brings most of the conflict. There are different sectors of the region ruled by different rulers elected by the Parliament. Much of the chaos stems from the conflict of religions, and the militant regimes are pushing for an Islamic nation. However, the affiliation with Al Qaeda brings awareness to the disgruntle rule that is taking place. Al Qaeda has been known for operating as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army, as well as being viewed nationally as a terrorist group. Many Americans know that from the horrific events of September 11, 2001 that the militia group will go to extreme measures when it comes to gaining renowed relevance and respect. Over the course of these months we will go in depth further on many countries political systems but I can only hope that awareness is also brought to the individuals who research as well as read the findings of the CEA Human Rights class.

"Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal"    -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1072592.stm 

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East but is the third largest Arab country.

Jordan and Iraq border it to the north, Kuwait and Qatar to the northeast, United Arab Emirates to the east, Oman to the southeast and Yemen to the south. The Red Sea is its west coast and the Persian Gulf its east coast.

Founded in 1932 by Abdul-Aziz bin Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is today now the world’s largest oil exporter and has the largest reserves. The oil accounts for more that 90% of exports from the country and almost 75% of the government’s revenues.

Capital: Riyadh
Population: 28,687,000, 5.5 million non-nationals
Language: Arabic
Government: Absolute Monarchy
King: Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz
Religion: Muslim

The Saudi Arabia government is an absolute monarchy, but in 1992 the king must comply with the Sharia or Islamic law, and the Qur’an. No political parties or national elections are allowed or held in Saudi Arabia.

Criticism of the Saudi Arabia government continues due to the treatment of religious and political minorities, homosexuality, apostates and women. In October 1997 Saudi Arabia ratified the International Convention against Torture according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The National Society for Human Rights, established in 2004, was the first independent human rights organization in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has many violations of Human Rights due to its long traditions of the Islamic way of life. There is still Capital Punishment, with amputations, flogging, and beheading and punishment for braking of the law. Women’s Rights are another Human Rights problem in Saudi Arabia, even though women’s rights have improved in the last decade or so. Also among the list of Human Rights problems or violations in Saudi Arabia are religious freedom, only Islamic is allowed, LGBT Rights, Political Right, no freedom of speech or press, and violations on AID/HIV.

Sudan

Sudan is located in northeastern Africa and is the largest country in Africa and the Arab world. After gaining its independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom in 1956, Sudan Suffered through seventeen years of civil war followed by intense conflicts driven by ethnic, religious, and economic struggles. The second civil war began in 1983 due to political and military struggles and was finally seized by Omar al-Bashir through a brutal coup d’état.
In recent years, Sudan then achieved great economic growth by implementing macroeconomic reforms and finally ended the civil war by adopting a new constitution in 2005 with rebel groups in the south, granting them limited autonomy to be followed by a referendum about independence in 2011. Rich in natural resources such as petroleum and crude oil, Sudan's economy is currently amongst the fastest growing in the world. China and Japan are the main export partners of Sudan.
Sudan is a member of the United Nations, as well as the AU, LAS, OIC and NAM, as well as serving as an observer in WTO. Its capital city is Khartoum, which poses as the political, cultural and commercial center of the nation. Sudan's has a population of 42 million people: 52% African, 39% Arab, 6% Beja, 2% foreigners, and 1% other. Sunni Islam is the official and largest religion and Arabic and English are the official languages, but other languages such as Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Nilotic, and Nilo Hamitic, and Sudantic languages are spoken throughout different regions of the county. Sunni Muslims in the north make up 70% of the religious population, Christians make up about 5% (south and Khartoum), and the remaining 25% consist of indigenous religious beliefs.
Sudan is recognized as more an authoritarian government rather than a democracy. In the presidential election of 2010, which was the first democratic election with multiple political parties in 24 years. Despite this historical movement, man pro-democracy activists claimed they experienced intimidation by al-Bashir’s government. Al-Bashir was declared the winner of the election, but the process was definitely chaotic and manipulated.
Sudan, in regards to human rights does not have an excellent track record. The conflicts of human rights abuses in astronomical in Darfur. The violent acts against humanity and genocide have continued despite the 2006 Darfur Peace Agreement between the government and Minni Minawi's faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army. The ICC has issued and arrest warrant for president Al-Bashir in 2009 for indirectly participating in crimes against humanity. Throughout the region of Darfur government-aligned militias have murdered and severely injured civilians. These militias have knowingly attacked villages, raped woman and child, destroyed civilian property, and used children as soldiers. In Southern Sudan, serious human rights abuses were reported during 2009, which included extrajudicial killings, physical abuse, and rape by the SPLA. Not to mention poor prison and detention center conditions; subjective arrest; lengthy pretrial detention; use of child soldiers; abduction of women and children; restrictions on media freedom; forced evictions without due process; and child labor. Interethnic violence was a severe problem (US State Department report). The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) who came from northern Uganda and sought out refuge in Southern Sudan, have also attacked villages and killed and abducted civilians in the south.

Egypt's History with Human Rights

The republic of Egypt was founded in 1952 as an Islamic state and has been totally controlled by the National Democratic Party under President Hosni Mubarak since it’s founding in 1978. Egypt has since existed as an autocratic state with an independent judiciary. This separation of powers should lead to effective control and fair trials, however with the passage of the State of Emergency Law in 1981, the government has been able to undermine the control of the judiciary. Under this law the government is allowed to hold trials for non-security related cases in the Emergency and Security Courts. The government of Egypt has always maintained complete power over the security forces within the country, so trying a person in these courts allows the government to influence the outcome of a hearing. Many people have been unjustly tried because of this loophole in the judiciary system, which has caused great concern among many human rights organizations. Additionally, the police forces in Egypt (part of the security forces, therefore controlled by the government) have been accused of committing many acts in violation of human rights codes. The police forces in Egypt have been continuously accused of torturing children, homosexuals, and women (among other groups). The most recent example of this abuse was the beginning of the Egyptian “revolution” as some are calling it. Over the past few weeks, many Egyptians have gathered in the Tahir Square in Cairo to protest the autocratic rule of the government. During these mostly peaceful protests, many journalists, activists, and protestors were arrested for seemingly unjustified reasons, having not done anything illegal. Many human rights organizations called for the release of those detained and the cease of arrests in general given that many detainees reported of being tortured by forces when they were arrested. This uprising by the people of Egypt has shown that they are ready for change and for the potential creation of a more democratic system in Egypt. However, many organizations are worried about the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood could be the next group to come to power. This group has been described as a radical Islamic group and there are many fears about what a state would look like if it were indeed run by such a group.

Human Rights Record: The Congo

For the last 15 years, Congo has suffered a large conflict, forcing many out of their homes and subjecting them to a life of extreme abuse. The Congolese army (also known as FARDC), a Rwandan militia (also known as FDLR), and the National Congress for the Defense of The People (CNDP) have been the participants in an ongoing battle. In 2008 many people were displaced due to a particularly grueling feud between the FDLR and the CNDP, and by 2010 nearly 1.8 million had been displaced.

As the conflict escalated, the CNDP began taking over, and also murdering and raping innocent citizens. During this time, Congolese forces were extremely abusive to all citizens, submitting them to sexual abuse, labor, and “arbitrary arrests.” Soldiers even went as far as beating or even killing citizens who refused to lug their personal items. Although the fighting continues to escalate, a book ‘Always on the Run” explains that each military is required to obey international humanitarian laws. According to these laws, national armed forces and non-state armed groups must follow article three created at the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the Second Additional Protocol of 1977. These laws were intended to avoid the abuse of citizens, yet the violence still persists. Hence, in the past years, a vast majority of the citizens of Congo have become IDP’s (or internally displaced persons), as they are forced from their homes and stripped of their basic human rights such as health care and education.

The past five years have proven extremely rough with the amount of IDP’s continuously growing. But, Congo has had an overall tumultuous past, specifically with Rwanda. In 2000, allies of Uganda and Rwanda tried to seize Kisangani, a city in Congo, resulting in the death of 700 citizens and asserting attention from the UN. In 2002, Human Rights Watch estimated that 3,000 civilians were killed by military groups in a city called Nyankunde. In 2002-2003, Ituri, another city in Congo also suffered a large period of “ethnic cleansing,” at which point the UN Security Council decided to allow the protection of civilians by force, if necessary. Finally, in 2004, after years of violence, the ICC decided to open a case concerning the numerous crimes in the Congo. But the violence has not subsided. According to Human Rights Watch, in 2007, 200,000 people were forced to leave their homes, and since 1998, 5.4 people have died due to the ongoing conflict.

Sources:

http://www.hrw.org/africa/democratic-republic-congo

Israel: Human Rights Record

Blog Post: Human Rights Report: Israel: The Record of Human Rights in Israel

When I went on the internet to search for information about human rights in Israel, I wasn’t sure what I would find. As I explained in my last post, admittedly, I do not know much about the issue of human rights, and especially human rights in Israel. While browsing the internet for answers, I came across many organizations that discuss both current and historical events of Israel’s human rights activity. One in particular, B’Tselem, The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, focuses primarily on human rights violations that take place in the area of the Occupied Territories. This specific organization works to guarantee that the Israeli government will protect the human rights of its people. B’Tselem often writes reports of different kinds of human rights violations that occur within the Occupied Territories. B’Teselm also works with members of the Knesset to inform them of human rights violations brought on by Israelis. (http://www.btselem.org/English/index.asp).

Through my research, I have found that the human rights record of Israel is often times contested by different groups. For example, the article in the New York Daily titled, “Israel's convictions: Its human rights record shows its critics for the hypocrites they are,” explains how Israel has been under the watch of the United Nations for their human rights record. The United Nations Human Rights Council accused Israel of human rights violations. They stated, “The mission finds that the system put in place by Israel ... to deal with serious allegations of wrongdoing by armed forces personnel ... is not effective in addressing the violations and uncovering the truth (www.nydailynews.com/.../2010-10-06_israels_convictions.html)." This quote implies that Israel has violated some human rights, and that the mission is trying to uncover them.

Given Israel’s position in the chaos of Middle Eastern politics, they are often accused of violating the human rights of Palestinians. In an article written by Jennifer Loewenstein, “The State Department’s Human Rights Reports on Israel and the Occupied Territories,” she notes how the State Department’s “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2000: Occupied Territories” disproved of Israel’s human rights record. Here is a direct quote from the report: “Israeli security forces committed numerous serious human rights abuses during the year.... Since the violence began, [September 2000] Israeli security units often used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators. Israeli security forces sometimes exceeded their rules of engagement, which provide that live fire is only to be used when the lives of soldiers, police, or civilians are in imminent danger. ...Israeli security forces abused Palestinians in detention suspected of security offenses. ... There were numerous credible allegations that police beat persons in detention. Three Palestinian prisoners died in Israeli custody under ambiguous circumstances during the year (http://www.counterpunch.org/loewenstein.html).”
Given all of the multiple opinions regarding the conflict around Israel and Palestine, I am excited to research further the human rights record of Israel to see if I can find any conclusive information, and to see if all of the information I find matches up with each other.