News archive: June 2014
16 June 2014
A report from the charity Freedom From Torture (FFT) has raised concern that British aid money may be funding police who are employing rape as a means of state-sanctioned torture against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The report found that the Congolese police and security staff are systematically raping the female opponents of President Joseph Kabila, after they were imprisoned in state detention facilities. The report is based on medical evidence from 34 female political activists who fled from DRC to the UK. The findings have raised concerns about the British government’s programme to give over GBP 60m to the DRC’s national police and ‘internal security sector’ to enhance its performance and accountability. (more…)
Source: The Guardian | British aid money may unwittingly be funding rape and torture in DR Congo
15 June 2014
This is our News Items Overview of 16 May 2014-15 June 2014, a summary of recent news relating to shared responsibility. (more…)
13 June 2014
On 12 June, the United States President Barack Obama pledged military support to Iraq, possibly including air strikes, in order to halt militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who want to set up their own state in Iraq and Syria. Nevertheless, Washington said that the primary responsibility for security in Iraq rests with the Iraqi government and criticised Baghdad for the failure to secure national assistance with more inclusive policies. (more…)
Source: Reuters | Exclusive: Alarmed by Iraq, Iran open to shared role with U.S. - Iran official
Source: The Guardian | Obama pledges US support to Iraq as Isis militants approach Baghdad
Source: The New York Times | Russia Sees American ‘Adventurism’ in Iraq Behind Current Conflict
Source: The Guardian | Security collapse in Iraqi city of Mosul is not solely Maliki's responsibility
10 June 2014
During peace negotiations on 7 June, the Columbian government and guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) both agreed to assume responsibility for war victims. During the conflict between the Colombian state and FARC, which started in 1964, more than 200,000 people were killed and many people were wounded and displaced. (more…)
Source: Reuters | Colombian peace talks turn toward victims
5 June 2014
After a critical report by Oxfam last year, two world players in the sugar industry – Coca-Cola and Pepsi – have published new policies on land grabs by their suppliers. In March 2014, Pepsi announced ‘a land policy with zero tolerance for illegal activities in our supply chain and for land displacements of any legitimate land tenure holders’. Coca-Cola made a similar announcement late last year. (more…)
Source: The Guardian | Can Pepsi and Coke end land grabs for sugar?