31 March 2013
The SHARES Project closely follows and collects news items that are linked to the issue of shared responsibility. This is our ‘SHARES News Items Overview: 16-31 March 2013′ consisting of a summary of recent news relating to shared responsibility. (more…)
29 March 2013
The NGO Human Rights First has published a report that documents the supply chain that enables the atrocities committed by the Assad regime. The report Enablers of the Syrian Conflict How Targeting Third Parties Can Slow the Atrocities in Syria contains information indicating that enablers of Syrian atrocities include the country’s large allies, but also smaller countries and commercial entities.
Source: Human Rights First | Stop the Atrocity Supply Chain
Source: Human Rights First | Enablers of the Syrian Conflict How Targeting Third Parties Can Slow the Atrocities in Syria | March 2013
29 March 2013
By its Resolution 2098 (28 March 2013), the UN Security Council (UNSC) authorized the deployment of an ‘Intervention Brigade’ within the current UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). This intervention force – placed under the operational command of the MONUSCO Force Commander – will undertake targeted operations to ‘neutralize and disarm’ rebel groups in DR Congo. It is the ‘first-ever “offensive” combat force’ established under UN command.
Source: UN News Center | Security Council approves intervention force to target armed groups in DR Congo
Source: UN Press Release | ‘Intervention Brigade’ Authorized as Security Council Grants Mandate Renewal for United Nations Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo
29 March 2013
On Wednesday 27 March 2013, the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) decided to establish a new development bank to counter-weigh the influence of the IMF and the World Bank. The decision was taken at a Summit in Durban, South Africa. The new development bank is meant to provide for a 100 billion dollar Contingency Reserve Arrangement to tackle any financial crisis in emerging economies, but the details of the bank, in particular its capital stock, structure and location, have yet to be worked out.
Source: BBC | Brics nations discuss development bank
Source: Global Post | BRICS countries to form new development bank
28 March 2013
A UK Court of Appeals rejected an attempt by the UK government to deport Abu Qatada to Jordan, on the ground that states cannot expel a person where there is a real risk that this person will face a trial based on evidence obtained by torture. The Court upheld a ruling from November 2012 by the Special Immigrations Appeals Commission (Siac) that blocked Qatada’s return to Jordan to stand trial because ‘there was a real risk he would be subject to a flagrant denial of justice’. The Siac in turn had upheld the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case Othman (Abu Qatada) v. the United Kingdom (17 January 2012). The ECtHR found that evidence against Qatada was obtained by torture of his co-defendants and that there was a real risk of a flagrant denial of justice if he were deported to Jordan. The Siac also said the diplomatic assurances obtained by the UK government were insufficient to prove that torture-based evidence would not be admitted in any retrial.
Source: The Guardian | Abu Qatada: Theresa May loses latest attempt to deport Islamist cleric