Category Archives: Uncategorized

North Kosovo: Dual Sovereignty in Practice


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North Kosovo: Dual Sovereignty in Practice PUBLICATION: International Crisis Group DATE: 2011.03.14 INFORMATION:http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/europe/balkans/kosovo/211-north-kosovo-dual-sovereignty-in-practice.aspx The dispute between Kosovo and Serbia is most acute in Kosovo’s northern municipalities. The North has not been under effective control from Pristina for two decades; its sparse and predominantly rural Serb population uniformly rejects integration into Kosovo. Though small and largely peaceful, it is the main obstacle to reconciliation and both countries’ European Union (EU) aspirations. A Kosovo-Serbia dialogue mediated by the EU began on 8-9 March 2011 and is likely over the coming months to look at some of the consequences of the dispute for regional cooperation, communications, freedom of movement and the rule of law. For now, however, Belgrade, Pristina and Brussels have decided that tackling the North’s governance or status is too difficult before more efforts are made to secure cooperation on improving the region’s socio-economic development, security and public order. For some time, the North will remain in effect under dual sovereignty: Kosovo’s and Serbia’s. Kosovo seeks to rid the region of Serbian institutions, integrate it and gain control of the border with Serbia. It is willing to provide substantial self rule and additional competencies as suggested under the Ahtisaari plan, developed in 2007 by the then UN Special Envoy to regulate Kosovo’s supervised independence. But local Serbs see the North as their last stand and Mitrovica town as their centre of intellectual and urban life. Belgrade will continue to use its influence in the North to reach its primary goal, regaining the region as a limited victory to compensate for losing the rest of its former province…

Yemen: Excessive Force Used Against Demonstrators


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Yemen: Excessive Force Used Against Demonstrators
PUBLICATION: Human Rights Watch DATE: 2011.03.09 INFORMATION: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/09/yemen-excessive-force-used-against-demonstrators Yemeni security forces repeatedly used excessive, deadly force on largely peaceful protesters in the southern city of Aden in February 2011, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Security forces fired weapons that included assault rifles and machine guns at the protesters, killing at least nine and possibly twice that number, and injuring more than 150, some of them children. The 20-page report, “Days of Bloodshed in Aden,” documents attacks on protesters in the strategic port city of Aden from February 16 to 25. Human Rights Watch found that police and military forces also chased and shot at protesters trying to flee the assaults. The forces stopped doctors and ambulances trying to reach protest sites, fired at people who tried to rescue victims, and removed evidence, such as bullet casings, from the shooting scenes…

Zimbabwe: No Justice for Rampant Killings, Torture


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Zimbabwe: No Justice for Rampant Killings, Torture
PUBLICATION: Human Rights Watch DATE: 2011.03.08 INFORMATION: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/03/08/zimbabwe-no-justice-rampant-killings-torture The failure of Zimbabwe’s government to investigate and prosecute killings, torture, and politically motivated violence since the 2008 elections is fueling further human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on March 8th. The 40-page report, “Perpetual Fear: Impunity and Cycles of Violence in Zimbabwe,” examines the lack of justice in several illustrative cases of political killings, torture, and abductions by government security forces and their allies during and after the presidential election run-off in 2008. Human Rights Watch called on Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government to conduct immediate, credible, impartial, and transparent investigations into serious human rights abuses and to discipline or prosecute those responsible, regardless of their position or rank…

“Human Rights Hotspots” with Alex Neve


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This event was a panel discussion about current ‘hot spots’ for massive human rights violations and areas of the world that should be of concern to Canadian parliamentarians.The objective of the event was to inform parliamentarians about regions of the world that are at risk for human rights violations, mass atrocities, persecution of minorities, and other crimes against humanity.Mr. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International, provided a ‘tour of the world’ for unstable regions and specifically discussed areas of the world that do not receive adequate media attention.

Workshop for Journalists


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The event aimed to increase interest and involvement of the local media in international crimes against humanity and  included presentations from various experts in the field. The themes and expert panels guiding the workshop were as follows:
  • Introduction – Member of Parliament Mr. Paul Dewar
  • “Conflict, Genocide and Contemporary African Politics”- Professor Rita Abrahamsen
  • “Recognizing widespread tribal and cultural differences”- Ms. Alice Musabende
  • “Reporting on international human rights from Ottawa”- Ms. Marie-Jo Proulx
The panellists were: Introduction – Member of Parliament Mr. Paul Dewar Mr. Paul Dewar is the Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Centre, the New Democratic Party’s Foreign Affairs Critic and the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity. Since his first election in 2006, he has dedicated himself to raising awareness about violations of human rights both in Canada and abroad. Mr. Dewar is an advocate for Canadian action in places like Darfur and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has been a strong voice for peacebuilding.  Mr. Dewar He has travelled to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lebanon. “Conflict, Genocide and Contemporary African Politics”- Professor Rita Abrahamsen Dr. Rita Abrahamsen is Associate Professor in the School of International Development and Global Studies and in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.  She is joint-editor of African Affairs, the highest ranked journal in African studies.  Prior to joining the University of Ottawa, she was in the Department of International Politics at the University of Aberystwyth. “Recognizing widespread tribal and cultural differences”- Ms. Alice Musabende Alice Musabende is a journalist based in Ottawa and currently works as a television producer for CPAC.  Born in Kigali, Rwanda, Alice has worked as an international development worker for USAID, as well as a media fixer and freelance journalist in Rwanda.  With a Bachelor of Journalism from the National University of Rwanda and a Master’s of Journalism from Carleton University, in Ottawa, Alice has worked as a reporter for CBC Radio in Quebec city, in Ottawa and for TFO (The Ontario French Television). Alice has also worked with the Genocide Intervention Network in Minneapolis on some of their Darfur/Sudan projects. “Reporting on international human rights from Ottawa”- Ms. Marie-Jo Proulx Marie-Jo Proulx is a fully bilingual Canadian with extensive experience in a wide range of locations, media environments, and communication roles. MJ has worked as a media trainer and workshop facilitator in Sierra Leone; senior writer, asylum case interpreter, and project manager in Chicago; reporter and technical writer in Ottawa; and course coordinator and French language instructor in Manchester, U.K. MJ’s freelance work has appeared in the Montreal Gazette, Winnipeg Free Press, Embassy Newspaper, Trente Magazine, and Z Magazine, among others.

Economics of Conflict


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The Genocide Prevention Group hosted a panel discussion on how the current economic recession may potentially impact human rights and crimes against humanity. The themes and expert panel guiding the discussion were as follows: 1. “Recession Breeds Repression” Dr. David Gillies and his colleague, Mr. Abraham Sewonet Abatneh from the North-South Institute, discussed how the current economic recession is a stressor and catalyst for conflict. The recession may breed repression by reducing commodity export revenues, remittances and foreign exchange and increasing unemployment levels and food prices. In countries with no or “frayed” social safety nets, this can lead to repression, conflict and crimes against humanity. Mr. Abatneh illustrated this with case studies of Southern Sudan, Haiti and Ghana. 2. The Economic Recession and Canadian Foreign Policy Dr. Manfred A. Bienefeld from the School of Public Administration at Carleton University discussed the longer-term issues that breed recession and governments that are not responsive to their citizens. He argued that the situation in Somalia is an example of what could occur if we do not build a degree of cohesion. He further contended that Canada is not immune to difficulties arising from the economic recession and that we need to focus on the broader structures that cause these problems.

Congo Awareness Day – Break the Silence


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Although the security and humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been horrific for more than 10 years, the international community is generally unaware of this catastrophe. Thousands of Congolese victims, especially women, the elderly and children, have been totally abandoned. The stakes are high, the fight is real and the cause is common. Canadian Senator Mobina Jaffer held a day event to raise awareness of the Congo, especially the sexual violence against Congolese women and young girls in the eastern DRC. This event will have an impact only if all Congolese nationals themselves participate in numbers.

“Until the Violence Stops: Policy Recommendations”


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This event was a panel discussion with local non-governmental organizations and parliamentarians. Following up with the April 28 events, four themes guided the policy recommendations:
  • sexual violence: a crime against humanity
  • justice and human rights
  • sexual violence and the security sector
  • diasporas affected by sexual violence in Canada
This event complemented the issues discussed on April 28, but provided concrete suggestions on how Canadian parliamentarians can contribute to ending the use of sexual violence in war. The panellists ultimately called for a study on human rights to be commissioned and for a National Action Plan for implementing United Nations resolution 1325. 01-custom Paul Dewar shaking hands with a member of the Congolese community in Ottawa May 5 Panel Discussion Panel in discussion

“Until the Violence Stops: how Canada can help end the use of sexual violence as a weapon in war”


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The Genocide Prevention Group hosted a creative and provocative event to inform parliamentarians about the systematic and widespread use of sexual violence, the ‘normalization’ of rape in war, and the political will to intervene. Key note speakers included:
  • Eve Ensler; playright, activist, founder of V-Day organization, and witness to the use of sexual violence in Bosnia, Haiti, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
  • Stephen Lewis; Chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and former United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.
The Masters of Ceremonies of this event was Ms. Françoise Nduwimana, who works as a gender consultant in peace, security and development at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre. From Left to Right: Robert Fox, Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director; Joanna Kerr, Oxfam Canada’s Director of Policy and Outreach; Eve Ensler; MP Paul Dewar (Chair) For Eve Ensler’s remarks, please click here.