ISHR: Newsletter January 2023

Dear friends and partners of ISHR,

At the beginning of the new year we greet you warmly as President and Secretary General from the International Secretariat in Bonn/Germany. There are many things that move us in this turbulent world and we perceive that many people view the various political, economic and social developments around the globe with concern and growing uncertainty. For us, the cohesion in the international network of the International Society for Human Rights is and remains an anchor of hope, as we can exchange and verify perspectives together and, as a logical consequence, take joint action. It is possible to do something! We must never lose this conviction.

What are the points and challenges that move us? Of course, Russia’s war against Ukraine remains at the top of the list. We are watching with growing concern the behavior of Belarus in this context, which many experts believe is being drawn ever more closely into the war. The inhumane actions of the Iranian regime against its citizens also continue to cause horror and bewilderment among us. While many of us were celebrating Christmas and New Year and spending a family vacation, executions of young people were being carried out in Iran on a daily basis. This is absolutely unacceptable and we must do everything in our power to continue to support, strengthen, and give widespread attention and publicity to the international protest movement (#FreeIran2023).

Other challenges that will keep us busy during 2023 include the situation of Taiwan, the famine in the Horn of Africa (still largely outside of public global media coverage), China’s ongoing repression and human rights abuses against the Uighurs, the escalating conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the quiet, but still ongoing, crisis in Cuba.

A multitude of issues, one could also say in view of our small team in the ISHR international secretariat: a surfeit of issues. But all lamentation does not help – determined communication and action is more than ever necessary. This is best done, as we all know, in association with like-minded people, in critical-constructive cooperation and by keeping each other motivated and committed. This is the role we will continue to play as the International Secretariat in 2023.

Stay connected with us, let us know how we can strengthen and support you and above all: stay hopeful!

With best regards

Thomas Paul Schirrmacher
President – ISHR

Matthias Boehning
Secretary General – ISHR

Santa Claus and Snegurochka visited refugee children in Our House and gave them New Year’s gifts, prepared by IGFM and the Realschule from Manderscheid in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district, Germany

The power of totalitarism was demonstrated by lockdown of houses, districts and even a Megacity like Shanghai. Human life and human freedom are not seen as valuable things except the life and freedom of the party elite.

January 2023 – In the midst of flight and destruction, small actions give hope and joy. During the Christmas holidays in January 2023, the IAC ISHR team organised a small miracle programme for children with the support of the German section of IGFM.

The year 2023 is expected to be a year of heated political competition in a number of African countries; Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Gabon. The question lingering in the minds of different political commentators and seekers of democracy is whether these elections will be free, fair and transparent in the effort to improve the democratic landscape of the Continent.

In Albania, a blood feud is called gjakmarrja, which means ‘blood-taking’ or ‘blood feud’. Revenge or vendetta, on the other hand, is called hakmarrja. The latter is the obligation to ‘take life to right an earlier wrong, to salvage honour’. The terms are used interchangeably and sometimes can be confusing, as in both cases the killing is made to restore justice and honour.

We must think not only of ourselves, but also of the human rights of eight billion human beings on the planet, since this internal European dispute whether Crimea and Donbass are in Russia or Ukraine, is of scarce importance for the billions of human beings in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

ISHR has dedicated the third Thursday of every month to holding Twitter Spaces as part of our education and knowledge sharing series. In the Twitter spaces, ISHR hosts Human Rights defenders, government officials, activists, academicians and experts to share their knowledge on a particular issue while putting into consideration their specific contexts. The Twitter spaces have not only been popular but have also enhanced our engagement with various communities of Huma Rights players. We continue to use these spaces for advocacy, campaigns. Knowledge sharing and in the bid to reach more people.

Any person who willfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb or attempts to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person with no purpose of legitimate communication whether or not a conversation ensues commits a misdemeanor and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty-four currency points or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both.

In Bangladesh in 2022, a total of 516 children was killed due to various reasons including death due to physical abuse, murder after rape, murder after failed rape attempt (source – ASK). In addition, in 2022, 1088 children were subjected to torture in various ways. Among them, 560 children were victims of rape. 100 children were victims of attempted rape and sexual harassment and 52 boys were victims of rape. Allegations of molestation of boys in different madrasas were alarming. In 2022, 52 boys were victims of rape.

The German section of the International Society for Human Rights and the German Evangelical News Agency IDEA have named the evangelical pastor Yich from Vietnam as “Prisoner of the Month” for January 2023. They are calling for people to stand up for the 57-year-old detainee.

As a sign of solidarity with the many Ukrainian refugees in Lithuania, the Lithuanian ISHR section launched a large Christmas campaign in the Ignalina and Vilnius area. 100 particularly needy Ukrainian and Lithuanian families received Christmas packages with food, personal gifts and toys worth €50.