The Weekly Brief

Just a quick update in case you missed it.

Released on 23.08.2024

	Human Rights Commission calls for reform of work visa scheme to address human trafficking concerns The Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) scheme may be facilitating human trafficking and modern slavery, according to the Human Rights Commission. Its report calls for an enforceable framework for ethical recruitment, meaningful business checks, and stronger compliance action. "What we heard goes beyond bad employer conduct and raises real concerns that the AEWV scheme may be enabling potential human trafficking, with signs of systemic migrant exploitation and modern slavery," said Equal Opportunities Commissioner Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo. Read more: rnz.co.nz
	UN pledges continued human rights support Increased engagement between different stakeholders on human rights topics, strengthened capacity to investigate potentially unlawful killings and document cases of torture, and wider engagement with international human rights mechanisms, as well as steps towards policy reform in areas such as human rights-based approaches to drugs and prison decongestion are just some of the outcomes of a three-year joint United Nations Joint Program that concluded last month. Read more: manilatimes.net
	Iran executes two Afghan citizens amid escalating human rights concerns According to the organization’s statement, the execution of five prisoners, including the two Afghans, was carried out on the morning of Monday, August 19, in the central prison of Yazd. No information has yet been released about the identities of the executed Afghans. Hengaw identified the executed individuals as Abdul Rauf Shahbakhsh, 23 years old, and Abdul Rahman Damani, 34 years old, both from Zahedan. The identities of the two Afghan nationals are still under investigation. According to this human rights organization, one of the Afghan prisoners was executed on charges of “premeditated murder.” Read more: khaama.com
	Notorious war criminal guilty of genocide claims breach of human rights in UK jail War criminal Radovan Karadzic is suing the Government because he is not allowed to have a laptop in his UK prison cell. The former Bosnian-Serb leader – convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity – claims his human rights have been breached and wants £50,000 damages for inhumane treatment. Karadzic, known as the Butcher of Bosnia, is also complaining that he has been banned from communicating in his native Serbian in Albany prison, on the Isle of Wight, where he has been incarcerated since 2021. The 79-year-old appeared in court via video link last week to sue Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Read more: express.co.uk
	Protecting freedom of religion helps to build more tolerant and inclusive societies, OSCE human rights head says Protecting the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief preserves every individual’s inherent dignity. It also helps build more tolerant and inclusive societies, reducing tensions and enabling our diverse communities to coexist. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) issued a statement today on the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, emphasising that freedom of religion is a crucial issue for our societies. Read more: europeaninterest.eu
	Sri Lanka threats on basic freedoms 'concerning': UN The United Nations Human Rights Office on Thursday said basic freedoms in Sri Lanka were under threat, as the country gears up to elect a new president in September. A report published Thursday by the UN agency stressed that Sri Lanka, which will hold its first presidential vote since recovering from a deep economic crisis, has not reformed its human rights protection system despite vowing to do so. Instead, laws and bills introduced since 2023 have given "broad powers to the security forces" and expanded "restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion and association", OHCHR said. Read more: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
	UN cybercrime convention inadequate, says Human Rights Watch The United Nations convention against cybercrime, recently passed by unanimous vote, has fielded criticism from tech companies and human rights groups alike. Among the critics was Cisco, which claims the move does not do enough to ‘sufficiently protect basic human rights’. The launch has also been slammed by activist group Human Rights Watch, which has warned the convention expands government surveillance in a thinly veiled attempt to control dissent. Read more: techradar.com