World news in brief: UN human rights chief on Bangladesh protests, alarm over Gershkovich verdict, latest floods in Afghanistan, LGBT law legalization
Volker Türk said the move restricts freedom of expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information.
The High Commissioner continued to condemn the violence in the South Asian country amid ongoing protests and urged restraint from students and local authorities following reports of dozens of deaths and injuries.
Paramilitary unit
“I am also very concerned about reports of the deployment of paramilitary police units such as the Bangladesh Border Guard and the Rapid Action Battalion, which have a long record of violations,” Mr. Türk said.
He called on the Government to take appropriate action to protect the protesting students and ensure their right to freedom of assembly and expression without fear of repression.
“Bangladesh’s political leaders must work with the country’s youth to find solutions to the ongoing challenges and focus on the country’s growth and development,” he said. “Dialogue is the best and only way forward.”
UN condemns sentencing of US journalist detained in Russia
Evan Gershkovich, reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
OHCHR The sentencing of American journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in a Russian court has raised concerns about a journalist’s freedom of speech, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reporter was arrested in Russia in 2023 and has been held there since. He was sentenced to 16 years in a high-security prison.
Russia’s obligations
“Journalists must be able to perform their core professional functions and work in a safe environment without fear of reprisals, in line with Russia’s international human rights obligations,” deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said at a daily press briefing in New York.
He noted that the journalist’s detention had been declared arbitrary by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
“Of course, we call for the release of all journalists in Russia who are detained simply for doing their jobs,” Mr. Haq said.
Afghanistan: More urgent help needed after series of disasters
United Nations aid groups and partners continued to mobilize on Friday in Afghanistan after devastating storms and flash floods swept through central and eastern regions, leaving dozens dead and hundreds of homes destroyed.
In the update, United Nations Refugee Agency (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) noted The latest emergency comes after flash floods in May left nearly 700 people dead and caused extensive damage.
UNHCR spokesman Babar Baloch said humanitarian groups are working in the worst-affected provinces of Nangarhar, Laghman and Kunar, which are home to large numbers of vulnerable displaced people and returning refugees.
At least 40 people have died in this week’s floods, more than 340 have been injured and thousands more have been displaced, Mr. Baloch said.
Widespread damage
“Many roads, bridges, homes and public buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Sadly, the number is expected to increase as more areas become accessible to rescue and assessment teams.”
Mr. Baloch said that so far six rescue teams have been deployed but many areas remain inaccessible, hampering relief efforts.
Some emergency aid has been prepped and ready for distribution in Afghanistan, but the UNHCR warns that the country is still facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 24 million people in need of aid this year.
Since the beginning of the year, natural disasters have affected more than 145,000 people in 33 of 34 provinces, the UN agency said, highlighting significant funding gaps.
In total, UNHCR needs more than $200 million for its operations this year but has so far received only 44 percent of the funding.
UN officials call for decriminalization of anti-LGBTIQ+ laws
A joint statement from two senior United Nations officials released on Friday highlighted the harmful impact of laws that criminalize consensual sexual conduct among members of the LGBTIQ+ community, stating that such laws endanger lives and violate fundamental human rights.
Two officials – Volker Türk of OHCHR and Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) – said that such laws should be “entrusted to history” and note that many countries are starting to do so.
“The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court has made it clear: ‘The criminalisation of homosexual acts between consenting adults is inherently intrusive and therefore violates individual liberty and privacy,’” they said.
HIV factor
Criminalising policies towards the LGBTIQ+ community create “justified fear” among those who need and provide health care, said Mr Türk and Ms Byanyima.
Furthermore, they note that countries with such laws have lower rates of provision and utilization of HIV prevention services as well as HIV care and treatment services.
“Countries that criminalize have significantly lower rates of HIV status knowledge and HIV viral suppression rates among all people living with HIV,” the statement said.
The joint statement by Mr Turk and Ms Byanyima said steady progress in decriminalising laws targeting the LGBTIQ+ community must continue as this is vital for human rights and health protection.
“Anti-rights policies, proposals and propaganda must be challenged head-on,” they said. “Together we call on all countries to repeal all laws that penalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.”
