UN Rights Chief Decries Inaction Over Global Rights Violations

Council on Foreign Relations Newsletter If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view. February 27, 2018 Daily News Brief   TOP OF THE AGENDA UN Rights Chief Decries Inaction Over Rights Violations The UN human rights chief blamed the permanent members of the UN Security Council for the "continuation of so much pain" in countries around the globe, calling on the body to end the "pernicious use" of the council veto (AFP). The envoy, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, condemned ongoing humanitarian crises in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Syria, and Yemen as "some of the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times" and said little has been done by global leaders to stop such atrocities (UNHCR) despite warnings from his office. Al-Hussein, who has said he will not seek reappointment (AP) when his term finishes in August, made the comments in his address to the opening session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. ANALYSIS "The stark reality is that discussions of Security Council reform are dead," Michael Broning said in an interview in International Politics and Society. "Because the permanent members of the council can block reforms to the UN Charter, and by consequence to the Security Council, other countries have to find alternative ways to assert influence across the organization," Richard Gowan writes for World Politics Review. "The Trump administration has repeatedly suggested multilateral institutions are of no use to the United States, even though the country was instrumental in creating the UN, as well as many of the norms and laws that guide thinking about human rights today," Sarah Margon writes for Foreign Affairs. PACIFIC RIM Former South Korean President Faces Prison Prosecutors are requesting a thirty-year sentence for former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached last March (WaPo) following charges of influence peddling. Park could be tried and sentenced as soon as April (Korea Times). CHINA: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said a move by China's ruling party to scrap presidential term limits (VOA) is "a decision for China to make about what's best" for its country. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA Taliban Calls for Direct Dialogue With U.S. In a statement ahead of a regional meeting in Kabul on ending the Afghan war, the Taliban called for a "peaceful channel" (Reuters) to discuss the demands of Afghans with the United States. In Foreign Affairs, Seth G. Jones writes that the Taliban is too weak for victory but too strong for defeat. INDIA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an India-Korea business summit in New Delhi, welcomed business ventures in his country (PTI), saying he would "promote and protect" new foreign investment. MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Russia Backs Hours-Long Truce in Syria Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a five-hour cease-fire (Al Jazeera) in the besieged Syrian suburb of Eastern Ghouta to allow civilians to evacuate. A UK-based monitoring group recorded 550 civilian deaths in the area over the last eight days. CFR's Jamille Bigio and Rachel Vogelstein write for CNN that Syrian women have been underrepresented in peace negotiations. SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman removed several top military commanders (Guardian), including his chief of staff, in a shake-up that comes as the country marks its third year leading a military intervention in Yemen. SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Kenyan Court Rejects Opposition Figure's Deportation The High Court reversed the cancellation of attorney Miguna Miguna's passport and suspended a government declaration calling him a prohibited immigrant. He was deported after participating in a mock presidential swearing-in (Daily Nation) of opposition leader Raila Odinga last month. CFR's John Campbell discusses President Uhuru Kenyatta's response to Odinga's so-called inauguration. EUROPE Greece in Final Talks Before Bailout Ends Talks between Athens, European lenders, and the International Monetary Fund will focus on energy issues and privatization as Greece prepares to implement reforms (Reuters) before its bailout program ends in August. UK: The outgoing head of the UK counterterrorism police warned against the rise of right-wing extremism (Guardian) in the country, noting that four plots by such groups were foiled last year. AMERICAS Trump Hotel in Panama in Legal Brawl Panama's public ministry said it will investigate "punishable conduct" in a dispute between the Trump Organization and the owner of a Trump-branded hotel in Panama, who is seeking to oust the company (NYT) as manager of the hotel. BRAZIL: Presidential candidate and former Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin said he would privatize the embattled state oil company Petrobras (Reuters) if he wins the October election. UNITED STATES Supreme Court to Hear Internet Privacy Case The Supreme Court will hear a case between Microsoft and the federal government over authorities' ability to search for users' data stored overseas (NBC), stemming from a denied request by federal agents to access alleged drug traffickers' data stored on a server in Ireland. Joseph Yun, the U.S. special representative for North Korean policy, is leaving his post this week (VOA), citing personal reasons.         Council on Foreign Relations — 58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 CFR does not share email addresses with third parties. Forward This Email | Subscribe to CFR Newsletters | Unsubscribe - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

From: dailybrief@e.cfr.org

Date: February 27, 2018 at 11:08PM