People walk through a flooded township in Myanmar following the early arrival of monsoon rains. © UNICEF/Nyan Zay Htet By Vibhu Mishra 26 May 2025 I Human Rights        Myanmar’s spiralling human rights crisis – fuelled by relentless military violence, systemic impunity and economic collapse – has left civilians caught in the crossfire of an increasingly brutal conflict, according to a new report by the UN human rights office (OHCHR). Published ahead of the Human Rights Council ’s upcoming session, the report  highlighted the worsening situation since the military coup in 2021 , which derailed Myanmar’s democratic transition and ignited widespread armed resistance. In the years since , military forces have targeted civilian populations with airstrikes, artillery bombardments and other forms of violence, while anti-military armed groups have gained ground, particularly in Rakhine state. “ The country has endured an increasingly catastrophic human rights crisis marked by unabated violence and atrocities that have affected every single aspect of life ,” said  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Grim toll The report documents a grim toll: military operations killed more civilians in 2024 than in any previous year since the coup . In Rakhine, the Arakan Army seized control of most of the state, displacing tens of thousands, while Rohingya civilians were caught between warring factions, facing killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and widespread destruction of villages. Some Rohingya armed groups have also been drawn into the conflict, according to reports. Economic crisis deepening The escalating violence has had a cascading effect on Myanmar’s economy, worsening already dire humanitarian conditions. Myanmar’s economy has lost an estimated $93.9 billion since the coup , with the gross domestic product (GDP) not expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels before 2028. Inflation has surged, the kyat has lost 40 per cent of its value, and over half the population now lives below the poverty line, facing food insecurity and soaring prices. The March earthquakes further exacerbated the crisis, leaving thousands more displaced , homeless and without basic services. Military control of revenue Meanwhile, the military continues to control key revenue sources, including the central bank and state-owned enterprises, particularly in the extractive sector. While targeted international sanctions slowed some revenue streams, the junta has maintained its financial lifelines through forced currency conversion, import restrictions, and a crackdown on informal money transfers. Myanmar has also become the world’s largest producer of opium  and synthetic drugs, with transnational criminal networks thriving under military rule. Multifaceted approach needed The report urged a multifaceted response to the crisis, including urgent humanitarian support, cross-border aid for displaced populations and increased political engagement with Myanmar’s democratic forces and emerging governance structures. It also emphasised the need for accountability through international justice mechanisms, including a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court  (ICC). The report also identified key “constituents for change” in the country’s future – women, youth, ethnic minorities, civil society and pro-democracy actors – and highlighted the work of communities who have established local institutions and forms of governance, often with increased participation from women. Buildings lie in ruins in Mandalay region, central Myanmar, following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck in March. © UNICEF Hopes for a peaceful future The report underscored the importance of planning for the day-after, ensuring human rights are central to a future Myanmar – from rebuilding systems to restoring fundamental freedoms. “ There are strong, resourceful and principled individuals and groups rallying and creating the conditions for an inclusive and democratic future ,” High Commissioner Türk said. “ They are a shining example of hope for a peaceful future. ” The report  will be formally presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 1 July. © 2025 United Nations.

By Kolby Phillip Milorad Dodik and Aleksandar Vucic in Serbia on March 24. Photo: Serbian Presidency. Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) is facing a grave political crisis because of threats from President Milorad Dodik  of the Republika Srpska (RS) to secede  from Bosnia and merge with neighboring Serbia . Dodik’s threats have reignited fear of a return to the civil war  that tore apart Bosnia in 1992 – 1995. It was an ethnic civil war caused by the breakup of the former Yugoslavia  in 1991-1992. The war was marked by the Srebrenica genocide, forced deportation of hundreds of thousands of Bosnian Muslims and Croatians from Serb controlled areas, and Serb-run concentration and rape camps reminiscent of the Holocaust.   Dodik’s secessionist  and anti-Western  rhetoric began after a joint conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic  in 2023. Dodik called for the “unification”  of Serbs in Bosnia and Serbia. In 2024, while speaking at the “Srpska is calling you” rally protesting UN Resolution 78/282 , which designated July 11 as an International Day of Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, Dodik said “We do not want to live in the same state with you (Bosniaks) and we will not live in the same state with you […] We will do it (split) when the conditions are right.”     Dodik denies the Srebrenica Genocide , which he calls a “fabricated myth.”  Genocide denial is outlawed as incitement  to genocide in Bosnia. On May 22, 2025,  a Bosnian court sentenced Vojin Pavlovic , head of a Bosnian Serb NGO, to two-and-a-half years in prison for inciting hatred by denying the Srebrenica genocide and glorifying Ratko Mladic.   On February 26, 2025, Dodik was convicted  of defying prohibitions on calling for separation from Bosnia by High Representative Christian Schmidt , a position created by the Dayton peace agreement to oversee its implementation. He was given a one-year prison sentence and a six-year ban from holding public office. Dodik dismissed the case as “purely political,” driven by “racial and national hatred [against Serbs].”  Dodik has vowed to defy the sentence. Dodik has the support of Serbia’s Vucic , Russia’s Putin, and Hungarian President Viktor Orban   The trial and subsequent conviction of Dodik led to secessionist legislation in the RS parliament. The day after Dodik’s conviction, Republika Srpska’s parliament passed laws  rejecting the authority of BiH’s prosecutors, judiciary, and other Bosnian agencies. On March 7, 2025, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s national police service was asked to leave  Banja Luka, RS’s administrative center. On March 12, 2025, The Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia-Herzegovina issued an arrest warrant  for Dodik. He has defied it . On March 14, 2025, Republika Srpska’s parliament adopted a new draft constitution  that would give RS a standing army and a separate judiciary. The new constitution includes provisions for self-determination to permit RS to secede from Bosnia. Dodik has ordered RS to form its own border patrol .   Dodik has a deep hatred for Bosniak Muslims . In June 2024, The Jerusalem Post  interviewed Dodik. He said that Israel can never live with Muslims. He said, “If we look back at history, there has never been a peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Jews, in the same way that coexistence is not possible here, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, between Muslims and Serbs.”     After a meeting with Vucic in April 2025, Dodik blamed Bosniaks for the escalation of tensions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, stating, “Bosniaks from Sarajevo want an armed conflict in BiH. Their motivation comes from their decades-long efforts to take revenge on Serbs, believing they must eliminate every Serb who does not fit into their projections.”  Such genocidal “mirroring” – accusing the adversary of planning genocide – is a significant early warning sign of intent to commit genocide in “self-defense.”   Dodik denies Bosniaks' ethnic and religious identity. In April 2025 , he claimed that the only way Bosnia-Herzegovina could function is if Bosniaks “return to the Orthodox faith.”   He predicted, “BiH is not what it claims to be. It will disintegrate. I am also glad about that.”   Genocide Watch considers Bosnia-Herzegovina to be at Stage 1: Classification, Stage 3: Discrimination, Stage 4: Dehumanization, Stage 5: Organization, Stage 6: Polarization, Stage 7: Preparation, and  Stage 10: Denial.   Genocide Watch Recommends: ·       Dodic must be imprisoned and replaced as President of Republika Srpska. ·       The new President of Republika Srpska must support remaining part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. ·       Republika Srpska must accept the decisions of The Constitutional Court of Bosnia-Herzegovina. ·       NATO should prepare for renewed civil war in Bosnia and offer full support to the Bosnian government.

Courtroom of The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States credit: The Nigeria Lawyer ECOWAS Court Rules Kano’s Blasphemy Laws Violate Freedom Of Expression, Orders Nigeria To Repeal Or Amend Penal And Sharia Codes The Nigeria Lawyer   04/11/2025 By Unini Chioma | The Nigeria Lawyer | April 11, 2025 The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States has ruled that Kano State’s blasphemy laws violate international human rights obligations. In the case filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Expression Now Human Rights Initiative against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, marked ECW/CCJ/APP/41/23, the regional court held that key provisions of Kano State’s Penal and Sharia Penal Codes were incompatible with Nigeria’s commitments under international and regional human rights frameworks. The applicant challenged the blasphemy laws in the state, claiming they had led to serious violations, including arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention, and, in some cases, death sentences. The group argued that the enforcement of these laws not only infringed on the right to freedom of expression but also encouraged vigilante violence, often resulting in mob killings of alleged blasphemers. A statement on Friday from the court said a three-member judicial panel comprising the President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves (Presiding Judge), Justice Sengu Koroma, and Justice Dupe Atoki, in a unanimous ruling, held that two provisions — Section 210 of the Kano State Penal Code and Section 382(b) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law (2000) — violated the right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under Article 9(2) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. “Section 210 was criticised for its vagueness, as it fails to clearly define what constitutes an insult to religion, falling short of the legal clarity required under human rights law. “Section 382(b), which prescribes the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad, was ruled excessive and disproportionate in a democratic society,” the statement added. While the Court acknowledged states’ interest in maintaining public order and respecting religious sensibilities, it noted that such interests must be balanced against individuals’ fundamental rights — a balance Kano’s laws failed to achieve. The Court, however, did not find sufficient evidence to support allegations that the Nigerian state had failed to prevent mob violence related to blasphemy accusations, stating that media reports alone did not meet the legal threshold of proof. The Court ordered the Nigerian government to repeal or amend the relevant provisions and similar laws to align with international legal standards. “Accordingly, the Court: ·       Declared that it has jurisdiction to hear the case; ·       Declared the application admissible only as it concerns the right to freedom of expression; ·       Declared that Section 210 of the Kano State Penal Code and Section 382(b) of the Kano State Sharia Penal Code Law (2000) are incompatible with Nigeria’s obligations to protect freedom of expression; ·       Ordered the Federal Republic of Nigeria to repeal or amend the identified legal provisions and similar laws to align with Article 9(2) of the African Charter.” Read More at The Nigeria Lawyer   See: https://savethepersecutedchristians.org/ecowas-court-rules-kanos-blasphemy-laws-violate-freedom-of-expression-orders-nigeria-to-repeal-or-amend-penal-and-sharia-codes/

By Kolby Phillip  Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo. © picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS | Visar Kryeziu Kosovo was once an autonomous province  of Serbia within the former Yugoslavia. Kosovo has two main ethnic groups: Kosovar Albanians and Serbs. Kosovars have been Muslims since the Ottoman era. They held most governmental positions and pushed for greater autonomy  within Serbia. Serbs faced discrimination and sought closer ties with Serbia . When Slobodan Milošević  bec ame Serbian president in 1980, he announced he intended to establish a greater Serbian nation . Milošević revoked Kosovo’s autonomous status  and replaced Kosovar-Albanians with Serbs in government.   Kosovar Albanians protested peacefully, but futilely. They organized an armed resistance, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) , in 1993.  From 1995 to 1999 , the KLA fought the Serbian Army for independence. As they had earlier done in Bosnia and Croatia, Serbian Army and militias used genocidal tactics against Kosovar Albanians, including murder , abduction , forced displacement , and mass rape ,. The KLA employed similar tactics  against Serbs, Roma, and Ashkali “Egyptian” Muslims. A few KLA leaders promoted a ‘greater Albania’ ideology .   Serb militias massacred over 10,000 Kosovar Albanians. 45 were killed in the Račak massacre . Serb militias forced over 14,000 Kosovar-Albanians to flee from their homes. After US War Crimes Ambassador David Scheffer announced on April 9, 1999 that there were  “indicators of genocide” i n Kosovo, the US and NATO intervened with a bombing campaign  on Belgrade. Serbian forces surrendered and quickly withdrew. The civil war cost 13,535  killed or disappeared, 20,000  rape victims, 600,000 refugees, and 400,000 internally displaced.   NATO claimed legal justification for its 1999 intervention under U.N. Charter ch. 8 art. 52, 53, & 54  which provides for enforcement action authorized by the Security Council by “regional arrangements or agencies” “for the maintenance of international peace and security.” NATO established a peacekeeping force, KFOR , which operates to this day. The U.N. established an interim government  that lasted nine years.   Kosovo declared independence   on February 17, 2008. 119 countries currently recognize Kosovo  as a sovereign independent nation. Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo’s independence.     Kosovo and Serbia agreed in 2013  and 2015  to normalize relations. The pacts were never implemented. They agreed to establish an Association of Serb Municipalities  in Serb-majority Northern Kosovo, but it has never functioned. Each side routinely blames the other for non-action . Following the Kosovo Judicial Council’s suspension of a Serb   judge in March 2022, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić  declared, “The Brussels Agreement no longer exists.”   In February 2023, Kosovo and Serbia agreed to another framework  for normalizing relations, but it has also not been implemented.   Ethnic conflicts erupted in the 2020’s in Leposavić, Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and North Mitroviça. On April 23, 2023 , Kosovar Albanians swept municipal elections that Serbs boycotted. A month later , Kosovo Police forcibly took over municipal buildings in Serb areas to install Kosovar Albanian mayors. These actions galvanized Serb protests, resulting in violent clashes with KFOR on May 29, 2023 , leading to 82 injuries. The US blamed the violence on Kosovo authorities.   In April 2024 , recall elections were held to depose Kosovar mayors in Serb municipalities, but only 253 people voted out of 46,000 registered, so the electoral commission held the elections to be invalid.     In September 2023 , Serb militants entered Banjska, Zvečan, ambushing Kosovo police and killing four. In September 2024, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that Serbia “orchestrated and financed” the attack and  “should be held accountable .” Vučić retorted that the militants’ actions were of Kurti’s doing.  Such divisive rhetoric characterizes Vučić’s disdain for Kurti, with whom  Vučić  says he has “no relationship at all.”     In November 2024 , Kosovo Police raided northern Serb municipalities following an explosion that damaged the Ibar-Lepenc canal. Kurti accused Serbia of orchestrating a “criminal and terrorist attack,” a claim strongly denied by Vučić.  No conclusive evidence of Serbian involvement has been found.   Genocide Watch considers Kosovo  to be at Stage 3: Discrimination and Stage 6: Polarization.   Genocide Watch recommends: ●      Serbia must officially recognize Kosovo as an independent sovereign nation. ●      Kosovo should implement formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities in Northern Kosovo. ●      Kosovo should reopen the Mitroviça bridge over the Ibar River after reconciling with northern Serbs. ●      The EU should condition Kosovo’s membership on strengthening Kosovo laws to protect minorities. ●      Kosovo and Serbia should step up negotiations to normalize diplomatic and economic relations.

Rescue workers dig through the rubble of a bombed building in Kyiv, Ukraine. © Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine/Anastasiia Honcharuk 25 May 2025 I Peace and Security    The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) has deplored a deadly wave of Russian missile and drone strikes that reportedly killed at least 13 civilians and injured 65 others, warning that the attack underscores the grave risks of using powerful explosive weapons in populated areas. According to the UN mission, the overnight assault from Saturday into Sunday – one of the largest of its kind since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 – resulted in civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure across 10 regions of Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv. At least three children were among those killed and nine children were reported injured. The mission is currently working to verify the full extent of the casualties and the broader impact of the attack. “With at least 78 people reported killed or injured across the country, last night’s attack tragically demonstrates the persistent deadly risk to civilians of using powerful weapons in urban areas, including those far away from the frontline,” Danielle Bell, HRMMU Head, said in a news release  on Sunday. “It is yet another addition to the staggering human toll this war continues to inflict on civilians, with more families across the country now grieving their losses.” No place is safe Matthias Schmale, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, also voiced deep concern over the civilian suffering. “I am horrified that yet again civilians – among them children – were killed in last night’s massive attacks,” he said in a statement  posted on the social media platform X. “Across Ukraine, no place is safe. Homes and civilian infrastructure were hit. Grateful to humanitarian NGOs and state services who are immediately supporting affected people. Civilians must never be a target.” Use of long-range weapons Ukrainian authorities reported that the Russian armed forces launched at least 367 missiles and loitering munitions during the night, in a coordinated attack with air, sea and land-based systems. The strike followed a similar assault the previous night, which had mainly targeted the Kyiv region. HRMMU noted that the use of long-range weapons in urban areas has been a major driver of civilian casualties in March and April. While the number of casualties in May had been somewhat lower than April before the latest attack, the toll from this weekend’s strikes will add to the monthly figures. © 2025 United Nations

The Bosnian state court sentenced Vojin Pavlovic, the head of a Bosnian Serb NGO, to two-and-a-half years in prison for inciting hatred by denying the Srebrenica genocide and glorifying Ratko Mladic. Lejla Memcic and Hana Vranac, May 23, 2025 Vojin Pavlovic (right) with his lawyer in front of the court in Sarajevo. Photo: BIRN. The Bosnian state court on Thursday found Vojin Pavlovic, the head of the Eastern Alternative NGO, guilty of breaching legislation banning genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals – the first sentence of its kind in the country. The court found that Pavlovic organised a rally in Bratunac on July 11, 2023 – the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide – for which he made posters with the slogan: “July 11 – the liberation day of Srebrenica, thank you to the Bosnian Serb Army.” The court also found that Pavlovic put up a banner celebrating the birthday of former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic, who the Hague Tribunal convicted of genocide and other wartime crimes, knowing that he was glorifying a war criminal and that this could cause fear and feelings of insecurity among Bosniak locals. Pavlovic was sentenced to a total of two-and-a-half years in prison. The verdict was a first-instance ruling and can be appealed. Presiding judge Goran Radevic said the court believes that the verdict represents an important milestone in tackling genocide denial and the glorification of war criminals. “The truth about Srebrenica and the verdict convicting Ratko Mladic are legal and historical facts, and genocide denial is not only unacceptable, but also an act punishable by law,” Radevic said. He said that the verdict was not intended to target any specific ethnic group or entity, but “an irresponsible individual”. He argued that it was the minimum that a democratic society owes to war victims and survivors. The court established that Bosniaks who returned to live in the area after the war saw the Mladic banner and that it made them feel fear and a sense of insecurity. Radevic said that such actions could lead to the incitement of ethnic, racial or religious hatred, discord or intolerance – an offence under the law. “Freedom of expression cannot be an excuse for denying genocide and war crimes,” he said. The genocide denial legislation was imposed in July 2021  by Valentin Inzko, who at the time was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s High Representative, the international official responsible for overseeing the implementation of the peace deal that ended the 1992-95 war. Copyright BIRN 2015

GENOCIDE EDUCATION IS GENOCIDE PREVENTION Phnom Penh Post 22 May 2025 By Pheng Pong-Rasy Pheng Pong-Rasy, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia’s Genocide Education Programme, addresses high school students. Supplied A healing initiative: Half a century after the collapse of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime, 600,000 young Cambodians learn about Khmer Rouge history each week in their classrooms April 17, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge genocide against the Cambodian people. Fifty years ago, over 7 million Cambodians not only faced unprecedented suffering, forced labour, untreated illness and starvation, but also completely lost their education. Children of school age were sent by the Khmer Rouge to work in the rice fields, in mobile work units and to build dams. Fifty years after this tragic event, more than 7 million members of Cambodia’s younger generations have learned about the experiences and events of that time. At least 600,000 young Cambodians learn about Khmer Rouge history each week in their classrooms. Since 2009, when the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport integrated the study of Khmer Rouge history into the national curriculum, approximately 5,000 teachers of history, geography, Khmer literature, and citizen morality have received training on methodologies for teaching Khmer Rouge history, organised by the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cm) and the education ministry. Hundreds of thousands of students study Khmer Rouge history annually as part of their regular education, ensuring a new generation of Cambodians is educated about this significant period in their country's history. On May 20, Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the opening ceremony of the First International Conference on “The Future of Cambodia Without Genocide”, organised by DC-Cam and the prime minister’s office. The event was held at the Yutti Techo Hall, Army Headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), formerly the courtroom of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), one of the world’s few courtrooms dedicated to international criminal law relating to genocide. In his keynote address, Manet emphasized the critical need to enhance and expand genocide education in Cambodia. He called upon all institutions, both military and civilian, to actively participate in educating younger generations about the history of Democratic Kampuchea, the name given to the Kingdom by the Khmer Rouge. He encouraged all teachers to join this effort as key contributors in disseminating genocide education across schools nationwide, and stressed the importance of integrating Khmer Rouge history into various academic programmes, rather than limiting it to a single history subject alone. “Genocide education does not have to be limited to history lessons. We can integrate it into all subjects, from Khmer morality and literature to leadership studies and other soft skills development. We can also develop creative ways to tell these difficult stories to people of different ages and generations through arts, digital content or multimedia,” he said. His address reflected the Cambodian government's commitment to human resource development and the collective responsibility of all institutions to support the government's efforts in genocide education and awareness campaigns for younger generations. This initiative forms part of the broader strategic priorities under the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy. “We need to emphasise that the obligation to promote genocide education is the responsibility of all, not just the government. Today's conference is a great example of good cooperation and solidarity between various stakeholders. I would like to thank DC-Cam for assisting the Royal Government in integrating the teaching of the history of genocide into professional and institutional development and in disseminating activities in national and international society, using history to reflect and inspire the future of Cambodia,” he added. The education ministry recently published a new Grade 6 history textbook, titled “Khmer and the Journey to Prosperity”, intended as supplementary material for sixth-grade students studying core history subjects. This initiative directly supports the ministry’s vision and mission of human resource development, in alignment with the seventh-mandate government’s Pentagonal Strategy. The publication of this textbook represents a key strategic initiative of the ministry in enhancing national historical knowledge. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the ministry has implemented numerous projects, with priority given to improving core textbooks for Khmer Literature, Science, Social Studies, History, Citizen Morality and Economics – essential foundations for developing both public and private education programmes. The new textbook also includes a chapter on Khmer Rouge history. These lessons reflect the factual realities that occurred between April 17, 1975, and January 6, 1979. Primary school students, particularly sixth-grade students, will gain a fundamental understanding of these historical events. In early 2025, the ministry of Education began working with the 4th Military Region of the RCAF and DC-Cam to organise educational workshops on Democratic Kampuchea history for serving military officers. This initiative serves three key objectives: 1) enhancing military officers' knowledge of Democratic Kampuchea history to prevent conflict and maintain peace, 2) deepening critical thinking among officers through historical facts and 3) strengthening military decision-making capabilities by using history as a foundation for future-oriented strategic planning. Through the dedicated efforts of the Royal Government and relevant institutions to promote education on Khmer Rouge history, over 600,000 students across all three levels of schooling in Cambodia, studying at both public and private institutions nationwide, have learned about Democratic Kampuchea history. According to the 2024-2025 educational statistics and indicators from the ministry, more than 300,000 students in Grade 9 and Grade 12 are currently studying Democratic Kampuchea history in their schools. In addition, a total of nearly 300,000 Grade 6 students will receive education on Khmer Rouge history through the new history textbook in subsequent academic years, following the ministry’s ongoing review and revision of the Grade 6 curriculum. The Education Sector Strategic Plan for 2023-2028 indicates that the enrolment statistics for students will show growth from over 1.83 million students in 2024 to over 1.86 million students by 2028 at the primary education level. Similarly, the number of students at the lower secondary education level is expected to increase from over 920 thousand students in 2024 to over 960 thousand students by 2028. In the academic year 2024-2025, the total number of students currently studying at the primary education level is over 2.2 million. This increase in enrollment will promote the revitalisation of sharing experiences, learning, research, compilation, publishing and teaching from the perspective of the Khmer Rouge era, which will increasingly resonate in each academic year. This growth will contribute to maintaining social order and more effectively preventing violence or acts of genocide. In summary, lessons on the history of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979) are an essential subject for both current and future generations in Cambodia, including students at the primary, secondary and higher education levels, as well as government officials and military personnel across various institutions in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Studying the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge not only enhances memory and ensures that the true history is not forgotten, but it also helps maintain social security and prevents the recurrence of such terrible acts. From this point forward, each year, Cambodia will educate over 600,000 members of the younger generation, who are the descendants of Khmer Rouge survivors, about this historical period through public and private schools, as well as in various institutions working in the field of education regarding genocide. These individuals will become a strong backbone in preventing violence and ensuring lasting peace in Cambodia. Pheng Pong-Rasy is the director of DC-Cam’s Genocide Education Programme and the Prey Veng and Takeo Documentation Centres. The views and opinions expressed are his own. Copyright 2025 Phnom Penh Post https://www.phnompenhpost.com/opinion/genocide-education-is-genocide-prevention

Appointment of Kamil Idris comes as war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces ravages Sudan. Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan raises his fist after disembarking from a helicopter in Khartoum on March 26, 2025, the day he declared the army had retaken control of the capital [Handout/Sudan Sovereign Council via Reuters] Sudan’s army chief and de facto head of state, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has appointed former United Nations official Kamil Idris as prime minister, as the country’s civil war grinds on into its third year. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, critical infrastructure has been destroyed and more than 12 million people have been displaced as a result of the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “The chairman of the sovereignty council issued a constitutional decree appointing Kamil El-Tayeb Idris Abdelhafiz as prime minister,” a statement from Sudan’s ruling Transitional Sovereignty Council read on Monday. Idris, a career diplomat, spent decades at the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organisation and was its director general from 1997 to 2008. He also held various roles in Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and used to serve in the country’s permanent mission to the UN. Idris, whose higher education was in international law and international affairs, also ran as an independent candidate in Sudan’s presidential election in 2010 against longtime military ruler Omar al-Bashir, who was later ousted in a 2019 coup. The African Union on Tuesday welcomed Idris’s appointment, calling it “a step toward inclusive governance” and expressing hope that the move will “restore constitutional order and democratic governance in Sudan”. On Monday, al-Burhan also added two women to the ruling sovereign council. The military leader reappointed Salma Abdel Jabbar Almubarak and named Nowara Abo Mohamed Mohamed Tahir to the governing body. The al-Burhan-led military and the RSF, a paramilitary headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have been at war for more than two years after the two generals failed to agree on a plan to integrate their forces. Last month, Dagalo announced the RSF would form a rival administration, shortly after signing a charter with allies in Kenya’s Nairobi. Details still remain unclear. The army, which holds areas in the central, eastern and northern parts of Sudan, has managed to claim some military victories in recent months, including taking control of the capital, Khartoum. The RSF, which holds most of the western region of Darfur and some areas in the south with its allied militias, has been striking Port Sudan repeatedly this month to devastating effect. Meanwhile, a worsening humanitarian crisis continues to engulf Sudan. International organisations and some countries have warned of the risks of further escalating the conflict, including in cities like el-Fasher in Darfur that have served as humanitarian aid hubs. SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

A victim's arm shows lesions consistent with healing blisters that might be observed after exposure to a chemical warfare blister agent (vesicant) such as sulphur mustard, experts who analyzed the image for Amnesty International said. credit Amnesty International On April 24, 2025, the United States determined under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 (the CBW Act) that the Government of Sudan used chemical weapons in 2024.  This determination was delivered to Congress today, along with an addendum to the April 15, 2025, Condition 10(C) Report on Compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that finds the Government of Sudan in non-compliance with the CWC, to which it is a party.  Following a 15-day Congressional notification period, the United States will impose sanctions on Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit.  The sanctions will take effect upon publication of a notice in the Federal Register, expected on or around June 6, 2025.  The United States calls on the Government of Sudan to cease all chemical weapons use and uphold its obligations under the CWC.  The United States remains fully committed to hold to account those responsible for contributing to chemical weapons proliferation. US blacklists Sudan army chief as Blinken voices regret over failure to end war By: FRANCE 24 January 16, 2025 The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Sudan's leader, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing him of choosing war over negotiations to bring an end to the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and driven millions from their homes. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ... credit Al Jazeera The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Sudan's army chief days after blacklisting his main rival, as outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced regret at his failure to end the brutal war. The Sudanese army has been at war with rival paramilitaries since April 2023 in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 12 million, including millions who face a worsening hunger crisis. The Treasury Department announced sanctions on Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese Armed Forces, a week after similar action against Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, Burhan's former deputy who heads the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "Taken together, these sanctions underscore the US view that neither man is fit to govern a future, peaceful Sudan," Blinken said in a statement. In the latest sanctions announcement, the Treasury Department accused the army of attacking schools, markets and hospitals and using food deprivation as a weapon of war -- although it stopped short of alleging genocide, a charge leveled at the RSF. Sudan's army-aligned foreign ministry has rejected the US sanctions as "immoral", saying that they "lack the most basic foundations of justice and transparency". In a statement, it said the sanctions "express only confusion and a weak sense of justice", after 21 months of war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, in which the foreign ministry said Burhan was "defending the Sudanese people against a genocidal plot". The United States previously had steered clear of sanctions on the two leaders so as to preserve diplomacy with them. But Blinken, who leaves office on Monday, said the army had repeatedly failed to join peace initiatives, although he hoped President-elect Donald Trump would keeping trying on Sudan. "It is for me, yes, another real regret that when it comes to Sudan, we haven't been able on our watch to get to that day of success," Blinken said at a farewell news conference. There have been "some improvements in getting humanitarian assistance in through our diplomacy, but not an end to the conflict, not an end to the abuses, not an end to the suffering of people," he said. The war erupted over a failure to integrate the army and the RSF, with joint US and Saudi diplomacy succeeding only in limited humanitarian agreements including on the entry of aid. More than 24.6 million people -- around half of Sudan's population -- face "high levels of acute food insecurity," according to a recent review by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Diminishing options for US The United States last week said that the RSF has committed genocide in Darfur through systematic killings and rapes of the ethnically African people there. The atrocities are an echo of the scorched-earth campaign by the RSF's militia predecessor, the Janjaweed, also accused of genocide two decades ago in Darfur. The US special envoy on Sudan, Tom Perriello, pointed to actions taken last time in Darfur -- "naming and shaming" of perpetrators, a "tremendous global activism" and the prospect of African Union intervention. "Most of those tools are either off the table completely or seriously diluted right now," Perriello said at the Council on Foreign Relations. Perriello, a former Democratic congressman who also leaves office Monday, said the United States was also no longer the same "major bank for the world" that can spell dire economic consequences through sanctions. US options are "much weaker in a world where people can go to other countries and get billion-dollar checks without having any conversations about human rights and democracy," he said. Perriello also voiced shock that regional power South Africa welcomed RSF leader Daglo on a visit and that there was not "much of an outcry from South African civil society." But he said African powers increasingly focused on domestic issues and "want to be seen as economic powerhouses of the future, not necessarily the moral police." The Sudan conflict has brought in a series of foreign players, with the United Arab Emirates facing repeated charges of arming the RSF. Perriello saluted the role of Egypt, saying he was surprised to work so closely but that Cairo exerted pressure on the Sudanese army in the interest of decreasing refugee flows. (Copyright 2025 France 24 with AFP and Reuters)

Basillioh Rukanga for BBC News Militant attacks have continued in Burkina Faso despite promises by the military to tackle the insurgency Source:AFP via GETTY IMAGES At least 130 civilians were killed by Burkina Faso government forces and allied militia in March near the western town of Solenzo, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says in a new report., external It says the "massacre", following an operation led by Burkinabè special forces, resulted in widespread civilian deaths and displacement of ethnic Fulanis. The Fulani are a pastoralist, largely Muslim community who the government has often accused of backing Islamist militants - an allegation denied by community leaders. About 40% of Burkina Faso, external is under the control of groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State operating in West Africa's Sahel region. The attacks, in which thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced, have continued despite promises by the country's military leaders to deal with the insurgency. Ahead of the release of the HRW findings on Monday, there were reports of more militant attacks over the weekend with dozens of military and civilian casualties. The BBC has not been able to confirm these reports and the authorities do not routinely comment on reported jihadist attacks. The BBC has approached the Burkina Faso government for comment on the HRW report. Last year, the government described as "baseless" another HRW report that had accused soldiers of a "massacre" in which 223 villagers were killed. It also said that any allegations of human rights abuses committed "in the fight against terrorism" were systematically investigated. The rights group says it interviewed witnesses, militia members, journalists and the civil society and analysed videos shared on social media to make the findings regarding the army's involvement in the March killings. HRW previously said the army was "implicated" in the killings, based on videos that were being shared online showing dozens of dead and injured people, although the findings were not definitive. It now says further research has "uncovered that Burkina Faso's military was responsible for these mass killings of Fulani civilians". It adds that least 100 more civilians were killed last month in reprisal attacks by jihadist groups against those seen as helping the military. "Mass killings of civilians by government security forces, militias, and Islamist armed groups amount to war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes," it says. The rights group has urged the government to investigate and prosecute all those responsible for the crimes. This came as junta leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré returned from Moscow after a Friday meeting with Vladimir Putin on cooperation and security in the Sahel. Since the military seized power, Burkina Faso has turned away from colonial power France and towards Russia for help in tacking the Islamist insurgency. Copyright © 2025 BBC.

Human Rights Watch: Israel's blockade of Gaza is 'tool of extermination' Middle East Eye May 15, 2025 By MEE staff  Human Rights Watch says countries like the US, UK, France, and Germany could be 'liable' for 'genocide' for failing to act   Palestinians struggle to get food rations outside a crowded distribution centre in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, on 15 May 15 2025 (Bashar Taleb/AFP)   Israel’s eight-week food, water and humanitarian blockade on Gaza has “become a tool of extermination”, Human Rights Watch’s interim executive director said on Thursday. “Hearing Israeli officials flaunt plans to squeeze Gaza’s two million people into an even tinier area while making the rest of the land uninhabitable should be treated like a five-alarm fire in London, Brussels, Paris, and Washington,” said HRW's Federico Borello. “Israel’s blockade has transcended military tactics to become a tool of extermination.”  HRW criticised the Israeli government’s plans to demolish what remains of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure and concentrate the Palestinian population into a tiny area as “an abhorrent escalation of its ongoing crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and acts of genocide”. The human rights organisation also said that the 153 states that had signed up to the Genocide Convention were liable for failing to act. It said “a more robust response” was needed from governments and institutions and singled out the United States, France, Germany, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, saying they could do more such as end weapons sales, military assistance and diplomatic support to Israel, impose sanctions on Israeli officials, and consider suspending bilateral agreements. “States that are party to the Genocide Convention committed themselves not just to punish genocide, but also to prevent it from taking place,” said Borello. “Failing to act to stop Israeli authorities from starving civilians in Gaza and further rendering it unlivable flies in the face of the very purpose of the convention.” HRW said that individual states have a responsibility to prevent genocide as soon as they learn that there is a serious risk of genocide being committed. A definitive determination that genocide is already underway is not required, as HRW set out in an April 2025 intervention, in a case currently before the UK courts challenging the UK government’s decision to continue to license military equipment used by Israeli forces in Gaza. HRW also warned that states that do not risk legal liability for failing to prevent genocide in Gaza. The International Court of Justice in 2007 found that the obligation applied extraterritorially “to a State wherever it may be acting or may be able to act in ways appropriate to meeting the obligation”. Famine The United Nations has warned that Gaza is facing its worst humanitarian crisis since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza. ‘Death of a generation’: Gaza infants battle starvation under deepening Israeli siege Read More »  The World Health Organisation said on 11 May that Gaza is experiencing “one of the world’s worst hunger crises, unfolding in real time,” citing a Gaza Ministry of Health report that at least 57 children have died from malnutrition in Gaza since the blockade began. Israel and the United States have outlined a plan to use private military contractors to provide aid only to certain parts of Gaza. The UN and aid groups operating in Gaza warned that the plan won’t reach the most vulnerable and appear to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic. The integrated phase classification said the plan is “highly insufficient to meet the population’s essential needs”. In mid-April, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that “no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza”, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that it would not “allow even a gram of food or aid” in “as long as our hostages are dying in tunnels”. According to the Israeli government, 58 Israeli captives are being held in Gaza, of whom 23 are believed to be alive. Hamas on Monday released Israeli-American Edan Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military at the time he was taken captive. Copyright 2025 Middle East Eye

The International Criminal Court is based in The Hague, Netherlands. © UN Photo/Rick Bajornas 19 May 2025 I Law and Crime Prevention The Deputy Prosecutors of the International Criminal Court have assumed leadership of the Office of the Prosecutor following Karim Khan’s decision to take a leave of absence amid an ongoing UN investigation into allegations of misconduct against him.   In a statement on Monday, the prosecutors’ office confirmed that deputies Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang are taking the lead, ensuring continuity across all cases and operations. The transition follows Prosecutor Khan’s announcement on 16 May that he would temporarily step aside while the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducts an external inquiry into the allegations. The investigation into widely reported allegations of sexual misconduct is being conducted by the OIOS at the request of the ICC’s governing body. Mr. Khan has denied the allegations. Although the ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism typically handles such matters, the OIOS was brought in given the circumstances of the allegations and perceptions of possible and future conflicts of interest. Duty of care The prosecutors’ office said it would fully cooperate with the investigation, while underscoring the need to protect the privacy and rights of everyone involved – emphasising the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the OIOS investigation. “The Office is acutely aware of the duty of care it owes to all staff members and personnel, especially affected individuals,” the statement underscored. Impartial and fair process The Presidency of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC – which elects the 18 judges – said on Sunday that the OIOS investigation was being carried out to ensure a full independent, impartial and fair process. “The findings of the investigation will be handled in a transparent manner in accordance with the Rome Statute and the legal framework of the Court,” it noted. Upholding ICC’s mandate In assuming leadership, the Deputy Prosecutors underlined the importance of ensuring continuity of the office’s activities across all areas of work, and particularly in its mission to investigate and prosecute the most serious crimes – genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression – with independence and impartiality. Court in the spotlight The Prosecutor’s leave of absence comes at a sensitive moment for the ICC, which is conducting investigations and prosecutions across multiple conflict zones, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Sudan (Darfur) and Ukraine. Last November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials, prompting the United States to announce punitive sanctions against the Court. These include measures against senior personnel – including Prosecutor Khan – with threats of arrest should they travel to the US. Relationship with the United Nations The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent judicial body established under the Rome Statute, adopted in 1998 and in force since 2002. Although not part of the United Nations, the ICC works closely with it under a cooperative framework. The UN Security Council can refer situations to the ICC, enabling the Court to investigate and prosecute most serious crimes. Notable referrals include the situations in Darfur, Sudan (2005) and Libya (2011). In return, the ICC reports to the Security Council when needed involving referrals. © 2025 United Nations