Latest news with #BenSaul
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Expert Urges International Community Not To Leave Somalia Behind
MOGADISHU (21 May 2025) – Somalia faces extraordinary challenges in the fight against Al-Shabaab and Daesh armed groups, a UN expert said today, expressing solidarity with the people and the Government in the face of persistent terrorist threats. 'I recognise the extensive efforts by the Somali authorities to prevent terrorism, through a comprehensive strategy combining law enforcement, military operations, combating violent extremism and addressing the root causes of terrorist recruitment,' the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Ben Saul said in a statement at the end of an official visit to the country. 'I also acknowledge Somalia's severe security and resource constraints.' Saul noted with concern that Somalia has adopted excessive and overbroad terrorist definitions and offences, as well as expansive intelligence and security powers that could compromise fundamental human rights. He warned that some terrorism offences attract the death penalty even when they do not involve intentional killing, as required under international law. During his visit, the expert received reports of arbitrary arrests, protracted pre-trial detention, lack of legal representation, possible enforced disappearance, excessive use of force, and ill-treatment in detention. 'I am deeply concerned about widespread violations against children in armed conflict, including killings, maiming, forced recruitment, sexual and gender-based violence, and trafficking,' the Special Rapporteur said. Saul said he was particularly concerned about the use of military courts to try terrorist suspects, which lack sufficient independence and fair trial safeguards. 'Prison conditions also do not meet international standards,' he said. The Special Rapporteur acknowledged achievements of military operations against terrorist groups, but said he was concerned that military forces lacked the necessary rules, procedures and accountability mechanisms to prevent, prosecute and remedy violations. He also expressed deep concern over the use of clan militias alongside the military, in the absence of a legal framework to safeguard human rights. The Special Rapporteur urged Somalia, with international support, to establish and adequately resource rehabilitation and reintegration centres and programmes for individuals who disengage from Al-Shabab, including women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. He warned that countering terrorism financing laws risked impeding the delivery of independent and impartial humanitarian relief to vulnerable civilian populations in acute need. 'Counter-terrorism laws are also adversely affecting the freedom of the media to report on security matters and restricting and chilling the human rights work of civil society organisations,' Saul said. 'I encourage Somalia to establish independent and effective oversight and accountability mechanisms for all counter-terrorism actors, redouble efforts to address root causes, pursue conflict resolution and peace-making, strive for inclusive and participatory governance, and combat corruption, poverty and discrimination against minorities.' He encouraged international partners to maintain political and financial support for Somalia, in the face of devastating recent funding cuts by some donors. 'This is a critical moment for Somalia,' he said. 'Sustained international engagement is essential to support national efforts to build lasting peace, strengthen rule of law, and protect human rights while countering terrorism.' The Special Rapporteur will present a detailed report on his findings to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2026.
Middle East Eye
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UN expert Ben Saul calls out western states for Gaza international law breaches
Ben Saul is the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and the Challis Chair of International Law at the University of Sydney. In this episode of Expert Witness, he discusses the legal implications of US President Donald Trump's Gaza "take-over" plan, Israel's ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), and other international law questions arising from Israel's war on Gaza. This episode was filmed on 26 February 2025 and first went live on 14 March 2025 for our exclusive members. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form . More about MEE can be found here .
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN human rights experts criticise 'unneccessary' and 'unlawful' Olympic security
Three human rights experts commissioned by the United Nations on Tuesday issued a report saying some security measures for the 2024 Paris Olympics were "unnecessary or disproportionate" while others "were discriminatory or even unlawful". The three experts, who were commissioned by the Human Rights Council but were not speaking on behalf of the UN, said France must carry out "an independent and impartial review" of the measures deployed during the Games. "French authorities took a number of reasonable measures to ensure that the Olympic Games were free from terrorist violence," the experts said. "Yet, some security measures appeared to be unnecessary or disproportionate, while others were discriminatory or even unlawful." The French Ministry of the Interior declined to comment on the report. The report noted that France has faced significant terrorist threats in recent years. "Under international law, governments must act diligently to prevent threats to life posed by terrorism, but must always comply with human rights law," the report said. "In too many cases, security measures were seemingly applied in an indiscriminate or overbroad manner, that was not necessary or proportionate to meet any specific, evidence-based risks posed by particular individuals," it added. They pointed to "unprecedented the use of drones and 'algorithmic' video tools with artificial intelligence". "We also found patterns of discriminatory policing, targeting individuals or groups for political views, religious affiliation or ethnic background," the experts said. In some cases, measures appeared to be aimed at preventing disruptive public protests, the report said. "Some of the measures arbitrarily interfered with the freedoms of expression, assembly and association, as well as the rights to privacy, reputation and liberty, and to participate in cultural life." Some measures even violated French law, "as evidenced by the higher than usual number of annulments by the courts". "Excessive measures are not necessary for security – and can counterproductively fuel grievance narratives that lead to radicalisation," the experts said. The report was signed by three UN independent experts: Ben Saul, a Sydney University law professor and Special Rapporteur for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Colombian Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; and Alexandra Xanthaki, a law professor at Brunel University in London and UN Special Rapporteur on cultural rights. They urged France "to conduct an independent and impartial review of the security measures used during the Olympic Games" to "draw lessons for France and other countries on how to secure future major public events". They said that with the Winter Olympics in Italy and the football World Cup in North America coming up international sporting bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, must "assess the human rights risks of their events and collaborate with host nations to mitigate them". vog/nl/pb/ea
