Latest news with #OfficeoftheHighCommissionerforHumanRights
Ya Libnan
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
UN rights chief calls for accountability over deadly clashes in Syria's Sweida
The head of the United Nations human rights office called on Friday for Syria's authorities to ensure accountability and justice for killings and rights violations in the southern city of Sweida. Syria's government sent troops this week to the predominantly Druze city to quell fighting between Bedouins and Druze, but the violence grew after the Syrian troops joined the fighting against the Druze following which a ceasefire was declared. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it had received credible reports of widespread rights violations during the fighting. These included reports of summary executions, kidnappings, and the destruction of private property carried out by various groups, including government-linked forces 'This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority, in line with international human rights law,' OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement. 'My Office has received accounts of distressed Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones,' Turk said. Hundreds were killed including 2 Druze women and 2 Druze children
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Head of UN rights office urges accountability for killings in Syria's Sweida
The Head of the United Nations Human Rights Office called on Friday (July 18, 2025) for Syria's interim authorities to ensure accountability and justice for killings and rights violations in the southern city of Sweida. Syria's government sent troops this week to the predominantly Druze city to quell fighting between Bedouins and Druze, but the violence grew until a ceasefire was declared. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it had received credible reports of widespread rights violations during the fighting. These included reports of summary executions, kidnappings and destruction of private property by security forces and individuals linked to Syria's interim authorities, as well as other armed elements including Druze and Bedouins. "This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority, in line with international human rights law," OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement. At least 13 people were unlawfully killed in one recorded incident on July 15 when affiliates of the interim authorities opened fire at a family gathering, the OHCHR said. Six men were summarily executed near their homes the same day. "My Office has received accounts of distressed Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones," Mr. Turk said. Israel carried out airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday and also hit government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying it aimed to protect Syrian Druze - part of a small but influential minority with followers in Lebanon and Israel. Turk shared his concern following reports of civilian casualties following Israeli airstrikes on Sweida, Daraa in the southwest, and on the centre of Damascus.
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Head of UN rights office urges accountability for killings in Syria's Sweida
GENEVA - The head of the United Nations human rights office called on Friday for Syria's interim authorities to ensure accountability and justice for killings and rights violations in the southern city of Sweida. Syria's government sent troops this week to the predominantly Druze city to quell fighting between Bedouins and Druze, but the violence grew until a ceasefire was declared. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it had received credible reports of widespread rights violations during the fighting. These included reports of summary executions, kidnappings and destruction of private property by security forces and individuals linked to Syria's interim authorities, as well as other armed elements including Druze and Bedouins. "This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority, in line with international human rights law," OHCHR High Commissioner Volker Turk said in a statement. At least 13 people were unlawfully killed in one recorded incident on July 15 when affiliates of the interim authorities opened fire at a family gathering, the OHCHR said. Six men were summarily executed near their homes the same day. "My Office has received accounts of distressed Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones," Turk said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Singapore Residents in South West District get help to improve employability, find career opportunities Singapore Jail for contraband cigarette syndicate member over conspiracy to give bribes to security officer Life Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City, weeks ahead of schedule Business DBS shares rally to a new record as STI clocks yet another high Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Israel carried out airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday and also hit government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying it aimed to protect Syrian Druze - part of a small but influential minority with followers in Lebanon and Israel. Turk shared his concern following reports of civilian casualties following Israeli airstrikes on Sweida, Daraa in the southwest, and on the centre of Damascus. REUTERS
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN criticises Starmer's welfare reforms and warns measures will 'increase poverty rates'
A UN committee on disability rights has criticised the UK government's welfare reforms, saying they will "increase poverty rates". In an intervention likely to be seized on by MPs seeking to further water down the government's measures, the committee asks ministers for answers on 10 issues surrounding the benefit changes - and says the reforms risk "regression" for disabled people. The committee, which reports to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, asks about British politicians suggesting people are defrauding the benefits system. One point on which it wants clarification is: "Public statements by politicians and authorities portraying persons with disabilities as making profit of social benefits, making false statements to get social and disability benefits or being a burden to society." Other questions are on the impact the measures will have on "young persons, new claimants of disability benefits, women with disabilities, persons with disabilities with high level supports" and others. They ask ministers about what measures they have taken to address "the foreseeable risk of increasing poverty rates amongst persons with disabilities if cuts are approved" and claim the welfare bill has had "limited scrutiny". The letter claims that the committee has "received credible information" that the "will deepen the signs of regression" that the committee warned about in a report last year on the cost of living crisis and its impact on disabled people. An intervention by will be an embarrassment to the government, which has promised its welfare reforms will help disabled people into work. Liz Kendall, the welfare secretary, was criticised heavily earlier in the year for saying some people on benefits were "taking the mickey". After a on 1 July, in which MPs succeeded in watering down the reforms significantly, the government now says its reforms will lift 50,000 people out of poverty. The bill was backed by 335 MPs, with 260 against - a majority of 75. Read more: The first version of the reforms would have - the government's assessment said - pushed 250,000 people into poverty. Charities are urging MPs to continue to push for further changes - including on cuts to Universal Credit sickness payments. A different UN committee heavily criticised benefit changes made by the Conservatives in 2016 and called on the UK to take "corrective measures" when Labour came into office. The UN's committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) concluded that "welfare reform" measures introduced by Conservative-led governments in 2012 and 2016 had disproportionately affected disabled people, low-income families, and workers in "precarious employment". The committee said this had led to "severe economic hardship, increased reliance on food banks, homelessness, negative impacts on mental health, and the stigmatisation of benefit claimants". The Department for Work and Pensions has been contacted for comment. Mikey Erhardt, policy lead at Disability Rights UK said: "The fact that the UN has yet again felt it needs to write to the UK government about our cruel and punitive social security system should be a national shame. "We hope this letter is a wake-up call for MPs. Despite all the chaos of the last-minute climbdowns and concessions, the Universal Credit bill remains broken. "There are still billions of cuts on the table, and we urge MPs to approach tomorrow's proceedings with caution as their vote will have serious implications for disabled people across the country. "If disabled people feel unable to trust the government's promises on co-production and the UN needed to raise concerns over the bill's impact, how can MPs vote this bill through?"
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
At least 60 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza as risk of famine looms
More than 60 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza overnight into Friday , as humanitarian organisations warn the beleaguered territory is at risk of famine. The dead include at least 10 people in the southern city of Khan Younis, four in the central town of Deir al-Balah and nine in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north, according to Gaza's health ministry. The strikes, over a 24 hour period, were the latest in a series of attacks that have been part of Israel's renewed offensive against Hamas in Gaza. On Friday, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said 629 Palestinians have been killed in the last week in Gaza, with women and children making up at least 148 of the victims. It comes as Israel attempts to occupy all of Gaza and heavily restrict the import of any goods into the territory. This has caused alarm among humanitarian organisations and sparked fierce criticism from Israel's international partners, including the US and UK. There are warnings that Gaza could face famine in the near future, if the amount of aid being let in does not dramatically increase. The IDF said 107 aid trucks were let in on Thursday, and the World Food Programme (WFP) said a "handful" of their bakeries were now baking again after receiving "limited" supplies. But the WFP said 15 of these trucks were looted while en route to bakeries last night. Director of the WFP, Cindy McCain, said they had enough food sitting at Gaza's border to feed its two million people for two months. It is estimated that around 600 trucks a day are needed to meet basic needs. The WFP said in a statement: "Hunger, desperation, and anxiety over whether more food aid is coming, is contributing to rising insecurity. "We need support from the Israeli authorities to get far greater volumes of food assistance into Gaza faster, more consistently, and transported along safer routes, as was done during the ceasefire." Nearly half a million Palestinians are facing possible starvation, living in 'catastrophic' levels of hunger, with one million others barely able to get enough food, according to findings by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a leading international authority on the severity of hunger crises. The Palestinian health minister told Al Jazeera on Thursday that at least 29 children and elderly people have died from 'starvation-related' deaths in the Gaza Strip in recent days. More than 9,000 children have been treated for malnutrition this year, according to the UN children's agency. After banning the delivery of food and medicine into Gaza for almost two month, Israel earlier this week announced some aid would be let in. Palestinians in Gaza rely almost entirely on outside aid to survive because Israel's offensive has destroyed almost all the territory's food production capabilities. The situation on the ground is hitting children and mothers the hardest. Mai Namleh and her 18-month-old son are both malnourished and living in a tent. Namleh tried to wean him off of breastmilk because she barely has any, but she had nothing else to give him She gives him heavily watered-down formula to ration it, and sometimes offers him starch to quiet his hunger screams. "I try to pass it for milk to stop him screaming," she said of the formula. In another tent, Nouf al-Arja said she paid a fortune for a hard-to-find kilogram of red lentils. The family cooks it with a lot of water so it lasts, unsure what they will eat next. The mother of four has lost 23 kilograms and struggles to focus, saying she constantly feels dizzy.
