Category Archives: Topics

The United Nations has condemned a deadly airstrike in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region that killed dozens of civilians, including children, calling it part of a “disturbing pattern” of indiscriminate military attacks on non-combatants.

According to reports, at least 24 people were killed and over 45 injured on Monday when explosives were dropped on civilians attending a religious festival in Chaung-U township. Witnesses said a motorized paraglider was used to drop two bombs on the crowd gathered to celebrate a national holiday.

“The indiscriminate use of airborne munitions is unacceptable,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking to journalists in New York. “All parties to the conflict must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.”

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A Disturbing Escalation

The attack marks yet another violent episode in the conflict that erupted after the February 2021 military coup, which ousted Myanmar’s elected government and detained key leaders, including President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sagaing, one of the regions hardest hit by the fighting, is also still reeling from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck earlier this year, compounding already dire humanitarian conditions.

According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), Sagaing has recorded the highest number of airstrikes and civilian deaths in the country. Between 28 March and 31 May 2025, at least 108 airstrikes were reported there, killing 89 civilians.

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Air Power Intensifies Despite Ceasefire Claims

OHCHR reports that Myanmar’s military has increasingly turned to air power and paramotor tactics, capable of carrying 120mm mortar rounds, to strike civilian-inhabited and earthquake-affected areas.

This escalation has continued despite declared temporary ceasefires in April and May, which the military said were intended to facilitate post-earthquake rescue operations.

The UN says these tactics represent a clear disregard for international law and contribute to what it describes as a pattern of deliberate targeting of civilians.

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Documented Atrocities and War Crime Concerns

The UN rights office’s September report recorded:

• 6,764 civilian deaths since the 2021 coup,
• Over 29,000 political arrests, and
• Nearly half of all verified civilian deaths (April 2024 – May 2025) caused by airstrikes.

The report documents deliberate attacks on schools, markets, homes, places of worship, and displacement camps.

“Atrocities such as extrajudicial killings, mutilation, and widespread destruction of property have been documented,” OHCHR said. “The use of airstrikes with no discernible military objective raises serious concerns of war crimes.”

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A Humanitarian Crisis Deepening

With hundreds of thousands displaced and humanitarian access severely restricted, the UN continues to call for unhindered access to affected populations and international accountability for grave violations.

The situation in Myanmar, particularly in Sagaing, Mandalay, and Shan, remains one of the world’s most urgent humanitarian and human rights crises — where civilians continue to bear the brunt of an intensifying conflict.

Date: 6 October 2025

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) opened historic hearings on Monday to determine whether the right to strike is protected under international law — marking the first time the UN’s highest judicial body has been asked to interpret the balance between workers’ rights and employers’ interests.

The case originates from a 2023 request by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body, seeking an advisory opinion on whether the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87) — a core treaty of international labour law — implicitly includes the right to strike.

Adopted in the wake of World War II, Convention No. 87 guarantees workers and employers the right to form and join organizations of their choice. While it does not explicitly reference strikes, labour advocates have long argued that the right to strike is an essential extension of freedom of association.

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ICJ Opens Hearings

Presiding over the session, ICJ President Yūji Iwasawa formally read the question before the Court, emphasizing the ILO’s unique tripartite structure composed of representatives of governments, employers, and workers.

“The participation of organizations of employers and workers is without precedent in the history of this Court,” said Tomi Kohiyama, ILO Legal Adviser, who highlighted the rarity of the ILO’s appearance before the ICJ — the last being in 1932.

The ILO secretariat itself is not taking a position, but will assist the Court in clarifying interpretative principles under the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

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Labour and Employer Perspectives

Paapa Danquah, representing the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), told the judges that the right to strike has been a fundamental tool for advancing justice:

“Strike action has been our vital tool to improve labour conditions and defend human dignity,” he said.

Danquah argued that the right to strike is “inherent to freedom of association” and must therefore be recognized as part of the protections enshrined in Convention No. 87.

On the other hand, Roberto Suárez Santos of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) took a contrasting position. While acknowledging the legitimacy of strikes in principle, he argued that Convention No. 87 neither explicitly nor implicitly enshrines such a right.

He cautioned against judicial overreach:

“Reading a right to strike into the Convention would create prescriptive obligations and disrupt national labour frameworks that have evolved through consensus.”

Suárez Santos urged that any such recognition should arise from tripartite consensus within the ILO, not through unilateral judicial interpretation.

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Global Implications

Over three days of hearings, 21 countries and organizations are scheduled to present oral arguments, with 31 written submissions already filed — underscoring the case’s significance for governments, unions, and employers worldwide.

The ICJ’s advisory opinion, expected within months, will not be legally binding. However, experts say it could reshape international labour law, influencing courts, legislatures, and collective bargaining practices around the world.

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A Rare Moment in Labour History

This is only the second time in history that the ILO has turned to the World Court for a formal legal interpretation. The outcome could clarify decades of dispute over whether the right to strike forms part of freedom of association — a question that has divided the ILO’s tripartite bodies since 2012, when employer representatives first challenged the interpretation.

As labour unions continue to advocate for recognition of the strike as a human right, and employers call for greater regulatory clarity, the ICJ’s deliberation may define how international law reconciles these competing claims.

A new report by the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has exposed the severe impact of entrenched government corruption on the country’s humanitarian and development landscape.

Following two years of investigation and analysis, the Commission revealed that widespread mismanagement of both oil and non-oil revenues is at the heart of a deepening human rights crisis. Political elites continue to benefit from opaque financial schemes and unaccountable spending, while the majority of South Sudanese citizens are deprived of basic public services such as healthcare, education, and clean water.

“Corruption isn’t incidental in South Sudan — it is central to the country’s decline,” said the Commission. “It is fueling hunger, dismantling health systems, causing avoidable deaths, and triggering deadly conflicts over resources.”

Billions Lost, Services Collapsing

Since South Sudan gained independence in 2011, the country has generated over $25 billion in oil revenues. However, the Commission found that these funds have largely failed to benefit the population. Instead, they have been funneled into private hands through politically connected contracts and schemes.

One example is the “Oil for Roads” program, which was meant to improve infrastructure. The initiative fell short of its objectives, with an estimated $2.2 billion diverted into political patronage networks without delivering the promised roadworks.

In the non-oil sector, the report highlights concerning practices by private entities such as Crawford Capital, which collected significant taxes through informal channels. These practices obstructed humanitarian efforts and further strained public services, with little of the revenue reflected in official budgets.

Reform Promises Unfulfilled

Despite a 2018 peace agreement that included commitments to financial reform and anti-corruption measures, the Commission noted that implementation has been insufficient and underfunded. This failure has prolonged the suffering of millions and intensified South Sudan’s vulnerabilities.

“Three out of four child deaths in the country are preventable,” the Commission noted. “Yet funds continue to be siphoned off for political gain instead of being invested in essential medicine, clean water, or education.”

A Call to Action

The Commission’s report outlines 54 recommendations urging the government to prioritize transparency, public service delivery, and accountability. These include the urgent need to prosecute economic crimes and fulfill basic needs to ensure peace and stability.

“When public wealth is treated as private fortune, peace is unsustainable,” the Commission concluded. “To preserve the nation’s fragile transition, South Sudan must invest in human rights and justice.”

Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2016, the Commission operates independently to monitor and report on the human rights situation in South Sudan. Its latest findings are a stark reminder of the urgent need for reform, accountability, and genuine political will to put citizens before profits.

8 September 2025 – Human Rights

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has delivered a stark warning about the state of human rights and the global order, calling out the growing “glorification of violence” and widespread efforts to weaken the rule of law.

In an address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk cautioned that the international community is facing a critical moment. “No one is safe when human rights are under attack,” he emphasized, urging world leaders to recognize the danger of allowing violations to go unchecked.

Rule of Law Under Siege

Türk expressed deep concern about countries disregarding international norms that were established to prevent global conflict after World War II. He criticized the normalization of human rights violations and warned that when laws are applied inconsistently, it undermines the legal order for everyone.

From militarized displays to rising pro-war rhetoric, the UN rights chief noted a global shift toward authoritarianism and repression. “Some States are becoming an extension of their ruler’s personal power,” he said, highlighting the urgent need for governments to recommit to the principles of peace, justice, and accountability.

Violations Across the Globe

During his speech, Türk gave an overview of human rights crises unfolding around the world:

• Gaza: He described the area as a “graveyard,” citing mass civilian deaths and calling for an immediate halt to arms transfers to Israel that may breach international law.
• Sudan: Civilians in El Fasher remain under relentless bombardment, with the risk of further atrocities looming.
• Myanmar: Four years after the military coup, the population continues to suffer severe rights violations.
• Ukraine: Escalating drone attacks have intensified the impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
• Afghanistan: Women and girls have been nearly erased from public life.
• West Africa: Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is on the rise, and restrictions on civil freedoms are increasing ahead of several national elections.
• China: No meaningful progress has been made to address the rights of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
• Migration: Forced returns of refugees, including Afghans and Rohingya Muslims, have occurred in countries like Iran, Pakistan, and India. European countries and the United States were also cited for tightening asylum measures.

Democratic Rights at Risk

Türk also raised alarms over the shrinking space for political opposition, press freedom, and peaceful assembly in countries preparing for upcoming elections. He pointed to worrying trends in Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, and several others where repression is increasing.

A Call to Action

Calling for renewed global commitment to human rights, the UN rights chief underscored the importance of teaching future generations that these freedoms are not optional—they are universal birthrights.

“We’re talking about the future of humanity, global peace, and stability,” he said. “When one group’s rights are violated, the freedoms of all are threatened.”