Excessive Commissioner Volker Türk voiced his concern that Sunday’s ballot which noticed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina safe a fifth time period in workplace, was “marred by violence and repression of opposition candidates and supporters”, in response to a press release from rights workplace OHCHR.
“Within the months main as much as the vote, 1000’s of opposition supporters have been detained arbitrarily or subjected to intimidation. Such ways will not be conducive to a very real course of,” mentioned Mr. Türk.
He implored the Authorities “to take the mandatory steps to make sure that the human rights of all Bangladeshis are absolutely taken under consideration, and to strengthen the underpinnings of a very inclusive democracy within the nation.”
Arrest, threats, disappearances
OHCHR mentioned that in response to stories, legislation enforcement officers used strategies resembling arrests, threats, enforced disappearances, blackmailing and surveillance as intimidation ways forward the poll, which was boycotted by the principle opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Get together.
Acts of political violence, together with arson assaults allegedly dedicated by opposition teams, have additionally been reported.
Round 25,000 opposition supporters have been arrested, together with key social gathering leaders, since 28 October, mentioned OHCHR. A minimum of 10 opposition supporters reportedly died – or have been killed – in custody within the final two months, elevating critical issues about potential torture or harsh circumstances of detention, the Excessive Commissioner mentioned.
Many human rights defenders have been pressured to enter hiding, and a few have fled the nation, whereas dozens of suspected enforced disappearance circumstances have been reported, largely in November.
‘Way forward for all Bangladeshis is at stake’
“These incidents have to be independently investigated, and people accountable have to be delivered to justice in truthful and clear trials,” Mr. Türk mentioned. “Violations and irregularities in the course of the marketing campaign and on election day itself also needs to be completely and successfully investigated.”
“Democracy was arduous received in Bangladesh and should not develop into beauty,” mentioned the Excessive Commissioner. “Bangladesh has been a job mannequin of growth, and I fervently hope this can translate into the political and institutional spheres too. The way forward for all Bangladeshis is at stake.”
Rights specialists demand accountability for sexual torture victims of Hamas
High impartial human rights specialists on Monday demanded prompt investigations and accountability for victims of sexual torture within the 7 October Hamas-led assaults in southern Israel.
Some 1,200 Israeli and international nationals have been killed within the shock assaults throughout 22 villages and 1000’s extra injured. An estimated 240 adults, kids and infants have been additionally taken hostage by militants from Hamas and different Palestinian extremist teams.
In a press release on Monday the rights specialists often known as Particular Rapporteurs – who will not be UN workers and who report back to the Human Rights Council in Geneva – additionally referred to as for justice regarding different grave crimes dedicated within the Occupied Palestinian Territory for the reason that conflict in Gaza started – a probable reference to spiking violence within the West Financial institution together with East Jerusalem that has left greater than 300 Palestinians lifeless since 7 October.
“Investigators have to be given the mandatory assets, assist and entry required” to discover all alleged crimes,” the specialists mentioned, as they referred to as on Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto authorities in Gaza to cooperate absolutely with any probes.
Plastic air pollution: UN atomic company embarks on Antarctic examine
To the Antarctic now, the place the UN atomic power company is utilizing its nuclear knowhow to discover options to the worldwide downside of plastic air pollution.
In cooperation with Argentina, a small workforce from the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company is deploying for one month to evaluate the impression of microplastics within the as soon as pristine Antarctic setting.
The researchers’ plan is to research ranges of microplastic in seawater, lakes, sediments, sand, discharge water and animals of the Antarctic ecosystem, close to the Argentine Carlini scientific analysis station.
Plastic patrol
As a part of the UN company’s NUTEC initiative, 22 Antarctic websites might be monitored for microplastic air pollution utilizing radiation expertise which has many makes use of together with industrial recycling.
The method works by making use of gamma and electron beams to remodel or recycle plastic waste into different merchandise, resembling development supplies.
In response to the UN atomic power company, roughly 70 per cent of all plastics produced on the planet are actually waste materials and solely 9 per cent of them have been recycled up to now.
Energy increase to stave off winter chill for five.5 million Ukrainians: UNDP
With energy technology capability halved as a consequence of Russia’s invasion, the UN’s growth company (UNDP) and Japan have introduced a cargo of recent fuel generators to assist beat the winter chill.
Aapproximately 93 per cent of Ukrainians confronted disruptions in important companies like electrical energy, heating, and water provides, mentioned the UN Growth Programme on Monday in a press launch announcing the provision of the three cutting-edge fuel generators, supplied by the Authorities of Japan.
© UNDP Ukraine/Ksenia Nevenchen
Electrical energy autotransformers will fill gaps in Ukraine’s damaged power community.
They can even help in delivering to Ukraine seven autotransformers beforehand bought by Ukrenergo, the nationwide energy firm, with funds from the European Financial institution for Reconstruction and Growth (EBRD).
The initiative carried out in coordination with Ukraine’s Ministry of Vitality goals initially at assembly the nation’s rapid wants via the winter, it additionally helps long-term nationwide objectives.
Putting in the brand new fuel generators and the autotransformers will assist to keep away from disruptions this winter, sustaining important companies for over 5.5 million Ukrainians in affected areas.
Countering power threats
Talking on the handover ceremony, UNDP Deputy Resident Consultant in Ukraine, Christophoros Politis, mentioned: “For the second consecutive 12 months, in collaboration with our companions, we have been diligently working to help Ukraine in making ready for potential power threats, guaranteeing that everybody has gentle and heat in the course of the winter”.
Working with Japan, UNDP has provided important emergency tools to communities throughout Ukraine, together with 1,000 power banks and 1,200 generators. In October 2023, two high-power autotransformers were delivered to reinforce the nation’s energy transmission capability.
The problem the nation faces within the power sector is immense. In response to the UNDP in Ukraine report, Towards a Green Transition of the Energy Sector in Ukraine, technology capability has been diminished to almost 50 % of its pre-2022 ranges.
Because the invasion of February 2022, out of practically 37 gigawatts of manufacturing capability, over 19 gigawatts have been destroyed, broken, or seized by Russian forces.
