It is welcome news that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) will undertake a review of the Irish Government's new Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2010 to establish if it falls foul of Article 8 (right to privacy) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In December 2008, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights issued a judgement in the case of S. and Marper v the United Kingdom, which examined the use and retention by state authorities of fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles of persons suspected but not convicted of an offence. The judgement will have a massive bearing on the legitimacy of the Irish Government's bill and the ICCL's review will have to consider the following from the judgement;
(1) Retention of such personal data must strike a fair balance between competing public and private interests. The Court in the above case was disturbed by the blanket and indiscriminate nature of the power of retention in England and Wales.
(2) Provision for an independent review of the justification for the retention of such data should be made.
(3) Retention of unconvicted persons' data would be especially harmful in the case of minors, especially if the nature and gravity of the offence in question are not taken into consideration.
(4) Retention should be time-limited.
The Court concluded unanimously that there had been a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights so the Irish Government should be aware that it has a small margin of appreciation and should listen to the ICCL's advice.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Haiti Appeals
After having suffered the worst earthquake in 200 years, there are an estimated 2 million people in need of immediate assistance in Haiti. The Red Cross has already speculated that 45,000-50,000 people have died and development organisations such as Oxfam have warned that the actual epicentre of the quake was in the countryside, to which there is currently no access.
Many governments have pledged resources, both financial and labour, and an emergency appeal has been made by many charities, NGOs and civil society organisations in order to provide assistance to the people of Haiti.
Every donation made will be needed to ensure that the people of Haiti can overcome yet another natural disaster and re-build their future. Immediate priorities will naturally be to provide safe water and shelter to the countless that have lost their homes. Medical supplies are in high demand and organisations such as the Red Cross desperately need funds in order to address the urgent needs of survivors.
Co-ordination among aid agencies is required to ensure the right kind of relief is effectively and swiftly provided. Many organisations have decades of experience responding to humanitarian crises and others have the acute skills necessary to provide much needed assistance. Some organisations specialise in responding to the immediate needs of survivors and others plan for long term development so that the survivors can re-build their lives. Some do both.
Naturally people will donate to organisations that they trust and this is important. Agencies already working in Haiti though or those with years of humanitarian response experience should be supported too. Quick fix solutions or organisations promoting holiday development will not sufficiently address the very real needs of the people of Haiti. Please give, but think about who you give to.
Many governments have pledged resources, both financial and labour, and an emergency appeal has been made by many charities, NGOs and civil society organisations in order to provide assistance to the people of Haiti.
Every donation made will be needed to ensure that the people of Haiti can overcome yet another natural disaster and re-build their future. Immediate priorities will naturally be to provide safe water and shelter to the countless that have lost their homes. Medical supplies are in high demand and organisations such as the Red Cross desperately need funds in order to address the urgent needs of survivors.
Co-ordination among aid agencies is required to ensure the right kind of relief is effectively and swiftly provided. Many organisations have decades of experience responding to humanitarian crises and others have the acute skills necessary to provide much needed assistance. Some organisations specialise in responding to the immediate needs of survivors and others plan for long term development so that the survivors can re-build their lives. Some do both.
Naturally people will donate to organisations that they trust and this is important. Agencies already working in Haiti though or those with years of humanitarian response experience should be supported too. Quick fix solutions or organisations promoting holiday development will not sufficiently address the very real needs of the people of Haiti. Please give, but think about who you give to.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Labelling of Illegal West Bank Settlement Food
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are an obstacle to peace in the Middle East. They are illegal under international law and many world leaders have previously spoken out against them. However, Israel continues to ignore such condemnation and this has uncovered the genuine lack of conviction behind the hollow words of such world leaders.
But today, a small yet important step has been taken. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Britain has announced a voluntary labelling scheme that will provide key distinctions on foods stocked in UK supermarkets. Products could now have labels attached that specify 'Palestinian produce' or 'Israeli settlement produce'. This gives consumers the opportunity to know the true origin of the products they purchase, contribute to the economic viability of Palestinian farmers and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
It has been stressed that the move is not tantamount to a boycott but it remains to be seen whether such a result could occur regardless of intention.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Britain should be commended for the action it has taken on this matter. Now multiple copycat actions around the world are needed.
But today, a small yet important step has been taken. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Britain has announced a voluntary labelling scheme that will provide key distinctions on foods stocked in UK supermarkets. Products could now have labels attached that specify 'Palestinian produce' or 'Israeli settlement produce'. This gives consumers the opportunity to know the true origin of the products they purchase, contribute to the economic viability of Palestinian farmers and express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
It has been stressed that the move is not tantamount to a boycott but it remains to be seen whether such a result could occur regardless of intention.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Britain should be commended for the action it has taken on this matter. Now multiple copycat actions around the world are needed.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Maintain the Focus
Unfortunately, as world leaders meet in Copenhagen, the focus of the world's media is still distracted by the climate science scandal.
Yes, computers in the University of East Anglia (which is a well known climate research centre) were illegally hacked into and the personal correspondence of climate researchers distributed to try and discredit the science of climate change. But, the emails were cheery picked from a decade of correspondence, have yet to produce evidence of any conspiracy among climate researchers and are attributed to only a small number of scientists. This changes nothing.
So, instead of wasting any more time debating this minor debacle, it is time to re-focus attention on world leaders in Copenhagen. A good start, would be to take Avaaz's action and call Europe
Yes, computers in the University of East Anglia (which is a well known climate research centre) were illegally hacked into and the personal correspondence of climate researchers distributed to try and discredit the science of climate change. But, the emails were cheery picked from a decade of correspondence, have yet to produce evidence of any conspiracy among climate researchers and are attributed to only a small number of scientists. This changes nothing.
So, instead of wasting any more time debating this minor debacle, it is time to re-focus attention on world leaders in Copenhagen. A good start, would be to take Avaaz's action and call Europe
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Population Control
On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of listening to Mary Robinson deliver a key note address entitled 'Copenhagen: Delivering Climate Justice'. The event was organised by Oxfam Ireland in association with TIDI.
The audience who were lucky enough to be in attendance took the rare opportunity to pose some tough questions about the science of climate change, its proposed link to future conflicts over natural resources, the need for a perpetual recession and the current thorn in the side of development education and practice - population control.
Climate change has been recently targeted by commentators who believe that the current and projected future growth in the populations of the developing world is what stands in the way of true development. Indeed, the UN Population Fund recently pointed the finger at the projected rise in the population of the developing world by 2050 as a reason for why climate change could worsen dramatically.
These commentators refuse to take concepts such as consumption into account. If they did they would have a hard time excusing countries whose population growth is considerably less than many nations in the developing world but yet have ridiculously higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions. They also fail to appreciate that education leads to greater family planning within communities and that the provision of education and the creation of the appropriate structures to facilitate this is a long process that should not be replaced by some quick fix condemnation.
It is both dangerous and alarmist to link climate change or indeed poverty to population control. It is disgraceful to essentially propose enforced population control and is an affront to human rights norms. Change will happen from within. This internal change should be facilitated, not prescribed.
However, NGOs and others in the development sector better start addressing the growing obsession with the notion of population control and start putting forward a strong case to counter some of the fallacies that we are currently being forced to listen to.
The audience who were lucky enough to be in attendance took the rare opportunity to pose some tough questions about the science of climate change, its proposed link to future conflicts over natural resources, the need for a perpetual recession and the current thorn in the side of development education and practice - population control.
Climate change has been recently targeted by commentators who believe that the current and projected future growth in the populations of the developing world is what stands in the way of true development. Indeed, the UN Population Fund recently pointed the finger at the projected rise in the population of the developing world by 2050 as a reason for why climate change could worsen dramatically.
These commentators refuse to take concepts such as consumption into account. If they did they would have a hard time excusing countries whose population growth is considerably less than many nations in the developing world but yet have ridiculously higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions. They also fail to appreciate that education leads to greater family planning within communities and that the provision of education and the creation of the appropriate structures to facilitate this is a long process that should not be replaced by some quick fix condemnation.
It is both dangerous and alarmist to link climate change or indeed poverty to population control. It is disgraceful to essentially propose enforced population control and is an affront to human rights norms. Change will happen from within. This internal change should be facilitated, not prescribed.
However, NGOs and others in the development sector better start addressing the growing obsession with the notion of population control and start putting forward a strong case to counter some of the fallacies that we are currently being forced to listen to.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Poor and Unemployed? Then Go to Iraq
I was reading a BBC News article this week about the prevalence of Ugandan security guards in Iraq since 2007. I couldn't help but be disturbed for a number of reasons.
Iraq is currently a war zone where roughly 100,000 cilivian deaths have occurred since the 2003 invasion (according to Iraq Body Count). The mainstream media report suicide bombings and kidnappings on a daily basis and we are all too aware of the numerous accusations of torture and murder committed by foreign troops. Iraq is in a state of occupation, civil war and general disarray. It is not the first country that would come to mind when considering career prospects.
So why have more than 10,000 Ugandans already gone to work there as security guards? Seth Katerema Mwesigye, who was interviewed by the BBC, claims that the money he made in Iraq made him wealthy by Ugandan standards and that Iraq has proved quite lucrative for many Ugandan security firms. Unfortunately, for many Ugandans facing poverty and unemployment, it is seen as an opportunity to escape. But at what cost - death, mutilation, psychological scarring? It is disgraceful that people have to risk their very lives to simply have a livelihood.
Also, I do not like the idea of foreign security guards, from any country, operating in Iraq. The word mercenary jumps to mind! Though I have no reason to believe that the thousands of Ugandans who worked in Iraq operated in any fashion other than professionally, Mr Mwesigye himself acknowledged that other security firms were now offering similar services for close to half the price. Price undercutting could lead to the lowering of standards and very soon the calibre of individual being sent to fill these posts (which surely could be filled by the local population) could seriously be in question.
It is a dangerous career path which people are turning to out of desperation and one that I fear will not benefit the already suffering Iraqi population.
Iraq is currently a war zone where roughly 100,000 cilivian deaths have occurred since the 2003 invasion (according to Iraq Body Count). The mainstream media report suicide bombings and kidnappings on a daily basis and we are all too aware of the numerous accusations of torture and murder committed by foreign troops. Iraq is in a state of occupation, civil war and general disarray. It is not the first country that would come to mind when considering career prospects.
So why have more than 10,000 Ugandans already gone to work there as security guards? Seth Katerema Mwesigye, who was interviewed by the BBC, claims that the money he made in Iraq made him wealthy by Ugandan standards and that Iraq has proved quite lucrative for many Ugandan security firms. Unfortunately, for many Ugandans facing poverty and unemployment, it is seen as an opportunity to escape. But at what cost - death, mutilation, psychological scarring? It is disgraceful that people have to risk their very lives to simply have a livelihood.
Also, I do not like the idea of foreign security guards, from any country, operating in Iraq. The word mercenary jumps to mind! Though I have no reason to believe that the thousands of Ugandans who worked in Iraq operated in any fashion other than professionally, Mr Mwesigye himself acknowledged that other security firms were now offering similar services for close to half the price. Price undercutting could lead to the lowering of standards and very soon the calibre of individual being sent to fill these posts (which surely could be filled by the local population) could seriously be in question.
It is a dangerous career path which people are turning to out of desperation and one that I fear will not benefit the already suffering Iraqi population.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Update: Cuban Embargo - 47 Years and Counting
The UN General Assembly has once again overwhelmingly condemnded the US economic embargo against Cuba.
This week, the assembly voted 187-3 in opposition to the 47 year old embargo. The only countries to side with the US were Israel (no surprises there) and the Pacific Island nation of Palau (a former United Nations Trusteeship administered by the US until 1994).
With all the positive steps that President Obama has taken to improve relations with Cuba, the question now stands as to whether he will take the ultimate step forward and end a policy that is no more than a cold war relic?
This week, the assembly voted 187-3 in opposition to the 47 year old embargo. The only countries to side with the US were Israel (no surprises there) and the Pacific Island nation of Palau (a former United Nations Trusteeship administered by the US until 1994).
With all the positive steps that President Obama has taken to improve relations with Cuba, the question now stands as to whether he will take the ultimate step forward and end a policy that is no more than a cold war relic?
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