Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts

Monday, 23 November 2015

Action by the UN Security Council and the EU following the Paris and Beirut attacks

Both the EU and UN Security Council have taken action in wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut last week.

France invoked Article 42(7) of the Treaty of the European Union at a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 16 and 17 November. The outcome of the meeting indicates that Member States expressed their unanimous support for the move and will provide aid and assistance through bilateral arrangements. This is the first time that the mutual assistance clause has been invoked.

On 20 November, the Security Council passed Resolution 2249. In unprecendented language, the Security Council called upon Member States "that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria". The full text of the Resolution together with statements of countries during the meeting is available here.

/ Sally




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Thursday, 30 April 2015

Controversy at UN over alleged sexual abuse by peacekeepers in CAR

The controversy over the leaked United Nations report detailing sexual abuse of children committed by French troops at the beginning of the MINUSCA mission in Central African Republic has grown since the story hit the headlines on Wednesday with the whistleblower being suspended and placed under investigation by the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services.

The whistleblower is a Swedish citizen. The Swedish government has issued a press statement on the matter.

Separately, the French authorities, who have jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed by their troops in the mission, confirmed they are investigating 13 soldiers in connected with the allegations. According to reports on The Guardian, allegations that Chadian soldiers were also involved in the abuse are included in the leaked report.

/ Sally
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