PHOTO OF THE MONTH – Tel Aviv, 18 February 2021: inauguration of the mobile vaccination site at the Jenia Bar in Dizengoff Square
Dear friend,
Let us start this monthly recap with its closing days, notably February 25th, when the Global Committee for the Rule of Law “Marco Pannella” and the Taipei Representative Office in Italy hosted an impressive panel of politicians and activists on the front-line in developing global awareness and effective counter-measures to dealing with the authoritarian threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party to human rights and the rule of law not only in China, but also abroad. The roundtable conference entitled “Recalibrating Multilateralism and Countering the Threat Within” made a series of concrete proposals to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights and the rule of law be at the center of a new multilateral effort. The full video of the conference is available on the website of Radio Radicale.
The importance of such active proposals was shown once again as February kicked off with a fresh blow in South-East Asia’s illusory calm when Myanmar’s military forces seized power declaring a state of emergency. Aung San Suu Kyi, the winner of November’s elections, appealed to the people to take to the streets. Western Governments unanimously condemned the coup was immediate, yet so is the increasingly violent repression on the streets of Myanmar. We stand with the people of Myanmar demanding that the rule of law and democratic institutions be restored and that political dialogue may start over again.
Our campaign for the recognition of the citizen’s right to know continues. The report and minutes on our draft resolution of the December 3rd hearing with Roberto Rampi, Paolo Reale, Claudio Radaelli e Laura Harth is now available in English and French on the website of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
We also took a look at initiatives concerning the Green Transition that Europe so eagerly desires. It is clear such a transition is not possible without a democratic transition. Investments in environmental protection provide a chance for a new model of development and growth, as well as an extraordinary opportunity to create new jobs, but also a decisive challenge for the current balance of power in the world. We need a green wave capable of transforming the New Silk Road into a new path of human rights, innovation and sustainability, rather than a mechanism of exporting the fruits of grave human rights violations.
Finally, on 19 February our Honorary Member Sen. Paul Strauss was interviewed by French newspaper Le Monde on Washington DC’s quest for statehood.
That is all for now. Please visit our website to catch up with the latest news.
Thank you for your support!
Asia Jane Leigh
Researcher