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	German court hands down historic Syrian torture verdict by Deutsche Welle, Fidh, Redress, agencies   Feb. 2021   A former member of the Syrian secret police has been sentenced to 4.5 years in prison for being an accomplice to crimes against humanity in his homeland. The trial in Koblenz is the first of its kind worldwide.   A German court has sentenced former Syrian secret service agent Eyad A. to four-and-a-half years in prison on charges of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity.   The 44-year-old is accused of rounding up people following anti-government demonstrations in the Syrian city of Douma in 2011 and delivering them to a detention center where they were tortured.   The verdict in the western German city of Koblenz marks the first time a court outside Syria has ruled on state-sponsored torture by the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Human rights campaigners hope the decision will set a precedent for other cases.   Prosecutors alleged Eyad A. had taken at least 30 anti-government protesters to a secret prison near Damascus known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, to be tortured in 2011. The 44-year-old was working for the Syrian secret services at the time.   Prosecutors were seeking a five-and-a-half year prison sentence. The defense pleaded for acquittal, arguing that the accused could have been killed had he not followed orders.   The defense also said that while Eyad A. had helped detain people protesting against the Syrian regime, he did not ultimately carry out his superior's orders to shoot them.   Eyad A. defected in 2012 and fled Syria a year later. After spending time in Turkey and Greece, he arrived in Germany in 2018 where he was recognized by his alleged victims, several of whom had come to Germany as refugees.   He was arrested in 2019, along with a more senior ex-Syrian official, Anwar R., who is also on trial in Koblenz.   In bringing the case, German prosecutors invoked the principle of universal jurisdiction in international law, which allows war crimes committed by foreigners to be prosecuted in other countries.   During 10 months of hearings, more than a dozen Syrian men and women testified about the appalling abuses they endured in the Al Khatib detention center.   The court also reviewed thousands of photographs that were smuggled out of Syria by a police officer, showing alleged victims of torture.   "This momentous decision, through the efforts of incredible Syrians, is the beginning of a path to fuller justice in Syria," Sara Kayyali, Syrian researcher with Human Rights Watch, said on Twitter.   Amnesty International's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Lynn Maalouf, urged other countries to follow Germany's example by investigating and prosecuting individuals suspected of war crimes.   "Today's historic verdict is a resounding victory for the tens of thousands of Syrian torture survivors and victims of enforced disappearance," she said.   "It also sends a clear message to the Syrian government that those responsible for horrific violations will be brought to justice."   DW reporter Matthias von Hein said it was clear the case was not just about Eyad A.   The judge, Anne Kerber, "talked at great length about the system of torture in Syria as a system of oppression, the system that Bashar Assad had installed to keep his iron grip on the country," von Hein said. "That's what's on trial here today."   He added that such a courtcase would have ideally been held in Syria itself, "but that's not possible because the perpetrators — the main perpetrators — are still in charge there."   Second suspect on trial   The trial of Anwar R. is still ongoing and is expected to last until October. The 58-year-old was one of Eyad A.'s superiors, and was also arrested in Germany in 2019.   He is facing charges of crimes against humanity for overseeing the abuse of prisoners at the Al Khatib detention center between 2011 and 2012. He stands accused of supervising the torture of at least 4,000 prisoners, resulting in the deaths of at least 58 people.   * Editor's note: DW follows the German press code, which encourages protecting the privacy of suspected criminals or victims and refraining from publishing full names in such cases.   http://www.dw.com/en/german-court-hands-down-historic-syrian-torture-verdict/a-56670243 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/24/germany-convicts-former-assad-regime-agent-in-historic-syria-torture-verdict http://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/germany-syria-conviction-of-syrian-official-for-crimes-against-humanity-a-historic-victory-for-justice/ http://www.hrw.org/news/2021/02/23/german-court-issue-first-verdict-syria-torture-trial http://www.hrw.org/report/2015/12/16/if-dead-could-speak/mass-deaths-and-torture-syrias-detention-facilities http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/IICISyria/Pages/Detention-report.aspx http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/iicisyria/pages/independentinternationalcommission.aspx   Oct. 2020   EU must eliminate barriers to justice for victims of serious International Crimes   Today, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), ECCHR and REDRESS are releasing the report, “Breaking Down Barriers: Access to Justice in Europe for Victims of International Crimes” that analyses the situation of victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, torture and enforced disappearance.   While the report highlights important advances in recent years, it concludes that victims still face many barriers that limit the exercise of their rights and prevent them from effectively participating in proceedings.   Building on emerging best practices in five member states of the European Union, the report provides a roadmap for improving victims’ access to information, protection and support.   Faced with perpetrators of serious international crimes attempting to escape justice within the European Union (EU), as well the complicity of EU nationals in such crimes, the EU has made the fight against impunity one of its priorities.   As a result, a number of member states have created specialised units to identify, investigate and prosecute potential perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, torture and enforced disappearance. Many such units have also taken steps to address the rights and needs of victims of these crimes.   While the EU is working to improve the position of victims of crime within the Union, victims of serious international crimes are often left behind. As such, they still face many barriers that limit the exercise of their rights to information, effective participation, protection and psycho-social support, as well as reparation.   Mansour Omari, a Syrian human rights defender who has contributed to efforts to hold the Syrian regime accountable for its crimes, explained: “Empowering victims allows them to play a more effective role towards an inclusive and realistic approach to justice. As a survivor of torture, I encourage European authorities to reflect on how they can better incorporate victims’ needs and wishes into their efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.”   Barriers to exercising victims’ rights often reflect the inherent difficulties in investigating and prosecuting international crimes at the domestic level.   In particular, providing protection to victims who continue to live in conflict areas or situations of ongoing insecurity is challenging.   But other barriers—such as the right to challenge a decision not to prosecute and access to full and effective reparation—stem from failures by EU member states to implement their obligations, or from specific policy decisions that effectively restrict access to certain rights in such cases.   The 130-page report is the culmination of two years of research and consultations with 140 investigators, prosecutors, victims’ advocates and other experts and contains detailed analysis of the practices of specialised units in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.   However, the findings and recommendations are of broader relevance: both to other countries investigating and prosecuting international crimes, as well as policy makers working to implement the EU’s victims’ rights strategy, a five-year plan adopted in June 2020.   http://www.fidh.org/en/issues/international-justice/report-eu-must-eliminate-barriers-to-justice-for-victims-of-serious Visit the related web page
	Abducted girls released in northwest Nigeria, as fresh attacks rock country’s northeast by Unicef, GCPEA, agencies Nigeria   2 Mar. 2021   Abducted girls released in northwest Nigeria, as fresh attacks rock country’s northeast. (UN News)   While the release of more than 270 girls abducted from their school on Friday in northwest Nigeria is a welcome development said senior UN officials there on Tuesday, civilians and aid facilities have come under attack in the country’s northeast, highlighting the plight of civilians who have suffered years of conflict and insecurity.   Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, denounced the attack, in Dikwa, in restive Borno state, which started late on Monday (local time).“As information is still coming through, I am outraged to hear the premises of several aid agencies and a hospital were reportedly set ablaze or sustained damage”, he said in a statement.   “Civilians and aid workers, their facilities and assets should never be a target. They must be protected and respected at all times”, Mr. Kallon added, calling on all armed groups to immediately stop the violence.   The UN official also voiced deep concerns for the safety and security of thousands of residents of Dikwa, including internally displaced persons living inside and outside camps as well as those who had returned to the community to rebuild their lives after years in displacement.   The town of Dikwa, which is about 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the provincial capital Maiduguri, is a key transit location, serving as a gateway to Bama, Ngala, Mafa and Marte local government areas.   “The attack will affect the support provided to nearly 100,000 people who are desperately in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic risks spreading in Borno state”, he added.   Northern Nigeria has been in the grip of a Boko Haram extremist insurgency for over a decade, which has led to widespread displacement as well as skyrocketing levels of hunger and malnutrition.   The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed relief at the reported release of over 200 girls abducted in an attack on their school in Jangebe in Zamfara state, northwest Nigeria, in the early hours of Friday.   “While we rejoice at the release of the schoolgirls and look forward to their safe return to their families, we reiterate that attacks on students and schools are not only reprehensible but a violation of the right of children to an education”, Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, said in a statement. “It is a right that any society can ill-afford to violate”, he stressed.   Mr. Hawkins called on the authorities to “take all measures” to protect schools in the country so that children will not be fearful of going to school, and parents afraid of sending their children to class.   Meanwhile, violence continues to drive fresh displacement in Nigeria’s northwest, including thousands who fled to neighbouring Niger, into areas where violence is also on the rise, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday.   “UNHCR teams in Niger have recorded a spike in deadly violence inside Maradi itself, with more casualties and serious incidents reported in January and February 2021 than in the second half 2020”, Boris Cheshirkov, UNHCR spokesperson, said at a regular media briefing in Geneva.   Over 7,660 Nigerian refugees arrived in Niger’s Maradi this year, bringing the total to nearly 100,000 displaced, including Niger citizens displaced within their country, he added.   Those fleeing described “gruesome murders, kidnappings for ransom, and looted villages”, Mr. Cheshirkov said, noting that many were also caught up in clashes between farmers and herders, as well as vigilantism, with self-defence groups set up in most villages.   “People fleeing are in urgent need of water, food, shelter, and health services. Most have fled empty handed in the rush to save their lives”, he added.   Responding to the situation, UNHCR is providing life-saving assistance and protection and has scaled up border monitoring activities. The agency has also supported relocation of over 11,000 refugees away from the border to villages, with better facilities such as water, health and sanitation. http://bit.ly/3rctWdM   26 Feb. 2021   UNICEF today expressed concern at reports of an overnight attack at the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, north-west Nigeria, where an unconfirmed number of schoolgirls were kidnapped.   “We are angered and saddened and by yet another brutal attack on schoolchildren in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria.   “This is a gross violation of children’s rights and a horrific experience for children to go through – one which could have long-lasting effects on their mental health and well-being. We utterly condemn the attack and call on those responsible to release the girls immediately and for the government to take steps to ensure their safe release and the safety of all other schoolchildren in Nigeria.”   “Children should feel safe at home and at school at all times – and parents should not need to worry for the safety of their children when they send them off to school in the morning,” said Peter Hawkins.   “UNICEF acknowledges efforts being made by the Government of Nigeria to secure the release of kidnapped schoolchildren in Nigeria and calls on the government and all concerned to make schools safe in Nigeria.”   The school attack comes just over a week after a similar attack in Niger State on a school for boys. UNICEF is working with partners to confirm the exact number of kidnapped students, currently estimated to be more than 300.   http://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085822 http://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-peter-hawkins-unicef-nigeria-representative-school-attack-zamfara-state   Feb. 26, 2021 (Premium Times/GCPEA)   Armed men attacked the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday morning.   The Zamfara State Government has confirmed the abduction of schoolgirls from a secondary school in the state.   PREMIUM TIMES reported the attack by armed men on the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday morning.   Zailani Bappa, the spokesperson to the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, told PREMIUM TIMES Friday morning that the exact number of students kidnapped has not been ascertained.   He said the state government is working with security operatives to ascertain the details of the kidnap and ensure the kidnapped victims are freed.   A teacher in the school had told the BBC Hausa that about 300 female students were kidnapped.   The latest incident in Zamfara adds to the growing insecurity around the country.   The attack occurs about 10 dayd after over 40 students, staff members and parents were abducted by armed bandits from a school in Niger State. Those abducted in Niger were yet to be released at the time of this report.   Zamfara, in Northwest Nigeria, is one of the states most affected by bandits’ attacks. The attacks have continued despite negotiations initiated by the state government with the bandits. The state government has repeatedly announced that many bandits had surrendered their arms and agreed to amnesty offered by the state government.   http://protectingeducation.org/news/zamfara-govt-confirms-abduction-of-schoolgirls/ http://protectingeducation.org/ http://eua2020.protectingeducation.org/ Visit the related web page
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