Back to Timor: doco on veterans' return
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As War Rages On In Ukraine, Organised Crime Is Taking New Forms
Since February 2022, both legal and illegal economies in Ukraine have been severely disrupted by the war. The report examines the evolution of organised crime structures in the country and focuses on six distinct areas: drug trafficking and production, online scams and fraud, arms trafficking, economic crime, trafficking in persons, and the facilitation of illegal exit and draft evasion. 'The war has not only inflicted untold suffering on the Ukrainian people, but has also triggered a marked evolution in organised crime – which can have profound implications for the country's journey towards recovery and reconstruction,' said Angela Me, Chief of Research and Analysis at UNODC. Drug trafficking While the trafficking of cocaine and heroin through Ukraine has decreased drastically since 2022, the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs such as cathinones and methadone have increased. The expansion of cathinone trafficking in recent years has been facilitated by the darknet, notably through market platforms such as Hydra, which was dismantled in April 2022. Regarding methadone, the report noted that most of the Ukrainian production is trafficked within the country and not abroad, as domestic demand for the drug is on the rise. Arms trafficking The war has also increased the availability of weapons in the country, notably due to a massive influx of arms from the battlefield. This surplus is resulting in a rise in arms seizures and violence among civilians, marked notably by an increase in domestic and intimate partner violence. Although there is no evidence to suggest large-scale arms trafficking outside Ukraine, UNODC highlighted the importance of monitoring the situation in light of the sheer number of weapons available and the historic regional presence of criminal actors specialising in arms trafficking. While there is, as of now, no evidence of drones being used in a non-military context, civilian drones and 3D-printed components for frontline attacks could fuel new illicit markets, the report found. Trafficking in persons As roughly 14 million people have been displaced by the war, some criminal groups have exploited these populations by luring them into shelters or accommodations disguised as humanitarian assistance providers, where they are subjected to forced labour. While intensified patrolling of the borders, paired with the near-complete closure of the eastern and north-eastern borders, has limited the smuggling of migrants through Ukraine, traffickers have instead turned to facilitating draft evasion by Ukrainian men. 'Curtailing organised crime is a key requirement for achieving sustainable peace, justice, national security and the protection of human rights,' said Matthias Schmale, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, as the global body stands ready to support the country in this critical work.
Scoop
7 hours ago
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Syria Crisis: Hundreds Killed In Ongoing Violence, Hospitals Overwhelmed
Briefing reporters in Geneva, UN human rights office, OHCHR, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani highlighted 'credible' reports of 'widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes' in the city of Suweida. 'Among the reported perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities as well as other armed elements from the area, including the Druze and Bedouin,' she said. Many hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of injured, the UN refugee agency UNHCR also noted. Forced to flee On Friday morning, OHCHR colleagues reported that clashes were continuing and that 'a lot of people are trying to flee or have fled the area', Ms. Shamdasani continued. The latest updates from the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, on Thursday indicated that nearly 2,000 families had been displaced from areas affected by the fighting. Hundreds have reportedly been killed since sectarian violence involving the Druze and Bedouin communities erupted on 12 July, triggering an intervention by Syrian security forces. OHCHR's Ms. Shamdasani highlighted an incident on 15 July in which at least 13 people were killed when 'armed individuals affiliated with the interim authorities deliberately opened fire at a family gathering'. Briefing an emergency meeting of the Security Council in New York on Thursday, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari also referenced reports of 'civilians, religious figures and detainees being subjected to extrajudicial executions and humiliating and degrading treatment'. He urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Rumours and fact-checking Ms. Shamdasani stressed that the UN human rights office has been trying to verify the information through 'contacts on the ground…families of people who were killed, eyewitnesses', but that obtaining reliable estimates of the death toll remains challenging. 'There are lots of videos circulating,' she said. 'Some claim to be fighters who are in the area filming the abuses and violations they're carrying out. We are trying to verify some of these videos, but there's a lot of disinformation out there and a lot of it is being used to incite further violence to inflame tensions.' The OHCHR spokesperson also expressed concern about reports of civilian casualties resulting from Israel's airstrikes on Suweida, Dara'a and central Damascus. 'Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects,' she warned, calling for the strikes to cease. Israel had launched the strikes pledging to protect the Druze community. The violence and displacement have sparked 'considerable' humanitarian needs, with the health and aid systems struggling to keep up, said William Spindler of the UN refugee agency UNCHR. 'Many of the hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have been injured in the recent fighting,' he said. According to OCHA, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has dispatched enough trauma and emergency surgery kits for 1,750 interventions to the area, but many 'remain undelivered due to access constraints'. Since the displaced had to flee at very short notice, they are in desperate need of essentials – blankets, jerry cans, solar lamps – but providing these items has been a challenge. Too risky to enter 'We have this in stock and we are ready to deliver them as soon as the security allows it,' Mr. Spindler said. 'For now, this has not been possible.' He also warned of water shortages due to electricity outages. He said people are unable to buy bottled water or food because of the insecurity. UNHCR has an office in rural Suweida and Mr. Spindler expressed concern about the impact of the hostilities on the agency's operations, infrastructure and personnel. 'We know that humanitarian infrastructure has been affected,' he said, describing an incident on 15 July in which a warehouse of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was severely damaged by shelling. The UNHCR spokesperson called on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian premises, personnel and assets 'in accordance with international humanitarian law'.
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7 hours ago
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Mandela's Legacy ‘is Now Our Responsibility', Guterres Says On International Day
In his remarks, the Secretary-General celebrated the extraordinary life of the South African civil rights icon, affectionately known by his Khosa clan name, Madiba. 'He endured the brutal weight of oppression, and emerged not with a vision of vengeance and division – but of reconciliation, peace and unity,' Mr. Guterres said. 'Today, Madiba's legacy is now our responsibility. We must carry forward his commitment to peace, justice and human dignity.' To honour this legacy, the UN chief awarded the annual Nelson Mandela Prize to two individuals who reflect the late leader's commitment to peace and collective action, and this year's theme of combating poverty and inequity: Brenda Reynolds of Canada and Kennedy Odede of Kenya. Brenda Reynolds: turning pain into action Brenda Reynolds is a Saulteaux member from Fishing Lake First Nation in Canada, and as a social worker she has spent decades advancing Indigenous rights, mental health and trauma-informed care. 'There are many parallels to what we had experienced in both our countries, where the governments made impacted policies to change who we are, to face oppression, to face violations of human rights in our countries,' Ms. Reynolds said in her acceptance speech. In 1988, she supported 17 teenage girls in the first residential school sexual abuse case in Saskatchewan. 'These charges were the beginning of other disclosures that came from across Canada from survivors speaking about their sexual abuse experiences. Those charges and the disclosures became the largest class action lawsuit to date in Canada,' known as Canada's Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, she explained. Afterwards, she became a special adviser to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and developed the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program – both created by the agreement – helping shape survivor support and trauma responses nationwide. Kennedy Odede: from slums to CEO After growing up in Kenya's Kibera Slum, Kennedy Odede went from living on the street to global recognition when he was named one of TIME magazine's 2024 100 Most Influential People and became a New York Times bestselling author. 'At ten years old, fleeing domestic violence, I joined the ranks of Nairobi's street children. One day I stole a mango because I was starving. A mob gathered to beat me dead, until a stranger stepped forward, paid for that mango, and in that single act of grace, showed me that kindness could interrupt cycles of violence,' Mr. Odede recounted in his acceptance speech. He began his journey as an activist by saving his meagre factory earnings to buy a soccer ball and bring his community together. 'That ball was not just for play; it was a tool for organising. A centre around which a community could form,' he said. This soon grew into Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), the largest grassroots movement in Kenya he now leads as CEO. SHOFCO operates across the country, empowering local groups and delivering vital services to over 4 million people annually. 'Mandela showed all of us at SHOFCO, that leadership is not a privilege reserved for those born to power. It belongs to anyone willing to serve and look within.'
