Latest news with #AgnèsCallamard
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Amnesty International: 36 Alawite women abducted in Syria
Shafaq News – Damascus Dozens of Alawite women and girls have been abducted across central and coastal Syria in recent months, Amnesty International said on Monday, warning of growing fear and impunity as authorities fail to respond. The group documented eight cases since February across the provinces of Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama. Although families reported the incidents to the authorities, police and security forces have largely failed to investigate. In two instances, officials placed blame on the families, while only two victims were eventually released safely. Agnès Callamard, Amnesty 's Secretary-General, described the kidnappings as 'deeply unsettling for the Alawite community,' highlighting that women and girls now fear leaving their homes unaccompanied. She also urged Syrian authorities to step up efforts and prevent gender-based violence, further calling for swift, and impartial investigations into the abductions. Despite the scale of the violence, Amnesty spokesperson Yasser Arwanhan emphasized that Syrian authorities maintain they have received no reports of abducted girls. Tensions escalated in March, when sectarian violence erupted across Syria's coastal region, leaving approximately 1,700 people dead over three days—mostly Alawites—according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A government committee later recorded 1,426 victims. However, the Syrian government maintained these incidents were isolated, rejecting claims they were systematic or sectarian.
Irish Examiner
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Amnesty International chief slams 'fearmongering' after Ibec comments on Occupied Territories Bill
There has been 'fearmongering' in attempts by some bodies to 'derail' the introduction of the Occupied Territories Bill, the head of Amnesty International has said. The organisation's secretary general, Agnès Callamard, has praised the Irish Government for its plans to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Ms Callamard said the EU has 'betrayed its principles through its shameful decision not to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement'. 'The EU's refusal to take action to hold Israel accountable highlights the need for Ireland and other likeminded member states to urgently take unilateral or concerted steps to bring their actions in line with international law, which takes precedence over both EU and national law,' Ms Callamard said. 'Despite the fearmongering and efforts by certain parties to derail the bill, Ireland must stay firm in its convictions and commitment to justice." It comes after comments from the director general of Ibec, Danny McCoy, criticising the Government for introducing the bill, warning it is damaging Irish interests in countries like the US. 'We're not talking about millions here,' Mr McCoy said. 'This is not about actually helping in any material way. It's symbolism and moral positioning, and so on. However, with moral positions, you can also reveal hypocrisy.' Ms Callamard said passing the legislation would 'set a strong example' to other EU countries to unilaterally suspend co-operation with Israel. Ms Callamard said: It cannot be 'business as usual' while Palestinians are starved and slaughtered while seeking aid or under relentless Israeli attacks in Gaza, or killed and forcibly displaced by state-backed Israeli settler violence, devastating military operations and suffocating movement restrictions in the West Bank. 'From its own experiences of colonization, famine and conflict to its leading role in international efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, Ireland has repeatedly shown that it can stand up to bullies and consistently punched above its weight in global diplomacy.' The Oireachtas Justice Committee is currently undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Occupied Territories Bill, with witnesses appearing in recent weeks to discuss the proposed laws. There has been some criticism of the legislation for not going far enough, as it only deals with trade and not services. Read More
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
"Ireland will be leading the way for the rest of the world by adopting this bill"
Clip • 6 Mins • 17 JUL • Morning Ireland Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, explains why she feels Ireland must implement the Occupied Territories Bill.
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
No evidence of economic issues for Ireland with Occupied Territories Bill
Employers' group Ibec has been asked to present evidence following its warning that it would be "incredibly difficult" for businesses to implement a ban on services coming from the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Secretary General of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, said that Ireland is not putting itself at economic risk in the US by implementing a ban on goods and services coming from the Occupied Palestinian Territories, adding that there is more Ireland could do to sanction Israel for its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. She said that the latest information was that there is no evidence that the implementation of the Occupied Territories Bill will result in economic problems for Ireland. Ibec Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence Fergal O'Brien told the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade that services coming from the Occupied Palestinian Territories were "incredibly hard" to identify. Ms Callamard called on IBEC to present evidence following its warning. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said that at the moment, Israel has preferential treatment by the EU territory regarding trade. She said that this needed to be stopped, as Israel is violating the EU's own rules on human rights. "This issue is not about isolating or not Israel, rather the EU working according to its own rules and upholding the principles at the heart of the European Project. "Not one action has been taken to stop Israel. It is time to take action to protect people from complete annihilation, it is a genocide." She added that Ireland was showing leadership in this regard, but it must continue the process to adopt the Occupied Territories Bill. She said that this would allow Ireland to meet its international obligations under the ICJ ruling on trade with the Occupied Territories. "Ireland has shown repeatedly that it can stand up to bullies, and there is nothing else apart from bullying Ireland coming out of the US." She said that international law and the international system were being destroyed by a "bullying state" and that this was not acceptable.
The National
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Refusal to suspend EU-Israel deal ‘cruel and unlawful betrayal'
It comes as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday to decide whether to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, a trade and cooperation deal that gives Israel preferential access to the EU market. Member states were presented with 10 options, including: Full suspension of the agreement The EU suspension of its preferential trade and/or research pillars An arms embargo Sanctions on Israeli ministers Halting visa-free travel for Israeli citizens to the EU Banning trade with Israeli settlements However, none of the options gathered the necessary support during the meeting. Reacting to the decision, Amnesty International's secretary general Agnès Callamard said: 'The EU's refusal to suspend its agreement with Israel is a cruel and unlawful betrayal of the European project and vision, predicated on upholding international law and fighting authoritarian practices, of the European Union's own rules and of the human rights of Palestinians. READ MORE: Activists 'to defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts' at Edinburgh protest "This will be remembered as one of the most disgraceful moments in the EU's history." Callamard (below) said European leaders had been given the opportunity to take "a principled stand" against Israel's crimes, but instead gave it "a greenlight to continue its genocide in Gaza, its unlawful occupation of the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and its system of apartheid against Palestinians". Callamard added: 'The EU's own review has clearly found that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the terms of the Association Agreement. Yet, instead of taking measures to stop it and prevent their own complicity, member states chose to maintain a preferential trade deal over respecting their international obligations and saving Palestinian lives. 'This is more than political cowardice. Every time the EU fails to act, the risk of complicity in Israel's actions grows. This sends an extremely dangerous message to perpetrators of atrocity crimes that they will not only go unpunished but be rewarded. 'Victims are entitled to far more than empty words." Callamard urged member states to take action individually or unilaterally to suspend all forms of cooperation with Israel that may contribute to its violations of international law, including a comprehensive embargo on the export of arms and surveillance equipment and related technology, and a total ban on trade with, and investment in, Israel's illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
