Top stories from DAWNS Digest.
Amnesty International Seeks George W. Bush’s Arrest in Africa
George W. Bush is visiting a few African countries in a bid to raise awareness about cervical and breast cancer. If Amnesty International had its way, he’d be greeted with handcuffs as soon as he set foot in one of the three countries he is visiting. “Amnesty International urges the governments of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia to arrest former US President George W. Bush, during his expected visit to the region between 1 and 5 December 2011, for crimes under international law. Amnesty International considers that there is enough evidence in the public domain, from US authorities and from George W. Bush himself, to trigger requirements for Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia to investigate his alleged involvement in and responsibility for torture, and to secure his presence during the investigation. “All countries to which George W. Bush travels have an obligation to bring him to justice for his role in torture,” said Matt Pollard, Senior Legal Adviser.” (Amnesty International http://bit.ly/uJtcoK)
Syria In the Hot Seat at the Human Rights Council
The top UN human rights official is asking the Human Rights Council to recommend that crimes against humanity in Syria be referred to the International Criminal Court. The Council meets in Geneva today for an emergency session on Syria. “‘In light of the manifest failure of the Syrian authorities to protect their citizens, the international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people,’” Pillay told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. A draft resolution backed by African, European, Asian, Arab and American members of the 47-nation rights council calls for the establishment of a special investigator on Syria, but leaves open the issue of whether the Security Council, the U.N.’s most powerful arm, should refer the country to the ICC.” (WaPo http://wapo.st/rVSldF)
How Diplomats Deliver Bad News: “The likelihood of a pessimistic scenario is increasingly likely.”
That’s how a UN official describes a distressing new global economic forecast. “The United Nations sharply cut its economic projections for global growth on Thursday and said that the world is at risk of a new recession. The U.N.’s report on the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2012 forecasts 2.6 percent growth next year in its main, relatively optimistic scenario — and just 0.5 percent growth in its pessimistic scenario. That’s significantly below its May forecast that the global economy would grow 3.6 percent in 2012. “Following two years of anemic and uneven recovery from the global financial crisis, the world economy is teetering on the brink of another major downturn,” the report said. At a news conference launching the report, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Jomo Sundaram said that “unfortunately, the likelihood of a pessimistic scenario is increasingly likely.’” (WaPo http://wapo.st/sobZSI)