The violence erupted two days after a Druze service provider was kidnapped on the freeway to Damascus.
The incident marks the most recent episode of sectarian bloodshed in Syria, the place fears amongst minority teams have surged since Islamist rebels toppled former dictator Bashar al-Assad in December and put in a brand new caretaker Authorities, which is gaining rising worldwide recognition.
These focused embrace the Druze sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam.
UN voices ‘deep concern’
On Monday, UN Deputy Particular Envoy for Syria, Najat Rochdi, expressed “deep concern” over these stories and urged authorities and stakeholders to “take quick steps to guard civilians, restore calm and stop incitement.”
She additionally underscored the necessity for inclusion, trust-building and significant dialogue to advance a reputable and inclusive political transition in Syria.
UN human rights chief says ‘knowledge’ of Indigenous Peoples wanted in local weather change, digital coverage upgrades
The UN human rights chief spoke at a high-level political discussion board on the rights of Indigenous Peoples on Monday.
Underscoring how essential such boards are to advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Volker Türk highlighted developments in Colombia, Finland and Guatemala which have given them extra self-determination.
However regardless of these advances, violations in opposition to Indigenous Peoples’ rights proceed.
Many nonetheless lack formal land recognition, whereas mining exercise, deforestation and large-scale agricultural growth typically trigger environmental destruction.
Indigenous Peoples additionally expertise immense discrimination and face the brunt of local weather chaos, Mr. Türk careworn.
Toll on activists
Moreover, knowledge from the human rights workplace reveals that 26 per cent of rights activists killed in 2023 and 2024 had been Indigenous, largely within the Americas.
Moreover, states are utilizing AI in ways in which hurt Indigenous Peoples by surveillance, knowledge exploitation and exclusion from decision-making. Türk thus referred to as for human rights-based approaches that uphold Indigenous knowledge sovereignty and self-determination.
The Excessive Commissioner additionally referred to as for future insurance policies on local weather, digital applied sciences and different areas to “mirror the knowledge and expertise of Indigenous Peoples.”
“This isn’t solely important to respect and fulfil the human rights of Indigenous Peoples,” he concluded. “There’s rising recognition that the concepts and approaches of Indigenous Peoples maintain vital classes for all of us.”
Guterres welcomes step ahead in securing digital expertise worldwide
The UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday, welcomed the adoption by consensus of the UN Open Ended Working Group on Information and Communication Technologies.
It was established in 2020 with a five-year mandate to advertise common institutional dialogue and initiatives targeted on preserving digital applied sciences protected and safe.
The Secretary-Normal welcomed the Final Report of 10 July, which summed up the previous 5 years of negotiations, stated an announcement issued by his Spokesperson.
It displays shared views on present and rising threats, accountable authorities insurance policies, worldwide regulation, norms and efforts comparable to confidence-building and capability growth.
Name for cooperation
It additionally establishes a everlasting mechanism to proceed discussions about accountable State behaviour in the usage of data and communications applied sciences, which the Secretary Normal significantly appreciated.
“The Secretary-Normal now calls upon all States to work collectively by the International Mechanism to sort out digital dangers and guarantee these applied sciences are leveraged for good,” the assertion stated.
The Secretary Normal congratulated the group on its accomplishments, saying the consensus adoption “demonstrates that even in essentially the most difficult worldwide safety setting, collective motion remains to be doable.”
