The Zachor Legal Institute sent a letter to the Department of Justice calling for a criminal investigation of Black Lives Matter and other groups, claiming they are “fronts” and “affiliates” of three Palestinian organizations designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the Secretary of State. Read the full story atC&SN News. (July 23)
Nonprofits that have been inhibited in their work due to national security laws and policies could see some positive developments in proposed amendments to the NDAA. Read more atC&SN News. (July 22)
In each of the countries we profile, we outline the pressing humanitarian needs, listed terrorist groups, what NPOs need to know to navigate these contexts, and how C&SN’s work is addressing the security challenges nonprofits face at a policy level. Dive deep into our updated interactive map and learn more.
U.N. Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin argues that excessive counterterrorism measures have strangled the capacity of civil society and humanitarian organizations to operate and address COVID 19. Read more at Just Security. (July 10)
Civil society called on the U.N. to urgently adopt an approach to counterterrorism that is centered on people, peacebuilding, humanitarianism, and respect for human rights. Unfortunately, these calls have been ignored. Yasmine Ahmed writes at Just Security. (July 9)
Anna Meier at Lawfare writes that U.S. terrorist designations typically “signal what kinds of political connections are unacceptable to the U.S. government - and preserves this categorization as much as possible as public sentiment shifts.” (July 19)
Eric Rosand at the Brookings Institute argues that the Trump administration has “inflicted considerable damage to the international rules-based system that was designed after World War II to address complex global challenges, a system that America helped create and has clearly benefited from.” (July 20)
The Commission on Human Rights has urged the Philippines’ president to look into the provisions of the Anti-Terror Act and consider its implications on people’s fundamental rights and freedoms. Czarina Nicole Ong Ki reports at Manila Bulletin. (July 15)
The U.N. Security Council agreed to a trimmed down cross-border aid operation from Turkey into northwest Syria, after pressure from Russia and China threatened to totally sever the lifeline. Margaret Besheer reports at VOA. (July 11)
140 participants from 39 countries shared how the U.S. government can best engage local partners, overcome barriers to engagement, and support local peacebuilders in creating long-term peace. Read the report from Alliance for Peacebuilding. (July 9)
Sana Sekkarie argues at Just Security that the hardships endured by Syrian civilians are due to Syrian government choices, not sanctions, and that the new U.S. Caesar sanctions have clear humanitarian safeguards. (July 21)
