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Bi-weekly News and Opinion Roundup - April 16, 2020

New from C&SN

U.S. Treasury, FATF Support Financial Access for Nonprofits Battling COVID-19 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both the U.S. Department of Treasury and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued statements that emphasize the urgent need for aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . Both are calling for a “risk-based approach” to AML/CFT measures, in order avoid hindering the efforts of legitimate humanitarian organizations. Read the full story at C&SN News . (April 14)

Featured Resource

COVID-19 and the Impact on Local Peacebuilding Recently, Peace Direct convened more than 450 peacebuilders from around the world in online consultations to discuss how the current COVID-19 crisis is impacting their work, changing their needs, and shaping their perspective. Their latest report shares the key findings from the consultations, as well as recommendations from peacebuilders from around the world. Relief Web shares the full report. (April 10)  Afghanistan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (March 2020)   The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs provides a summary of data detailing key obstacles and challenges for humanitarian organizations working in Afghanistan. Find the snapshot at Relief Web . (April 14)

Counterterrorism

Like After 9/11, Governments Could Use Coronavirus to Permanently Roll Back Our Civil Liberties   Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic is reminiscent of the measures to combat terrorism post-9/11. As a result, experts are concerned that some of the measures meant to battle the virus could lay the groundwork for a series of policies that threaten human rights over the long-term. Gissou Nia reports at The Independent . (April 9)  UN Counter-Terrorism Negotiations During COVID: Time for a Rethink Although many high-level meetings at the U.N. have been canceled due to the pandemic, strategic talks on global counterterrorism are continuing, raising concerns that civil society may be left out of the discussion. It is argued that the counterterrorism strategy talks be postponed in order to reassess the framework in the post-COVID world and include a larger group. Jordan Street and Christopher Rogers report at Just Security . (April 9) Counterterrorism and Humanitarian Action: Will 2020 Be a Turning Point for International Humanitarian Law at the United Nations? A debate is emerging at the United Nations: Can and should a counterterrorism body authoritatively and authentically interpret and assess compliance with international humanitarian law, the principal body of law regulating armed conflicts? Dustin A. Lewis and Naz K. Modirzadeh provide analysis at Lawfare . (March 31) COVID-19 Empowers & Creates Tyrants Throughout the world, government leaders are taking drastic measures in an attempt to control the effects of the coronavirus pandemic . However, a common concern is arising: will the temporary measures taken by leaders to fight the disease be rolled back, or will they lay a foundation for new authoritarian rule? Charlotte Robinson analyzes the trend in her podcast, listen to it on Out Take . (April 2) FBI Opened Terrorism Investigations Into Nonviolent Palestinian Solidarity Group, Documents Reveal In this investigative report, FBI documents reveal that the International Solidarity Movement was under investigation by the federal government for potential terrorism ties - as were other groups making nonviolent objections to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Chip Gibbons reports at The Intercept . (April 5)

Civil Society

Colombia: Security Council Hears of ‘Epidemic of Violence’ Against Civil Society and Ex-Combatants While political actors in Colombia are uniting to confront COVID-19, they must also work together to fight “the epidemic of violence” against civil society leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants. Read the full story at UN News . (April 14) Impact of COVID-19 Containment Measures on Human Rights and Civil Liberties in the Middle East  COVID-19 cases in the MENA region have led governments to institute containment and other measures to slow the spread of coronavirus . These measures have especially targeted some of the most vulnerable groups, including human rights defenders in prison, migrant workers, and independent media. Khalid Ibrahim writes at Global Voices . (April 8) Jewish National Fund Joins Campaign to Quash Palestine Advocacy in the U.S. A lawsuit against a U.S.-based Palestinian rights group is part of a strategy aimed at diverting activists' resources away from challenging Israeli policies. Following a series of disinformation campaigns and lawfare attacks on organizations working in Palestine, Alex Kane argues these attacks are part of a coordinated effort at +972 Magazine . (April 6)

FARA

Beware, Lobbyists: The Future of FARA Under a Biden Presidency Under the Trump administration, registration of foreign agents under the Foreign Agent Registration Act spiked as the government tightened regulation on lobbyists tied to foreign countries. If Joe Biden becomes president early next year, that trend will almost certainly continue. Casey Michel argues at Just Security . (April 10)

Humanitarian Access

Yemeni Groups and INGOs Renew Call for Pause in USAID Suspension to Fight Covid-19 in Yemen Over two weeks since USAID suspended aid in northern Yemen, aid groups are renewing their call for the major donor to reconsider its decision, especially in light of the now-confirmed threat of Covid-19 in the country. Read the full story at Norwegian Refugee Council . (April 15)  Pandemic Hits Aid Work in Sub-Saharan Africa Desperately needed aid for millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa is under threat as the deadly coronavirus pandemic sweeps a continent already facing a series of other crises. Social distancing measures and border closures are preventing workers from distributing aid. Find out more at Manila Bulletin . (April 11)

Sanctions

The Humanitarian Aid Allowed Under US Sanctions Regime Mario Mancuso and Anthony Rapa provide an overview of the humanitarian relief activities that are authorized under the most sweeping U.S. sanctions programs currently in force — specifically, those targeting Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea and the Crimea region of Ukraine. Read the report at Law 360 . (April 14) Fact Sheet: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Trade to Combat COVID-19 The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a fact sheet highlighting the most relevant exemptions, exceptions, and authorizations for humanitarian assistance and trade under the Iran , Venezuela , North Korea , Syria , Cuba , and Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions programs. Find the fact sheet at U.S. Treasury . (April 16)

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