The bill aims to make it easier to dismiss lawsuits known as Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are used to intimidate or silence critics, who are often activists and organizations raising awareness on a public interest issues ranging from the environment to human rights. Read more at C&SN News. (August 6)
Two U.S. organizations are conducting smear campaigns against charities and human rights groups that appear intended to shut down or limit humanitarian assistance, peacebuilding and human rights advocacy by or on behalf of Muslim communities. Read the C&SN Factsheet.
Dahlia Lithwick at Slate profiles the pro-Israeli legal activist David Abrams, and details his latest frivolous legal attack on the U.S. nonprofit, the New Israel Fund. (July 2)
David Abrams’ legal attack on the New Israel Fund could restrict freedom of speech, and undermine the work of nonprofit organizations promoting democracy around the world. Ron Kampeas writes at the Times of Israel. (August 5)
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic responded to critics who say an investigation into alleged money laundering and terrorism funding targets nonprofit organizations that have been critical of his policies. Read the full story at Radio Free Europe. (July 30)
Israel accused Islamic Relief of links to Hamas in 2014. Islamic Relief, which works in the most severe humanitarian crises in the world, says it has been “audited 500 times in the past 10 years,” and is yet to see any credible evidence of their wrongdoing. Oliver Holmes reports at The Guardian. (July 27)
Eric Rosand and Richmond Blake argue that national security professionals should look at the “defund the police” debate and ask the same questions of the global counterterrorism strategy, which has not led to a reduced global terrorism threat. Read more at The Hill. (August 3)
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), a co-sponsor of the Global Fragility Act, writes that the landmark peacebuilding bill will be critical in helping fragile states rebuild post-pandemic. Read more at The Hill. (August 4)
USAID blocked $73 million in aid, including COVID-19 relief funds, from being sent to areas controlled by Houthi rebels. Scott Paul of Oxfam America argues in Just Security that this contradicts humanitarian principles that USAID should respect. (July 22)
Without a broader diplomatic effort, the newest and toughest sanctions on Syria will worsen a humanitarian crisis without forcing a leadership change, experts say. Pranshu Verma and Vivian Yee report at The New York Times. (August 4)
Patrick Gaspard highlights that US sanctions exasperate the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, hurting ordinary people and entrenching power of those at the top. Read more at CNN. (July 23)