A peaceful, safe and just world for everyone is only possible if the rule of law prevails by Chatham House, Council of Europe, news agencies   3 Jan. 202   The United States has bombed Venezuela and abducted its President Nicolas Maduro.   Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured by US forces in a "large-scale" military strike on the South American nation. The pair are to be charged with with drug and weapons offences in New York, US officials say.   Journalist Vanessa Silva, who lives in the Venezuela capital Caracas, told the BBC that she heard huge explosions "stronger than thunder", causing her home to vibrate during the military attack. The Venezuelan government said the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira were also hit.   During a news conference, US President Donald Trump announced that the US would now “run” Venezuela and administer a political transition. He also announced plans to take over Venezuela’s oil business and sell “large amounts” of it to other countries, with the support of American energy companies who will be returning to Venezuela to control its oil infrastructure.   The developments came after months of escalation and threats by the Trump administration on the Venezuelan Government with a large scale military buildup in the Caribbean and a series of deadly missile attacks on "alleged" drug-running boats. The legality of the strikes, which has killed more than 100 people, has been criticised by the United Nations and international legal experts. Venezuelan oil exports have been blocked by US naval forces.   The governments of Spain, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay issued a joint statement:   "We express our profound concern and rejection of the military actions carried out unilaterally on Venezuelan territory, which contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition of the use and threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. These actions constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and put the civilian population at risk.   We reiterate that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively through peaceful means, by means of dialogue, negotiation, and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law. We reaffirm that only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic and sustainable solution that respects human dignity.   We reaffirm the character of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, built on mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and non-intervention, and we call for regional unity, beyond political differences, in the face of any action that jeopardises regional stability. We also urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Member States of the relevant multilateral mechanisms to use their good offices to contribute to de-escalating tensions and preserving regional peace.   We express our concern regarding any attempt at government control, administration, or external appropriation of natural or strategic resources, which is incompatible with international law and threatens the political, economic, and social stability of the region".   The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, said the “guiding framework” in the days ahead must be the UN Charter, which is not an “optional document”.   She said Article 2 clearly stipulates that all Member States, including the US, need to refrain from the “threat or use of force” against the territory or political independence of any other nation. “A peaceful, safe and just world for everyone is only possible if the rule of law prevails instead of might makes right,” she warned.   UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of full respect - by all - of international law, including the UN Charter. He said he was deeply alarmed by the recent escalation in Venezuela, culminating with United States military action in the country. “These developments constitute a dangerous precedent” .   In a joint statement, the 26 EU member States said the will of the Venezuelan people must be respected:   "The European Union recalls that, under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be upheld. Members of the United Nations Security Council have a particular responsibility to uphold those principles, as a pillar of the international security architecture".   "The EU has consistently advocated for a Venezuelan-led peaceful transition to democracy in the country, respectful of its sovereignty. The right of the Venezuelan people to determine their future must be respected".   Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has issued the following statement regarding the situation in Venezuela:   “Reports from Venezuela mark a moment of profound uncertainty for the Venezuelan people, and for international stability and security. This situation cannot be reduced to a binary choice between condemnation and support. It reveals a deeper shift in an emerging world order where force is normalised and law is weaponised.   “As a multilateral regional organisation dedicated to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, the Council of Europe considers that any use of force on the territory of another state raises serious questions under international law, including the core principles of the United Nations Charter of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference.   “The Council of Europe knows from its engagement on Ukraine how fragile international law becomes once the use of force is normalised. That is why consistency and credibility matter.   “A transition in Venezuela must be peaceful, democratic, and respectful of the will of the Venezuelan people. Democracy can prevail only if it is reclaimed by Venezuelans themselves, through an inclusive political process, credible elections, and the restoration of democratic institutions that command public trust.   “The risk today is a deepening of polarisation in Venezuela, across the region and globally between those who condemn a serious breach of international law and those who see it as justified. These fractures weaken the foundations of international security.   “Whether we call it regime change or foreign influence, too often different standards are applied, shaped by strategic interests or ideological proximity rather than by shared and consistent legal principles.   “International law is universal, or it is meaningless. Democracy is resilient when it is freely chosen, institutionally protected, and grounded in legality. A world governed by exceptions, double standards, or competing spheres of influence is a more dangerous world.”   The Danish prime minister has called on the US to stop “threatening” Greenland, after Donald Trump commented he “absolutely” needed the territory, one day after the US’s abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, the AFP news agency reported.   Trump has repeatedly said he wants Greenland to become an annexed part of the US. The US government’s intervention in Venezuela has reignited fears the US will do the same to Greenland.   “I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland,” Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement.   Members of the US Congress have demanded emergency legislative action to prevent the Trump administration from taking further military action in Venezuela after the president threatened a “second wave” of attacks and said the US will control the South American country’s government indefinitely.   Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said that “Congress should vote immediately on a War Powers Resolution to stop” President Donald Trump, whose administration has for months unlawfully bombed boats in international waters and threatened a direct military assault on Venezuela without lawmakers’ approval.   “Trump has no right to take us to war with Venezuela. This is reckless and illegal,” said Casar. “My entire life, politicians have been sending other people’s kids to die in reckless regime change wars. Enough. No new wars.”   Sen. Adam Schiff of California said “Congress must bring up a new War Powers Resolution and reassert its power to authorize force or to refuse to do so. We must speak for the American people who profoundly reject being dragged into new wars.”   US Democratic senator from Connecticut, Chris Murphy, also hit out at Trump, calling out his actions against Venezuela as being about oil and money rather than national security or drugs. In an interview with CNN's State of the Union, he criticised the US president's foreign policy and questioned the reasoning behind the attack on Venezuela.   "Venezuela is not a security threat to the United States, they're not threatening to invade us, there is no terrorist group like Al Qaeda operating there that has plans to attack the United States.. "This seems to be mostly about oil and natural resources.. Donald Trump's entire foreign policy is all about making money for his friends.. "Wall Street and the oil industry think they can make a lot of money off of Venezuela if they 'run' it.   You saw within hours of the invasion the announcement of a group of Wall Street investors and energy industry investors planning a trip to Venezuela to make money off of this invasion, off of this ouster.. "So unfortunately, once again you're seeing that this president's foreign policy … is about making his crowd rich and has nothing to do with American national security."   US secretary of state, Marco Rubio was asked by NBC News if the US will target the Cuban government next, Mr. Rubio said “the Cuban government is a huge problem” and when pressed on whether this remark meant yes, Rubio said: “I think they’re in a lot of trouble".   Reuters is quoting the US president as saying Colombia is run by a sick man and that he won’t be doing that for very long”. Donald Trump is also quoted as saying Operation Colombia “sounds good to me”. Mr. Trump is fond of provocative statements and threats.   http://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/01/us-capture-president-nicolas-maduro-and-attacks-venezuela-have-no-justification http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/statement-by-the-secretary-general-on-the-situation-in-venezuela http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/05/trump-military-action-venezuela-us
	Concerns over Myanmar's upcoming elections by UN Office for Human Rights, agencies   4 Dec 2025   Tanzania: UN experts condemn post-election lethal crackdown and digital blackout. (OHCHR)   UN human rights experts today condemned reported widespread and systematic human rights violations in Tanzania following the general elections on 29 October 2025, including allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and mass arbitrary detentions targeting protesters, opposition figures, and civil society across the country.   “The Government must provide information on the fate and whereabouts of all disappeared persons and ensure the identification and dignified return of the remains to their families,” the experts said. “All restrictions on media coverage must be lifted, as they are incompatible with Tanzania’s international obligations.”   The experts noted that elections proceeded amid long-standing concerns, including arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances of opposition figures, and legislative changes that undermined the fairness of the electoral framework. Leaders from the two main opposition parties were barred or disqualified from contesting, and in some cases detained or forcibly disappeared prior to the poll.   Following the elections, protests erupted across the country, particularly led by youth, against the ruling political party. The Government’s response was allegedly the immediate and lethal use of force against these protesters by security forces, including military and police personnel. The experts said that disturbing reports indicate officers were given orders to “shoot to kill” during an enforced curfew.   The experts noted that the number of people extrajudicially killed in the aftermath of the elections is estimated to be at least 700 individuals, with other estimates pointing to thousands of potential victims. They noted chilling reports on the disappearance of victims’ bodies from morgues, and allegations that human remains are being incinerated or buried in unidentified mass graves. Family members who identified remains were reportedly forced to sign false statements about the cause of death to receive the bodies.   Widespread arbitrary arrests and detentions of hundreds of protesters, human rights defenders and civil society activists followed the post-election protests, the experts noted. Many detained opposition leaders and protesters, that account for over 1,700 individuals, reportedly face serious offenses like treason, conspiracy to commit an offense, and armed robbery.   They expressed concern that the Directorate for Public Prosecutions applied the principle of nolle prosequi, which they considered will be an obstacle the due process.   The experts noted that a complete internet shutdown was imposed from 29 October to 3 November 2025, further compounding the crisis. “This blackout severely curtailed the ability of human rights defenders and journalists to carry out their work and document violations,” they said.   The experts also expressed alarm at reports of transnational repression, including extensive surveillance targeting human rights defenders and civil society organisations involved in monitoring the violations in neighboring countries.   They urged the Government of Tanzania to launch a prompt, impartial, independent, thorough, and effective investigation into all reported killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations.   The experts took note of the establishment of a commission of inquiry to inform the public and the international community about the causes of the protests and human rights violations.   “The new commission should be independent and make proposals to ensure accountability, justice and reparation, including guarantees of non-recurrence, and full participation of victims and civil society organisations,” they said.   Ahead of planned demonstrations on 9 December 2025, the experts called on Tanzanian authorities and security forces to prevent further violations and protect people’s right to peaceful assembly.   The experts are in contact with the Government on this issue and expressed their readiness to provide technical assistance to Tanzanian authorities.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/tanzania-un-experts-condemn-post-election-lethal-crackdown-and-digital http://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/08/tanzania-multilateral-engagement-is-key-to-preventing-a-further-deterioration-of http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/nov/18/tanzania-africa-governance-human-rights-tanzania-samia-suluhu-hassan-uganda-drc-rwanda-sudan   Dec. 2025   Concerns over Myanmar's upcoming elections   Next month some of the people of Myanmar will start voting in an election imposed by the junta. This military-controlled ballot will be conducted in an atmosphere rife with threats and violence putting the lives of civilians at risk.   The growing insecurity and the lack of measures to protect civilians raise serious concerns about the safety of voters who choose or are forced to participate.   These elections are also taking place in an environment in which the military is actively suppressing participation. Many major political parties are excluded and over 30,000 of the military’s political opponents, including members of the democratically elected government and political representatives, have been detained since 2021.   Discrimination also looms large in the electoral process, with Rohingya, Tamils, Gurkhas, and Chinese, among others, excluded from voting. Civil society and independent media have little to no voice. The military has stepped up mass electronic surveillance to identify dissidents, and there are fears this will be used at the polling stations.   Additionally, the military lacks control over large areas of the country and it will be unable to cover the entire country in a meaningful and representative manner. Some 56 townships, in which martial law declarations remain active, will be excluded. Some 31 townships in the first round will have no actual voting due to the absence of candidates.   Far from being a process that could spear-head a political transition from crisis to stability and the restoration of democratic, civilian rule, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk says this process seems nearly certain to further ingrain insecurity, fear and polarization throughout the country. The utmost priority must be to end the violence and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid.   Given the situation, it is also egregious for any State to forcibly return Myanmar nationals who had fled the country in fear. Against this backdrop of very serious human rights violations, the High Commissioner urges the United States to reconsider its plans to end its Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, programme with respect to Myanmar.   http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/12/myanmar-turk-warns-against-violence-and-intimidation-ahead-military http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2025/11/concerns-over-myanmars-upcoming-elections http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/myanmar-un-expert-urges-asean-not-step-backward-recognising-juntas-sham   Dec. 2025   Global Protest Tracker: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace   Anti-government protests flooded streets across the globe in 2025, from Sub-Saharan Africa to Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia. New demonstrations emerged in more than seventy countries.   Of those catalogued in Carnegie’s Global Protest Tracker, twenty-seven occurred in countries ranked “partly free” with respect to people’s access to political rights and civil liberties, twenty-six “free,” and seventeen “not free.”   Anger against government corruption fueled a sizeable portion of the protests catalogued in the Global Protest Tracker this year. The two other main triggers were antidemocratic overreach and economic hardship.   Specific corruption scandals or allegations sparked demonstrations in multiple regions. In March, North Macedonia erupted in protests condemning the alleged corruption and bribery that led to a deadly nightclub fire. Over 45,000 people in Spain took to the streets to criticize Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the various political and corruption scandals surrounding his administration. The persistent issue of corruption in the Gambia brought out protesters who demanded government accountability.   The Gen-Z protests in Nepal, which garnered significant media attention, were also spurred by issues of nepotism and corruption, and eventually led to Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli’s resignation. Around the same time, the Philippines saw Gen-Z protests against a corruption scandal involving the country’s flood control projects.   Other corruption-related protests were triggered less by specific scandals or allegations and more by simmering underlying public anger over corruption and other forms of government malfeasance.   Mongolia’s protests in May initially emerged to condemn the lavish spending of the son of Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, but they developed into a broader anti-corruption movement that ousted Oyun-Erdene. In Indonesia, Gen-Z protests against parliament members’ high salaries were partially driven by longstanding anger toward perceived government corruption.   Morocco’s Gen-Z protests were similarly fueled by anger over corruption, though they initially stemmed from Moroccans’ frustration over inappropriate government spending and the neglect of government services.   In Mexico, the death of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Alberto Manzo triggered nationwide demonstrations against corruption and violent crime. The ongoing protests in Serbia, which began in November 2024 over the Novi Sad train station roof collapse, evolved into anti-corruption protests and general protests against the government of President Aleksandar Vucic.   Antidemocratic overreach by governments, a major theme of protests in 2024, continued driving demonstrations this year. Anger over broad governmental claims to expanding power triggered many protests. In Indonesia, students and pro-democracy activists protested revisions to the nation’s military law, which permitted military officers to serve in civilian government posts and thus widened the military’s role in civilian affairs.   Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadéra’s bid for a third term in upcoming elections mobilized thousands who opposed his extended rule.   Mali experienced protests after the military junta extended its rule for another five years and dissolved all political parties. The removal of presidential term limits in Togo triggered deadly protests, led by Gen-Z and other activists angered by Faure Gnassingbe’s extended rule and concerned over the state of democracy in the country.   In Ukraine, thousands took to the streets over a law that they feared would undermine the independence of anti-corruption agencies by placing them under the supervision of the presidentially appointed prosecutor general.   Brazil’s “shielding” bill, which provided greater immunity to lawmakers, also prompted enraged citizens to demonstrate against its passage. The United States experienced multiple protests throughout the year against the authoritarian actions of President Donald Trump and his administration.   Governmental targeting of political opposition or civil society also pushed citizens to the streets in various places. Anger over attacks on internal dissenters or opposition figures triggered protests in Israel over the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, in Ivory Coast over the ban of opposition candidates in the 2025 presidential election, and in Turkiye over the arrests of various opposition figures (which have been ongoing since 2024).   Threats to civil rights and liberties prompted numerous demonstrations, such as those in Slovakia criticizing an NGO bill that held similarities to Russia’s foreign agent law, in the United Kingdom decrying a Supreme Court ruling against transgender rights, and in Hungary denouncing the ban against Pride demonstrations and criticizing a foreign funding bill that also resembled Russia’s foreign agent law.   Economic hardship also drove many demonstrations in 2025. Several countries experienced protests over unpopular austerity measures, including Belgium, Indonesia, France, Slovakia, Romania, and Argentina.   Frustrated by the ongoing economic struggles in their countries, demonstrators argued that the various reforms—which impacted pensions, education, and worker benefits—would only worsen the existing hardships. Demonstrators in other countries protested generally against high costs of living and Government imposed austerity measures often directed by international financial institutions and actors.   In Greece and Chile, workers demanded greater protections and living wages in the midst of cost of living pressures from their government. In Angola and Ecuador, increased fuel prices drove hundreds to thousands of protestors to the streets. Spain’s high rent prices, exacerbated by the region’s tourism boom, triggered large protests from residents who demanded government action in increasing affordable housing.   Some protests that began in 2024 sustained their momentum throughout 2025. The anti-corruption protests in Serbia and the election- and EU accession-related protests in Georgia have occurred almost daily since their emergence last year. Other protests, such as those in Turkiye against the arrest of opposition figures, in France and Belgium involving farmers and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, and in Israel against ultra-Orthodox conscription, continued intermittently throughout 2025 in response to major government actions. Protests against the Israeli government regarding the war in Gaza also continued to erupt every month across the globe, from Italy and Morocco to Malaysia and Australia.   Some observers have seized on the surge of youth-led protests in countries such as Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Peru, Timor-Leste, Madagascar, Morocco, and Mexico during the latter months of 2025 to put forward the idea of a rising global “Gen-Z movement.” Although this cluster of youth-led protest movements is significant, it is not a new trend.   Young people led numerous protests throughout the year, including in Serbia, Mongolia, and Togo, and more than twenty significant anti-government protests in 2024. Looking back even further, data from the Global Protest Tracker reveals that the rates of youth-led protests between 2017 to 2019 were similar or higher to the rate of youth-led protests in 2025. As such, while it is noteworthy that the 2025 Gen-Z protests have drawn inspiration from one another and united under common symbols it remains uncertain whether they will combine to constitute a substantially interconnected wave of protests.   http://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2025/12/global-protests-2025-genz-corruption-economy http://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/global-aid-dismantling-poses-existential-threat-collective-action-and-human http://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/thematic-reports/a80219-report-special-rapporteur-rights-freedom-peaceful-assembly-and
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