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	Help reform the law on genocide in the United Kingdom by the Aegis Trust   Oct 2009   Last week the British Government announced details of how it will strengthen UK law on genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The effect of the reforms will be to allow for the prosecution in the UK of suspects who committed crimes in the conflicts of the 1990s - such as Rwandan génocidaires, Sudanese militia from Darfur, or war criminals from the former Yugoslavia.   This announcement follows a year-long campaign led by Aegis with allies in the House of Lords, among key MPs, other NGOs and many senior legal figures. Many Aegis supporters wrote to their Members of Parliament about this issue.   Second, this week the British Government announced it would no longer send non-Arab Darfuri failed asylum seekers back to Khartoum. This follows a three year campaign by Waging Peace, Aegis Trust and ongoing representations by the UNHCR about the threat faced by non-Arab Darfuris in the Sudanese capital.   Aegis Trust last year conducted an undercover investigation in Khartoum garnering evidence that returned Darfuri asylum seekers had been interrogated and tortured. The findings of the investigation formed part of the evidence in the Sudan Country Guidance Case which helped to change Government policy. Aegis would also like to thank the many supporters who wrote to their Members of Parliament on this issue.   Aug 2009   On 7th July 2009, after a concerted campaign by the Aegis Trust supported by thousands of individuals, the UK Government announced it will change the law governing the prosecution of those who commit mass atrocities.   Despite this positive development work still needs to be done to ensure that the UK ceases to be a haven for perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.   In its proposed form the new law will allow for the prosecution of individuals who are "resident" in the UK. Whilst an improvement, the new law would allow those credibly suspected of having committed mass atrocities to visit the UK for business, pleasure or onward travel without fear of being brought to justice.   In order to secure justice for the victims of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity any new law must require only "presence" on UK soil.   Send an email to your MP calling on them to urge the Government to amend the proposed legislation to allow for the prosecution of those found "present" rather than "resident" in the UK. Visit the related web page
	Economic, social and cultural rights by Amnesty International   Billions of women, men and children face levels of deprivation that undermine the right to live with dignity. Hunger, homelessness and preventable diseases are not inevitable social problems or simply the result of natural disasters – they are a violation of people’s economic, social and cultural rights.   Access to justice is an essential right of victims of all human rights violations, but many people around the world, particularly those living in poverty and other marginalized groups, have their rights violated on a daily basis and too often are denied justice when they try to challenge these violations.   In many countries, economic, social and cultural rights are not recognized or enforceable by law. Existing remedies may also be ineffective in providing reparation, including compensation, rehabilitation and restitution to victims or inadequately enforced.   Amnesty International is therefore campaigning to strengthen the legal enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights under the Demand Dignity campaign.   In December 2008, the UN General Assembly adopted the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Optional Protocol) and began to rectify historic imbalances in the universal protection of economic, social and cultural rights.   The Optional Protocol establishes an international mechanism for individuals whose economic, social and cultural rights are violated and who are denied a domestic remedy to seek justice at the international level. Amnesty International in partnership with the NGO Coalition for an Optional Protocol is calling on all UN member states to ensure that access to justice and the right to an effective remedy become a reality for all victims of human rights violations.   In particular, we are asking all States to become a party to the Optional Protocol when it opens for signature on September 24, 2009; to ensure that it enters into force as soon as possible; and to take all necessary steps to fully implement the Optional Protocol without delay. Visit the related web page
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