News Highlights: EU adopts global human rights sanctions regime, UN’s new deal on access to Tigray, Agreement return unaccompanied minors to Morocco
11 Dec 2020

News Highlights: EU adopts global human rights sanctions regime, UN’s new deal on access to Tigray, Agreement return unaccompanied minors to Morocco

by | posted in: Africa, Eritrea, Ethiopia, European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Horn of Africa region, Human Trafficking, Migration, Protest, Refugee Camps, Refugees in the EU, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, UNHCR, United Nations, UNSC | 0

In this week’s news highlights: After UN security team was detained and fired at in Tigray, UN reaches new aid deal with Ethiopia; Soldiers in Eritrean uniforms seen in Tigray while Eritrean refugees flee from camps; Protests for peace in Tigray on Human Rights Day; US Army plans to dismantle troops in Somalia, after Ethiopia withdraws 3000 troops; Amnesty appeals for extension of current UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur; NGOs disappointed on human rights after France-Egypt meeting; EU adopts human rights sanctions regime; Agreement signed between France and Morocco on return of unaccompanied minors; 19 suspects detained in Italy in alleged human smuggling ring; Germany delays refugee resettlement until 2021; People in new Greek refugee camp at risk of lead poisoning; NGOs accused of smuggling for providing visas to Turkey; UNHCR data shows 80 million displaced people by mid-2020.

Experts state that COVID-19 and mobile money services have changed the modus operandi of criminal networks trafficking and smuggling people
2 Nov 2020

Experts state that COVID-19 and mobile money services have changed the modus operandi of criminal networks trafficking and smuggling people

by | posted in: Africa, COVID-19, Ethiopia, Horn of Africa region, Human Rights abuses, Human Trafficking, INTERPOL, Libya, Migration, mobile money services, Sudan, Trafficking | 0

A panel of experts on migration, human trafficking and smuggling, and the rise of mobile money services came together to discuss the changes they have seen emerging with the rise of COVID-19 and the growth of money mobile services within the criminal networks. However, the experts also agree that the pandemic presents a chance to reflect on the role of technology and the fight against human trafficking. The experts argue that protection should be key and that prosecution, in new and innovative ways, should focus on the quality of arrests, not quantity. Just as criminal groups take advantage of increased interconnectivity, so can the efforts taken to stop their exploitation.