Successful Fundraiser focusing on Human Rights
More than sixty people gathered, in Belgravia's chic and exclusive Noura Lounge for a special fundraising dinner in aid of Bethlehem's Lajee Centre, to hear two distinguished speakers addressing the theme of State Impunity and the Rule of Law. As well as the informative talks, those attending enjoyed a sumptuous feast of Lebanese food, won fantastic raffle prizes, and swayed to the rhythms of live music.
In her welcome address, CEO, Soraya Boyd stressed Facilitate Global's keenness to support the vital work of the Lajee Centre which enables children from many neighbouring refugee camps to engage with creative and highly therapeutic activities, a much needed window into a semblance of 'normality' in the midst of a prolonged military occupation. Soraya thanked Facilitate Global team member Noor Mahmoud for organising the event and for her excellent organisational skills.
Clive Hambidge, Director, who spoke of the dangers ahead and reminded everyone that the rule of law must be seen to be done, introduced former Cabinet Minister and Human Rights Campaigner Claire Short who gave a compelling account on the development of Human Rights Law over the last century, against the backdrop of war.
Claire explained, that in the First World War about 8 million died, far more than the 1 million estimated from the current Iraq War. Even more deaths occurred immediately after the First World War when troops returned home, spreading an influenza epidemic that killed about 16 million people.
The peace that was sued for after WW1 was in some ways so hard on Germany that it lead to the rise of Nazism and the Second World War, which killed another 25 million souls. However, it did lead to the Nuremberg trials, and, the establishment of the United Nations.
However, according to Claire Short the UK's moral authority is in danger of being lost, because of its prosecution of the War in Iraq, even when it had received advice that it was illegal. The moral high ground could have been had by arresting Saddam Hussein and trying him at the Hague on behalf of the Iraqi people.
The failure to apply the same standard on Israel, and its occupation of Palestine, as were applied to Saddam with his unjustified invasion of Kuwait, however, undermines the authority of Human Rights Law and the West, particularly in the eyes of the Arab world.
This is unfortunate, as whilst the US may feel that it is above the law, the same is not true of the European Union, where surveys have shown that the majority of the public is on the side of the Palestinians.
With the threat of global warming, pressure on agriculture and resources, meaning that the burden will fall yet again on the poorest of the world, human rights legislation and action will be increasingly important.
Claire Short finished by saying that the UK had to regain the moral high ground and be a place where dictators would fear to tread, lest they suffer the same fate as Pinochet. This was applied to Pinochet successfully, thanks to the actions of a courageous Spanish judge, Baltasar Garzón.
Next to take the floor was Sir Geoffrey Bindman, acclaimed human rights lawyer. Sir Geoffrey spoke of how the rule of law has become the guiding force in international affairs, becoming truly enshrined in international law for the first time with the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and then backed up with UN conventions.
International Law has developed further with the trial of Radovan Karadzic at the ICJ. In the UK itself, at least legally speaking, we stand in a strong position. Anyone who has committed torture anywhere in the world can be arrested and tried in the UK. More recently, this was almost used against Tzipi Livni, the former Israeli Foreign Minister, over her role in the Gaza War and the atrocities committed. Whilst it was not possible to be carried out on that occasion, as she had not actually been present in the UK, when the arrest warrant was filed, it did cause great attention to the issue of international jurisdiction.
Sir Geoffrey finished by saying the situation should be that those who commit crimes against humanity should know no hiding place, least of all in the UK.
John McNally, Director, brought the event to a close encouraging participants to use the democratic rights they enjoyed in the UK, not just to vote, but to lend their voices to those in the world that did not have them, by writing to the media, their MPs and key influencers with their concerns on human rights abuses.
