The following media round up on international and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period of 23 December to 29 December 2024.
Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.
27 December 2024
Calls for international maritime law to be updated to protect undersea infrastructure
The Estonian Justice Minister stated that centuries-old international maritime law needs to be updated to outlaw damage to undersea infrastructure such as cables and pipelines, after cables connecting it to Finland were again damaged this week.
Finnish authorities seized a ship carrying Russian oil in the Baltic Sea on suspicion it caused the outage of an undersea power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, and that it also damaged or broke four internet lines. Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta indicated that bringing clarity to the legislation on how countries are to deal with cases of underwater damage would “minimise” the possibility of any disputes ending up in an international court.
26 December 2024
UN chief condemns escalation in Yemen as airstrikes hit Sana’a Airport
The UN Secretary-General condemned the deadly escalation between Yemen and Israel, following Israeli airstrikes that reportedly killed at least three people, injured dozens, and struck critical civilian infrastructure, including Sana’a International Airport. Secretary-General António Guterres warned that airstrikes on Red Sea ports and Sana’a airport pose grave risks to humanitarian operations at a time when millions of people are in need of life-saving assistance. He also emphasised that international law, including humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected at all times, and appealed to all to respect and protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
A high-level UN delegation, led by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was at the airport when the strikes occurred, following discussions on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and the release of detained UN personnel.
26 December 2024
UNESCO reinforces its commitment to the protection of documentary heritage in times of crisis in the region
According to UNESCO, climate change poses serious threats to memory institutions, such as libraries and archives, since these institutions, due to the increase in natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes or tornadoes, face severe risks that threaten to destroy the documentary heritage they preserve. The vulnerability of these institutions, in part, is due to the lack of resources and protocols to protect fragile documents. Since risk management usually prioritizes the protection of life and property, emergency first response institutions are often unaware of the fundamental role they could play in protecting documentary heritage in crisis situations.
Faced with the challenges of protecting documentary heritage during crises, the UNESCO Regional Office for Central America, Colombia and Mexico organized the conference “Exploring the Role of Firefighters and First Responders in the Rescue and Protection of Documentary Heritage in Times of Crisis.” The activity brought together some 100 international, regional and national delegates and was aimed at raising awareness among key actors and fostering collaboration between memory institutions and first responders. During the conference, speakers and participants exchanged experiences and best practices at both the regional and international levels on key issues for the protection of documentary heritage, such as: attention to complex emergencies and rescue operations, and regional experiences and best practices in the care of documentary heritage.
25 December 2024
UN adopts landmark cybercrime treaty to tackle digital threats
The UN General Assembly adopted without a vote by the new United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime, which addresses crimes committed using information and communications technology (ICT) systems. The convention targets offenses ranging from online fraud and hacking to more severe issues such as terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling, and child exploitation.
The convention emphasizes prevention and urges nations to invest in training for public and private sectors as well as initiatives to raise awareness about cybercrime risks. Technical assistance and capacity-building, particularly for developing countries, are key components of the treaty’s implementation strategy.
https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/12/un-adopts-landmark-cybercrime-treaty-to-tackle-digital-threats/ 24 December 2024
Cyprus warns Turkey-Syria maritime deal could violate international law
Cyprus’ government stated it was closely monitoring developments after Turkey announced it was aiming to strike a maritime demarcation agreement with Syria once a permanent government is formed in Damascus. Cyprus warned that any potential maritime agreement between Turkey and Syria must comply with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and respect Cyprus’ sovereignty. “Any attempt to challenge, influence or disregard the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus constitutes a violation of international law and the Republic of Cyprus will take all available measures at international and European level,” government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis. Letymbiotis added that President Nikos Christodoulides, in coordination with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has briefed European Union leaders on Turkey’s possible actions and has secured EU backing.
Turkey, which backed Syrian rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad this month has been in close contact with the new interim administration of its neighbour, including Turkey’s intelligence chief and foreign minister meeting with de-facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Turkey is also planning to start negotiations with the new Syrian administration on a possible maritime demarcation agreement, according to Transport Minister Uraloglu. The maritime demarcation agreement would be in line with international law and would allow two countries to determine authorities for oil and hydrocarbon exploration, the minister added.