Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like…

…that the UN Special Committee on Decolonization has condemned the human rights violations in Algeria. The leaders of the armed separatist movement Polisario Front are reportedly involved in the systematic misappropriation of humanitarian aid intended for the refugee population in these camps, diverting it for sale on the markets of neighboring countries. On several occasions, the Human Rights Committee and the Secretary-General of the UN have expressed their serious concerns to the Security Council about this illegal delegation of powers. Furthermore, they have denounced the ill-treatment and extortion of refugees in Tindouf camps who are claiming their legal rights. Numerous NGOs and media also have reported cases of slavery.

...that the Biden administration announced the unilateral imposition of 300 additional sanctions against Russia. Ahead of the G-7 Summit in Italy, the impact of the new sanctions was immediately felt, with the Russian Central Bank freezing conversions from the ruble to the euro and dollar. This resulted in the ruble-to-dollar exchange rate reaching 90 to 1. The additional sanctions, combined with the hit to the ruble’s credibility after June 2022, when Russia declared an inability to service its foreign debt, make it difficult for Moscow to access cutting-edge technologies abroad.

I dislike…

…the outcome of the 2024 European elections. These elections saw a significant rise in nationalist parties in many EU member states. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the migrant crisis, economic inequalities, a sense of loss of national sovereignty, and frustration with political elites fueled support for these parties. Citizens are concerned about security, cultural identity, and social cohesion, while many are frustrated with austerity policies and the growing power of European institutions. Nationalist parties have exploited this prevailing sentiment by promising tighter controls and national solutions, which may affect the orientation of the EU.

...that the communist government of China is seeking to curb the #MeToo movement in the country. Most notably, the movement’s leading journalist, Huang Xueqin, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of undermining the government. It appears that the government is trying to reduce the movement’s influence as part of its broader goal of dismantling civil society. It is unfortunate that a woman who fights for human rights, especially women’s rights, and who has used journalism to highlight the phenomenon of sexual harassment, would be sentenced to deprivation of liberty without clear charges. The government aims to reduce the freedom of speech in the country, further violating the rights of citizens.