November 2024 - Welsh Centre for International Affairs

Monthly Archives: November 2024

Temple of Peace / Teml Heddwch, Hawliau Dynol, International Exchange, Taith Projects, Volunteers

Celebrating Pride in Lesotho’s 200th Year: Wales and World-wide Allies join in Solidarity

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*The Lesotho Pride March 2024 advances through the centre of Maseru, with rainbow flags and umbrellas to the fore*. Cath Mouogo / Dolen Cymru

On Saturday 9th November, one of the highest Prides in the world brought a carnival of colour and cheer to the centre of Maseru, capital of Southern Africa’s ‘mountain kingdom of Lesotho’. Popularly called the ‘kingdom in the sky’ due to its high altitude, Basotho Pride organisers brought queens and allies alike together in a call for higher attitudes towards inclusivity, visibility and progress – especially significant this year as Lesotho celebrates its Bicentennial, the 200^th Anniversary of the nation’s founding.

Organised by People’s Matrix, Lesotho’s leading LGBTQI+ network – who bring together members and community groups from across the country’s ten districts – Lesotho Pride 2024 staged a 24-hour programme of fun, solidarity and celebration, kicked off with a “Peace March” set off early morning from the Maseru Club, adjacent to the United Nations HQ for Lesotho, and marching through the capital’s central Kingsway. Participants united under the banner of “embracing all our unique identities, continuing the fight for equality and love for all.” Marking Lesotho200, the march included many young people showcasing traditional Basotho costumes, remarked on by one marcher as a big moment emotionally: “it’s so important seeing LGBTIQ identity integrated into Lesotho’s traditions, it really humanises and brings Pride into our national story.”

Basotho marchers were joined by allies from Wales, building on longstanding friendships kindled between the twinned countries through Dolen Cymru Lesotho, the Wales Lesotho Link. In a show of solidarity staff, trustees and volunteers marched in shirts worn at Cardiff’s ‘Pride Cymru’ in June earlier this year. The world’s only formal ‘nation to nation’ twinning also celebrates its 40^th Anniversary this year; exchanges over the decades have included many human rights initiatives, including LGBTQI+ campaigners. It is hoped to grow more new partnerships between LGBTQI+ organisations and communities as part of the shared 40th and 200th anniversaries (for the twinning link, and the Lesotho nation).

Traditionally a peace-loving culture, Basotho LGBTQI+ people and communities nevertheless face a range of challenges. Giselle Ratalane from People’s Matrix gave a flavour of campaigns and everyday concerns for ordinary citizens ‘behind the banners’ of this year’s Pride march in Maseru:

Giselle Ratalane, People’s Matrix Coordinator

“Averting poverty, having job security is a major driver. You can be qualified but not be hired, as there’s presently no legislation protecting LGBTQ people from that kind of discrimination. If you are hired, the labour code updated this year does now have protections covering sexual orientation and gender identity – a recent achievement – but of course that helps mainly if you’re already in work.

Disenfranchisement in schools, where some teachers can make things unbearable for queer students to participate in learning, can lead to dropping out. And there are some jobs that we gravitate towards as a community, often not by choice but survival – such as sex work – that are sometimes dehumanised by society. A member of the transgender community was recently murdered whilst doing sex work, over a disagreement; taking someone’s life, shows there is a way to go in challenging hate crime and discrimination. There is also a need to recognise gender identities, as many hate crimes go unrecorded.”

HIV AIDS and health care are also widespread challenges for which People’s Matrix and their partners offer support, organising regular community clinics and enabling individuals to navigate access to health care. Giselle flagged up the importance of building alliances across the Basotho LGBTQ community and working together – as exemplified by this year’s Maseru Pride, for which 3 organisations pooled their energies and resources to make it a success.

Asked how international allies can help support and show solidarity with Lesotho’s LGBTQ+ movement, Giselle remarked: “come along to next year’s Pride 2025! But on a day-to-day basis, donating money towards the voluntary work going on in Lesotho, will enable us to reach and involve more communities. We’re very grateful for any contributions, via our website www.thematrix.org.LS“

Cath Moulogo, attending with Dolen said, “Lesotho is a small nation with a big heart – much like Wales! – which is why we’re so proud to join in solidarity to celebrate such a fantastic Lesotho Pride. It’s been privilege to join them for their 200^th birthday and to lend our voice to calls for further progress on Lesotho LGBTQI+ rights into the future.”

Joanna Jonas, Chair of Dolen Cymru Lesotho Link – who lives in Maseru herself, and participated in the Pride march – said “Lesotho Pride 2024 stood as a beacon of courage and resilience, reminding us that the journey toward human rights for all is global and solidarity knows no borders, hence I am proud and moved to have joined the march and celebrated, in solidarity, LGBTQIA+ rights in Lesotho alongside my colleague from Wales. Together we are building a world where love and identity are celebrated and not condemned.”

For anyone who would like to be involved with Dolen Cymru Lesotho in the UK, please contact swyddfa@dolencymru.org

Written by Craig Owen, Taith Exchange Volunteer with Dolen Cymru, Nov 2024

Blog, Rhyfel a Gwrthdaro, WCIA news

Safeguarding nature during times of conflict

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6 November marks the 23^rd annual International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001, this day was created to remember the environmental consequences of war, whether that be on wildlife, plants, or even water and food sources.

The natural environment is fundamental to sustaining human life, yet it is still such a frequent victim of war. Although international humanitarian law forbids intentional attacks against the natural environment (unless it has become a military objective), the International Committee of the Red Cross states that 80% of conflicts take place in biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, a multitude of consequences for the environment can occur, including deforestation and a loss of biodiversity.

This year, an important example to highlight is Gaza. In June, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director reported that:

“Not only are the people of Gaza dealing with untold suffering from the ongoing war, the significant and growing environmental damage in Gaza risks locking its people into a painful, long recovery. While many questions remain regarding the exact type and quantity of contaminants affecting the environment in Gaza, people are already living with the consequences of conflict-related damage to environmental management systems and pollution today. Water and sanitation have collapsed. Critical infrastructure continues to be decimated. Coastal areas, soil and ecosystems have been severely impacted. All of this is deeply harming people’s health, food security and Gaza’s resilience.”

The UNEP’s report goes on to describe the environmental costs of the conflict which include but are not limited to: all five wastewater treatment plants being destroyed, contaminating beaches, coastal waters, soil, and freshwater; the destruction of solar panels leaking lead into soil and water; the generation of 39 million tonnes of debris since the start of the conflict and the burning of fuels, lowering air quality across the region. The authors of the report have made it clear that the recovery and future protection of the environment is crucial in the rebuilding of Gaza and the whole State of Palestine. Furthermore, their strategies for remediation will be discussed with Palestinian civil society and researchers amongst many others.

International humanitarian law also forbids the intentional use of the natural environment as a weapon in conflicts. A notable example of this was in 1991 when Saddam Hussein’s forces set fire to over 700 oil wells in Kuwait and 11 million barrels of oil were poured into the Persian Gulf. The smoke caused by the burning could be seen up to 800km away and the pooling of oil caused unprecedented damage to the soil quality and causing the deaths of birds and other wildlife. This disaster has been argued to have been “one of the world’s worst environmental catastrophes” with it still having a multitude of effects on Kuwait even over 30 years later despite the efforts of local communities.

International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict serves as an important reminder of how critical the natural environment is for humans and wildlife alike on a day-to-day basis. In Wales, we are privileged to be able to live in a society free from violent conflict and warfare, however, there are always opportunities to create good changes for the environment. The UNEP links the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action to the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict. Small but consistent changes to our lifestyles and mentalities can have an immense impact on our natural environment and overall society. Climate Cymru also have the environment at the heart of their mission and provide lots of resources to help us develop our environmental consciousness in Wales and the United Kingdom more widely.

If you would like the opportunity to hear first-hand from those involved in protecting climate and biodiversity in the midst of conflict, Climate Cymru are hosting the event ‘The Place of Climate Justice in Adapting to Our Changing Climate’ on 13 November 2024 during Wales Climate Week. To learn more about this event and register click here. Or The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) & Academi Heddwch Cymru are proud to host a conversation with Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, Palestinian scientist, author and Director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability on Friday 15 November. To learn more about this event and register click here.

Further resources & Links:

Wales for Peace in Israel and Palestine: Call for Ceasefire

Wales for Peace in Israel and Palestine: Call for Ceasefire

Globally Responsible Wales

Globally Responsible Wales Resources

How nature is protected during conflict? | The Laws Of War | ICRC

Fighting without a Planet B: how IHL protects the natural environment in armed conflicts

Fighting without a Planet B: how IHL protects the natural environment in armed conflict

What is the link between climate change and conflict?

United Nations International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

https://www.un.org/en/observances/environment-in-war-protection-day

Written by WCIA volunteer Emma Lee

Blog, Temple of Peace / Teml Heddwch, Hawliau Dynol, Immigration, Refugees and Asylum, Uncategorized @cy

Reflecting on the recent Austrian elections: Why could this be so problematic for human rights?

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At the end of September, Austrian voters went to the polls to elect the National Council, the lower and legislatively most powerful house of Austria’s parliament. In a historic win, Herbert Kickl’s Freiheitliche Partei Österreich (FPÖ) secured 28.9% of the vote, and although this is far short of a majority, it is paving the way for fresh discussions of a coalition government. But why is this so concerning and how could the FPÖ, with no majority, potentially impact human rights?

Contextually, it is important to know that the FPÖ is an extreme right-wing populist party with a long history of anti-immigration sentiment. Notably, it was founded by former Nazi and SS officer Anton Reinthaller in 1956. Kickl is in favour of the controversial so-called white nationalist concept of “remigration”. He is proposing the expulsion and loss of citizenship for people of non-European ethnicity who are deemed to have ‘failed’ to integrate into Austrian society. This concept stems from a theory called the “Great Replacement Conspiracy”, a theory, which the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, explains is “based on the false notion that Jews, Muslims, non-white people and migrants seek to ‘replace’ or suppress countries’ cultures and people”. He states that these ideas are “delusional and deeply racist” and “have directly influenced many perpetrators of violence”.

In 2022, Austria had the 4^th largest population of foreign-born citizens among all EU countries. It is important to note, however, that only just over half of this number were non-EU migrants, emphasising that a large proportion of migration into Austria is through Schengen and being an EU member state. Migration has been a contentious public issue in this election. The FPÖ has put this at the forefront, using phrases such as “The protection of our women and children must be more important than the right of asylum seekers to safety” and claiming that asylum seekers “import” violence.

It is deeply troubling to witness the resurgence of Nazi terminology and policies being promoted by Herbert Kickl and the FPÖ. Not only does this instil fear in those who could be directly impacted by their leadership, but it also serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of Nazi policies during and prior to the Second World War.

Although these results are highly concerning from an historical Human Rights persepctive. The leaders of the other main parties, including the current Chancellor and Kickl’s biggest rival, Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), have refused to go into coalition with the FPÖ with Herbert Kickl as their leader. Prior to the election when there were fears of an FPÖ majority, Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen said that he was “not obliged” to name Kickl as Chancellor. The result may also have galvanised public opposition to the extreme right. Discontent with the result has been evidenced by widespread public protests across Austria, notably with thousands taking to the streets in Vienna showing their opposition towards a potential FPÖ government.

In this tumultuous era of politics, it’s crucial to remember that race, ethnicity, or background should never be used as a weapon against others. Past historical events should serve as both a reminder, and a warning of the damage that a return to extremism could cause.

The Article was written by Emma Lee (WCIA volunteer)

In Wales we have a strong heritage in attempting to combat racism and discrimination against marginalised groups. If you’d like to learn more about Wales’s contribution to this at a governmental and non-governmental level click here for Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, Welsh Government response in 2021 to the UK Government’s consultation on proposing to reform the Human Rights Act 1998 and click here to learn more about Wales as a Nation of Sanctuary

The WCIA is working on a number of projects that explore fake news and heritage. If you would like to explore debate and critical thinking skills, click here. If you would like to learn more about our event misinformation as a tool of war, click here. If you would like to explore fairness and equality in your community and WCIA’s statement on Solidarity and Togetherness from Summer 2024 click here