Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) today, a UK delegate, representing the British government called on Myanmar to cooperate with the UN Special Rapporteur; end the internet blackout in the Rakhine and Chin states; as well as, “reform laws to ensure they are not used to limit freedom of expression”.

<p>The US has started withdrawing troops from Afghanistan after signing a historic peace agreement with the Taliban.</p> <p>The US agreed to withdraw its troops from about 12,000 to 8,600 within 135 days of signing the agreement.</p> <p>US officials signed the peace agreement with Taliban representatives on February 29, aiming to bring an end to the 19 year conflict.</p> <p>In a statement, Col Leggett said that despite the reduction in troops, the US retains “all the military means and authorities to accomplish our objectives.”</p> <p><strong><u>Agreement details</u></strong></p>

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon authorities negotiating an Afghanistan peace agreement to centre discussions on human rights and in particular to be inclusive of women and activists.</p> <p>This discussion follows a signed agreement between the Taliban and the US, on 29 February, to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan in exchange for the Taliban agree not to attack said troops or allies in the region. This agreement coincides with broader peace discussions with the Afghan government, other political parties in the country and Taliban leaders.</p>

<p>Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the UN Human Rights Council to renew pressure on South Sudan.</p> <p>This follows the Human Rights most recent report on the situation in South Sudan which details continuing human rights abuses such as the forceful recruitment of children for combat as well as gender-based violence, abductions and deliberate starvation of civilian populations.&nbsp;</p>

The Joint Arab List, representing Israeli Palestinians, made historic gains in Israel’s election securing 15 out of 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, preventing Prime Minister Netanyahu from gaining a majority.

The Joint Arab List has secured its position as the third-largest party in response an overtly racist campaign waged by Netanyahu’s campaign which was flagged by Facebook for hate speech. 

UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, has called for an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire in the region as tens of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee from the northern province of Al-Jawf after violent clashes.

This follows the Houthi rebels capturing the provincial capital of Al-Hazm which sparked further violence in the region during a month in which both sides felt hope for a permanent de-escalation of the conflict.

Griffiths told reporters that Yemen was “at a critical juncture: we will either silence the guns and resume the political process, or we will slip back into large-scale conflict”. 

He further stated;

Over 20 human rights organisation have called on the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to adopt a resolution renewing a their commitment to monitor and repair on the dire situation in Nicaragua.

The ICC has ruled to launch an investigation examining the war crimes committed by US, Afghan and Taliban troops during the Afghanistan war, overturning a previous rejection of the inquiry.

India has restored some internet access in Kashmir for the first time since the region had its autonomy revoked and was placed in a lockdown in August.

The measure will allow limited access to social media and may provide better reporting on what is going on in Kashmir.

Kenya has accused Somalia’s army of launching an unwarranted attack on Mandera, following conflict breaking out on the Somali border town of Bulohawo between the Somali government and semi-autonomous region of Jubaland on Monday.

It is believed that the violence between Somalia’s central state and regional territories crossed into Mandera which lead the Kenyan government to issue a statement maintain that this amounted to a violation of “territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

The government further stated: