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EQUNIV

GRETA PACT|GREEN REVOLUTION ENDING TERRESTRIAL ANNIHILATION

An EQUITAS UNIVERSALIS (EQUNIV) initiative, the Green Revolution Ending Terrestrial Annihilation (GRETA) Pact shall serve to empower individuals of all origins committed to global eradication of human activity destructive to world ecosystems. The GRETA Pact is EQUNIV's legitimate response to global citizen concerns voiced by activist Greta Thunberg et al.

LATEST

MARCH 2025

RD4U

REGISTER OF DAMAGE FOR UKRAINE

Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine has led to widespread death and suffering. There are thousands of recorded instances of torture, inhumane treatment and sexual violence, vast destruction of residential buildings and critical infrastructure across the country, as well as immense economic losses. The establishment of the Register of Damage for Ukraine is a significant international effort and the first step towards a mechanism that will ensure justice and compensation for Ukraine and its people.

AUGUST 2024

REUTERS

UKRAINE RATIFIES ROME STATUTE, PAVING WAY FOR ICC MEMBERSHIP

KYIV, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament voted on Wednesday to ratify the Rome Statute, officials said, allowing the country to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a step Ukrainian leaders have cast as central to Kyiv's European aspirations.

Ukraine has recognised the ICC's jurisdiction in the past, but full membership of the court is a key part of Ukraine's quest to eventually join the European Union.

It would also allow authorities "to more effectively punish" suspected Russian war criminals amid Moscow's war on Ukraine, according to lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko.

JULY 2024

JURIST

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER ANNOUNCES LEGISLATIVE BID TO REVERSE US SUPREME COURT IMMUNITY DECISION

US Democratic congressman Joe Morelle announced plans Wednesday to attempt to reverse this week’s US Supreme Court ruling on former US President Donald Trump’s immunity claims.

He said in a statement:

I am introducing a constitutional amendment to reverse the Supreme Court’s catastrophic decision and ensure no president is above the law. This amendment will do what they failed to do — prioritize our democracy. The Supreme Court decision will cause a seismic shift in the powers of the presidency unless we take immediate action to ensure accountability, integrity, and justice prevail.

In a split decision, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that former US presidents ar immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken within their constitutional purview, thus clearing a path for Donald Trump to challenge a federal indictment accusing him of conspiring to sabotage the 2020 elections. - JURISTnews

SCOTUS
TRUMP v. UNITED STATES - Cornell Law School
NIXON v. UNITED STATES - Cornell Law School

Analysis

Disqualification from Public Office Under the 14th Amendment - FindLaw

Why 14th Amendment bars Trump from office - The Conversation

JUNE 2024

JURIST

ECHR FINDS RUSSIA LIABLE FOR MULTIPLE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN CRIMEA SINCE 2014

The European Court of Human Rights unanimously found Tuesday that Russia was guilty of a pattern of human rights violations since 2014 in Crimea under the European Convention on Human Rights (Convention) and international humanitarian law, in its ruling on the case Ukraine v. Russia (re Crimea). These violations included ill-treatment, intimidation, disappearances, forced Russian citizenship, and suppression of Ukrainian media and press. - JURISTnews

MARCH 2024

NATO

NATO'S RESPONSE TO RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE

NATO condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's brutal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine - which is an independent, peaceful and democratic country, and a close NATO partner. NATO and Allies continue to provide Ukraine with unprecedented levels of support, helping to uphold its fundamental right to self-defence.

AUGUST 2023

USA

TRUMP INDICTED IN JAN. 6 INVESTIGATION BY GRAND JURY

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington on charges stemming from efforts to remain in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election. According to the indictment, Trump faces four charges: conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights.

APRIL 2023

NATO

FINLAND'S ACCESSION TO NATO

Finland became NATO’s newest member today (4 April 2023), upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty with the United States at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. NATO Allies signed Finland’s Accession Protocol on 5 July 2022, after which all 30 national parliaments voted to ratify the country’s membership.

MARCH 2023

ICC

SITUATION IN UKRAINE: ICC JUDGES ISSUE ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH PUTIN AND MARIA ALEKSEYEVNA LVOVA-BELOVA

Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.

Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute).

Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, born on 25 October 1984, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the  President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Ms Lvova-Belova bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute). . . .

FEBRUARY 2023

SCOTUSblog

IN LAWSUIT AGAINST TECH COMPANIES, JUSTICES DEBATE WHAT IT MEANS TO "AIDE & ABET" TERRORISM

Argument Analysis - The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared wary of a lawsuit seeking to hold Twitter, Facebook, and Google liable for aiding and abetting international terrorism based on ISIS’s use of the companies’ platforms. But during nearly three hours of oral argument, the justices struggled to draw a line between holding organizations responsible for supporting terrorism and allowing organizations to go about legitimate business, even if they may come in contact with terrorists as part of that business.

The dispute, Twitter v. Taamneh, stems from a lawsuit filed by the family of a Jordanian citizen who was killed in an ISIS attack on an Istanbul nightclub in 2017. The lawsuit relied on the Antiterrorism Act, which allows U.S. nationals to sue anyone who “aids and abets, by knowingly providing substantial assistance,” international terrorism. The family argued that Twitter and the other tech companies knew that their platforms played an important role in ISIS’s terrorism efforts but nonetheless failed to take action to keep ISIS content off those platforms.

NOVEMBER 2022

EUROPARL

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECLARES RUSSIA TO BE A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM

EUROPARL Press Release - On wednesday [23.11.22] Parliament adopted a resolution on the latest developments in Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine. MEPs highlight that the deliberate attacks and atrocities committed by Russian forces and their proxies against civilians in Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of international and humanitarian law amount to acts of terror and constitute war crimes. In light of this, they recognise Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and as a state that “uses means of terrorism”.

. . .

The resolution was adopted by 494 votes in favour, 58 against with 44 abstentions.

For more information on the designation of states as sponsors of terrorism and similar legal frameworks in other countries, check out the latest briefing by the European Parliament's research center.

NOVEMBER 2022

EUROPARL

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION ON RECOGNISING THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AS A STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM

The European Parliament,

. . .

1. Expresses its deepest outrage over atrocities and coordinated acts of terror, including the indiscriminate shelling of cities and towns, forced deportations, the use of banned ammunitions, attacks against civilians trying to flee conflict areas via pre-agreed humanitarian corridors, executions of civilians, sexual violence, forced displacements and the targeting of residential areas and civilian infrastructure, such as energy facilities, hospitals, schools, shelters and ambulances in Ukraine, Syria, Georgia and Chechnya, as well as the targeted assassination and torture of political opponents of Putin’s regime in the territory of the Russian Federation and abroad; expresses its condolences to the victims of the terrorist policies of the Russian Federation and to their families; calls for frozen Russian state and private assets to be used as a mean of compensation for the terrorist acts committed by the Russian Federation and on its behalf, in particular those recently committed in Ukraine;

2. Declares the Russian Federation to be a terrorist state and recognises the abovementioned actions of the President, Government, Parliament and other bodies of the Russian Federation as acts of terrorism; states therefore that all official bodies of the Russian Federation, in particular the President, the Ministry of Defence and the Russian army, should be treated as a terrorist organisation, with all of the ensuing consequences; calls therefore on the Council to recognise the Russian army and its proxies, such as the Wagner Group, as an organisation involved in terrorist acts, to apply Council Common Position 2001/931/CFSP and to consider additional restrictive measures under the sanctions regime established by Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001; calls on the Member States and the international community to prosecute persons involved in acts of state-sponsored terrorism, including instigators from the highest circles of the Russian elite;

3. Encourages the European Council and the EU Member States to recognise Russia as a terrorist state and implement effective measures to comprehensively isolate it internationally by terminating all cooperation with Russia, freezing contacts with its representatives and expelling Russia’s ambassadors, including from international organisations and forums, such as the UN Security Council and the G20; underlines the need to update official EU policy towards Russia and its cooperation framework to reflect the new reality; encourages the EU and the Member States to establish an appropriate legal mechanism to allow the recognition of states as terrorists for committing terrorists acts, which would involve applying substantial measures against such states, including serious diplomatic and economic restrictions, as well as measures against third states cooperating with these terrorist states; considers that such a legal mechanism would significantly strengthen the EU’s common security and defence policy and would enable stronger coordination of global actions by the collective West, bearing in mind that such legislation already exists in the United States and Canada;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution [ 16.11.22 - (2022/2896(RSP)) ] to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Criminal Court, the Nordic Council, the Government and Parliament of Ukraine, the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation and the governments and parliaments of the G20.

[ Debate/Vote current status: 2022/2896(RSP) ]

SEPTEMBER 2022

HDR

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

Human development is about expanding the richness of human life rather than simply the richness of the economy in which human beings live. It is an approach that is focused on people and their opportunities and choices. The HDI was created to emphasize that people and their capabilities should be the ultimate criteria for assessing the development of a country, not economic growth alone.

JUNE 2022

NATO

TURKEY, FINLAND, AND SWEDEN SIGN AGREEMENT PAVING THE WAY FOR FINNISH AND SWEDISH NATO MEMBERSHIP

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, President Sauli Niinistö of Finland and Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden met in Madrid on Tuesday (28 June 2022) under the auspices of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. In that meeting, the leaders agreed a trilateral memorandum to address Türkiye’s legitimate security concerns, paving the way for Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership.

MAY 2022

NATO

FINLAND AND SWEDEN SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO JOIN NATO

Finland and Sweden on Wednesday morning (18 May 2022) simultaneously handed their official letters of application to join NATO.

APRIL 2022

UN

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTES TO SUSPEND RUSSIA FROM THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on April 7, 2022, calling for Russia to be suspended from the Human Rights Council.

APRIL 2022

HRW

APPARENT WAR CRIMES IN RUSSIA-CONTROLLED AREAS

Summary executions, other grave abuses by Russian forces.

"The cases we documented amount to unspeakable, deliberate cruelty and violence against Ukrainian civilians,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Rape, murder, and other violent acts against people in the Russian forces’ custody should be investigated as war crimes."

MARCH 2022

ICC

ICC PROSECUTOR OPENS INVESTIGATION

Statement of ICC Prosecutor, Karim A.A. Khan QC, on the situation in Ukraine: Receipt of Referrals from 39 States Parties and the Opening of an Investigation.

"Today, I can confirm that, my Office has received referrals of the Situation in Ukraine from the following 39 ICC States Parties: Republic of Albania, Commonwealth of Australia, Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Belgium, Republic of Bulgaria, Canada, Republic of Colombia, Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Estonia, Republic of Finland, Republic of France, Georgia, Federal Republic of Germany, Hellenic Republic, Hungary, Republic of Iceland, Ireland, Republic of Italy, Republic of Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Republic of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Republic of Malta, New Zealand, Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Republic of Poland, Republic of Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Sweden, Swiss Confederation, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These referrals enable my Office to proceed with opening an investigation into the Situation in Ukraine from 21 November 2013 onwards, thereby encompassing within its scope any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person." - Karim A.A. Khan QC, ICC Prosecutor

FEBRUARY 2022

CFR

RUSSIA'S INVASION OF UKRAINE

In mid-December 2021, the Russian foreign ministry issued a set of demands which included a ban on Ukraine entering the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and a reduction of NATO troops and military equipment in eastern Europe in order for its military forces to be withdrawn. The United States and other NATO allies rejected these demands and have warned Russia of retaliation if Ukraine is invaded, including economic sanctions, and other assistance has been deployed to Ukraine, including small arms and other defensive weaponry.

JANUARY 2022

FreedomHouse

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE 2021

Freedom House measures the level of democratic governance in 29 countries from Central Europe to Central Asia through its annual Nations in Transit report.

OCTOBER 2021

ICIJ

PANDORA PAPERS

The largest investigation in journalism history exposes a shadow financial system that benefits the world's most rich and powerful. Access Report.

AUGUST 2021

IPCC

GLOBAL WARMING OF 1.5 ºC

An IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. The translations of the SPM and other material can be downloaded from this link.

JUNE 2021

StopEcocide

GLOBAL EXPERT DRAFTING PANEL REVEALS PROPOSAL FOR A FIFTH CRIME UNDER THE ROME STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT

Our team is working with international criminal lawyers, researchers and diplomats to amend International Criminal Law. The expert drafting panel convened by our Foundation in response to political demand has completed a balanced and practical legal definition of ecocide in June 2021. This is now available for states to consider.

StopEcocide International

CAN YOU IMAGINE...?

Just imagine how much easier it would be to protect what we love and what supports life - from honey bees to chimpanzees, from rivers to rainforests, from fertile soil to living oceans, from food resilience to land stewardship - if it were a crime to destroy ecosystems. It would make all the difference. And it's not a pipe dream... this essential law is already visible on the horizon. 

PORTFOLIO EARTH

Banks, as one of the key engines behind many human economic activities, must be accountable for the impacts of their finance activities on nature.

REPORT
BANKROLLING PLASTICS
The banks that fund plastic packaging pollution...

REPORT
BANKROLLING EXTINCTION
The banking sector’s role in the global biodiversity crisis...

FEBRUARY 2021

U.S. SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

BREAKING l SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL - DAY 5

U.S. SENATE l February 13, 2021 - Former president Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial will continue on Feb. 13 (10:00am, EST). He is accused of “incitement of insurrection” after the deadly Capitol riot. Trump’s lawyers accused House impeachment managers of being motivated by hatred of the former president. They showed selectively edited video of Democrats using the word “fight” as they sought to downplay Trump’s role in the violent attack on the Capitol.

Closing arguments and vote expected in impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump.

SENATE VOTE - GUILTY: 57 / NOT GUILTY: 43

TRUMP ACQUITTED - 2/3rds Guilty vote not attained.

Senate Trial adjourned Sine Die.

JANUARY 2021

U.S. DOMESTIC TERRORISM

Lethal Rule Of Mob Orchestrated By Acting President Overtakes The Capitol In Failed Attempt To Overturn Election Results

5 individuals dead and many wounded, with arrests and pending criminal inquiries, after what appears as the planned works of Domestic Terrorism orchestrated by acting president Donald J. Trump against the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

REPORT

DHS l U.S. DHS HOMELAND THREAT ASSESSMENT OCTOBER 2020 - This Homeland Threat Assessment (HTA), the first of its kind for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), draws upon all sources of information and expertise available to the Department, including from intelligence, law enforcement, and our operational Components. The result is a “Whole-of-DHS” report on the threats to the Homeland. This HTA is as close as the American people will get to seeing and understanding the information that I see as Secretary and that our employees see in their national security missions. As you read through the HTA you should have faith in knowing that these threats were identifed using the best intelligence, operational information, and employee knowledge available to the Department. - Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary.

U.S. CODE

OLRC l 18 USC Ch. 113B: TERRORISM / §2331. Definitions
As used in this chapter—

(5) the term "domestic terrorism" means activities that—

(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended— (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and (C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States;

IMPEACHMENT

U.S. SENATE l IMPEACHMENT - The United States Constitution provides that the House of Representatives "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment" (Article I, section 2 ) and that "the Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments…[but] no person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members present" ( Article I, section 3 ). The president, vice president, and all civil officers of the United States are subject to impeachment.

LII l IMPEACHMENT PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION - The impeachment provisions of the Constitution were derived from English practice, but there are important differences. In England, impeachment had a far broader scope. While impeachment was a device to remove from office one who abused his office or misbehaved but who was protected by the Crown, it could be used against anyone—office holder or not—and was penal in nature, with possible penalties of fines, imprisonment, or even death. By contrast, the American impeachment process is remedial, not penal: it is limited to office holders, and judgments are limited to no more than removal from office and disqualification to hold future office.