Presidium Network

UK non-profit that provides support to communities in crisis to manage humanitarian issues and represent the needs of people affected by violence or poverty.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

Our aid distribution locations in #Ukraine for food and medical supplies.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

@TheWistful Hey might have - the others most certainly did not, their conditions were nothing short of horrendous.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

All 4 Britons are back in the UK and with their respective friends and family. We are thankful to all who supported throughout and the British Government for bringing them home.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

https://t.co/uajCy0AFLb

[Lynne O'Donnell @lynnekodonnell]

The #Taliban have released four hostages, held for many months in #Afghanistan with no charge.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

We are relieved and pleased - words cannot describe what it means for the detention of the Britons to come to an end. We are thankful to the FCDO for their work and that the Taliban have released these men. But above all else we are joyful for the families. #KevinCornwell

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

@chrisparchwell @1of1LaLa @lordmiles @legen_eth You are welcome to be sceptical - it is the Internet and social media. But we are diligent, measured and accurate when we comment.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

#KevinCornwell remains seriously ill and he has been critically ill, and his condition has not improved. The second "unnamed Briton" - his health has deteriorated also. Both men are without charge. The supposed evidence the Taliban has we have dealt with.

It is extremely likely both men will die in custody, the conditions they are kept in are nothing short of horrific and their current health and the high likelihood of death should be treated with concern by the international community.

Should they die in custody, their deaths will resonate around the world and render the IEA a country that is impossible for the international community to work with, and be a definitive message about the nature of the rule of law in the country, and the extreme risks engagement and support that working on the ground in Afghanistan poses to aid workers - aid workers the country needs.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

@1of1LaLa @chrisparchwell @lordmiles @legen_eth What we do know and can say of Miles is he has been held in a guesthouse, has considerably more privileges than those held in GDI detention (basements) and is well-treated. Miles is in no danger of death, unlike the other men.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

@Banished_Elk It's unclear what they want and encouragement of 'hostage diplomacy' is not advisable for the country and would limit the ability of foreign aid workers to operate in the country which harms the people who so desperately need aid.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

We remain gravely concerned about the status of Mr Cornwell's health. The matter is of significant concern on the base of arbitrary detention, and there are many more people detained than the 4 Britons. The use of arbitrary detention by any nation is an abuse of the rights of individuals, but for a country such as Afghanistan, a nascent government with the challenges Afghanistan faces will lead to greater economic and political isolation.

The IEA has had every opportunity to demonstrate dialogue works, and as we come into winter, and the end of the U.S. financial year it will likely be more difficult to find donors for the nation.

Should Mr Cornwell, experience another critical health incident, his death would be probable, already after suffering infections, and such a death in IEA custody, with the full knowledge of his health issues would be catastrophic for the position of the IEA in the international community. It would be catastrophic for the role of aid, catastrophic for the attraction of economic activity.

[Scott Richards 🧍 @skotrds]

I strongly recommend everyone read the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" UDHR from 1948, a cornerstone of the United Nations. Read it with the world in mind but especially #Afghanistan today.

https://t.co/ngfdAmUkFU

[kj@Britgirl78 @crimestopper78]

Kevin and his wife are good friends of my grandmother. You couldn't meet a nicer man. The Taliban doesn't need to detain sick foreigners to prove they're in control. He came to help and this is how he's being treated? He deserves his freedom. He deserves his life!

[Daren Nair @DarenNair]

Thank you @AFP for letting me share my thoughts on what we can do to put an end to hostage diplomacy.

https://t.co/qiRl18Si7D

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

In terms of prisoner rights, these are protected under the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 17 December 2015. The detention of Prisoners under arbitrary detention does not meet these standards.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

Arbitrary Detention is a violation of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (“UDHR”), under “Article 9”. Arbitrary detention is also a violation of the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”.

Arbitrary Detention is considered an unfair and unlawful practice according to the following conventions, thereby demonstrating it is not considered an international norm and is universally represented as a deprivation of basic rights:

(1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

(2) Body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.~

(3) United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

(4) United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”)

(5) Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951

(6) Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967

(7)International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

(8) Convention on the Rights of the Child

(9) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment

(10) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

(11) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(12) United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on remedies and procedures on the right of anyone deprived of their liberty to bring proceedings before a court (A/HRC/30/37)

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

Arbitrary Detention is a violation of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” (“UDHR”), under “Article 9”. Arbitrary detention is also a violation of the “International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”.

Arbitrary Detention is considered an unfair and unlawful practice according to the following conventions, thereby demonstrating it is not considered an international norm and is universally represented as a deprivation of basic rights:

(1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

(2) Body of principles for the protection of all persons under any form of detention or imprisonment
Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.~

(3) United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of their Liberty.

(4) United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (“The Beijing Rules”)

(5) Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951

(6) Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees of 1967

(7)International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

(8) Convention on the Rights of the Child

(9) Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment

(10) International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families

(11) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(12) United Nations Basic Principles and Guidelines on remedies and procedures on the right of anyone deprived of their liberty to bring proceedings before a court (A/HRC/30/37)

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

Shortly, at the 78th General Assembly of the #UN Libya, Myanmar, and Afghanistan's applications for a Permanent Secretary to the UN will be considered. The use of arbitrary detention is another factor that undermines this as it violates numerous principles of the @UN charter which requires fair and public hearings, and arbitrary detention is opposed by #UN working groups and countless international human rights laws.

[Presidium Network @PresidiumNet]

What the IEA should have implemented for foreigners arbitrarily charged, and including the recent arrest of 18 people, is fast-track deportation rather than extended detention. Detention without charge is a limited time period to investigate, it is not meant to be for a year or more.

[KELKEG @KELLYCo13996691]

@PostFromProtest @PresidiumNet If all countries stand together create firm boundary’s which uses the legal frameworks put in place for detentions such as these.

We might get get somewhere.

Why make international law if you are not going to use them. If ever there was a time to act using law, it is now.