The first UN resolution on the conflict in Myanmar was passed on 21 December 2022. Only China, India and the Russian Federation abstained. © UN: Manuel Elias
31 December 2022
Dear UAI friends,
As we reach the end of a year that brought so much horror and suffering to people in Ukraine, their cousins in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, plus those in many other countries endured another year of war, wanton destruction and loss of life and opportunity. They wondered why their country had to suffer these horrors. Why could they not enjoy the peace that others take for granted?
In this issue, our Editor talks of Horror and Hope, and we look forward with new energy to 2023.
Click HERE to read the Editor’s Message.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
First up in 2023 is an event in collaboration with the Diplomacy Society of University College London on Myanmar on Monday 23 January at 6.30 pm.
Please save the date. Registration details will follow.
As background, please click below to read a recent article by Charles Petrie on the UAI website. Further reflections on the situation in Myanmar were published last month; one by Jeff Crisp and Heeba Hasan and one by Florence Duchet. Both articles are in the News Section of the UAI website.
Myanmar is falling apart. It needs urgent attention from the United Nations – By Charles Petrie
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Afghanistan will continue to be front and centre of our focus.
Please click HERE to read an update on our work to Unfreeze Afghanistan’s Frozen Reserves.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asylum in Europe
The right to seek asylum in Europe will be a top priority in 2023. We sense a growing recognition all over the continent that current policies and practices towards those seeking asylum are gratuitously cruel, demean our values, and are designed to portray people in desperate need of help as criminals who have no right to a life of dignity.
These attitudes must and will change.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
UAI joined others in Dublin on 18 November in celebrating the adoption by 82 countries of the Political Declaration on the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.
We will be following this file in 2023, to see how we can best contribute to encouraging more countries to adopt the Declaration and introduce the changes to military doctrine and practice that the Declaration requires.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Finally, we wish all our readers a happy and fulfilling year in 2023.
A Request
Please consider making a donation to UAI to help us continue our advocacy in 2023. We are looking forward to a return to live events and need support to fund these and to help establish a small core staff.
Please make a donation now (however small) by clicking on the RED Donate button at the top right-hand side of our website
Thank You,
The UAI team
