Helen Clark's Diary, January
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COVID-19
An open letter to world leaders
On 30 January 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Today The Elders, The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, The Independent Panel, Pandemic Action network, Panel for a Global Public Health Convention, and Spark Street call on world leaders to ensure an ambitious pandemic accord.
ISRAEL - GAZA CONFLICT
The Elders call for immediate compliance by Israel with ICJ provisional measures
Full statement
“The Elders call for Israel to comply immediately with the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to protect Palestinians in Gaza from acts of genocide.
The Elders also call for Israel’s allies to publicly affirm their respect for the Court’s ruling, and to use the political, military and financial leverage at their disposal to ensure Israel’s compliance with the provisional measures.
The ICJ’s legally binding decision is a moment of the utmost gravity.
Israeli forces have killed over 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza, destroyed homes and infrastructure across the territory and displaced up to 1.9 million people. The Elders share the Court’s judgement that this scale of devastation risks causing irreparable harm to the people of Gaza.
Israel, as the occupying military power, must comply with the Court’s ruling and implement the provisional measures in full. This includes ensuring its military does not commit any acts of genocide against the Palestinian people as a protected group, including killing members of the group. It also includes preventing incitement to genocide, and enabling provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. An immediate step must be to lift the siege of Gaza and end the collective punishment of Palestinians.
The Elders support the Court’s emphasis that all parties to the conflict are bound by international humanitarian law, and its call for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas and other armed groups.
All states have a responsibility to respect the Court’s ruling. South Africa has shown moral leadership in bringing this case, and it is now incumbent on others – particularly Israel’s allies and the UN Security Council – to live up to their own moral and legal obligations to prevent acts of genocide, and support the ICJ’s ruling.
As a minimum, Israel’s allies must ensure they are not complicit in any atrocity crimes. The Elders thus reiterate their call for all countries providing military assistance to Israel to place this under review and set new conditions for future provision. Governments which provide military assistance in the knowledge that atrocities are being committed, or may be imminent, risk being complicit. Self-defence can never be a justification for atrocity crimes.
For too long, Israel’s allies – particularly the United States and many European states – have provided political cover for its violations of international law. This impunity must end now. Political leaders who choose to disregard or undermine the Court’s ruling risk further weakening the international rule of law at a time when it is already acutely under threat. The UN Security Council has a vital role in ensuring compliance with the ICJ ruling and upholding the consistent application of international law. The world is watching.”
Court ruling puts pressure on Israel
International Court of Justice ruling: “the requirement that Israel must take steps to prevent genocidal acts, prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and report back on its actions within a month will all have rippling implications – not just in the weeks but in the years to come.” Steve Crawshaw/The Guardian.
On the treatment of Gaza detainees
I tweeted: From New York Times: “A UN office said Israel’s detention and treatment of (Gaza) detainees might amount to torture. It estimated thousands had been detained & held in “horrific” conditions. Some were freed wearing only diapers.” Sounds like Guantanamo.”
Israel’s Reaction to ICJ statement
My tweet: “Netanyahu declares no one can halt Israel’s war to crush Hamas, including international court” reports PBS @NewsHour. Whatever one’s view of the merits of South Africa’s case, a refusal to abide by an eventual ruling of the world’s top court is astonishing.”
Incomprehensible suffering continues in Gaza
“The horrific suffering of those, including children, in Gaza undergoing amputation without anaesthetic and subsequent painkillers is described in this Washington Post report. It is incomprehensible that this catastrophe continues.”
YEMEN
My tweet on Guardian article on “Yemen: Enchanting, Complex, and Much Misunderstood” - “The US and UK are bombing Yemen with new vigour but with even less insight or on-the-ground information on what can and cannot be achieved, or what is at stake from the violence. Western diplomats are making decisions after years of being cut off from the sights, smells and charm of Yemen.”
Italy, Spain and France not taking part in U.S. and British strikes
My view: the above is a “position New Zealand could have taken. Let’s note that Saudi Arabia and UAE have bombarded Yemen’s Houthi regime since March 2015 and have never succeeded in defeating it. I repeat: disrupting trade routes is wrong; stopping Gaza catastrophe would help resolve this: Reuters.”
Bahrain’s unique position within Arab countries
Bahrain is the only Arab nation to join the US Red Sea naval task force. Notable that Egypt, UAE, and Saudi Arabia to date have not. The current Yemeni Houthi disruption of trade flow is a reaction to Gaza war. Regimes know of strong sentiment on the street around that. Responsible Statecraft.
World Economic Forum - Davos
Questions posed for Davos
Should the World Economic Forum frame debate around “building peace rather than achieving security”; “debate concept of growth rather than taking its desirability for granted; look beyond climate policy to debates about ecological viability” of status quo? This Aljazeera article discusses Davos’ current relevance.
Good governance in extractive industries sector
EITI's multi-stakeholder model works for transparency and integrity in extractives sector governance. I spoke on this as Board Chair of EITI at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week along with Vice-President of Tanzania, Philip Isdor Mpango; Peter Maurer, President, Basel Institute on Governance and ex-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Tom Palmer, President & Chief Executive Officer, Newmont Corporation. Blog on these issues here:
War in ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers traumatised by war
“Trend of Ukraine war involving hundreds of thousands of freshly mobilised civilians being exposed to unprecedented levels of artillery fire and psychological trauma — would indicate that between 20 and 30 per cent of soldiers on the front line are likely to suffer acute mental health problems,” says Anthony Lloyd in The Times.
WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
GWL Voices: Women’s Turn to Reshape the Future
This week I was at Global Women Leaders (GLW) Voices Dialogue in Madrid. The event was opened by Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, the Prime Minister of Spain, and Susana Malcorra, President and Founder of GLW Voices. Theme: Women’s Turn to Reshape the Future.
POLITICAL HISTORY
“Signing up for an invasion”
As history records, neither New Zealand nor Canada nor the vast majority of the world’s nations signed up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The late Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary General, was clear when I met him that an invasion would breach international law. Others went along: Inside Story.
SOUTH GEORGIA
Bird flu confirmed on South Georgia island
Sad to read of H5N1 bird flu spread in South Georgia where it is killing birds and seals. South Georgia authorities work hard to protect wildlife and habitat; this flu outbreak is a significant threat. I visited this iconic place with the Arctic Heritage Trust in October.
Ernest Shackleton’s grave at Grytviken
On our South Georgia expedition in October, we visited the grave of Ernest Shackleton at Grytviken. The site and heritage buildings there, including the church where Shackleton’s funeral was held, are supported by South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI). Visit the South Georgia Museum website for more information.
NEW ZEALAND
UNRWA - New Zealand Government awaits outcome of UN inquiry
Breathless headlining here. New Zealand’s annual payment to UNRWA isn’t due until mid-year. MFAT made it clear that the situation would be assessed by then, and Todd McLay says Government awaits outcome of UN inquiry which is sensible. NZ Herald has more.
Read my statement regarding UNRWA funding posted on X by The Elders.
“Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman David Parker contemplates China”
A useful report from Thomas Coughlan in the New Zealand Herald on New Zealand Labour international affairs policy and the positioning of New Zealand in a volatile world.
Overseas Investment Act
“Ministerial scrutiny of whether overseas investments are in New Zealand’s national interest is to be significantly reduced”, with the prospect of more rural and sensitive land going into overseas ownership. Seems surprising that New Zealand First would go along with this? Newsroom has more.
Sexuality education in New Zealand
Comprehensive sexuality education is an international best practice; see UNESCO link. Disturbing therefore if the new New Zealand Government is seeking to depart from that. One hopes that common sense will kick in in Wellington.
Temperatures are rising in New Zealand
According to Newshub “New Zealand’s three warmest years have all happened in past three years” and "clear warming trend observed both locally and globally is consistent with human-caused climate change” says @NiwaWeather. Concerted adaptation and mitigation action vital here and worldwide.
“About the Houthi Red Sea blockage”
Paul Buchanan on New Zealand’s Government aligning with US statement on Red Sea trade route: “it appears to the neutral eye that once again NZ has put facilitation of trade ahead of upholding universal human rights in its foreign policy calculations.” New Zealand should be a voice for the end to Gaza conflict. Check out Paul Buchanan’s article on Kiwipolitico.
THE LATEST FROM THE HELEN CLARK FOUNDATION
WEBINAR - A Shared Future
Please join us for this public webinar to discuss our latest report on how best to engage with communities when planning climate adaptations.
21 February 2024 12PM-1PM NZT
The report by WSP Fellow Kali Mercier calls for significant change to the way communities are engaged in climate adaptation planning. With climate change reshaping our lives, culture, and public health in profound ways, this issue has never been more urgent.
Panel includes:
Roana Bennett: community coordinator for an iwi-led adaptation planning process in Maketu, Western Bay of Plenty.
Gemma Greenshields: Technical Principal, Community Engagement at WSP, and instrumental in working with the South Dunedin community to develop their coastal hazards plan.
Kali Mercier: Deputy Director at the Helen Clark Foundation, WSP Fellow and author of the report.
2023 the world’s hottest year on record
“This article from the BBC makes for sobering reading. With 2023 confirmed as the world's hottest year on record, now more than ever we need to be focused on climate change mitigation, as well as adaptation.
New Zealand must make major investments in long-term mitigation and adaptation efforts if we want to survive and thrive in a warming world. Our recent reports on sponge cities and community engagement set out some viable pathways.”
Rural Roundup with Alastair Taylor
“Interesting discussion on Rural Roundup with Alastair Taylor on the role Phil Goff played in negotiating and landing New Zealand's free trade agreement with China in 2008. Goff's work, and that of successive Govs and officials to upgrade the FTA, has driven real value for NZ farmers.”
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