Liquidating the SOVA Center: the official end of religious freedom in Russia

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Liquidating the SOVA Center: the official end of religious freedom in Russia

By destroying the leading organization monitoring religious liberty violations, the Putin regime can no longer pretend that relics of freedom of religion remain in Russia.

By Massimo Introvigne


Bitter Winter (04.05.2023) – The Moscow City Court decision of April 27 “liquidating” the SOVA Center for Information and Analysis, a leading Russian NGO monitoring violations of freedom of religion or belief, is one of the saddest news coming from Russia in recent times. We are all indebted to SOVA, not only for information not available anywhere else, but also for in-depth analyses explaining why the Putin regime behaves as it does in its assault against religious liberty. SOVA has announced that it will appeal, but it seems unlikely that a politically motivated decision may be overturned. 

On the other hand, paradoxically the Moscow City Court decision makes the situation of religion in Russia clearer than it was before. To be honest, I was surprised that even after the war of aggression against Ukraine was started, SOVA was still allowed to continue its precious work. I was even more surprised that, as we reported in Bitter Winter, on September 28, 2022, SOVA’s Olga Sibireva was allowed to travel to Warsaw and speak during the OSCE Human Dimension Meeting in Warsaw at a side event organized by the NGO CAP-LC, and supported by our magazine, on “Anti-Cult Ideology and FECRIS [the anti-cult European Federation whose Russian branch supports the invasion of Ukraine]: Dangers for Religious Freedom.” I was a speaker in that event too, and found Sibireva’ speech moderate, balanced, and well-informed. However, it comes out that her participation at the Warsaw event is precisely one of the “crimes” and the “gross and irreparable violations of the law” for which SOVA has been liquidated.

Photo: SOVA’s Olga Sibireva. From Twitter.

I had repeatedly asked myself why SOVA, and a few other “normal” voices, had not yet been suffocated in Russia. A tentative answer was that the Putin regime still wanted to pretend that different views on religion coexisted in Russia, from the lunatic ramblings of the Russian FECRIS and its leaders Alexander Dvorkin and Alexander Novopashin to SOVA’s moderate attitude. There was no freedom of religion in Russia, but at least some limited spaces were left where one could not change the dire situation of religious liberty but could at least talk about it.

The most important of these spaces is now being closed. Russia is serving notice to the world that not only the practice of religious liberty, but even the possibility of discussing about freedom of religion or belief have been abrogated in the country. The Putin regime is now officially one of the pariah states, together with China and North Korea, where the repression of religious freedom is not even hidden.

Friends of freedom of religion throughout the world should mobilize for SOVA. They will probably not save it—but at least they should ask democratic states and international religious organizations to note the official declaration of end of any relic of freedom of religion in Russia. There is something that can and should be done, and talking is not enough.

Magnitsky-type sanctions should hit the main architects of the repression of religious liberty in Russia, including Dvorkin and Novopashin. Interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, and invitation to international conferences, should cease for these religious leaders—bishops, starting from Patriarch Kirill, muftis, and Buddhist leaders—who aid and abet Putin’s regime and its bloody religious repression (they also support the war of aggression against Ukraine).

Business as usual with Russia can no longer continue in the religious field either.

About the author:

Massimo Introvigne (born June 14, 1955 in Rome) is an Italian sociologist of religions. He is the founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), an international network of scholars who study new religious movements. Introvigne is the author of some 70 books and more than 100 articles in the field of sociology of religion. He was the main author of the Enciclopedia delle religioni in Italia (Encyclopedia of Religions in Italy). He is a member of the editorial board for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion and of the executive board of University of California Press’ Nova Religio. From January 5 to December 31, 2011, he has served as the “Representative on combating racism, xenophobia and discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against Christians and members of other religions” of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). From 2012 to 2015 he served as chairperson of the Observatory of Religious Liberty, instituted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to monitor problems of religious liberty on a worldwide scale.

Published by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF) 

Documenting of the border violations in the United Nations

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Documenting of the border violations in the United Nations

By Dr. Ali Hilal, Minister Plenipotentiary/ Charge d’affaires Embassy of Iraq in the Netherlands

The settled rule in both international and domestic laws is the obligation to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states by neighboring or non-neighboring states and not to commit aggression against them. This is obvious in international treaties, Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and International Court of Justice decisions, based on respect for the provisions contained in the United Nations Charter.

At the domestic level, most constitutions have stipulated the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and one of the most prominent examples of applying this constitutional article is respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. That means refraining from any act that may constitute a violation or breach (materially or morally) of the sovereignty of other states. What concerns us here is the material violation of state sovereignty, i.e., physical aggression by carrying out an act that international law defines as an attack or material breach of the sovereignty of a neighboring state by a state that has assigned the act of violation to one of its national authorities.

When such border violations occur, the aggrieved state is supposed to file a complaint with the aggressor state. Documenting the violation (bilateral) is the weakest type of documentation due to the difficulty of proving it in case the other party denies receiving the complaint. Such documentation is usually done through several means that the government of the aggrieved state may use individually or collectively, depending on the severity of the breach, the strength of the bilateral relations between the two states, and the number of times such a breach is repeated. The following are some of the most prominent of these methods:

– Call the foreign ministry of the aggrieving state to the accredited head of the mission of the aggressor state and informing them of its objection to the violation with a brief overview of it and its results.

-Sending a NOTE VERBALE that includes the objection against the act attributed to the aggressor state through diplomatic channels or delivering it to the head of the mission of the aggressor state upon summons.

The report should include the date of the breach (year, month, day, hour, minute) and the duration of the breach. It should also provide a detailed description of the breach location and the incident location to document the border points where the attacking aircraft entered and the sites that were targeted. Additionally, the report should document the casualties (deaths and injuries) and categorize them by gender and civilian or military status. The report should also document the material losses resulting from the breach based on reports from the relevant civil defense directorates.

-The above methods may be used when the violation is significant, according to the assessment of the relevant national authorities.

Firstly: The purpose of documenting the violation:

As we mentioned above, bilateral documentation mechanisms are not sufficient to protest when there is a desire to go further due to the violation not stopping or the attack state is not responding to demands. Therefore, some states go for documenting violations internationally, especially if they are repeated, in order to achieve one or more of the following purposes:

1.International documentation of violations allows the attacked state to easily refer to and rely on them when claiming the right to self-defense or compensation resulting from such violations.

2.International documentation serves as a moral (artificial) deterrent with an international character, based on the United Nations’ notification by the attacked state of the violations against it and the disclosure of these border breaches to the international community.

Secondly: The ability to report border violations to the United Nations:

1.According to the United Nations Charter, any state has the right to document and report violations to the United Nations, depending on the issue at hand. In such cases, the government of the attacked state may send identical litters to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations regarding the border violations.

2.The mechanism of reporting and documentation is linked to specific requests from the attacked state, which vary depending on the issue at hand. These requests range from (notification) to a request for a Security Council resolution (depending on the attacked state’s ability to convince the Security Council of the seriousness of the incident).

3.The notification or reporting of violations may be for the sole purpose of international documentation, and the responding party may either respond to these claims or remain silent. In such cases, and according to the rules of international law, the lack of response from the other party cannot be considered as a legal admission of the occurrence of the violation for several reasons, including the fact that the notification in such cases is of a political nature and not judicial. In all the aforementioned cases, this notification (complaint) cannot be considered as independent evidence sufficient alone to issue a judgment in a specific legal case in accordance with the rules of international law. Rather, it is a corroborating indication that can be used to support any future claim by the attacked state for compensation, or to exercise the right of self-defense, or to refer the matter to peaceful settlement mechanisms as stipulated in the United Nations Charter.

Thirdly: Types of documentation at the United Nations

1.Send a letter of protest from the Minister of Foreign Affairs documenting all the details related to those violations, this letter attached usually with a Note Verbal issued by the attacked state’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York, addressed to both the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. As we mentioned, one of the most important issues to be mentioned in the letter is the coordinates of the breach (date, time, location, duration of the breach, number of air or ground strikes, casualties, etc.) and the sender usually requests the adoption of this letter as an official document of the United Nations.

2.Sending a Note Verbal or letter from the permanent mission of the attacked state in New York to the President of the Security Council and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, stating the violations and the impact of these violations on the destabilization of international peace and security, and calling for the international community to take immediate action to stop or condemn these violations, as well as  to activate the Security Council’s mandate under the United Nations Charter and requesting the Security Council to take action on the matter, and the powers of the Security Council in this case are as follows:

A – Security Council Resolution: The Security Council may issue a resolution regarding border violations that includes both operative and preamble paragraphs, this type of resolution requires affirmative vote of nine members of the Security Council, including the concurring votes of the permanent members, and this procedure requires international support from the attacked state. B – Presidential Statement: This is a less severe action than its predecessor and is issued by the Security Council on an issue that member states agree to issue a statement on without rising to the level of a resolution.

C– Press Statement: This is another action taken by the Security Council by issuing an official press statement after the session dedicated to discussing a particular topic has ended, which requires issuing a statement on the position of the member states in the Council on the matter.

Fourthly: The consequences of reporting violations to the United Nations

1.Positive consequences: A. Reporting this violation as a first step to gain international support to prevent or criminalize the violation and compensate for the damages caused. B. Diverting the issue from a bilateral relationship between the aggressor and the attacked state to the international arena by presenting the issue to one of the United Nations bodies, generating international momentum and more pressure on the aggressor government. C. This action is an obligation and duty on the government of the attacked state imposed by its constitutional duties to preserve the rights of the state, ensure its sovereignty, and enforce its authority over its territory in accordance with international law. D. Finding a moral deterrent that governs the relationship between the parties, contributing to prompting the aggressor government to reconsider its border violations in the future.

2.Negative effects: they are divided into two main groups: The first group: negative effects in the bilateral relationship with the aggressor state: A. There is a high possibility of tension in the bilateral relations between the two parties and the use of specific pressure means by the affected state towards the government of the aggressor state, economically, politically, or any other escalatory steps that can be avoided bilaterally. B. Resorting to documenting border violations to the United Nations may not ultimately lead to tangible results, in return, it will definitely lead to the loss of part of the political pressure that the affected state can exert on the aggressor state through bilateral diplomatic channels (the Joint High Committee, Foreign Ministers, embassies of both countries, meetings of security experts, etc.).

The Second group: Negative effects on the position of the state that has been internationally violated: Internationalizing such border violations often leads to a desire to find urgent regional or international solutions and interventions to resolve the conflict or stop the violations through peaceful means. This may open the door for regional intervention in a bilateral issue, especially if the issue of the violation or its location is linked to certain sensitive issues, such as the presence of ethnic, religious, or national minorities in more than one neighboring state of the violated state.

In conclusion, it must be said that resorting to such a measure should be preceded by a wide-ranging international media campaign that sheds light on these border violations and mobilizes possible regional and popular support for such a step to be a supportive factor in increasing international mobilization against these violations. It should not be the first choice for deterrence against aggression, considering that such violations may be repeated and ongoing. Therefore, there must be documented (bilateral) and (regional) mechanisms that are accountable and coordinated first for these violations before moving to the level of the United Nations, as there may be negative aspects if all positive and negative aspects of this escalation are not taken into account.

From a shared history to a shared memory

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From a shared history to a shared memory

By Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague

In March of this year it was decided to place a monument on Lange Voorhout in commemoration of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and Caribbean slavery. The creation of this monument forms part of a wider programme to make The Hague’s colonial and slavery past part of its collective memory. The municipal council had previously asked the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) to conduct an academic study on its behalf to examine The Hague’s colonial and slavery history. When the research report was presented I, as Mayor, on behalf of the municipal executive, offered my apologies for the way in which past public administrators of The Hague supported and profited from the system of colonialism and slavery.

Anyone who cares to look will find numerous accounts related to the period of colonialism and slavery in The Hague and signs of it too. What comes to mind here in this context are the many people living in our city, roughly 20 per cent of The Hague’s population, whose roots lie in the former colonies, some of whom are also descendants of people who were enslaved. Traces of that history can also be seen in the city’s architecture (the Mauritshuis being the best known example), as well as in art collections, the Royal Library and the National Archive.

Our colonial past is not a closed chapter in our history. Its consequences are clearly visible, even today. That the emotions are still there among all the different points of view, was something I felt for myself during my visits to the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, as well as Suriname, Indonesia and India. The Hague elected to have a study carried out to look at both its history of slavery and its entire colonial past. Not least, because slavery was an integral part of the colonial system. But that does not mean that we are not aware of the wide differences between the victims. The Hague fully recognises the unique position of the victims of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and Caribbean slavery. Just as we also want to do justice to all the other victims of slavery and colonialism.

The Hague’s colonial and slavery history differs from that of other cities in the Netherlands. The Hague was not a trading city and had no ‘official’ city rights until the start of the 19th century. As the seat of government and the residence of first the stadholders and later the successive monarchs and queens, however, The Hague was also the place where all national decisions about colonial policy and thus slavery and contract labour were taken. We are reminded of that by buildings such as the former Ministry of the Colonies. In the archives we find the names of people living in The Hague who invested in the United East India Company (VOC) and the West India Company (WIC), or directly in plantations where enslaved people were forced to work. Many of those investors could be found among the highest echelons of government, with positions at both local and national level.

The study by the KITLV showed that The Hague municipal council of the day was keen to gain influence within the VOC and WIC. Wealthy residents had no qualms about investing in matters directly related to slavery. As did the SociĂ«teit van ’s-Gravenhage, The Hague’s tax authority. The SociĂ«teit invested in British government bonds in 1774. And thus, via the international capital markets, sought to gain a slice of the pie from the colonial activities of its rival, Britain, which also included the slave trade. The SociĂ«teit clearly had no ethical awareness when it came to how profits were made. It was only ever about the money, and not the African people.

This was still the case in 1863 when slavery was abolished in the Caribbean: change only came about when a compensation scheme was set up. A compensation scheme that was instituted not for the victims of slavery, but for the slave owners. And partly funded by the culture system in the Dutch East Indies which forced Javanese peasants to produce products for export to the Netherlands. Once again, people were reduced to a commodity and exploited. The same fate befell those enslaved in Asia. More attention has been devoted in recent times to the Dutch trans-Atlantic slave trade and plantations in the Caribbean. But we should not forget that from the first half of the 17th century, the VOC also engaged in large-scale slave trading in Asia.

When slavery was abolished there were at least 40 Caribbean plantation owners living in The Hague. Remarkably enough, none of them were merchants, but rather members of the nobility, military, public officials and a few politicians. It is known that 564 citizens of The Hague served on the municipal council between 1795-1940. It has been established that 89 of these people had a direct or indirect link with the colonial administration. This could mean that their family had interests in slavery or that they themselves once worked in colonial administration. A direct consequence of the abolition of slavery was the arrival of contract workers in Suriname. Most of them came from India and Java. Under very harsh conditions they had to create a new life for themselves in Suriname.

The municipal executive fully realises the extent to which our predecessors, as members of the governing elite of the time, were involved in the system of colonialism and slavery. An apology cannot undo the untold suffering inflicted upon the ancestors of so many citizens of The Hague. I also want to stress that no one currently living in The Hague is to blame for the deeds of those who lived in The Hague at that time or were responsible for its public administration. Although we are well aware that the suffering of the past continues to the present day. That it causes sorrow. And anger. Not least because the system of colonialism and slavery was based on racism and notions of white supremacy. Phenomena still faced today by the descendants of the victims of colonialism and slavery.

Racism is still a toxic force, even in our society. And that is precisely why it is so important to acknowledge the suffering caused by the system of colonialism and slavery. We can only truly address today’s racism when – by recognising its origins and consequences – we make colonialism and slavery part of our collective memory.  Something which has not yet happened. The picture of our history is still incomplete. It was the decades-long failure to acknowledge the historical role of slavery, in particular, that caused so much pain and anger.

The academic study of The Hague’s colonial and slavery history carried out at the request of the municipal executive, marks a beginning. The start of a wider programme to give colonialism and slavery a permanent place in The Hague’s commemorative culture. In addition, a Colonial and Slavery History Advisory Committee will shortly be set up to provide The Hague city council with welcome advice. We are proud to be the first in the country with such a standing committee drawn from broad sections of the community. The topic will be covered in schools and, of course, 2023 will be an important year of commemoration. Slavery was abolished 160 years ago (although enslaved people were still required to work for another 10 years) and it is 150 years since the first contract workers arrived in Suriname.

This is how we will proceed, step by step and together, to ensure that the memory of the suffering caused by colonialism and slavery is firmly embedded in the collective memory of The Hague. With the aim of doing justice to all the victims and their descendants. In the hope that eventually, by remembering together it can become a shared memory. And that we, here in The Hague, on the basis of that jointly acknowledged past, can build an even better common future.

Hong Kong is ready for business

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Hong Kong is ready for business

Hong Kong Trade Development Council is committed to connecting businesses with opportunities via Hong Kong

By Silas Chu, Regional Director, Europe, Central Asia & Israel

Hong Kong is back, with lines of travellers at the city’s international airport, West Kowloon high-speed railway station and for shuttle bus services across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Between 5 and 10 April, the end of Easter break, the first long holiday since travel restrictions were lifted, more than 4 million people have entered or left Hong Kong.

Last December, Hong Kong began gradually to relax social distancing measures. In February, borders with the Chinese mainland reopened and in March, the compulsory wearing of face masks, the very last restriction ended. The number of travellers has risen quickly.  In February Hong Kong airport welcomed 2,146,000 passengers, an increase of over 2,392 percent compared with February last year.

Many large-scale international events have returned to Hong Kong.

Early March, the 39th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 9th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show gathered over 2,500 exhibitors and attracted over 60,000 buyers from 130 countries and regions.

Late March, thousands flocked to Art Basel Hong Kong, one of Asia’s leading art fairs, to view works from 177 top galleries from 32 countries and regions. The Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, held from March 31 to April 2, attracted about 75,000 spectators.

The return of visitors and businessmen serves as a prelude to the resilience of the city as an international business hub and its new offerings in art, culture, and innovation give new impetus to its economic growth and driver seat of the regional integration with the GBA cities and RCEP economies.

Recently, the HKSAR Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address a wide array of incentives and measures to attract international strategic enterprises and investments to Hong Kong, particularly in areas such as life sciences, health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, financial technology, advanced manufacturing, and new energy technology.

As a two-way platform between China and the world and one of the world’s top financial centres, Hong Kong has been supporting businesses and investors worldwide to tap into the vast China and Asia markets and has been playing a major role in the global financial system.

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China. It is committed to connecting businesses with opportunities via Hong Kong, promoting the city’s advantages to the global business community and strengthening its role as a world-class business hub, and a two-way investment and trade platform for GBA, ASEAN and RCEP.

We enrich our deal-making work through major conferences, including Asian Financial Forum, Belt and Road Summit and other events, to facilitate tripartite cooperation between service providers, investors, and project owners. We promote key opportunities in tech and innovation, medical and healthcare, and sustainability in our industry events.

This year, besides the year-round sourcing with HKTDC’s Exhibition+ model and Click2Match digital service, the HKTDC has launched a new Business of Innovation and Technology Week with a new InnoEx fair in April and an International Healthcare Week, integrating the Asia Summit on Global Health and Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair in May.

Our anchor event for the year as to relaunch Hong Kong after three long years of pandemic is our signature promotion Think Business, Think Hong Kong.

“Think Business, Think Hong Kong” is a global programme promoting bilateral trade and investment between Hong Kong and key international partners. Since 2011, the programme has fortified Hong Kong’s business ties with countries like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Among all mature markets and to reflect the importance and optimism we attach to Europe and France in particular; this year’s edition will be held in Paris on 19 September.

Joined by a large Hong Kong business delegation comprising CEOs, investors, innovators, start-ups and professional service providers, the group will meet with over 1,000 French and European companies with an interest in doing business in Asia and share their perspectives about the market potential and areas of collaboration with Hong Kong.

For further information

https://www.hktdc.com, www.thinkbusinessthinkhk.com

Your Shipwreck is my Time-capsule

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Your Shipwreck is my Time-capsule

By Prof. Richard T. Griffiths

The Silk Road Virtual Museum (SRVM) has two routes – overland and by sea. For the maritime routes, in addition to the land-based cultural artefacts, I want to feature shipwrecks, especially those with intact cargoes. Unlike the scattered pieces in museums and private collections, a ship’s cargo gives an accurate time-shot of the volumes and nature of traded goods. Moreover, unlike land sites that are reused and reinvented over time, a wreck captures the essence of life and culture of a community the moment of its loss. Researching for the SRVM Beijing (1271-1368) site, which will be the third site added to the museum, I came across the Shinan shipwreck. Its story will explain why I want to feature it in the Museum.

In 1323CE a Chinese trading vessel left the port of what is now the port of Ningbo on the Yangtze River, destined for the port of Hakata, now Fukuoka, in Japan. It never arrived. It was caught in a storm off the south western coast of Korea and sank without trace. For over 600 years the wreck lay undiscovered, twenty metres below the waves. In 1975 a fisherman and his son found six pieces of pottery caught in their nets which turned out to be ancient Caledon vases, characterised by their blue-green glaze. So began the rescue of one of the most complete, intact consignments of trade goods from the 14th century.

For the next nine years a team of archaeologists worked on the wreck to salvage what they could of the vessel and its cargo. They could only work in the summer, and could only dive for an hour a day just as the tide was turning.

The archaeologists knew when it sailed because they could decipher eight wooden tags found in the vessel, with the words “Zhizhi Sannian” – The third year of Zhizhi Period – in other words 1323, written on them, which indicated the date of loading for shipment. There were more than three hundred other tags indicating the owners or consignees of the various cargoes. All the goods were destined for Japan.

They knew that the ship was Chinese because of its construction and the origin of the ship’s timbers. It was 32 metres long and 10 metres wide and had a cargo capacity of some 140 tons. The hull was divided into eight holds for carrying the cargo, with the bulkheads also offering the vessel much needed structural stability. It was from this information that scientists were able to construct a scale model of the ship.

At the middle of the ship, at the bottom, the archaeologists recovered 28 tons of silver coins packed into 470 boxes. Some of the coins dated back to the first century CE. These had been obviously placed there to increase the vessel’s stability but old Chinese coins also found a ready demand in Japan where they could be smelted into other objects.

Those were not the only coins. The archaeologists also found one or two coins in most of the jars and packing cases. It was a traditional practice to bring good-luck. They also found some peppercorns in many of the artifacts, placed there for the same reason.

Above the coins, and between the boxes, they found over 1,000 pieces of red sandal wood, each between one and two metres long. The wood served as dunnage, preventing the shifting of the cargo. However, the wood was expensive and it had originated in South East Asia or even as far away as India. It had been loaded onto the ship in China, along with the other cargo (otherwise it could not be underneath) as was probably intended to be used in high quality furniture or to be carved into Buddhist statues.

The rest of the cargo, which comprised over 20,000 pieces of ceramics and more than 700 metal objects was placed on top, much of it in wooden chests. This was the earliest evidence of the use of packing cases in Asian trade. Most of the chests had disintegrated but some had survived. An analysis of the wood from which they were made suggested that the majority originated in Japan rather than China. Tree-ring dating showed that the youngest wood dated from 1316. The lid on one of the boxes had squares drawn upon it, for playing the game of wĂ©i qĂ­, better known in English as ‘Go’.

Covering all the cargo, was a deck which would protect the cargo and to allow people to walk freely. And protect the cargo it did since, when the ship sank, the decking kept to cargo on board for long enough to allow it to become waterlogged and not to float away. This is why so much remained intact and this is what (some of) it looked like:

This leaves one last question. What sort or trade have we been looking at? The wooden tags make clear that the pieces were ordered by Japanese customers. They show that it took some 40 days for Chinese merchants to prepare and package ordered items before sailing. Between 30-40 sailors were on board during the voyage. At the time, private trade was discouraged in Japan but there was one exception. In order to pay for their upkeep and repair, temples were allowed to trade. So, this was probably a form of temple trade – with a Chinese ship, possibly manned largely by Chinese sailors, collecting a cargo of goods pre ordered by and for Japanese customers.

I would love to include the Shinan wreck in the Silk Road Virtual Museum. Ideally, I would have visitors take an underwater guided dive tour over a 3D reconstruction of the wreck and then allow them to walk around a photogramed 3D version of the ship itself. I would photogram a dozen of the artefacts, to reinforce the ‘illusion’ of the 2D representations of the rest. I would have a theatre where the archaeologists could retell the story of the wreck’s recovery, the building of the model and the preservation of the finds.

I would link it to the SRVM sites in China and Japan to capture the cultural context, as well as to other contemporaneous underwater sites to reinforce the idea of the existence of a complex international trading network And I would link it to the real-world site of the wreck.

Part of the artefacts from the wreck are ii the National Museum in Seoul but the wreck itself and much of the collection is here:

National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage

Jeollanam-do, Mokpo-si, 용핎동 8. South Korea

http://www.seamuse.go.kr/

All-encompassing musical world tour

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All-encompassing musical world tour

‘Contemporary composers use the same 12 notes that are prevalent throughout musical history, but you hear the sound of today. The echo of what is going on in today’s society.’

From miniatures to masterpieces and from Bach to Wantenaar, the Residentie Orkest offers a variety of musicians and repertoires from different cultures and backgrounds in the 2023-2024 season. The diverse range of ingredients promises a colourful programme.

Sven Arne Tepl, General and Artistic Director of the Residentie Orkest, would love to take his audience on a musical exploration of different cultures. Diversity and versatility are therefore at the centre of the programming. ‘We want to surprise and inspire our audiences time and time again, both with a large and innovative repertoire, and with guest soloists and conductors from completely different backgrounds. We are going on a world tour in our own concert hall Amare.’

Top pianists series

New to the line-up of regular series like Symphonic Friday and the Sunday matinee is the Top pianists series. ‘The piano repertoire is vast and comprehensive; there is a lot to choose from. We are home to some great soloists, including Denis Kozhukhin playing Rachmaninov. And former artist in residence Yeol Eum Son returns to The Hague.’ New repertoire has also been considered: Ralph van Raat performs the piano concerto ‘Prophecies of Stone’ by John Luther Adams. ‘Adams does a lot of work with soundscapes and draws inspiration from the nature of Alaska in particular.’

Auerbach Festival

The orchestra will have a party with American-Russian Lera Auerbach. A birthday party, that is. To mark the 50th birthday of this pianist, composer and artist, the Residentie Orkest, the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, the Netherlands Chamber Choir and a number of other ensembles from The Hague will organise a weekend festival around this artistic jack-of-all-trades. ‘Lera is a woman of boundless energy and countless ideas. She writes books, makes beautiful bronze sculptures, goes skydiving, but with us, she plays Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 20 and conducts the Dutch premiere of her Fifth Symphony. An artist with a language that is very much her own. I am looking forward to her arrival.’

Mainstays

Chief conductor Anja Bihlmaier and regular guest conductors Jun MĂ€rkl and Richard Egarr are frequent performers at Amare this season. ‘These three regular mainstays leave their very own mark on the orchestra.’ Since opening, we have done some tweaking to the acoustics of the concert hall. ‘The orchestral sound was just a little too bare, especially in the high registers like the first violins. We did something about that and successfully, it has become one of the best halls in the country! Because the sound mixes so beautifully now, the sound image comes very close, as if you were looking directly into the score.’

Artist in residence

Czech violinist and former concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Josef Ć paček brings the violin concertos by Dvoƙák, Beethoven and Berg. ‘Josef is our artist in residence this season. An exceptional musician who has a very diverse repertoire.’ Read the interview with Josef Ć paček here [insert deeplink].

Into the neighbourhood

‘With projects like Portiekmuziek, where the orchestra goes into the neighbourhood, we want to connect with all residents of the city. We receive help from housing associations, healthcare institutions and other partners. They identify what people want and we respond to that.’ A great example is the series of concerts at the Juliana church in the Transvaal neighbourhood. The meeting between the musicians and local residents afterwards is sometimes more important here than the concert itself. Contact like that really does something. For both parties.’

Sounds of today

The programme also includes a number of world premieres. These include a concerto for accordion and orchestra by Dutch composer Mathilde Wagenaar and the Triple Concerto written by Finnish composer Sebastian Fagerlund for the Storioni Trio. ‘Contemporary composers use the same 12 notes that are prevalent throughout musical history, but you hear the sound of today. The echo of what is going on in today’s society.’

Tipped by Sven

‘First of all, if you have not yet been to our fantastic concert hall, please come and visit us! For example, on Friday 19 January 2024 for the programme featuring violinist Alina Pogostkina. She will play the First Violin Concerto by Prokofiev. Combined with Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique , this promises to be an exciting evening

Featured quote:

‘Contemporary composers use the same 12 notes that are prevalent throughout musical history, but you hear the sound of today. The echo of what is going on in today’s society.’

Daphina Misiedjan begins prestigious Young Academy appointment

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Daphina Misiedjan begins prestigious Young Academy appointment

“It’s very special to realize that my research really means something to people”

Daphina Misiedjan has been elected a member of the Young Academy of the KNAW. She is a lawyer and researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam at the International Institute for Social Studies (ISS). The instalment is on March 28, 2023 and is for a period of five years. Misiedjan does research on climate inequality: “I do research on the challenges that vulnerable groups face.”

Can you explain what climate inequality is?

“The richest countries and the companies that contribute the most to climate change are often much less affected. Countries in the global south experience the impact first. Think of extreme droughts or heavy floods. In Yemen, for example, access to water is increasingly at risk, but that country’s CO2 emissions are very limited. Even within countries, you see big differences. For example, it is usually people with higher incomes who contribute more to climate change, but people with lower incomes suffer more.”

Does climate inequality also exist in the Netherlands?

“Certainly, think of the extreme heat that is increasingly common in summer. People with lower incomes have smaller houses, and usually have less access to public green space in the area to cool off. As a result, they are more likely to suffer from heat stress. You also see that this group has less access to subsidies, for example, to better insulate the home.”

Where does your interest in climate inequality come from?

“As a lawyer, I look at rights, regulation and distribution issues that are also determined by legislation. My dissertation was about access to drinking water from a human rights perspective. The international human rights movement emerged just after World War II, but climate was a blind spot for a long time. Only since the 1970s people started realizing that our planet is running into limits. Now the question is how human rights can continue to be safeguarded as we face ever-increasing environmental and climate issues.”

 “I want to try to help vulnerable groups empower themselves more. There are more and more lawsuits to protect vulnerable groups. I think that’s a very interesting development. For example, the lawsuit by Friends of the Earth against Shell for pollution in Nigeria or the Urgenda case in the Netherlands. So law can do good, but it also has a downside because it has also played a role in the current distribution of capital.”

What do you hope to accomplish with your research?

“Initially, I want to expose the role of law. I also think it’s important to do research on topics that really affect people. Possibly my findings can help formulate legal cases. As a researcher, I have more time to dig into something than someone working at an NGO. Parties or individuals can come to me with questions. If I have time, I can get people started and provide information.”

How does that go? Do people approach you?

“That happens regularly, for example, after people have read an interview with me or when they came to a lecture. Recently someone asked if a forest area near him that is in danger of being cut down could be protected with ‘Rights of Nature’. It is special to notice that my research is alive and relevant to people. I can’t always answer, but try to help them where I can. For example, I share links to research or refer to organizations that can help. ISS values social impact and you get to make space for that as well.”

What does it mean to be part of the Young Academy?

“It’s very valuable to connect with researchers from other fields and see how we can complement each other. I also really enjoy being able to help think about science policy and how it affects us as young researchers. For example, about the criteria the NWO (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) should use when awarding grants. How can we give social impact more weight in research funding? These are questions we are thinking about. We can also contribute to the research agenda and set up our own research. For example, during the pandemic, research was done on the impact of Covid-19 on young researchers.”

What would you like to put on the agenda?

“I find it interesting to see how we can connect society and science more, especially for children. That’s why the Lil’ScientistOpens external programme appeals to me. They involve children in research by letting them collect data themselves. I would also love to see a Kingdom-wide network for researchers. At first, researchers from the Caribbean islands were not always eligible for NWO grants and until recently were also not eligible for election to the KNAW. Fortunately, this is now possible. I would like to help set up this network.”

ISS Newsletter

In conversation with the new ICC Registrar, Osvaldo Zavala Giler

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In conversation with the new ICC Registrar, Osvaldo Zavala Giler

On 5 April 2023, Osvaldo Zavala Giler (Ecuador) was sworn-in as the new Registrar of the International Criminal Court (ICC), succeeding Mr Peter Lewis (United Kingdom). Mr Zavala Giler was elected by ICC judges for five years. In this exclusive interview with Diplomat Magazine, the new Registrar discusses some of his priorities and his vision for the Court.   

What is your role as the Registrar of the ICC? 

I am the principal administrative officer of the ICC. I am responsible for all the non-judicial aspects of the administration of the Court.

The Registry is the neutral organ of the Court that supports the Judiciary and the Office of the Prosecutor, as well as other parties and participants such as the defence and the representatives of victims. Effective judicial support services are essential to the Court’s functioning, inside and outside the Courtroom. It also includes running our detention facilities, as well as performing all the translation and interpretation services needed.  

In addition to this aspect, my role is also to ensure the proper administration of the Court, as a public international organization. In this context, the Registry plays a critical role in managing the Court’s annual budget, dealing with staffing and recruitment, ensuring the security of the Court, and enabling a safe and inclusive work environment and culture in the organization, for everyone who works in it.

Finally my role is also to foster engagement and communication with a wide array of external partners: by conducting public information and outreach, ensuring cooperation with the ICC, and managing our offices in various situation countries across the world.

Osvaldo Zavala Giler during his interview with Diplomat Magazine.

What is your background?

I am from Ecuador. I have over sixteen years of experience on the work of the ICC, in different capacities, including as Chief of the Budget Section, senior special assistant to the Registrar and Head of Office of the Court’s liaison office to the United Nations in New York. I was also a founding member of ICCQ, the Sexual and Gender Diversity Network at the Court

Before joining the Court, I worked as a legal officer, legal adviser and liaison officer to the United Nations for the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, a partnership of civil society organizations, in The Hague and in New York. In Ecuador, I also worked in a law firm from 2000 to 2003, where I had the opportunity to work on cases before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Because of this experience, I understand well the functioning of the Registry, the ICC and the Assembly of States Parties. And I am well aware of the  opportunities, challenges and expectations that come with this position. It is a great honour and a vast responsibility.

What are your priorities during your mandate?

In times of heightened expectations and challenges, my priorities will be to contribute to continuing to build  the ICC as a model of modern public administration that ensures effectiveness and safeguards accountability.

More concretely, this will mean  to: i) deliver on the important investment and commitment made by our States Parties through the increased budget they adopted for the Court for 2023, and ensure the Court has the capacity to effectively and efficiently deliver its  mandate, ii) promote a healthy and productive working environment, iii) galvanize trust and support from stakeholders, and iv) safeguard cooperation including, in particular, regarding witness protection and the execution of pending arrest warrants.

I will encourage a working environment that promotes professionalism, respect, diversity, inclusion and equality. It is simple: being treated with respect, feeling safe in your own working environment, encourages motivation, increases innovation, supports engagement and better performance.

Bangui, Central African Republic in the first visit of the Registrar after his election to a ICC country office. (March 2023) ICC’s Registrar, Osvaldo Zavala Giler. Photography by ICC/CPI
ICC Registrar in Bangui, Central African Republic. Photography ICC/CPI

What challenges and opportunities do you foresee?

In my view, the main overarching strategic challenge faced by the ICC is the continuous consolidation of its legitimacy. While the Court’s legitimacy is not always at risk, it is constantly at stake and is often impacted by some of the more systemic issues affecting the institution, as these directly affect the trust placed on the organization by its stakeholders and the international community as a whole.

The Registry contributes to strengthening the Court’s legitimacy first and foremost by guaranteeing its operational sustainability.

In this regard, servicing the Court by ensuring its operational sustainability is the most direct and comprehensive responsibility of the Registrar. It encompasses, among other duties, building and sustaining a public administration that is accountable, responsible and efficient; and maintaining the support services required by the Judiciary and the parties and participants to the proceedings to bring to effect the judicial mandate of the Court.

As it is States Parties that contribute through their national finances to the Court’s budget, the Registrar must guarantee the most cost-effective and efficient use of resources, while fostering an environment of fiscal responsibility for the demand and use of those resources. An efficiently run and fiscally responsible administration will allow for a constructive environment based on trust and respect that will be more conducive for stakeholders’ willingness to increasingly support the work of the Court.

Another key challenge, and an opportunity, is cooperation from States Parties and support from stakeholders, including, as appropriate, non-States Parties, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, and societies impacted by the work of the Court. Without cooperation and support, the Court is unable to execute some of the most fundamental aspects of its judicial mandate.  

How do you plan on improving diversity at the Court?  

Diversity in the workplace, including gender balance, geographical representation and multilingualism, must become an internalized priority of the Court. This is essential to ensure a more dynamic, productive and representative workforce.

The improvement of workplace culture is reliant on leadership commitment. A safe, secure, diverse, respectful and productive working environment must be sustained by leaders who embody and reflect with their behaviour the values demanded of the organization. Leaders should not tolerate, in any form or degree, conducts that promote expressions of hatred, racism, discrimination, including gender discrimination and discrimination against members of the LGBTQI+ community, abuse of authority, harassment and/or sexual misconduct. I want us to lead by example.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. Based in The Hague, The Netherlands, the Court was established by the Rome Statute, an international treaty ratified by 123 countries. As a court of last resort, the ICC complements national tribunals. The Office of the Prosecutor is currently investigating 17 situations on different continents. ICC judges have issued 40 arrest warrants and 9 summonses to appear. 7 persons are currently in ICC custody.  

Egypt, the land of the pharaohs

Diplomat Magazine
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Egypt, the land of the pharaohs

By Alexandra Paucescu

As diplomats, we are always the image of our own countries while abroad. Sometimes we meet people that never heard of our country; other times we do things to improve its image or just make it more popular or admired.

Naglaa Elkhawanky is from Egypt, the country of one of the oldest ancient civilizations in the world, dating back to 3100 BC, home to many famous ancient monuments, a country that needs no more presentation. However, she is one of the most active diplomatic spouses that I have met so far, always passionately speaking about her country and presenting its maybe less known treasures to the world.

Born in Cairo and with a Bachelor degree in English, French and Arabic literature and linguistics, this educated lady continued her studies over the years, while traveling the world with her diplomat husband.

She recalls: ‘I got married right after my graduation and we moved to Japan just ten days following our wedding. Japan remains one of the closest postings to my heart because we started our family there. My two daughters were born in Japan, making it a country with a lot of special moments and memories to cherish. Japan was a very interesting country to live in as it has one of the richest civilizations in its region, with a unique culture and traditions that are respectfully kept and preserved. We also lived in the United States of America, Belgium and Germany. In between our foreign postings, I worked in Egypt as a TV reporter, interpreter and tourist consultant’.  And that is maybe how I explain her natural talent for representing Egypt with such professionalism and class.

‘Coming from Egypt, which is visited by tourists from all over the world, I was exposed to many languages throughout my childhood, making me keen to learn thoroughly more than one. I believe that studying a language can help you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and people associated with it, as well as help opening a communication channel between people from different countries. Therefore, I studied Japanese and German during our posts in Japan and Germany, which provided me with an open door to both societies and cultures’.

Naglaa Elkhawanky and her husband, Egypt’s ambassador to Belgium.

Life offered her the opportunity to see the world and get to know and fully understand different cultures, while never forgetting her own roots.  You can understand how much she truly loves her country when you hear her speak about it, or, if you are lucky, you get to participate in one of her interesting diplomatic lectures.

Egypt, a North African country of 112 million people (living in 27 governorates but only on 7.8 % of the total land area), has always been described as a magical land, the land of the pharaohs, of the great pyramids that hide priceless treasures and secrets and of a civilization that is even now, thousands of years later, looked at with admiration but also shrouded in mystery. I have to confess that I have always been fascinated with it and, as a child, I was simply devouring any book related to Egypt. The country inspired countless stories and blockbuster movies for years. It has also the most beautiful and interesting underwater life that I have ever seen.

Naglaa adds, during our conversation: ‘it’s worth mentioning that the first diplomatic correspondence and archives have been found in Egypt, dating back to the 13th century BC. While many people are aware of Egypt’s ancient history, I would also like to mention that over the past ten years Egypt has achieved remarkable political, economic and social progress, accelerated steps to improve the quality of life of its people and build a robust economy as well as strengthening its foreign relations and advancing as a leader in renewable energy development. A New Administrative Capital, just 35 km east of Cairo, is nearing completion. Located on a total area of 700 square kilometers, this city will help strengthen and diversify the country’s economic potential, by creating many new opportunities for housing and employment.’

She is a true diplomat, by all means. She completely understands her role in the family dynamic but also as a diplomatic spouse, while she successfully fulfills it.

‘While we are abroad, I represent not only myself, but the image of Egyptian women who have played an active and prominent role throughout our history. This mission by itself  is a huge responsibility.  As diplomatic spouses, we have the precious opportunity to interact with the society of the hosting country, to promote our own with its culture and traditions, through events or being involved in charity programs and activities which have a positive impact on the society.

“Behind every successful diplomat is their spouse”, I find this role very powerful and rewarding, complementing the role of my husband. We work into forging close relationships with the diplomatic community and the society, thus introducing our country in the best way possible to people from other countries and different backgrounds. In all the countries I have served, I really enjoyed organizing events about ancient Egyptian history, Egyptian women, culture, traditions, food and tourism. The feedback is always rewarding and many people who attended those events decided to visit Egypt afterwards. I also raised my three children on the principle that they don’t just represent themselves, but also the Egyptian youth’.

She is for sure an example of class, modesty, wit and multicultural intelligence, but above all she is a proud inheritor of her famous ancestors, a representative that honors the land of pyramids and pharaohs.


About the author:

Alexandra Paucescu

Alexandra Paucescu- Author of “Just a Diplomatic Spouse” Romanian, management graduate with a Master in business, cultural diplomacy and international relations studies.

She speaks Romanian, English, French, German and Italian,  gives lectures on intercultural communication and is an active NGO volunteer.

Warmi Pachakutik – Tiempo de Mujeres by Ecuador

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Warmi Pachakutik – Tiempo de Mujeres by Ecuador

The International Women’s Day started already in The Hague with the screening of Warmi Pachakutik – Tiempo de Mujeres, a documentary introduced by the Embassy of Ecuador to members and guests from the Asociacion Hispanica de La Haya on Tuesday February 21.

Warmi Pachakutik- Tiempo de Mujeres showcase the story of four young women belonging to different ethnic groups, who are involved in art, political activism and business. They are the heroes of this documentary shot in 2020. It is a production of film director Frida Muenala, from Kichwa-Aapoteca origins, one of the indigenous nationalities of Ecuador. They share their personal experiences and sense of belonging to their communities, the role of women in the contemporary society and the reconstruction of a woman identity in a traditional men leadership.

Warmi Pachakutik – Tiempo de Mujeres

During a well-attended presentation, the ambassador of Ecuador, H.E. Mr. Andres Teran Parral, started his welcome speech to his special guests by recreating the history of the United Nations’ decision of commemorating the International Women’s Day on 8 March 1975 , officially declared by the UN Assembly in 1977 stated to create conscience on the importance of women empowering with equal rights gender protection.

Ms. Edith Bergansius, President of Asociacion Hispanica de La Haya.

“However, even today we are seeing in many parts of the world that the rights of women are still brutally violated. The fight for women rights and human rights in general are our responsibility, each one of us from our private life is able to make our world a better place for all.

Women’s enormous contribution to our society is a fact in all professional fields. This is the theme of the film we are watching today. I wish to honor all women present here tonight and our dear host Edith Bergansius an example of effort, work and dedication. I also wish to thanks our embassy team to make it possible.”, stated ambassador Teran.

Tiempo de Mujeres by the Embassy of Ecuador and The Hague Hispanic Association.

After the screening, ambassadors from several Latin American countries, diplomats, members of the Asociacion Hispanica de La Haya and friends enjoyed Ecuadorian empanadas.

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