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Newsletter - March 2020

July 24, 2020

Source: MIGS

Announcements

MIGS was mentioned in the US State Department’s China 2019 Human Rights Report (page 20-21), regarding the pressure MIGS and Concordia received to cancel a March 2019 conference with Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress.

MIGS’ Fellow Michael Petrou wrote a report for the Canadian International Council titled “How populism threatens liberal democracy around the world and what Canada should do about it.” He examines why Canada should care about the weakening of global democracy and what it can do to combat rising populist tides.

MIGS’ Digital Fellow Karine Pontbriand co-authored a report titled “La stratégie internationale du Canada en matière de cybersécurité : enjeux et recommandations.”

Past Events

On 5 February, MIGS Fellow Naomi Kikoler moderated a panel discussion titled “Religious Persecution 75 Years after the Holocaust” organized by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and 21Wilberforce. A video of the conference is available on the Museum’s website.

- On 12 February, MIGS hosted the Canadian International Council (Montreal Branch) and the Chaire Raoul Dandurand at L'Université du Québec à Montréal for a round table event titled “Les Frontières De Trump”, moderated by MIGS Project Coordinator Marie Lamensch.

- On 13 February, MIGS hosted a talk organized by the Canadian International Council in Montreal and the CERIUM (Université de Montreal) titled “Un Canada ambitieux sur la scène internationale: un rôle pour nos citoyens” featuring former Ambassador to Venezuela, Ben Rowswell. A recording of the event is available here.

- On 14 February, MIGS staff and MIGS Fellow Michael Petrou took part in a closed-door event titled “Contributions to Democracy Support: Past and Future” hosted by Centre for International Peace and Security Studies at McGill University, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Canadian International Council.

- On 24 February, MIGS delivered a training course on social media and digital diplomacy for Canadian diplomats and staff at Global Affairs Canada at the Canadian Foreign Service Institute.

- On 26 February, MIGS’ Digital Fellow Joana Cook was invited to the London House of Lords with Baroness Mary Goudie to discuss her book A Woman's Place: US Counterterrorism Since 9/11.

- On 28 February, MIGS co-sponsored the event “Tibet and International Law: Challenging China’s False Historical Narrative on Tibet”, in collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, the University of Ottawa’s Human Rights Research and Education Centre, the U.S. National Endowment for Democracy, the Canada Tibet Committee and the MacDonald Laurier Institute.

- On 2 March, MIGS organized an event with the President of the World Uyghur Congress titled “The Persecution of Uyghurs and the Risks of Coronavirus”. Following his talk at MIGS, Dolkun Isa, the president of the World Uyghur Congress, appeared on Radio Canada’s show Desautels Le Dimanche about China’s detention camps and the risks of the Coronavirus. La Presse also published an article about his talk titled “Coronavirus: les exilés ouïghours craignent le pire pour leurs proches en Chine."

- On 4 March, MIGS’ Fellow Naomi Kikoler took part in the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom hearing on citizenship laws and religious freedom.

- On 5-6 March, MIGS participated in consultations organized by ElementAI and the World Economic Forum on minimizing trade-offs in technology for good.

- On 9 March, MIGS, in collaboration with the Chaire Raoul Raoul-Dandurand at L'Université du Québec à Montréal, hosted a book launch titled “Fencing in Democracy” with authors Margaret E. Dorsey and Miguel Díaz-Barriga.

- On 10 March, MIGS co-hosted an event titled “AI Ethics: Disinformation and how it spreads” with the Montreal AI Ethics Institute.

In the media

February 5
MIGS is mentioned in an article titled “Rethinking the Soaring Tribal Divide in The New Gambia” published by Freedom Newspaper.

February 7
MIGS’ Digital Fellow Phil Gurski published an article in The Hill Times titled “The gnawing question of when to release terrorists from custody.”

February 10
Phil Gurski published article in The Hill Times titled “Let’s see if a new GOC ‘terrorism prosecution unit’ gets it right.”

February 11
MIGS’s Distinguished Director Romeo Dallaire spoke to the CBC’s The Big Fix about Canadian foreign policy.

February 18
MIGS’ Digital Fellow Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Persecuted Christians Are Not Given Much Hope In 2020.”

February 20
Phil Gurski published a new article on his blog titled “Germany shisha lounge shootings: What can we learn from terrorist ‘manifestos’?”

Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “After Years Of Impunity For Mass Atrocities, Nigeria Faces A New Wave Of Violence By A Daesh Affiliated Group.”

Following the announcement that Sudan’s former leader Omar Al-Bashir may face trial at the International Criminal Court, MIGS Digital Fellow Mark Kersten published an article on his blog titled “Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir may finally face justice for Darfur. But the work is not yet done.”

February 25
MIGS’ Senior Distinguished Fellow Romeo Dallaire published a review of Linda Melvern’s book “Intent to Deceive” in The Globe and Mail.

March 1
Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Is The ICC Finally Heading Towards Justice For Darfur, Sudan, At Last?”

March 2
Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Carrying Forward Shahbaz Bhatti’s “Unfinished Business” To Protect Religious Minorities In Pakistan.”

March 6
The Lowy Institute published a review of MIGS Fellow Joana Cook’s book A Women’s Place.

Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “How Targeted Sanctions Can Provide A Response To The Most Egregious Human Rights Violations.”

March 7
Ahead of International Women’s Day, Ewelina Ochab published a piece in Forbes titled “The UN Calls For More Decisive Steps Towards Gender Equality By 2030.”

March 11
MIGS’ Executive Director Kyle Matthews spoke to CTV news about the battle of Idlib in Syria and the failure to protect human rights.

In the Media

February 5
MIGS is mentioned in an article titled “Rethinking the Soaring Tribal Divide in The New Gambia” published by Freedom Newspaper.

February 7
MIGS’ Digital Fellow Phil Gurski published an article in The Hill Times titled “The gnawing question of when to release terrorists from custody.”

February 10
Phil Gurski published article in The Hill Times titled “Let’s see if a new GOC ‘terrorism prosecution unit’ gets it right.”

February 11
MIGS’s Distinguished Director Romeo Dallaire spoke to the CBC’s The Big Fix about Canadian foreign policy.

February 18
MIGS’ Digital Fellow Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Persecuted Christians Are Not Given Much Hope In 2020.”

February 20
Phil Gurski published a new article on his blog titled “Germany shisha lounge shootings: What can we learn from terrorist ‘manifestos’?”

Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “After Years Of Impunity For Mass Atrocities, Nigeria Faces A New Wave Of Violence By A Daesh Affiliated Group.”

Following the announcement that Sudan’s former leader Omar Al-Bashir may face trial at the International Criminal Court, MIGS Digital Fellow Mark Kersten published an article on his blog titled “Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir may finally face justice for Darfur. But the work is not yet done.”

February 25
MIGS’ Senior Distinguished Fellow Romeo Dallaire published a review of Linda Melvern’s book “Intent to Deceive” in The Globe and Mail.

March 1
Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Is The ICC Finally Heading Towards Justice For Darfur, Sudan, At Last?”

March 2
Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “Carrying Forward Shahbaz Bhatti’s “Unfinished Business” To Protect Religious Minorities In Pakistan.”

March 6
The Lowy Institute published a review of MIGS Fellow Joana Cook’s book A Women’s Place.

Ewelina Ochab published an article in Forbes titled “How Targeted Sanctions Can Provide A Response To The Most Egregious Human Rights Violations.”

March 7
Ahead of International Women’s Day, Ewelina Ochab published a piece in Forbes titled “The UN Calls For More Decisive Steps Towards Gender Equality By 2030.”

March 11
MIGS’ Executive Director Kyle Matthews spoke to CTV news about the battle of Idlib in Syria and the failure to protect human rights