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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 17 January 2023

Dutch, German ministers condemn child abductions in Ukraine

By MIKE CORDER me be clear that children
Associated Press abducted by Russia must
THE HAGUE, Netherlands be returned to their own
(AP) — The German and country as soon as pos-
Dutch foreign ministers on sible.”
Monday condemned the While in The Hague, Baer-
deportation by Russians bock visited the ICC and
of thousands of Ukrainian spoke to its chief pros-
children, calling it a delib- ecutor Karim Khan, who
erate policy of cruel and launched an investigation
inhumane abductions that in Ukraine last year soon
is tearing families apart. Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion.
Since Moscow launched its He has visited Ukraine and
war in Ukraine nearly a year sent teams of investigators
ago, Russians have been to the scenes of alleged
accused of deporting crimes but has yet to an-
Ukrainian children to Russia nounce any cases arising
or Russian-held territories to from his probe.
raise them as their own. At Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
least 1,000 children were is widely regarded as an
seized from schools and act of aggression that
orphanages in the Kher- would fall within the ICC
son region during Russia’s definition of the crime, but
eight-month occupation of because neither Russia nor
the area, local authorities German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, right, and Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra Ukraine is a member of the
say. Their whereabouts are pose for the media prior to a meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. court Khan does not have
Associated Press
still unknown. jurisdiction.
Russia claims that these parents, used them for pro- in The Hague. Baerbock said German That has led to calls for an
children don’t have par- paganda, and given them “Their parents, families, and Dutch ministers will international tribunal for
ents or guardians to look Russian families and citizen- caregivers must no longer work together with organi- the crime of aggression in
after them, or that they ship. be in uncertainty and fear. zations including the United Ukraine. Hoekstra said late
can’t be reached. But the “Russia must account for These children have their Nations and International last year that the Nether-
AP found that officials have the whereabouts of these homes with their families in Criminal Court on the issue. lands already home to
deported Ukrainian chil- children,” German Foreign Ukraine. “This deliberate Russian pol- the ICC, the International
dren to Russia or Russian- Minister Annalena Baer- These children did not icy is tearing families apart Court of Justice and other
held territories without con- bock said at a joint press leave their homes volun- and traumatizing children,” international courts would
sent, lied to them that they conference with her Dutch tarily. These children have Hoekstra said. “It is cruel be prepared to host such a
weren’t wanted by their colleague Wopke Hoekstra been abducted.” and it is inhumane. And let tribunal.q

UK govt may veto Scotland’s gender self-recognition law

By JILL LAWLESS cates and the nationalist the Scottish parliament last ple ages 16 and 17. shelters for domestic abuse
Associated Press Scottish administration in month. She said such a de- The law sets Scotland apart survivors.
LONDON (AP) — The British Edinburgh. cision “will be using trans from the rest of the United Others argue that the mini-
government is considering Scottish First Minister Nicola people already one of the Kingdom, where a medical mum age for transitioning
blocking a new law that Sturgeon said Monday that most vulnerable, stigma- diagnosis is needed before should remain at 18.

makes it easier for people in it would be an “outrage” if tized groups in our society individuals can transition Scotland is part of the Unit-
Scotland to legally change Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s as a political weapon.” for legal purposes. ed Kingdom but, like Wales
their gender a move that Conservative government Sunak’s office said no de- Several countries around and Northern Ireland, has
would spark conflict with vetoed the legislation, cision has been made the world have legalized its own semi-autonomous
transgender rights advo- which was approved by but that it had concerns gender self-recognition, government with broad
about the law, “particular- including Argentina, Can- powers over areas includ-
ly around safety issues for ada, New Zealand, Den- ing health care.
women and children.” mark and Iceland. Last The U.K. government in
The law allows people age month Spain’s parliament London has the final say
16 or older in Scotland to approved a bill similar to in some other fields, and
change the gender des- Scotland’s. is taking legal advice on
ignation on their identity The Scottish National Party- whether the Scottish law
documents by self-decla- led government in Edin- conflicts with U.K.-wide
ration, removing the need burgh says the new law will equalities legislation, which
for a medical diagnosis of improve the lives of trans- guarantees women and
gender dysphoria. gender people by allowing girls access to single-sex
It also cuts the time trans them to get official docu- spaces such as changing
people must live in a differ- ments that correspond with rooms and shelters.
ent expressed gender be- their gender identities. Sunak’s government has
fore the change is legally Opponents claim it risks al- until Wednesday, four
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves after his visit to Port of recognized, from two years lowing predatory men to weeks after the bill was
Cromarty Firth at Invergordon, Scotland, Friday Jan. 13, 2023. to three months for adults gain access to spaces in- passed, to decide whether
Associated Press and to six months for peo- tended for women, such as it will veto the law.q