UN report condemns Zimbabwe demolitions News
UN report condemns Zimbabwe demolitions

[JURIST] In a report [PDF text] released Friday the UN condemned [press release] "Operation Restore Order," an initiative implemented by the government of Zimbabwe [JURIST news archive] to reduce crime by razing urban slums. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka [official profile], Executive Director of the UN Human Settlements Programme [official website], prepared the report following a two week tour of the country [JURIST report]. Despite British and US pressure and the report urging cessation of the demolition, the UN Security Council [JURIST report] has yet to take up the issue as several member nations have refused to allow it into their agenda. "Operation Restore Order" has resulted in over 46,000 arrests and between 330,000 and one million people have been left homeless. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

No lynchings reported in US for first time

On December 30, 1952, the Tuskegee Institute reported that 1952 was the first year of no lynchings of African Americans in the United States in the 71 years it had kept records. Learn more about lynching and listen to Billie Holiday's jazz recording of the 1938 protest song Strange Fruit.

USSR established

On December 30, 1922, representatives of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Transcaucus approved the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR and the Declaration of the Creation of the USSR, creating the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). During World War II, the USSR would also annex Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Moldova. Learn more about the history of the USSR from the BBC.