Mirjam Blaak

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Mirjam Blaak is the Netherlands born[1] Ugandan Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and the EU.[2][3][4] She is a member of the National Resistance Movement, the party led by dictator Yoweri Museveni that has been in power since 1986.[5] She married NRM fighter Ronald Batta. Before Museveni came to power, she helped the rebel leader to get asylum in Sweden. She has defended Ugandan human rights violations and the presence of safe houses in Uganda.[6]

Blaak earned a Master of Laws Degree at Utrecht University before working as a Protection Officer with UNHCR in Nairobi.[1] When she became Deputy Ambassador to Brussels in 2003, she voluntarily revoked her Dutch citizenship to become a Ugandan citizen.[2]

Controversy[]

Mirjam Blaak has downplayed human rights violation is Uganda: "I know there are safe houses, but I don't know if people are tortured there. I think safe houses exist everywhere, not just in Uganda. I think it's sometimes necessary. Not to torture people, but to keep people."[6]

At the International Court of Justice, where she represented Uganda, she allegedly tried to prevent evidence of Ugandan human rights violations being submitted. The Ugandan house and office of the whistleblower were raided shortly after.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Blaak markets Uganda in Europe". New Vision. July 3, 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b "The Ambassador of Uganda, H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak". Diplomat Magazine. July 10, 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Embassy of the Republic of Uganda to the Kingdoms of Belgium & The Netherlands, The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and The European Union". Embassy of the Republic of Uganda. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. ^ Ntale, Samson; Doornebal, Arne (July 22, 2014). "Uganda's only Mzungu ambassador who saved Mbabazi, Rugunda's lives". The Observer. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Curriculum" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ a b Doornebal, Arne (2021). Uganda under president Museveni. p. 198.
  7. ^ "ICC gives false hope". Advocatenblad (Lawyer Magazine).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]


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