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Russia: Silencing Activists, Journalists ahead of Sochi Games

Published by on November 19, 2013 | Leave a response

19 November 2013 Human Rights Watch Local authorities have harassed numerous activists and journalists who criticized or expressed concerns about preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. The six-month countdown to the Sochi Games opening ceremony is this week. Human Rights Watch has documented government efforts to intimidate several organizations and individuals who have investigated or spoken out against abuse of migrant workers, the impact of the construction of Olympics venues and infrastructure on the environment and health of residents, and unfair compensation for people forcibly evicted from their homes. Human Rights Watch also documented how authorities harassed Read the full article…

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Syria: Opposition Abuses During Ground Offensive

Published by on November 19, 2013 | Leave a response

19 November 2013 Human Rights Watch Opposition fighters in Syria apparently executed civilians and others in their custody during an offensive in the Christian village of Sadad from October 21 to 28, 2013. Other civilians were also killed unlawfully by opposition sniper fire. Civilians killed by opposition shelling, as fighting between government and opposition forces in the village continued, may have been killed unlawfully. During the offensive against government forces in Sadad, 100 kilometers northeast of Damascus, rebel fighters refused to allow residents of the village to leave their homes in areas with active fighting, residents told Human Rights Watch. Read the full article…

Libya: Militias Kill Unarmed Protesters

Published by on November 17, 2013

17 November Human Rights Watch 43 Dead, Many Wounded, as Security Forces Stand by Militias from Misrata fired assault rifles, machine guns, and heavy weapons at overwhelmingly peaceful protesters in Tripoli on November 15, killing several people. Ensuing clashes between armed groups and militias left 43 people dead and at least 460 wounded. State security forces present at the initial protest apparently failed to protect protesters or to arrest and disarm the militias. The Libyan government should immediately make good on its promise to disarm the militias and investigate the events, and hold militia members and commanders to account for Read the full article…

Central African Republic: ‘We Live and Die Here Like Animals’

Published by on November 14, 2013

14 November 2013 Human Rights Watch The Central African Republic has suffered a horrific collapse. But is the worst violence between the country’s Muslims and Christians yet to come? In the schoolrooms of the northern Central African Republic (CAR), the blackboards still show dates from late March — when Seleka rebels seized power in the country and a nightmare began. Since then, the armed Seleka, whose collective name means “alliance” in Sango, the local language, have ruled through fear: burning down village after village, firing randomly at civilians from their pick-up trucks, executing farmers in their fields, and murdering women Read the full article…

Kenya: New Laws Would Undermine Basic Rights

Published by on November 12, 2013

12 November 2013 Human Rights Watch Kenya’s leaders and lawmakers should reject proposed laws regulating the media and nongovernmental activity that would severely undermine fundamental rights and freedoms. The Information and Communications Amendment Bill of 2013 was passed by parliament on October 31, 2013, but has not yet been signed by the president. Another problematic draft law, the Media Council Bill, is due to be debated in parliament in the coming weeks. On October 30 the attorney general also proposed controversial new provisions regulating the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), including a proposed cap at 15 percent of foreign funding. Read the full article…

Nigeria: Unlawful killings by Boko Haram may constitute crimes against humanity

Published by on November 6, 2013

6 November 2013 Amnesty International Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful killings of members of the public in northern Nigeria. The killing of at least 115 people in the last two weeks by unknown gunmen and other suspected members of Boko Haram may constitute crimes against humanity as defined in Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to which Nigeria is a state party. The deteriorating trend in the human rights and security situation in north-eastern Nigeria has further put the rights to life of many Nigerians at risk View full statement here.

Sri Lanka: Amnesty International Briefing

Published by on November 5, 2013

5 November Amnesty International On 15-17 November 2013, Sri Lanka will host the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in its capital Colombo, after which Sri Lanka is expected to chair the Commonwealth for two years. The choice of venue has, to say the least, proved controversial given Sri Lanka’s appalling human rights record. This briefing outlines some of the concerns Amnesty International has about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. View full briefing here.  

Egypt: Protester Killings Not Being Investigated

Published by on November 2, 2013

2 November 2013 Human Rights Watch Egypt’s authorities have yet to announce any move to investigate security force killings of protesters on October 6, 2013. Almost four weeks after police used lethal force to break up protests by Muslim Brotherhood supporters, the authorities have not said they have questioned, or intend to question, security forces about their use of firearms that day. The clashes left 57 people dead throughout Egypt, according to the Health Ministry, with no police deaths reported. “In dealing with protest after protest, Egyptian security forces escalate quickly and without warning to live ammunition, with deadly results,” Read the full article…

Belarus: ILGA Europe - Annual Review 2013

Published by on October 31, 2013

2013 International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) Europe Homophobia and transphobia remained widespread in Belarus, as captured by the President of Belarus’ statement: “it is better to be a dictator than gay.” During the year, attempts were made by conservative politicians and religious leaders to further limit the rights of LGBTI people through legislative proposals ranging from: (i) the criminalisation of homosexuality; to a (ii) ban on gender reassignment procedures; and (iii) a ban on artificial procreation techniques. Bias motivated speech In March, the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, said “it is better to be a dictator than gay”. The Read the full article…

Egypt: Draft Law Would Effectively Ban Protests

Published by on October 30, 2013

30 October 2013 Human Rights Watch A draft law on assembly awaiting ratification by the interim president would effectively give the police carte blanche to ban protest in Egypt. The bill would ban all demonstrations near official buildings, give the police absolute discretion to ban any other protest, and allow officers to forcibly disperse overall peaceful protests if even a single protester throws a stone. The bill would also require organizers to notify the police in advance of any public meeting of more than 10 people in a private or public place. It would allow the police to ban these Read the full article…