Archive for the 'Human Rights Defenders' Category
October 18, 2013
The Hueiyen News Service Imphal, reports that on 19 October 2013 a number of NGOs in Manipur State [a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital] will come together to organise a new “Convention on Protection of Human Rights Defenders of Manipur“. The Convention has been planned against the backdrop of increasing targeting of human rights defenders and their organizations in Manipur by security forces operating under emergency laws. The convention will also discuss the patterns of targeting human rights defenders and adopt specific resolution and strategies to promote the human rights and protection of human rights defenders of Manipur.
via Protection of human rights defenders : 18th oct13 ~ E-Pao! Headlines.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Advocacy Organizations, Civil society, coalition, emergency laws, Human right, Human Rights and Liberties, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, India, Manipur, minorities, NGOs, Non-governmental organization, repression, security forces
October 18, 2013
China’s Second Universal Periodic Review: Challenges and Opportunities on MONDAY 21 October in Room XXV of the Palais des Nations in Geneva 12:30-14:30
FIDH league members will lead an NGO information meeting on key civil society trends and challenges since 2009.
The panel will discuss:
- Civil society’s important role in advancing progress and addressing China’s human rights challenges
- The challenges to fundamental rights and freedoms presented by national security laws
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: China, Civil society, FIDH, Human right, International Federation for Human Rights, NGO, Non-governmental organization, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review
October 18, 2013
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, on 16 October 2013 called on the Togolese Government to ensure a favourable environment in which human rights defenders can carry out their work. The Government can do this by fully implementing the existing legal framework, avoiding stigmatisation and fostering a spirit of dialogue and constructive criticism, she said at the end of her five-day mission to assess progress made in Togo since her last visit in 2008.
Compared to 2008, “The environment for defenders is more enabling now, but important challenges remain” Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: defamation laws, fact finding, Geneva, Human right, human rights, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, journalists, LGBT, Margaret Sekaggaya, Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur, Togo, UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, United Nations Special Rapporteur
October 17, 2013
As founder and medical director of Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Denis Mukwege and his staff have treated over 30,000 survivors of sexual violence. The hospital not only addresses the immediate medical needs of survivors, but also provides legal and psycho-social services. Dr. Mukwege has received numerous awards for his tireless advocacy against the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and for his courageous efforts to provide essential services to survivors of rape.
Human Rights First will honor Dr. Mukwege with its 2013 Human Rights Award, an honor dedicated to human rights defenders on the frontlines of the struggle for freedom. Physicians for Human Rights collaborates with Dr. Mukwege and the staff of Panzi Hospital to bolster local networks of collaboration among the health and legal communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to end impunity for sexual violence and support meaningful access to justice for survivors of these crimes.
Posted in HRF, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: awards, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denis Mukwege, HIV, human rights, human rights awards, Human rights defender, Human Rights First, human rights of women, medical profession, Mukwege, Panzi Hospital, Physicians for Human Rights, rape, reception, sexual violence, washington
October 17, 2013
In a move praised by local and international rights groups, Burma’s government, led by ex-general Thein Sein, has released 56 political prisoners. However, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners [AAPP] noted in a statement to the media that 133 political prisoners were still languishing in the country’s prisons. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: AAPP, activism, Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Aung Myint, Burma, Burmese President Thein Sein, David Cameron, detention, freedom of demonstration, Hla Myo Naing, Human Rights Defenders, human rights lawyer, Karen, minority rights, Myanmar, political prisoner, political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, Rakhine, Rakhine State, release, Sittwe, Thein Sein, U Aung Myint
October 16, 2013
A group of United Nations experts has expressed serious concern at reports that Chinese human rights defenders have suffered reprisals for seeking to participate in a major UN human rights assessment of China. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Front Line, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, UN | 5 Comments »
Tags: Cao Shunli, Chen Guangcheng, Chen Jianfang, China, Civil society, Frank LaRue, Geneva, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, Human rights in China, illegal detention, Maina Kiai, Margaret Sekaggaya, reprisals, retaliation, UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, United Nations Human Rights Council, Universal Periodic Review, UPR, woman human rights defender, Zhao Zhenjia
October 16, 2013
On 16 October Scoop News reports on a consultation, held on 25 September 2013 in Geneva, entitled Isolating Papua which highlighted the increasing practice of limiting access to the Papuan provinces of Indonesia. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: arbitrary arrest, arrrest, Asian Human Rights Commission, Coalition for Papua, conflict and peace, freedom of expression, Geneva, harassment, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, human rights violations, Indonesia, Jakarta, journalists, Lukas Enembe, meeting, Non-governmental organization, Papua, police brutality, side event, Special Procedures, UN, WCC, West Papua, World Council of Churches
October 15, 2013
Posted in Front Line, HRW, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: Africa, bloggers, Bunge La Mwananchi, Daniel Bekele, Dennis Itumbi, detention, Front Line Defenders, harassment, HRW, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Criminal Court, Kenya, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Maina Kiai, police brutality, Ruth Mumbi, threats, Uhuru Kenyatta, United Nations Special Rapporteur, William Ruto, women human rights defenders
October 15, 2013
From 8 – 11 October 2013 took place the 7th Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders organised by Front Line Defenders. I share the impression as posted by Executive Director, Deon Haywood, of Women With A Vision [WWAV’s] who joined 145 activists from 95 different countries for the meeting. “This is a vital international forum for human rights defenders at risk, as many cannot speak freely in their own country. Through plenary presentations and working group discussions, defenders shared experiences, learned from each other and came up with new and more effective strategies for their security and protection. This year’s Dublin Platform also included a specific focus on the risks faced by women human rights defenders.”
When addressing this global community of activists during the Dublin Platform opening, Deon Haywood spoke of a choice that rang true for so many attendees: “To be a human rights defender is to make a choice between standing up for what is right and defending the rights of others, or passively accepting that there is no other way. Being here with 145 other human rights defenders from every corner of the globe, all of whom face very similar risks, reminds me of the rightness of our cause. When you see the energy and the commitment of the people in this room, then there is a real cause for optimism for the future.”
via “To be a human rights defender is to make a choice…”.
Posted in Front Line, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: activism, Advocacy Organizations, Deon Haywood, Dublin, Dublin Platform, Front Line Defenders, Human right, Human Rights and Liberties, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, international protection, meeting, Non-governmental organization, United Nations, women human rights defenders, WWAV
October 15, 2013
Almost three years after the onset of its “Revolutions”, the Arab region continues to bear stark contrasts within its democratic track. Whereas a new era has been instigated and elections have been held in five countries Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Libya and Algeria, major violations of human rights persist on multiple levels and by different actors including non-governmental players. On 8 October The Euro-Mediterranean Foundation of Support to Human Rights Defenders (EMHRF) released its Annual report on 2012. Driss El Yazami, President of the EMHRF, notes that “an irreversible process is ongoing and involves emancipating countries from authoritarianism and political despotism. The Arab people have entered a new and decisive era for the future of democracy and human rights. Beyond the complexity of this transition, the initiated process is strongly influenced by the strengthened role played by human rights defenders. They are key players in overcoming new challenges and working peacefully towards the realization of a democratic and citizen-driven model for living together.”
The civil society movement continues to prove to be extremely dynamic and effective in guaranteeing respect for fundamental freedoms and preventing any appropriation of the newly acquired freedoms. Nonetheless, this movement is weakened by significant threats, shortages in human and financial resources and difficulties in joining forces. Particular attention was paid to Syria, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt.
This report is available in Arabic, English and French.
http://www.emhrf.org/en/activityreports.php <http://www.emhrf.org/en/activityreports.php>
Posted in EMHRN, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Algeria, annual report 2012, Arab people, Arab spring, Arab world, Civil society, Driss El Yazami, Egypt, EMHRF, Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for support to Human Rights Defenders, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, uprising
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 