In an interesting blog post for Al-Monitor Bayan Perazzo (a professor in Saudi Arabia) writes on May 27 about the background to the human rights movement in Saudi Arabia. His detailed analysis seems very sound Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the 'Human Rights Defenders' Category
“Free Bialatski!”, “Free Nabil” shouted by FIDH in the streets of Istanbul
May 27, 2013
The participants of the 38th Congress of the International Human Rights Federation (FIDH), which has started on 23 May in Istanbul, organized a procession with the demand to release their colleagues political prisoners Read the rest of this entry »
Article 19 starts programme to protect journalists and human rights defenders in Tunisia
May 27, 2013ARTICLE 19 is to launch a programme to protect journalists and human rights defenders in Tunisia, following a series of meetings with media workers and civil society groups in the country. Read the rest of this entry »
1 year of Human Rights Channel on YouTube: 90 countries. 1,892 videos
May 27, 2013Twelve months ago, Witness and its partners at Storyful launched the first dedicated space on YouTube for verified citizen video on human rights issues. 
Read the rest of this entry »
Oil-richness helps to shield Turkmenistan from criticism says Zawya
May 27, 2013When North Korea, Iran and Kazakhstan start praising your human rights records, it may be time to change tactics. Turkmenistan came under fire at a recent session of the United Nations Human Rights Council where it was questioned by its peers for its torture programs, systematic suppression of free speech and persecution of human rights defenders. Read the rest of this entry »
Arbitrary arrest of human rights defender Kuch Veng in Cambodia
May 27, 2013
(Kuch Veng being arrested)
On 19 May 2013, human rights defender Kuch Veng was arrested by four police officers at Kbal Trach commune in Cambodia. Kuch Veng is a land rights activist and is a member of the Community Peace Network.At 9.30am, four police officers led by Nhoeuk Sophea arrested the human rights defender while he was visiting families of villagers who are effected by the land conflict with Pheapimex, a land development firm owned by a businessman Choeung Sopheap and the wife of the Cambodia Peoples Party Senator Mr Lao Meng Khin. According to an eyewitness, the police did not show the court order and did not state a clear reason for his arrest. During the arrest, Kuch Veng’s sister, Chrep Samuth, was intimidated and harassed. The police told the villagers that if they wanted to know the charges, they would have to go to the district police station. It is reported that Kuch Veng was sent to the Pursat Provincial Court on 20 May 2013. Kuch Veng has been active with the Community Peace Network since 2010. He has been involved in land rights work since 2000 when Pheapimex started to be active in the area. Kuch Veng has been arrested many times before on account of his work on land rights. Front Line Defenders believes that the arrest of Kuch Veng is directly related to his work in the defence of human rights, in particular on land rights, and sees this as part of a pattern of ongoing harassment against the human rights defender.
via Cambodia: Arbitrary arrest of human rights defender Mr Kuch Veng | Front Line.
Double Bind: what to do if perpetrators are themselves being persecuted?
May 25, 2013Meredith Tax, a writer and political activist, has recently addressed in a book a most important and tricky subject: Double Bind: The Muslim Right, the Anglo-American Left, and Universal Human Rights, published by the Centre for Secular Space. Human rights defenders are supposed to protect the rights of those oppressed by the state or by non-state actors. Read the rest of this entry »
Thai government concedes there are problems as raised by the UN special rapporteur
May 24, 2013The Bangkok Post of 24 May 2013 contains a nice little item that should give heart to those who work on UN special procedures and of wonder about the impact of all this advocacy work: It seems that Thailand has conceded a bit on issues raised by a UN special rapporteurs regarding freedom of expression and migrant labour, and to the fatal harassment of human rights defenders.The ‘admission’ is in a document included in 108 pages of communications involving special rapporteurs of the United Nations recently made available ahead of the 23rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
NEPAL: Asian Legal Resource Centre addresses plight of human rights defenders
May 24, 2013On 23 May 2013, the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) submitted a detailed statement to the UN concerning the increased pressure on HRDs in Nepal. Here are some highlights:
1. The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) wishes to highlight the continuing need for closer monitoring by the Human Rights Council and the international community of the renewed threats and attacks that human rights defenders working in Nepal have had to face since the beginning of the year. Worries about potential reprisals from the former belligerents have arisen following progress in the investigation and prosecution of cases of human rights violations committed during the conflict. Read the rest of this entry »
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
HRD George Reginald Freeman attacked and threatened in Sierra Leone
May 24, 2013On 22 May 2013 human rights defender George Reginald Freeman was driving to a guest house when he was intercepted by two unknown assailants on motorbikes. One of the men threw a stone through his car window and Freeman was badly beaten as he attempted to escape. The assailants also robbed valuables from his car after he escaped. George Reginald Freeman is the director of Pride Equality, an organisation which works on LGBTI rights in Sierra Leone.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: Africa, assailants, Criminal Investigation Department, Front Line Defenders, gay rights, George Reginald Freeman, homophobia, homophobic comments, Human rights defender, LGBT rights, LGBTI, media, Pride Equality, Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Police