Archive for the 'human rights' Category
March 15, 2014
On 6 March 2014, in Tashkent the trial of two members of the Mazlum Human Rights Center took place: Fakhriddin Tillaev and Nuriddin Jumaniyazov. They were charged under Art. 135 of the Criminal Code (“trafficking in persons”). The prosecutor asked for 12 years of imprisonment. The court sentenced both the human rights advocates to 10 years and 8 months of imprisonment and applied the amnesty act passed by the Senate of Uzbekistan. The final term of punishment was thus still 8 years and 3 months of imprisonment.
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| Fakhriddin Tillaev |
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: fair trial, Fakhriddin Tillaev, false accusation, Human Rights Defenders, human trafficking, labour rights, lawyers, Maslum Human Rights Center, Mazlum Human Rights Center (Uzbek), Nadejda Atayeva, Nuriddin Jumaniyazov, Union of Independent Trade Unions, Uzbekistan
March 15, 2014
Today, 14 March, Amnesty International brought out a statement severely criticizing China‘s treatment of human rights defenders in need of medical care. Cao Shunli, 52, died from organ failure on Friday at a hospital in Beijing, after five months in detention. Repeated requests by Cao’s family for her to receive medical treatment for serious health problems were denied.[ https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/02/25/serious-concern-for-health-of-detained-human-rights-defender-cao-shunli/]
“Cao Shunli’s death exposes just how callous and calculating the Chinese authorities are prepared to be to silence critics. The authorities today have blood on their hands.” said Anu Kultalahti, China Researcher at Amnesty International. “Cao Shunli was a courageous woman who paid the ultimate price for the fight for human rights in China. She should have never been detained in the first place; but to then deny her the medical treatment she desperately needed is a most barbaric act.”
Cao had led attempts to allow activists to contribute to China’s national human rights report, ahead of a UPR review at the UN Human Rights Council in 2013 and was arrested in September as she attempted to travel to Geneva to attend a human rights training course. Her detention was seen by many as a reprisal for her wanting to contribute to a public discussion on violations in China – the charges against her concerned “picking quarrels and making trouble” . The full Council is expected to hear the result of the UPR session on Wednesday 19 March. It will be interesting to see how the States and in particular China is going to react to this tragic event.
Many other NGOs and media have come out with statements about the death of Cao Shunli including Front Line (“Chinese Government Responsible for the Death of Cao Shunli“) and the International Service for Human Rights (http://www.ishr.ch/news/un-human-rights-council-must-demand-accountability-death-cao-shunli).
Posted in AI, Front Line, human rights, Human Rights Council, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR | 2 Comments »
Tags: AI, Amnesty International, Cao Shunli, China, Front Line (NGO), Geneva, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, human rights lawyer, ill treatment, illegal detention, International Service for Human Rights, lawyer, medical care. Cao Shunli, Reprisal, reprisals, UN, UN Human Rights Council, UPR, woman human rights defender
March 13, 2014
Another interesting side event taking place in the margin of the UN Human Rights Council is the one organized by the Human Rights House Foundation on Monday 17 March 2014 from 10h00-11h30 in room XXI in the Palais des Nations.
The subject is:: 20 YEARS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN WRONGS IN THE BALKANS, CAUCASUS AND EASTERN EUROPE.
5 women human rights defenders will share their experience and present the new Human Rights House Network info graphics on the protection of human rights defenders:
- Lara Aharonian, Women’s Resource Center Armenia Human Rights House Yerevan,
- Anna Dobrovolskaya, Youth Human Rights Movement, Human Rights House Voronezh, Russia
- Shahla Ismayil, Women’s Association for Rational Development, Human Rights House Azerbaijan, Baku
- Sanja Sarnavka, Be active. Be emancipated (BaBe), Human Rights House Zagreb, Croatia
- Maria Dahle, Human Rights House Foundation. Oslo, Norway
Human Rights House Network (HRHN) was established 20 years ago and now unites 90 human rights NGOs in 18 independent Human Rights Houses in 13 countries. HRHN aims to protect, empower and support HRDs locally.
The info graphics themselves, which try to cover all the key topics in the creation of an enabling environment for human rights defenders as laid down in the latest report of the Special Rapporteur, will be publicly available as from 17 March on http://humanrightshouse.org or contact <anna.innocenti[at]humanrightshouse.org>
Posted in films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Balkan, Eastern Europe, HRHN, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, Human Rights House Foundation, Human Rights House, images, info graphics, infographic, Maria Dahle, networking, North Caucasus, Oslo, protection, side event, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, UN Human Rights Council, women human rights defenders
March 13, 2014
In March, Margaret Sekaggya will finish her term as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. For more than five years the Ugandan Margaret Sekaggya has served the mandate with dedication and commitment, and has played an integral role in promoting the work of and furthering protection for human rights defenders around the world.
Also it has been announced that the new Special Rapporteur will be Michel Forst , from France.
He is a lawyer by training and the Secretary General of the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l’Homme de la Republique Française. From 2008 – 2013, he was the Independent Expert of the United Nations on the situation of human rights in Haiti. He was Director General of Amnesty International in France and worked in the human rights department of UNESCO. Mr. Forst is also a founding trustee of Front Line Defenders.
In short, Margaret Sekaggya did a great job – like her predecessor Hina Jilani – and the credentials of the new Rapporteur give all reason to hope that the level of knowledge and commitment will be maintained. Glad to report something good coming out of the Council!
Posted in Front Line, human rights, Human Rights Council, Human Rights Defenders, OHCHR, UN | 2 Comments »
Tags: Commission Nationale Consultative, France, Geneva, Haiti, Hina Jilani, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, human rights mechanisms, international protection, Margaret Sekaggya, Michel Forst, Special Rapporteur, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Uganda, UN, UN Human Rights Council, UN Special Rapporteur, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders
March 13, 2014
“States that commit or tolerate reprisals against #HRDs for cooperation with #UN should loose their voting rights says@thoolen“ is what Michael Ineichen twitted about my intervention in a meeting in Geneva organized by the ISHR. on 11 March. And that is basically correct. However, a bit more explanation of my rather ‘extremist position’ may be in order:
The topic of reprisals against persons who cooperate (as witnesses) with the UN and its various office holders has been raised by many, including this blog. [see: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2013/09/20/protecting-human-rights-defenders-from-reprisals-crucial-issue-with-timely-article-and-side-event-on-24-september/ and https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2013/10/14/conclusions-of-side-event-on-reprisals-against-human-rights-defenders/.] When at the very well-attended side event organized by the International Service for Human Rights in the margin of the UN Council of Human Rights, the issue of reprisals came up again, I said that the international community is perhaps a bit too timid in its reaction to the increase in reprisals against Human Rights Defenders who testify to or cooperate with the United Nations. I stated that ‘messing with witnesses’ is considered by judges in almost all legal systems as an extremely grave thing. Or taking another analogy from legal thinking: a crime is considered a ‘qualified crime’ or ‘aggravated crime’ (and punished more severely) when certain circumstances are present, including when there is a dependency link between the victim and the perpetrator (think of murder or rape by the a custodian, a teacher or a doctor).
The resolution establishing the new Human Rights Council – replacing the previous Commission – states that “members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights.” And one of the novelties touted was that the General Assembly, via a two-thirds majority, can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership.
The chilling effect that reprisals can have – especially when met with impunity – is potentially extremely damaging for the whole UN system of human rights procedures and will undo the slow but steady process of the last decades. Taken together with the above-mentioned seriousness of the aggravating character of reprisals, a powerful coalition of international and regional NGOs could well start public hearings with the purpose of demanding that States that commit reprisal be suspended.
If States can lose their right to vote in the General Assembly if they do not pay their fees for several years, there is in fact nothing shocking in demanding that States, who persecute and intimidate human rights defenders BECAUSE they cooperate with the United Nations, are not allowed to take part in the proceedings of the UN human rights body.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Council, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR, UN | 17 Comments »
Tags: anti-reprisals focal point, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, international protection, International Service for Human Rights, ISHR, Michael Ineichen, NGOs, reprisals, retaliation, side event, suspension membership Council, Thoolen, twitter, UN Human Rights Council
March 10, 2014
The FIDH, on 6 March 2014, issued a statement on the lack of access to medical care for human rights defenders in Iran, resulting in further deterioration of their health FIDH fears this may amount to a systematic practice aiming at further intimidating civil society voices critical of the regime.
On March 2, 2014, several prisoners of conscience detained in Evin prison, Tehran, wrote their second Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in FIDH, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: Abdolfattah Soltani, Afshin Karampour, Amir Eslami, Bahareh Hedayat, blogger, dervishes, detained, Evin Prison, FIDH, Hamidreza Moradi-Sarvestani, Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki, Human Rights Defenders, human rights lawyers, illegal detention, Iran, Journalist, Karim Lahidji, lawyers, medical treatment, Mostafa Daneshju, women human rights defenders
March 9, 2014
On 6 March 2014 a group of six United Nations experts has asked the Venezuelan Government for prompt clarification of allegations of arbitrary detention and excessive use of force and violence against protesters, journalists and media workers during recent protests. “The recent violence amid protests in Venezuela need to be urgently and thoroughly investigated, and perpetrators must be held accountable,” the experts stressed in a news release. They also expressed their shock at the reported deaths of at least 17 persons during the demonstrations. “We are deeply disturbed by the allegations of multiple cases of arbitrary detention of protesters. Some were reportedly beaten – and in some cases severely tortured – by security forces, taken to military facilities, kept in incommunicado detention, and denied access to legal assistance,” they said….“The reconciliatory dialogue that is so deeply needed in Venezuela is not going to take place if political leaders, students, media groups and journalists are harassed and intimidated by the authorities,” they stated.
The experts speaking out on Venezuela are Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; Maina Kiai, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; Mads Andenas, Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on arbitrary detention; Juan Méndez, Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; Christof Heyns, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Margaret Sekaggya, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
via United Nations News Centre – UN human rights experts urge probe into recent violence amid Venezuelan protests.
PS: It is ironic that at the same time the Government of Venezuela has invited the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People to hold a special meeting at the historic Yellow House in Caracas on 17-18 April 2013.
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Council, Human Rights Defenders, UN | Leave a Comment »
Tags: arbitrary arrest, demonstrations, freedom of expression, harassment, illegal detention, intimidation, journalists, Margaret Sekaggya, police violence, Special Rapporteur, special rapporteurs, students, UN Special Rapporteur, United Nations, Venezuela
March 9, 2014
Yesterday, 7 March 2014, saw many expressions of solidarity with women human rights defenders at the occasion of International Women’s Day.
The ISHR picked the following cases as examples that stand out:
You can find many more cases via the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition [http://www.defendingwomen-defendingrights.org/] which brings together women activists and those committed to the advancement of women human rights and those working on gender issues, to advocate for better protection of women human rights defenders.
via Honouring women human rights defenders on International Women’s Day! | ISHR.
Posted in Al-Hassani, films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Brazil, Conectas, Egypt, Egyptian women human rights, Human rights defender, Human Rights Defenders, Huy Luong, Ilwad Elman, international women's day, ISHR, LGBT rights, Lucia Nader, Masa Amir, Somalia, Viet Nam, Women Human Rights, women human rights defenders, Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition
March 7, 2014
Sean Penn is in Dublin today, 7 March, to hand out a human rights award. The winner of the 2014 Front Line Defenders Award was chosen from 110 nominations from 51 countries. Members of the Irish and European Parliaments, representatives of Front Line Defenders and Al Jazeera Media Network made up the judging panel. Jim Loughran, of Front Line Defenders said: “Sean Penn’s support is hugely important in terms of driving publicity…As one human rights defender said to us recently, if you are visible, you have rights. If you are invisible, you are a victim.” He presented the award to a Pakistani woman rights defender, Noorzia Afridi, who founded the Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas (SAWERA) along with her sister Fareeda “Kokikhel”, who was shot dead on her way to work in 2012.
Penn in Dublin to give human rights award | Irish Examiner.
It shows that star power can be used for good and I should have listed Penn in: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/02/10/star-power-and-human-rights-a-difficult-but-doable-mix/
Posted in awards, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: celebrities, Dublin, Front Line Defenders, human rights award, human rights awards, Human rights defender, Kokikhel, Noorzia Afridi, Pakistan, Sean Penn, star power, woman human rights defender
March 7, 2014
There seems to be almost unanimous agreement in the human rights movement that in outreach it will have to focus more on the visual aspects. In my end of year post in 2013 (see below) I tried to show to what extent this is already happening but a lot more systematic work is needed. Therefore it is good to be able to announce that True Heroes Films [THF] has concluded a coöperation agreement with the Geneva-based International Service for Human Rights [ISHR] with the purpose of supporting the visualisation process. As from Monday 10 March 2014 THF will operate a professionally equipped studio in the offices of the ISHR, strategically located close to the UN in Geneva. This will allow THF to provide images-related services, not just to the host but – against preferential fees – to all human rights organisations in the Geneva area. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, ISHR, THF | 1 Comment »
Tags: audiovisual communication, cooperation, film portraits, films, Geneva, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, human rights films, human rights movement, images, International Service for Human Rights, ISHR, NGOs, streaming, THF, True Heroes Films, video clips, visualization techniques, webcast
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 