Posts Tagged ‘Human Rights Defenders’

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Human Rights Watch annual report with focus on 2011 ‘Arab Spring’

January 23, 2012

On 22 january Human Rights Watch (HRW) published its World Report 2012.  The 676-page report summarizes major rights issues in more than 90 countries, reflecting the extensive investigative work carried out in 2011 by its staff. On events in the Middle East and North Africa, Human Rights Watch said that firm and consistent international support for peaceful protesters and government critics is the best way to pressure the region’s autocrats to end abuses and enhance basic freedoms. A principled insistence on respect for rights is also the best way to help popular movements steer clear of the intolerance, lawlessness, and revenge that can threaten a revolution from within, Human Rights Watch said………
The repercussions of the Arab Spring have been felt around the world, Human Rights Watch said. Leaders in China, Zimbabwe, North Korea, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan seem to be living in fear of the precedent of people ousting their autocratic governments. But even democracies such as India, Brazil, and South Africa have been reluctant to support change.  Relying on outmoded views of human rights promotion as imperialism and ignoring the international support that their own people historically enjoyed when seeking their rights, these democracies often failed at the United Nations to stand with people facing repression.
Human Rights Watch said the international community could play an important role in fostering the growth of rights-respecting democracies in the Middle East and North Africa. Rather than refusing to countenance the rise of political Islam, as sometimes occurred in the past, democratic governments should recognize that political Islam may represent a majority preference, Human Rights Watch said. However, the international community should insist that Islamist governments abide by international human rights obligations, particularly with respect to women’s rights and religious freedom, as with any government.
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“Rights-respecting governments should support international justice regardless of political considerations.  It’s misguided to believe that allowing countries to sweep past abuses under the rug will somehow avoid encouraging future atrocities,” Roth said. “As we mark the first anniversary of the Arab Spring, we should stand firmly for the rights and aspirations of the individual over the spoils of the tyrant.”

World Report 2012: Strengthen Support for ‘Arab Spring’ | Human Rights Watch.

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HRF’s Brian Dooley refused entry into Bahrain

January 20, 2012

In the series ‘crime (non coöperation) shouldn’t pay’ I am bringing to your attention the behavior of Bahrain. It has denied Human Rights First’s Brian Dooley’s request to visit the kingdom next week. The Government of Bahrain suggested such visits should be delayed until March. The latest denial comes less than two weeks after Bahrain refused to admit Rick Sollom of the U.S.-based nonprofit organization Physicians for Human Rights. This is rather shocking given that only last November the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry had been allowed a surprisingly frank public report. It turns out to be lip service. Brian Dooley himself, the head of the  Human Rights Defenders Program of HRF had the following to say about the refusal on 17 January 2012:

‘With delicious irony, the Government of Bahrain sent out a press release last week declaring that it “welcomes visits by all human rights organizations,” and that its “open-door policy remains in place” on the same day it sent me a letter saying it wouldn’t let me into the country.

I had been planning to go to Bahrain on January 19 to meet human rights activists and Bahraini government officials, as I have on three previous visits in the last nine months. I told the Bahraini government on December 20 I’d be coming, but it wasn’t until January 11 that it responded, saying my trip must wait until March, when a committee set up to implement reforms will have done its work. I said I’d be happy to go now and in March. No good.

Last week, Rick Sollom from Physicians for Human Rights was turned away when he landed in Bahrain. Authorities told him that “all government officials are under tremendous work pressure” and that he should come back after the end of February when a trip would be “more beneficial.”

These are stiff reminders that the Bahraini government should be judged on its actions, not its words. Denying (rather, “delaying”) access to human rights organizations is a hallmark of repressive regimes. Bahrain already ticked many of those boxes in 2011. Mass arrests? Check. Torture? Check? Deaths in custody? Check. Shootings of civilians? Unfair trials? Attacks on places of worship? Targeting of peaceful dissidents? Check check check check.…………………

By shutting out those who report on human rights, the regime confirms that its alleged commitment to reform and transparency doesn’t go any deeper than words.”

FOR THE FULL TEXT OF THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS GO TO: humanrightsfirst.org

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HRDs is the success story of the UN’s social media

January 16, 2012
United Nations Human Rights Council logo.

Image via Wikipedia

Alex Fitzpatrick sat down with Nancy Groves, social media manager at UN headquarters in New York. Groves is part of the Secretariat, the UN body charged with carrying out the day-to-day work of the organization. She maintains an active presence on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Tumblr and other networks.

Interesting enough she mentions in the interview that the ‘Be a Human Rights Defender’ campaign was in fact the UN’s most successful social effort to date. Under the “Be a Human Rights Defender” campaign, created to celebrate Human Rights Day, Groves’s team pushed out 30 different articles on human rights, each centered around one article in the Declaration of Human Rights. People that shared the articles were titled “Human Rights Defenders.” Groves said it was an excellent way to spread knowledge about rights that a lot of people aren’t aware they have.

from: http://mashable.com/2012/01/14/united-nations/

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Human Rights First seeks nominations for its 2012 Baldwin Medal

January 10, 2012

There are many human rights awards and they usually do good work. One of them is  the Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty, which is  given every other year by Human Rights First to a human rights defender. It comes with a $25,000 recognition for the winner, and the deadline for this year is only a month away. The link to the nomination form is: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Baldwin_Award_Nomination_Form.pdf
PLease pass it on.

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Asia: Fund For Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders At Risk

January 9, 2012

A specialised but very concrete source of assistance is announced : the Fund for Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders at Risk for urgent needs of indigenous human rights defenders, funded by the EU

via Asia: Fund For Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders At Risk.

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42 human rights defenders and political activists detained to prevent them from participating in a peaceful protest in Jaffna on Human Rights Day – FIDH – Worldwide Human Rights Movement

December 15, 2011

For those who thought that the situation in Sri Lanka is normalizing the attached report from the OMCT/FIDH Observatory for Human Rights Defenders makes disappointing reading: 42 human rights defenders and political activists detained to prevent them from participating in a peaceful protest in Jaffna on Human Rights Day – FIDH – Worldwide Human Rights Movement.

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Andrew Anderson speaks – and speaks well – on the Anniversary of UN Declaration on HRDs – YouTube

December 9, 2011

Take a minute to listen to the fine words and lovely Scottish accent of Andrew Anderson on  behalf of Front Line, one of the 10 NGOs on the Jury of the MEA. He summarizes very well the progress made and problems remaining in the implementation of the UN Declaration on HRDs.

Front Line Defenders Statement on Anniversary of UN Declaration on HRDs – YouTube.

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National Human Rights Commission of India supports idea to create day for HRDs

December 8, 2011

In message marking the UN declaration on Human Rights Defenders on the 9th December, the well-respected National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has joined the call for making 9 December a special day for HRDs. A small group of bloggers on bloggersunite (www.bloggersunite.org) has been pushing for this since 2009 and the support by the NHRC is most useful. The text of the message is:

“The National as well as international community around the world are increasingly realizing and acknowledging the role and contribution of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in strengthening the human rights regime throughout the globe. The NHRC considers the HRDs as its partner in the endeavour to fulfill its role as an institution for promotion and protection of rights of common man.  The NHRC understands that there are many security risks for human rights defenders and they have to tread a very risky and difficult path to perform their duties/tasks as a Human Rights Defender. The problems and harassment of the HRDs are in the knowledge of the NHRC and it has always made sincere efforts to ameliorate the problems. Measures like Focal Point for Human Rights Defenders, dedicated website space for HRDs and sensitization of functionaries of both state and non state actors, through workshops/trainings/seminars/meetings, have gone a long way in making the voice of the HRDs heard and restoration of their identity as promoter and protector of human rights.  The Commission believes that 9th December, which is the day when the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders was adopted by United Nations on 9 December 1998, be declared as Human Rights Defenders Day to acknowledge and pledge continued support to the HRDs who are working for the creation and sustenance of a rights aware and rights respecting civil society.”

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Don’t cut but re-direct aid say African Human Rights Defenders

November 3, 2011

Fifty three Human Rights groups have petitioned the British government, pleading not to cut its foreign aid to countries such as Uganda for the actions of their tyrannical leaders and corrupt governments but rather direct the aid to non-governmental organisations. This followed the announcement by British Prime Minister David Cameron’s to withhold aid going to governments that do not reform legislation interdicting homosexuality. Sweden’s SIDA, Canada and the US made similar threats in the context of the homophobic bill in Uganda this year.  The organisations called on the UK government not to cut aid because of the persecution of LGBT people but instead support African social justice activists. 

This is of course not a simple issue as there are degrees of violation that are so severe that a donor can simply not continue to (be seen to)assist a country while the capacity of the NGO sector to process and spend a huge amount of money remains insufficient. Besides, the aid given to the Government may be in a sector that is not touched at all by the violations in question (think of medical supplies to hospitals). Moreover, NGOs are not the panacea of all aid and are themselves sometimes involved in mismanagement. Still, it is good to hear from the non-governmental community that cutting aid to their should be the last resort and that they feel confident that that the NGO channel is a viable alternative. But this is valid only where governments allow NGOs to operate freely.

For the full story see: Blackstar News, Re-direct, But Dont cut aid, over human rights abuses, Activists say.

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Help make 9 December a special day for Human Rights Defenders!

October 1, 2011

 

 

 

 

I proposed some time ago to do something special for HRDs on 9 December see:  Human Rights Defenders Day // Bloggers Unite.

There are now 8 bloggers ‘participating’ which is a good start, but I think we need more persons and especially the ears and minds of the larger human rights NGOs. And then we need I new ideas……Please let me have yours..

What I wrote is the following:

10 December is International Human Rights Day but individual human rights defenders (HRDs) are so important that they deserve special and separate attention. On 9 December 1998 the UN adopted the ‘Declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms’. It marks a historic achievement in the long struggle toward better protection of those at risk for carrying out legitimate human rights activities and is the first UN instrument that recognizes the importance and legitimacy of the work of human rights defenders, as well as their need for better protection. The UN Council for Human Rights also has a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. Most NGOs have some kind of mandate to come to the rescue of their colleagues in difficulty. It is not necessary to create another formal UN-sanctioned International Day for Human Rights Defenders, but more focus could be achieved on this special day. I am open to ideas from others. I could think of a common list HRDs in prison or killed, to be remembered the next day, human rights day.

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