Posts Tagged ‘UK’
March 17, 2015
Fra Angelico
This blog does not often carry religious paintings. This time it is to illustrate the action by Bishop Declan Lang, Chair of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference Department of International Affairs, who is encouraging to contact Christian prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders with a message of hope this Easter. For the first time, Action by Christians Against Torture has published an Easter greetings list containing details of Christians including a teacher imprisoned on political charges in Indonesia, a priest facing threats because of his human rights advocacy in Cuba and an MP risking her safety by speaking out on behalf of religious minorities in Pakistan.
Bishop Declan stated: “Pope Francis has called on us to support Christians facing persecution wherever they are in the world. Sending an Easter message to Christian prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders is a practical yet powerful way to give hope and encouragement. Showing that they are not forgotten can also lead to better treatment by the authorities. I strongly welcome the work of Action by Christians Against Torture, and hope that Catholics throughout England and Wales will join me in sending a message of solidarity this Easter.”
The Action by Christians Against Torture Easter greetings list is available at: www.acatuk.org.uk/EastercardList2015.pdf
Bishop endorses campaign to send Easter cards to persecuted Christians – Independent Catholic News.
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Tags: Action by Christians Against Torture, Catholic Bishops' Conference, catholic church, christians, Christians Against Torture, Cuba, Declan Lang, Easter, Human Rights Defenders, Indonesia, Pakistan, Pope Francis, religion, solidarity action, UK
March 5, 2015
Samah Hadid – a human rights activist from Australia – writes on 6 March that the following women human rights defenders are worth knowing more about. I have abridged her text a bit:
Human rights activist Samah Hadid. Photo: Supplied
This year’s International Women’s Day [IWD] is dedicated to women who ‘Make it Happen’, and plenty of women come to mind who embody this theme. As attacks on women human rights activists and defenders continue to rise, I think this IWD is a perfect time to celebrate the women who are champions for the freedom of others.
Salwa Bugaighis- lawyer and political activist from Lybia
Salwa was shot dead in 2014 and her assassination left me and many worldwide devastated. Salwa was a courageous lawyer who from a young age pushed for democracy in Libya. She was actively involved in Libya’s revolution and has been described as the “Libyan human rights activist who took on Gaddafi”. Salwa was also actively involved in Libya’s post-revolution transition, calling for the inclusion of women in this process. At every chance, she pushed for national reconciliation in the troubled country. We can all take inspiration from Salwa’s courageous activism. Her commitment to peace and freedom is a legacy we should all aspire to.[see also: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/06/29/human-rights-lawyer-salwa-bugaighis-killed-in-libya/]
Mu Sochua- politician and women’s rights advocate from Cambodia
Mu Sochua grew up during the reign of the brutal Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. She was forced into exile and returned to rebuild her country. As the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mu advocated to end human trafficking and the exploitation of female workers, and drafted crucial laws on ending violence against women. Standing strongly behind her principles, Mu stepped down as minister and decided to become an opposition figure in light of government corruption and repression. As a result, Mu has faced, and continues to be threatened with, imprisonment for criticising the government and Prime Minister.
Gillian Triggs- president of the Australian Human Rights Commission and legal expert
The head of Australia’s Human Rights Commission has recently faced an onslaught of politically driven attacks and abuse from leading politicians, including the Australian Prime Minister, for her human rights advocacy. Triggs, a highly accomplished lawyer and academic, has been unfairly targeted for promoting and protecting human rights, particularly on the issue of asylum seeker children locked up in immigration detention. Yet in the face of political pressure and relentless attacks by the government, she remains determined to fulfil her mission of protecting human rights in Australia.
Rebiya Kadeer- Uyghur activist and leader
Rebiya is many things: businesswoman, mother of eleven children, political leader and, let’s face it, one of China’s fiercest freedom fighters. As a member of the persecuted ethnic Uyghur minority in China’s Xinjiang region, Rebiya has spent her life campaigning for the rights of Uyghurs. Her activism has come at a price; Chinese authorities sentenced her to eight years in prison for her work and she was later forced to live in exile. Despite this, Rebiya – who is known as the ‘Mother of the Uyghur nation’ – has not been silenced by Chinese authorities and continues her activism at the age of 60! [see also: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2013/09/19/challenges-for-human-rights-education-at-side-event-council-on-25-september/]
Yara Sallam- feminist activist and human rights lawyer from Egypt
At the age of 28, Yara is a leading human rights activist in Egypt. Her commitment to defending human rights, especially women’s rights in Egypt, is inspiring for a fellow young Arab woman like myself . As a feminist, she has championed greater space for women to exercise their civil and political rights and to be free from sexual violence. Yara was recently sentenced to two years in prison for attending a protest in Egypt, where it is now illegal for citizens to effectively exercise their right to protest. Even from prison, Yara continues to champion the causes of vulnerable women who have been detained and imprisoned.[for more on her: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/tag/yara-sallam/]
Nimko Ali- anti-FGM campaigner in the UK
Nimko is survivor of female genital mutilation and a fierce campaigner who leads the anti-FGM campaign in the UK. She has propelled the issue onto the front pages of newspapers and into the halls of parliament, advocating for stronger legislation and policy changes. She is a co-founder and director of Daughters of Eve, a not-for-profit raising awareness about FGM and providing support to survivors of FGM. Nimko has faced verbal and physical attacks for speaking out and yet her advocacy remains steadfast. Nimko considers herself a survivor, not a victim. Her fighting spirit is one we can all learn from. I certainly have.
Six female human rights defenders you should know.
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Tags: Australia, Cambodia, China, Egypt, FGM, Gillian Triggs, Human Rights Defenders, international women's day, Libya, Mu Sochua, Nimko Ali, Rebiya Kadeer, Salwa Bugaighis, Samah Hadid, UK, Uyghur, women human rights defenders, Yara Sallam
March 3, 2015
It is not often that the Daily Mail, a British tabloid, writes about human rights defenders, but when it does [3 March 2015], it is vicious. Under the headline “No excuses! Theresa May leads politicians queuing up to blast British apologists for ISIS murderers“, it zooms in on Amnesty International and other NGOs that have worked on occasion with a local group called Cage. The latter is an islamic group led by a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Moazzam Begg. The group’s research director, Asim Qureshi, recently described IS killer Mohammed Emwazi (“Jihadi John“) as a ‘beautiful young man’ and accused the security services of radicalising him.
This then led British politicians, from government and opposition, to outbid each other in the strongest possible terms to demand that everybody distance themselves from that group. E.g., Theresa May, the Home Secretary, said: ‘I condemn anyone who attempts to excuse that barbarism in the way that has been done by Cage.‘ Jacqui Smith, a Labour former Home Secretary, called Cage ‘outrageous apologists‘
Steve Crawshaw, of the office of the secretary general at Amnesty, admitted yesterday it was ‘highly unlikely’ they would work with Cage again, although together with Liberty, Justice and five other human rights groups, it had joined with Cage in a ‘collective’ to make representations to an inquiry into the treatment of British Army detainees.
Asked if Amnesty had played to a ‘myth’ of victimisation, Mr Crawshaw added: ‘I don’t think we have played to anybody’s myth. I can’t condemn strongly enough anybody, in any context who seeks to find some justification somehow for how they can justify killing civilians…‘Our colleagues there (in Iraq) are risking lives in order to document the terrible crimes of IS and therefore to hear somehow that we are turning away from those things, I do think is quite extraordinary.’
Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said yesterday: ‘Amnesty has no formal or financial relationship with Cage. Amnesty has, along with a number of others human rights organisations, worked on issues relating to Guantanamo and torture.’
Read more: No excuses! Theresa May leads politicians queuing up to blast British apologists for ISIS murderers | Daily Mail Online.
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Tags: Amnesty International, Amnesty International UK, Asim Qureshi, British politicians, Daily Mail, Human Rights Defenders, ISIS, Jihadi John, Moazzam Begg, NGOs, Steve Crawshaw, terrorism, Theresa May, torture, UK
December 12, 2014
Under the title “FAMED UGANDAN ACTIVIST URGES UK HOME OFFICE NOT TO DEPORT LESBIAN” Melanie Nathan reports in her post of 11 December 2014 on O-blog-dee-o-blog-da that Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, the MEA laureate of 2011 has intervened strongly with the UK not to force Judith Twikiriz back to Uganda. “The UK has been very supportive of the Uganda Gay rights movement and it will be an embarrassment that your office doesn’t live up to its expectations in protecting those that need the protection most from persecution” Kasha writes in her letter. She would be sent back to the country where she already experienced torture and where she now faces likely persecution. The letter contains detailed arguments against deportation.
COPY OF THE LETTER to be found in the original post:
via Famed Ugandan Activist Urges UK Home Office Not to Deport Lesbian | O-blog-dee-o-blog-da.
Posted in awards, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | Leave a Comment »
Tags: Civil society, deportation, gay rights, Home Office, Kasha, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, lesbian, LGBTI, MEA laureate 2011, Melanie Nathan, O-blog-dee-o-blog-da, persecution, refugee status determination, refugees, Uganda Gay rights movement, UK, woman human rights defender
October 1, 2014
In a Q&A released on 29 September, Human Rights Watch addresses some of the recurring criticisms of the Human Rights Act and the European Convention.
The Q&A responds to the criticism that human rights make it difficult to deport foreigners who have committed serious criminal offences. In fact, the UK already has legal powers to deport foreigners convicted of a serious criminal offence, but human rights law prohibits the deportation of a person in the limited cases where they would face a real risk of death, torture, or ill-treatment in the country of destination or have no prospect of a fair trial. Courts can also block a deportation if there would be a serious adverse impact on the deportee’s family, but in reaching such decisions courts must weigh the potential harm to the individual, the individual’s family (who may be British citizens), and the impact on society if he or she were allowed to remain.
The Q&A also addresses the criticism that the Human Rights Act is undemocratic. If a domestic court finds a UK law to be inconsistent with the Human Rights Act, it cannot strike down that law. It can only note that incompatibility and it is then for parliament to decide whether and how to change the law, in comparison to many other democratic countries where courts can strike down laws. As a last resort, people who invoke those rights unsuccessfully before UK judges can still seek to take their case to the court in Strasbourg, an arrangement approved by British governments for many decades.
The European Convention and the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights are binding on governments across the 47 countries that are part of the Council of Europe. The European Court has played a key role in protecting the rights of 800 million people across the Council of Europe region. Its rulings have been instrumental ending torture in police custody, ensuring victims of abuses by state authorities have access to justice and allowing people to express themselves freely. In many countries the court offers the only meaningful chance for justice for those whose rights are abused.
Reaffirming human rights at home is essential for any UK government that seeks to promote respect for human rights around the world. If the UK is to have any credibility on human rights in its foreign policy, it should strengthen, not weaken, its own human rights protections, Human Rights Watch said.
Attacks in the UK on the European Court of Human Rights undermine those efforts and provide succor to abusive governments in the Council of Europe that would prefer to ignore the European Court. The only European country currently not a member of the Council of Europe is Belarus. The only country to have withdrawn from the ECHR was Greece in 1969, while it was under a military dictatorship.
“The UK’s withdrawal from the European Convention would be welcomed by abusive governments everywhere,” Leghtas said. “But it would gravely weaken an institution that has done so much to safeguard and advance basic freedoms across Europe and it would destroy the credibility of the UK when discussing human rights internationally.”
UK: Parties Should Commit to Rights | Human Rights Watch.
Posted in HRW, human rights | 1 Comment »
Tags: anti-terrorist laws, binding international law, complaint procedure, deportation, Europe, European Convention, European Convention on Human Rights, HRW, Human Rights Act (UK), Human Rights Watch, Izza Leghtas, political debate, UK, withdrawal
September 9, 2014
The Guardian reported today that Krishna Upadhyaya and Gundev Ghimire, the two British human rights investigators detained in Qatar for almost nine days, have been released from custody (but have not yet left the country).
via UK human rights researchers held in Qatar freed | World news | theguardian.com.
https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/09/08/human-rights-investigators-in-qatar-are-now-confirmed-as-detained/
Posted in human rights | 1 Comment »
Tags: 2022 FIFA World Cup, detention, Gundev Ghimire, Krishna Upadhyaya, labour rights, monitoring, Nepal, the Guardian, UK
September 8, 2014
On 6 September 2014, the Foreign Ministry of Qatar finally confirmed the arrest and detention of Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev, who were at first feared disappeared: https://thoolen.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/human-rights-investigators-in-qatar-being-followed-by-the-police-here-looks-like-they-will-give-me-troubles-now/
[Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev are British citizens working to investigate the conditions of migrant labourers who are constructing facilities for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.]
Posted in films, Front Line, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: 2022 World Cup, disappearance, film, Front Line, Ghimire Gundev, illegal detention, Krishna Upadhyaya, labour rights, monitoring, Nepal, Qatar, UK
September 4, 2014
Two British human rights workers investigating the plight of migrant labourers constructing facilities for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup have disappeared and are feared to be held incommunicado by the Gulf state’s security forces reports the Independent. Krishna Upadhyaya and Ghimire Gundev vanished on Sunday 31 August after sending texts to colleagues saying they were being followed by plain clothes police officers and feared they arrest as they tried to leave Qatar on flights that day. The two men, who are of Nepalese extraction and both carry British passports, had been in the Qatari capital Doha to record interviews with Nepali labourers and investigate conditions in accommodation camps. They were working in cooperation with Nepalese diplomats in the city.
The Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD), employing the men, said it believed its employees were being held by the Qatari police and were at risk of maltreatment or torture: “We are deeply concerned that our employees, both British citizens, may have been subjected to enforced disappearance and are currently at risk of torture.”
[Qatar has been strongly criticised for the working conditions of its 1.4m migrant labourers as it races to spend £123bn on new infrastructure ahead of the 2022 World Cup. More than 400 Nepalese, the vast majority of them in Qatar to work on construction projects, died in the Gulf state between January 2012 and this May – a death rate of one worker per day. Qatar has insisted that none of the deaths occurred on World Cup sites. Qatar has been criticised for routinely holding detainees incommunicado for weeks or months at a time. Amnesty International has described the tactic as “standard practice” and said it can be followed by lengthy further detention without charge or trial.]
British human rights investigators disappear in Qatar, after being followed by plain clothes police – Middle East – World – The Independent.
Posted in films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 2 Comments »
Tags: 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2022 World Cup, Documentary film, Forced disappearance, Ghimire Gundev, Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD), investigation, Krishna Upadhyaya, labour rights, migrant labour, Nepal, Qatar, repression, The Independent, UK
August 22, 2014
(Photograph: Helen Bamber Foundation/PA)
Many newspapers, including the Guardian of 21 August, carry the news of the demise of human rights defender and early member of Amnesty International, Helen Bamber. She died aged 89. Bamber was a psychotherapist who began helping victims of torture and atrocities aged 20 when she started working with survivors of the Holocaust.
She used her vast experience to work with actor Colin Firth on his film The Railway Man, an account of a British officer captured by the Japanese during the second world war and made to work on the Thai-Burma railway. Firth said his encounter with Bamber was life-changing and the compassion she showed had touched him for life. He said that even in old age and ill-health Bamber continued to be determined to do all she could to help those affected by slavery, torture and human rights abuses: “Her courage, wisdom and pragmatism were formidable – and what she did worked.”
Actress Emma Thompson, who is president of the Helen Bamber Foundation, said: “Not only is she a great listener and an incredible interpreter, but she never lets her imagination run dry…She resists institutionalism. She knows which borders should be crossed and melds them together.”
via Human rights campaigner Helen Bamber dies aged 89 | World news | The Guardian.
for contributions: https://www.justgiving.com/HelenBamberMemorialFund/
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Tags: Amnesty International, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, film, Helen Bamber, Helen Bamber Foundation, Helen Barber Foundation, holocaust, Human rights defender, in memoriam, UK, woman human rights defender
August 18, 2014
On 17 August 2014 Nabeel Rajab, who heads the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (the MEA Final Nominee of 2012), posted a strong piece in the Huffington Post which contains an impressive stand on why he takes the risks he does as well as a scathing attack on the western governments, especially those of the UK, for putting (arms) business before human rights consideration.
Nabeel Rajab, Final Nominee MEA 2012
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in human rights, Human Rights Defenders, MEA | 2 Comments »
Tags: arms sales, Bahrain, Bahrain Center for Human Rights, diplomatic pressure, Huffington Post, Human Rights Defenders, illegal detention, MEA final nominee 2012, Middle East, Nabeel Rajab, UK, USA
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 