Global Conference on Cyberspace 2017: Civil society messages To the hosts and delegates of the Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS) 2017, A free, open and secure cyberspace underpinned by human rights and democratic values is a prerequisite to socio-economic development. To this end, we must recognise that people are at the center of all technological…
United Nations Human Rights Council: Social Movements support a binding treaty that will create obligations for transnational corporations to respect human rights The Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity – a coalition of 190social movements, networks and organizations from around the world – along with the TreatyAlliance and Swiss social movements have…
UN experts voice concern over adverse impact of free trade and investment agreements on human rights GENEVA 2 June 2015 – A number of free trade and investment agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), are currently being negotiated. A group of UN experts* have issued the…
The Observatory: Kyrgyzstan: Assault against participants to an anti-homophobia event organised by Labris URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY KGZ 002 / 0515 / OBS 043 Harassment / Assault / Ill-treatment Obstacles to freedom of peaceful assembly Kyrgyzstan May 21, 2015 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International…
New OHCHR publication: “Moving Away from the Death Penalty. Lessons in South-East Asia” (BANGKOK, 27 March 2015) – The United Nations Human Rights Office for South East Asia (OHCHR) is pleased to release its new publication on death penalty in South East Asia. The report provides an extensive review of global trends in the application…
Expert says key housing rights responsibility lie with local authorities There are over a billion people around the world living in inadequate housing, said Leilani Farha, Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing. By inadequate, Farha means people who are homeless, or living without title to land, living with the threat of forced eviction…
Torture in the Philippines over the past 30 years Global research on the prevention of torture: Presentation of country study What are the key factors that can reduce torture and ill-treatment? This question has been the focus of a three-year research project, based on 16 country studies from all regions of the world. On Tuesday…
“Secretary General of the OMCT addresses challenges of protecting children from torture during the World Congress on Juvenile Justice” Geneva, 30 of January 2015. The Secretary General of the OMCT, Gerald Staberock, addressed the World Congress on Juvenile Justice setting out the challenges that States and the civil society faces when trying to protect children…
ICJ condemns execution of six persons in Indonesia: the death penalty is a perversion of justice January 19, 2015 Bangkok, Thailand — The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today echoed the call of other international and national human rights groups condemning the execution in Indonesia of six persons convicted of drug trafficking offences. The ICJ…
Laos: Pledge Action on Rights, Stop ‘Disappearances’ UN Review Opportunity for Progress, Answers on Sombath Somphone (Geneva, January 19, 2015) – The government of Laos should use the United Nations Human Rights Council review of its record to pledge concrete measures to address its pervasive human rights problems, Human Rights Watch said today. Laos will…
Dispatches: A Deadly Start to 2015 for Philippine Journalists by Phelim Kine, Human Rights watch JANUARY 8, 2015 On Thursday, Nerlita “Nerlie” Ledesma became the first journalist murdered in the Philippines in 2015. Unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed Ledesma, a 48-year-old reporter for the Abantetabloid newspaper in the city of Balanga in…
France: An Attack on Free Expression Response to Charlie Hebdo Killings Should Protect Rights (PARIS, JANUARY 8, 2015) — French authorities should bring to justice those responsible for the horrific attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should guard against backlash against French Muslims…
Human Rights Day 2014: Psychosocial Support in focus with launch of Report To mark this year’s Human Rights Day, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) together with the Medical Action Group (MAG) has launched the report ‘In Pursuit of Justice’, casting a light on psychosocial support for victims of torture in legal proceedings.…
Human rights 365 On 10 December every year, Human Rights Day commemorates the date on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaiming its principles as the “common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.” This year’s slogan, Human Rights 365, encompasses the idea that every day…
Press Release: Migrant rights advocates applaud release of principles for human rights at international borders October 22, 2014 (New York, NY) On October 22nd, in a report on the rights of migrant children to the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon announced the release of a new document outlining principles and guidelines for…
World Bank Group: Proposed Policy a Setback for Rights Development Cannot Succeed if it Harms Communities (Washington, DC, October 10, 2014) – Draft World Bank policies under consideration at the bank’s meeting on October 10-12, 2014, would dangerously roll back protection for communities affected by bank projects, independent groups said today. Foreign ministers and central…
Australia/Cambodia: Deal Puts Refugees at Risk Phnom Penh Has Poor Record on Refugee Protection, Basic Rights A new refugee agreement between Australia and Cambodia does not meet Australia’s commitment to send refugees to a “safe third country,” and will undermine refugee protection in the region, Human Rights Watch said today. A Cambodian government press release…
WORLD: Basil Fernando of the AHRC receives Right Livelihood Award, known also as “Alternative Nobel Prize” The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to inform you that The Right Livelihood Foundation has announced the laureates for 2014. They are Mr. Edward Snowden, Mr. Alan Rusbridger, Ms. Asma Jahangir, Mr. Basil Fernando, and Mr. Bill McKibben. This…
JOIN US IN A FREE FILM SHOWING OF “MINERS SHOT DOWN” On August 13 (Wednesday), 2 pm, @ Workers House (94 Scout Delgado) – This is part of the Marikana Global Day of Remembrance activities. For more information pls contact: Sentro 3321378 or ATM 4403211 ————– “In August 2012, mineworkers in one of South Africa’s…
Cambodia : Sentence of 2 former Khmer Rouge leaders to life imprisonment is historic FIDH and ADHOC, welcome the ECCC landmark decision condemning Khieu Samphan, former Head of State of Democratic Kampuchea, and Nuon Chea, former President of the Assembly of People’s Representatives of Democratic Kampuchea and ideologist of the Khmer Rouge regime, to life…
