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Archive for the ‘Press release’ Category

India: Rescind “Shoot at Sight” Orders in Assam

July 27th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Authorities in India should rescind “shoot at sight” orders to enforce a curfew in the northeastern state of Assam.

(New York) – Authorities in India should rescind “shoot at sight” orders to enforce a curfew in the northeastern state of Assam, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Asia, India, Press release, sectarian violence, Shoot at sight | Comments Closed

Israel/Palestinian Authority: Theater Group Hit From Both Sides

July 27th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Palestinian Authority and Israeli military authorities should both end abuses against members of the West Bank-based Freedom Theater.

(Jerusalem) – The Palestinian Authority and Israeli military authorities should both end abuses against members of the West Bank-based Freedom Theater, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Criminal Justice, free speech, Israel and the Occupied Territories, Middle East/N. Africa, Press release | Comments Closed

Syria: Inmate Describes Fatal Assault on Prisoners

July 27th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Syrian government should immediately grant United Nations observers full access to Homs and Aleppo central prisons to check on prisoners who may be at risk of violent reprisals following prison riots.

(New York) – The Syrian government should immediately grant United Nations observers full access to Homs and Aleppo central prisons to check on prisoners who may be at risk of violent reprisals following prison riots, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Criminal Justice, Middle East/N. Africa, Press release, Prison and Jail Conditions, Syria | Comments Closed

Olympics: For Saudi Women, Only a Starting Line

July 26th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The participation of two Saudi female athletes in the London Olympics is an important first step but does not go far enough in addressing entrenched problems of gender discrimination in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia should end the effective ban preventing millions of women and girls from practicing sports inside the kingdom.

(London) – The participation of two Saudi female athletes in the London Olympics is an important first step but does not go far enough in addressing entrenched problems of gender discrimination in the kingdom, Human Rights Watch said today.

Posted in Middle East/N. Africa, Press release, Racism and Discrimination, Saudi Arabia, Women's Rights | Comments Closed

International Justice: Taylor Trial Sets Positive Example

July 25th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone’s armed conflict was a largely well-run proceeding, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The trial benefitted from a high-quality defense, sound handling of witnesses, and dynamic outreach to communities affected by the crimes. At the same time, Human Rights Watch’s analysis identified areas in which practice should be improved for future trials of the highest-level suspects before domestic, international, and hybrid war crimes tribunals.

(Brussels) – The trial of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity during Sierra Leone’s armed conflict was a largely well-run proceeding, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Posted in Africa, Charles Taylor, International Justice, Judicial Accountability, Liberia, Press release, Sierra Leone, Special Court for Sierra Leone, War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity | Comments Closed

Mali: Security Forces ‘Disappear’ 20, Torture Others

July 25th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Soldiers loyal to Mali’s coup leader have forcibly disappeared at least 20 soldiers allegedly linked to an April 30, 2012 counter-coup, and committed torture and other abuses against dozens of others. The security forces of Capt. Amadou Sanogo, who led the March 22 coup against President Amadou Toumani Touré, have also engaged in a campaign of intimidation against journalists, family members of detained soldiers, and others deemed a threat.

(Nairobi) – Soldiers loyal to Mali’s coup leader have forcibly disappeared at least 20 soldiers allegedly linked to an April 30, 2012 counter-coup, and committed torture and other abuses against dozens of others, Human Rights Watch said today. The security forces of Capt.

Posted in Africa, Mali, Press release | Comments Closed

Senegal: Agreement on Habré Court

July 24th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Senegal’s agreement on July 24, 2012, to establish a special court to try the former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, if swiftly implemented, could mark a turning point in the long campaign to bring him to justice, a coalition of human rights groups said today.

(Dakar) – Senegal’s agreement on July 24, 2012, to establish a special court to try the former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, if swiftly implemented, could mark a turning point in the long campaign to bring him to justice, a coalition of human rights groups said today.

Posted in Africa, Chad, Habré, Hissène Habré, International court of justice, International Justice, Judicial Accountability, Peace and Justice, Press release, Senegal, War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity | Comments Closed

Drug Detention Centers Offer Torture, Not Treatment

July 24th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Hundreds of thousands of people identified as drug users in China and across Southeast Asia are held without due process in centers where they may be subjected to torture, and physical and sexual violence in the name of “treatment.” International donors and United Nations agencies have supported and funded drug detention centers that systematically deny people rights to effective HIV and drug dependency treatment, and have ignored forced labor and abuse.

(New York) – Hundreds of thousands of people identified as drug users in China and across Southeast Asia are held without due process in centers where they may be subjected to torture, and physical and sexual violence in the name of “treatment,” Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today.

Posted in Asia, Cambodia, center, China and Tibet, closure, community-based, Detention, donor, drug, drug dependence, Drug Policy and Human Rights, drug user, Health, Laos, Press release, Torture, treatment, UN, Vietnam | Comments Closed

Nepal: Prosecute, Don’t Promote, Notorious Army Officer

July 22nd, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Nepal’s government should investigate, not promote an army colonel implicated in dozens of cases of enforced disappearance and torture, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

(Kathmandu) – Nepal’s government should investigate, not promote an army colonel implicated in dozens of cases of enforced disappearance and torture, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International said today.

Posted in amnesty, Asia, Col. Raju Basnet, Enforced Disappearances, ICJ, impunity, Nepal, Press release | Comments Closed

Oman: Drop Cases Against Online Activists

July 21st, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Omani government should drop its cases against nine online activists and a demonstrator who were convicted of crimes solely for exercising their rights to free expression. The cases are before the Omani appeals court.

(Beirut) – The Omani government should drop its cases against nine online activists and a demonstrator who were convicted of crimes solely for exercising their rights to free expression. The cases are before the Omani appeals court.

Posted in free speech, internet freedom, Middle East/N. Africa, Oman, Press release | Comments Closed

World Court: Important Victory for Habré Victims

July 20th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 20, 2012, that Senegal must prosecute “without further delay” or extradite Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré is a great victory for his victims, a coalition of human rights groups said today. The ruling reinforces the obligation on all countries to bring to account people in their jurisdiction who are allegedly responsible for torture.

(Brussels) –The ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 20, 2012, that Senegal must prosecute “without further delay” or extradite Chad’s former dictator Hissène Habré is a great victory for his victims, a coalition of human rights groups said today.

Posted in Africa, Belgium, Chad, Habré, International court of justice, International Justice, Judicial Accountability, Press release, Senegal, War Crimes/Crimes Against Humanity | Comments Closed

China/US: Dialogue Needs to Produce Results

July 20th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The United States should use the upcoming human rights dialogue with the Chinese government to demand public and verifiable changes in policies and practices.

(New York) – The United States should use the upcoming human rights dialogue with the Chinese government to demand public and verifiable changes in policies and practices. The changes should include a commitment to hold elections to choose China’s leaders.

Posted in Asia, China, China and Tibet, Press release, US-China Human Rights Dialogue | Comments Closed

Thailand: Press Burmese President on Rights

July 20th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The Thai government should press Burmese President Thein Sein to take immediate and concrete steps to address serious human rights problems in Burma when he visits Thailand from July 22-24, 2012, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday.

(New York) – The Thai government should press Burmese President Thein Sein to take immediate and concrete steps to address serious human rights problems in Burma when he visits Thailand from July 22-24, 2012, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to

Posted in Asia, Burma, policy, Press release, Thailand | Comments Closed

HIV Conference: Include People With Disabilities

July 20th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

Donors supporting HIV programs, policymakers, and service providers should ensure that the world’s one billion people with disabilities have equal access to HIV prevention and treatment.

Donors supporting HIV programs, policymakers, and service providers should ensure that the world’s 1 billion people with disabilities have equal access to HIV prevention and treatment, Human Rights Watch said today, in advance of the 19^th International AIDS Conference. The conference will begin on July 22, 2012, in Washington, DC.

Posted in access, Conference, Disability, Disability Rights, equal, Global, Health, HIV, HIV/AIDS, HIV/TB, people with disabilities, Press release, prevention, treatment, Washington | Comments Closed

Bangladesh: Rights Abuses Under Washington Spotlight

July 19th, 2012 | Author: Human Rights Watch

The US government should continue to press Bangladesh to improve on labor issues and women’s rights, reform abusive security forces, and meet its obligations to refugees, Human Rights Watch said today in a hearing before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the US Congress.

(Washington DC) – The US government should continue to press Bangladesh to improve on labor issues and women’s rights, reform abusive security forces, and meet its obligations to refugees, Human Rights Watch said today in a hearing before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Comm

Posted in Asia, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity, Bangladesh National Party, BNP, CID, criminal investigation department, Press release, RAB, Rapid Action Battalion | Comments Closed