Passion of the Present | Human Rights News

India: Rescind “Shoot at Sight” Orders in Assam

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:32:07 +0000

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.

Israel/Palestinian Authority: Theater Group Hit From Both Sides

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:10:48 +0000

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.

Victims slam Indonesian chief lawmaker on comments about human rights investigation

"human rights" - Yahoo! News Search Results — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:10:04 +0000

Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) – Victims of human rights violations and their relatives have denounced Indonesian Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso for making negative comments about human rights investigations.

Syria: Inmate Describes Fatal Assault on Prisoners

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:45:00 +0000

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.

Human Rights Activist Majed El Shafie Awarded Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

"human rights" - Yahoo! News Search Results — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:31:00 +0000

TORONTO, July 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Human rights activist Majed El Shafie, President and Founder of One Free World International, has been awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his ongoing work …

France investigates tech firm accused of aiding Syria

"human rights" - Yahoo! News Search Results — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:22:15 +0000

PARIS (Reuters) – French police are investigating a software company accused by human rights groups of complicity in torture by supplying Syria with intelligence technology used to spy on and track its citizens, a judicial source told Reuters on Thursday. Paris prosecutors ordered the preliminary inquiry into Paris-based Qosmos after France's League of Human Rights and the International …

Human rights commission demands refugee changes

"human rights" - Yahoo! News Search Results — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:11:02 +0000

Australia's Human Rights Commission is calling for urgent changes to the Federal Government's refugee program.Releasing her latest report on Thursday, commission president Catherine Branson called for the Government to increase the community placement options for the thousands of asylum seekers now in detention.The report, based on recent visits to detention centres, looks at other countries …

Cuba. Décès d’Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, dirigeant politique et défenseur des droits humains

bpotterie — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 08:45:53 +0000

Par Gerardo Ducos, chargé des recherches sur Cuba à Amnesty International
Cuba vient de perdre l’un de ses défenseurs des droits humains et militants en faveur de la démocratie les plus respectés : Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas a succombé à un tragique accident de la route le 22 juillet, dans la province de Granma.
Ce militant de longue date dirigeait [...]

Olympics: For Saudi Women, Only a Starting Line

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 07:00:00 +0000

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.

International Justice: Taylor Trial Sets Positive Example

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 23:45:00 +0000

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.