The United Nations Security Council should take immediate steps to ensure international monitoring in Southern Kordofan, where reports of massive human rights violations by Sudanese forces have emerged. Council members, who meet on July 28, 2011, should press all parties to end immediately the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians and should warn those responsible for these crimes that they will be held accountable.

The United Nations Security Council should take immediate steps to ensure international monitoring in Southern Kordofan, where reports of massive human rights violations by Sudanese forces have emerged. Council members, who meet on July 28, 2011, should press all parties to end immediately the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilians and should warn those responsible for these crimes that they will be held accountable.

The Bangladeshi government should immediately stop the mass trials of the alleged mutineers of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) to ensure fair trials.

A Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) law that bans female genital mutilation (FGM) is a crucial step in eradicating the practice. The Family Violence Bill, approved by the Kurdistan parliament on June 21, 2011, includes several provisions criminalizing the practice, recognized internationally as a form of violence against women. Several studies by the government and non-governmental organizations estimate that the prevalence of FGM among girls and women in Kurdistan is at least 40 percent.

Burundian authorities should investigate and bring to justice those responsible for the dozens of political killings in Burundi since late 2010

The Ethiopian government should stop using a restrictive and vague counterterrorism law to repress free speech and due process rights.

The government of India should undertake a speedy, fair and transparent criminal investigation into fresh allegations of killings, torture and other abuses by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the border with Bangladesh.

The Ugandan government should immediately release or bring to court Augustine Okello, a journalist from Lira-based Radio Rhino, who was forcibly disappeared on July 12, 2011.

The government of Malawi should open a prompt, independent, and transparent investigation into the killings of several peaceful demonstrators. The deaths resulted from the security forces’ apparent excessive use of lethal force during largely peaceful demonstrations and some rioting on July 20 and 21, 2011. Demonstrators were protesting deteriorating economic conditions, fuel shortages, and increasing political repression.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee should remove language that would reinstate the so-called “Global Gag Rule” from the draft Foreign Affairs Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012. The “Gag Rule” would outlaw US funding to international groups that provide abortions, counsel women about abortion, or engage in advocacy for abortion rights, even if no US funds would be used for those purposes.

Syrian security forces have intensified their campaign of mass arrests in cities across the country that have had anti-government protests. The targeted cities include including Hama, Homs, and various suburbs around Damascus.

The Bahraini government should immediately end its campaign of arrests of medical professionals and attacks on injured patients linked to recent anti-government protests, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch called on authorities to investigate the violations against medical personnel and patients who exercised their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, hold those responsible to account, and allow unhindered access to medical treatment for all.    

UAE authorities should drop charges against five activists arrested after they called for democratic reforms.

The international Contact Group on Libya, meeting in Istanbul on July 15, 2011, to discuss the conflict, should press Libya’s opposition authority to ensure that civilians are protected in areas where rebels have assumed control.

The Bahrain government should investigate and remedy the summary dismissals of more than 2,000 workers since late March, apparently as punishment for having participated in or otherwise supported pro-democracy demonstrations.