Afghanistan: Government Takeover of Shelters Threatens Women’s Safety
(New York) – An Afghan government move to take over the operations of women’s shelters threatens the safety of women and girls in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged the government to support, rather than control, the w…Continue Reading
Yemen: Crackdowns on Protesters Continue
(New York) – Continued assaults, intimidation, and beatings targeting protesters in Yemen raise concerns about the Yemeni government’s respect for the right to free assembly, Human Rights Watch said today.
read moreContinue Reading
Egyptians rally in US, express hope about future as human rights activists call for reforms
DEARBORN, Mich. – Egyptians who gathered Saturday in major cities across the U.S. for a second day of celebration after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepped down expressed hope about the future, even as a leading human rights group said major refor…Continue Reading
Rally near UN calls for human rights in Egypt
Egyptians living in the U.S. and their supporters are celebrating the ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak with rallies in several major U.S. cities.Continue Reading
What will the Uzbeks say about us in their Tahrir Square?
The dramatic developments in Egypt’s Tahrir square and across the Middle East should make Western policy-makers think twice about the wisdom of long-term, unconditional support for hardened autocracies. I just spent two months in one – Uzbekistan.
read…Continue Reading
400 arrested in Algeria at rally demanding reforms
A human rights activist says more than 400 people have been arrested during a pro-democracy protest that brought thousands of people onto the streets of the Algerian capital.Continue Reading
Yemen: Pro-Government Forces Attack Demonstrators
(Sanaa) – Hundreds of men armed with knives, sticks, and assault rifles attacked anti-government protesters in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as Yemeni security forces stood by, Human Rights Watch said today. Within an hour, the 1,000-plus protesters had been…Continue Reading
Will Egypt End Emergency Law as Hosni Mubarak Steps Down?
Human rights in Egypt have been a point of contention during the tenure of Hosni Mubarak. With his era coming to an abrupt end, will Egypt end its reliance on emergency law?Continue Reading
UK: Proposed Counterterrorism Reforms Fall Short
(London) – The United Kingdom coalition government’s proposals to reform controversial counterterrorism measures contain improvements, especially on pre-charge detention, but fall short of bringing counterterrorism law and policy in line with internati…Continue Reading
US concerned on China activist: official
China should immediately allow freedom of movement to blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng after accounts that he was severely beaten by police, a US official said Friday.Continue Reading
Rwanda: Prison Term for Opposition Leader
(New York) – The four-year prison sentence for Bernard Ntaganda, founding president of the PS-Imberakuri opposition party, strikes a blow to freedom of expression and democracy in Rwanda, Human Rights Watch said today.
read moreContinue Reading
Egypt: Historic Change Brings Hope for Human Rights
(New York) – The resignation of President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt shows the power of peaceful protesters who stand up to authoritarian rulers, Human Rights Watch said today.
read moreContinue Reading
UN rights head raps Israel over settlements impact
UN human rights chief Navi Pillay sharply criticised Israel on Friday for ignoring the harm done to Palestinians by its Jewish settlement policy and the construction of a vast West Bank barrier.Continue Reading
Haiti: Support Duvalier Prosecution
(Port-au-Prince) – The government of Haiti should be encouraged and supported in its decision to move forward with the prosecution of the former dictator Jean‑Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier for grave violations of human rights, Human Rights Wat…Continue Reading
Australia helps Malaysia put refugees in choke-hold
By Lance Lattig, Amnesty International’s Malaysia researcher
Australia’s ABC News recently went out on patrol with Malaysia’s Coast Guard, which has received US$1 million worth of boats from the Australian government as part of an immigration co…Continue Reading