US: A Long Way to Go
President Barack Obama recently signed into law legislation that will greatly reduce federal sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine offenses.
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Israel: Stop Demolishing Bedouin Homes
(Jerusalem) – The Israeli government should immediately stop demolishing the homes of Bedouin citizens in the Negev desert in southern Israel and should compensate those displaced and allow them to return to their village pending a final agreement that…Continue Reading
UK Should Not Put Trade with Sudan Ahead of Human Rights
The new UK government has made it clear that an important priority of its foreign policy will be to promote British trade and investment abroad.
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Mexico: Landmark Adoption Ruling for Same-Sex Couples
(New York) – The landmark ruling on August 16, 2010, by Mexico’s Supreme Court recognizing the right of same-sex couples to adopt children in Mexico City upholds the core principle of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people i…Continue Reading
UNESCO: Pull Obiang Prize
(New York) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization should cancel the Obiang Prize at its next session in October 2010, Human Rights Watch and 95 partner groups said in a letter sent to UNESCO Executive Board members today…Continue Reading
Letter to UNESCO: Cancel UNESCO-Obiang Prize
Dear Members of the Executive Board:
We understand that, as a result of a June 15 informational meeting held in Paris, the Executive Board will be addressing the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences at its…Continue Reading
Senegal Politics: A Trying Trial
A joint African Union (AU)-EU mission has announced that a new roundtable is to be held in October in an attempt to resolve long-running funding issues surrounding the trial of Hissène Habré, the former dictator of Chad. Mr Habré has been living in …Continue Reading
Burma: EU Should Endorse International War Crimes Inquiry
(Brussels) – European Union member states should publicly support the establishment of an international Commission of Inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Burma ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Human Rights W…Continue Reading
Israel/Gaza: Wartime Inquiries Fall Short
(New York) – Israeli military investigations into the Gaza war have brought some results over the past 18 months but fall far short of addressing the widespread and serious allegations of unlawful conduct during the fighting, while Hamas has announced …Continue Reading
A Drug Abuse Policy That Fails Everyone
The U.S. “war on drugs” has been a bust. And despite the federal government’s efforts to claim otherwise, Americans know it: a new national Angus Reid poll shows that 65% of Americans – with the low marks even across party lines – think the…Continue Reading
Rulings Support Same-Sex Marriage
(New York) – Two landmark rulings on same-sex marriage were issued last week – a US district court struck down Proposition 8’s ban on gay marriage in California, and Mexico’s Supreme Court recognized the right to same-sex marriages in Mexico City. Both…Continue Reading
Illusions of Care
This 52-page report documents the many obstacles women and girls face in getting the reproductive health care services to which they are entitled, such as contraception, voluntary sterilization procedures, and abortion after rape.
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How Not to Address the Uganda Bombings
Three Kenyans now sit in Ugandan custody, charged with terrorism for their alleged role in the twin bomb blasts that killed scores of World Cup soccer fans in Kampala a few weeks ago. It is unclear what relationship – if any – these three might have ha…Continue Reading
Ecuador: Modify Proposed Communications Law
(Washington, DC) – Ecuador should amend provisions of the proposed Communications Law to ensure that it meets its obligations to protect and promote free speech, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Fernando Cordero, president of the National A…Continue Reading
Australia: Focus Election Debate on Protecting Refugees
(New York) – Australian political party leaders should publicly endorse reforms to meet the nation’s international legal obligations to asylum seekers and migrants, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to the party leaders.
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