This weekly electronic newsletter is researched and written by students in Professor Rachel Taylor's Contemporary Issues in Human Rights class. The contributors read widely in their areas of focus and choose the week's most important human rights stories to highlight. Information in the write-ups comes from the sources provided and has not been independently verified.
Minority Rights | Counterterrorism and Human Rights | Freedom of Expression
Migration and Human Rights | Human Rights Defenders | Corporations and Human Rights Human Trafficking |International Criminal Law | UN Human Rights Mechanisms
Women's Rights | Human Rights in Europe | Human Rights in the Middle East
Human Rights in Africa | Human Rights in the Americas | Human Rights in Asia
Thematic Roundup
Minority Rights
by Tiphanie Miller
Update: Special Rapporteur Encouraged by Convention on Disability Rights
Since the Convention on the Rights of the Disabled was opened for signatures on March 30, 86 states and regional integration organizations have signed on, and 45 have also signed on to the Optional Protocol, which establishes a Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and delineates its responsibilities. As of yet, the United States is party to neither the Convention nor the Optional Protocol. However, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, Vernor Munoz, congratulated the states that have already signed the Convention, stating that the Convention provides a fundamental mechanism for ensuring disabled persons' rights to an inclusive education. (See this statement by the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, the text of the Convention on the Rights of the Disabled and the Optional Protocol, and list of signatories.)
Minority Groups Most Threatened in Somalia
According to a global survey released at the end of March by Minority Rights Group International, Somalia has surpassed Iraq as the world’s most dangerous country for minority groups. Fighting and state repression have threatened minorities in Somalia, Iraq, and Sudan, who lead this year’s rankings of “Peoples Under Threat.” Mark Lattimer, the Director of Minority Rights Group, cited Somalia’s increased “spectre of a return of large-scale clan violence.” The report also noted the increased rankings of key allies in the United States’ War on Terror. Lattimer commented, “The debate continues to rage about whether the 'war on terror' has made the world a safer place for the West, but it has certainly made it a much more dangerous place for minorities." (See the Minority Rights Group International website and the full text of the Minority Rights Group International report.)
Human Rights Watch Concerned about Homophobic Activities in Nepal
Human Rights Watch has called for Nepal to condemn the recent the abductions in Sunsari of a woman and a teenage girl accused of having a sexual relationship with one another by the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist, a party that is now part of the state’s government. The abductions coincide with increased anti-gay rhetoric by senior officials, but also the party’s promise not to punish homosexuals. HRW has called for the government of Nepal to fully protect “all people of Nepal from campaigns which target them for abuse on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.” (See this letter from Human Rights Watch to Nepalese Ministers and this Human Rights Watch news story.)
Counterterrorism and Human Rights
by Joseph Sant
Sri Lankan Antiterrorism Laws Target Media Critics
Sri Lankan authorities are using antiterrorism laws to silence a leading newspaper publisher that has criticized the government for human rights violations. Police arrested the financial director of Standard Newspapers Ltd. on February 27 and have not charged him. The government has also frozen Standard’s assets. Standard publishes a leading Sinhalese-language weekly called Mawbima that has recently contained stories questioning the government’s role in abductions and forced disappearances. Sri Lanka has seen escalated fighting between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, leading to increased human rights violations. (See this press release from Human Rights Watch.)
Human Rights Watch Releases Report on Afghanistan Insurgent Toll
On April 16, Human Rights Watch released a report on the dramatic increase in civilian deaths in the past 15 months due to insurgent attacks. The perpetrators of these attacks are primarily the Taliban and Hezb-e Islami forces. The report highlights the civilian cost of attacks directed at civilians, as well as attacks directed at Afghan or international military targets. The report calls on the insurgents to cease targeting civilians, while suggesting that Afghan and international forces avoid intermingling military installations and convoys with civilian areas. (See the Human Rights Watch report.)
Testimony on Torture of Majid Khan Submitted to Combatant Status Review Tribunal
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) has released written testimony by the father of Guantanamo detainee Majid Khan that contains descriptions of torture and abuse suffered by Majid while held in secret CIA “ghost” facilities. Majid’s father submitted the testimony to his son’s Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) in writing because the Department of Defense would not guarantee the safe return of the Khan family to their home in Baltimore had they personally testified at the hearing. The testimony alleges that Majid was beaten, held in stress positions, and forced to sign a confession. (See the CCR release of the testimony, and the synopsis by CCR.)
Freedom of Expression
by Kartik Sharma
Russia Clamps Down on Opposition Rallies
Moscow, Two anti-Kremlin rallies on consecutive days were broken up by riot police amid scenes of violence. Over 170 people were arrested during the first rally including former World Chess Champion Gary Kasparov who leads the opposition United Civil Front Group. The opposition responded by holding a second rally in St. Petersburg but the protestors were surrounded by police who blocked the planned march. Smaller bodies of demonstrators clashed with police after the main rally dispersed and several opposition leaders were arrested. The incident has drawn widespread criticism from both the international and Russian media as well as the European Union. (See this BBC article on the first rally, this BBC article on the second rally, and this BBC sampling of reactions from the Russian press.)
India Seals Offices of Dissident Burmese Newspaper
New Delhi, On April 16, 2007, police and municipal authorities sealed the offices of Mizzima News, one of the few independent sources of news on the secretive and repressive regime in Burma. The official reason given for the closure was that the Mizzima office was operating in a residential area without a permit. However, the editor of the paper has claimed that the action was in retaliation for the paper’s Burmese coverage as well as the editor’s role as an interpreter for 34 Arakan and Karen rebels on trial for allegedly supplying arms to Indian insurgents. While no one was arrested during the 30-minute police operation, Mizzima has lost access to their computers and files for an indefinite period. (See this letter from the International Press Institute to the Indian Home Minister and this South East Asian Press Alliance story.)
Eritrea Urged to Account for Missing and Imprisoned Journalists
Washington DC, 38 individual organizations, including the members of IFEX, delivered a joint letter to the Eritrean Embassy calling on the government to publicly reveal the fate of four journalists who have reportedly died in prison, and to unconditionally release all remaining journalists in custody. Among those whose release was sought by the letter are over 10 former state journalists who were imprisoned in a “wave of arrests” in November 2006, after they were suspected of defecting to the opposition. Eritrea cracked down on dissidents and independent journalists after the September 11 attacks citing security concerns. (A copy of the letter is available from IFEX. See also this BBC profile of Eritrea, including information on the repression of free expression.)
Migration and Human Rights
by Sunil Varghese
U.S. Guest Worker Program Source of Numerous Human Rights Violations
A report issued last month by the Southern Poverty Law Center accuses the current U.S. guest worker regime of numerous human rights violations. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website, “Guestworkers who come to the United States are routinely cheated out of wages; forced to mortgage their futures to obtain low-wage, temporary jobs; held virtually captive by employers who seize their documents; forced to live in squalid conditions; and denied medical benefits for injuries.” The current guest worker program allows employers to bring in around 121,000 migrants a year under H-2 visas. The report looked at the treatment of these workers, the results of the bygone Bracero program, and proposed programs in the current immigration debate. (See the Southern Poverty Law Center’s website, the Southern Poverty Law Center’s report, a PR NewsWire press release about the report, and editorials from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Salt Lake Tribune.)
Judge Upholds International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005
The 109th Congress passed a measure requiring Americans to disclose violent criminal histories to would-be mail-order brides. Last year, a federal judge issued a restraining order against the law's enforcement citing free speech rights. However, on March 23rd, the judge reversed his order and upheld the constitutionality of the law. Marriage broker websites match American men with foreign women for introduction and matchmaking services. The statute was intended to protect unsuspecting women from U.S customers with violent criminal records. (See the text of the law (see Subtitle D), this article from Daily Report, this blog posting from Wired, this press release from PRWeb, and a copy of the Temporary Restraining Order.)
Australian Prime Minister Suggests Banning HIV-Positive Immigrants
In a radio interview last week, Prime Minister John Howard suggested that HIV-positive people should not be allowed to immigrate to Australia. In the interview, according to the Times, Howard added: "There maybe some humanitarian considerations that could temper that in certain cases but prima facia - no." Few countries, such as Qatar, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates, do enforce total bans on HIV-positive immigrants. Other countries, including Australia and the United States, place limits on such immigration. Howard’s comments were in response to a question raised by a recent report that 70 of the 334 new HIV infection cases in Victoria in 2006 were from immigrants who had arrived in Australia with HIV. (See these articles from the Los Angeles Times, the Times Online, and the Sydney Morning Herald.)
Human Rights Defenders
by Venir Cuyco
Labor Rights Group’s Offices Ordered Closed in Egypt
Offices of the Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services (CTUWS) in the towns of al-Mahalla al-Kubra and Naga` Hammidi were ordered closed by the Egyptian government on April 11 and March 29, respectively. The Ministry of Social Solidarity has accused CTUWS of inciting widespread labor unrest in the country. The closure orders were based on administrative decisions citing a violation of Egypt’s highly restrictive law on associations. CTUWS provides legal aid to Egyptian factory workers, educates them on their rights, and reports on labor rights issues in the country. Human Rights Watch says the closures violate Egypt’s international law obligations to respect the freedoms of assembly, expression, and association, including the right of workers to freely organize. (See this press release from Human Rights Watch.)
Human Rights Watch Denounces Repression by Uzbek Government
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that Umida Niazova, its translator in Uzbekistan, will face trial on April 19 for illegal border crossing, smuggling, and distributing material causing public disorder with the use of financial support from foreign governments. She faces up to ten years imprisonment. HRW alleges that these charges are politically-motivated and that some of them are based on research materials found in Niazova’s laptop computer that Uzbek authorities confiscated when she was initially detained in December 2006. Niazova is among 15 human rights defenders who have been imprisoned in Uzbekistan for politically-motivated charges since May 2005, when hundreds of protesters were killed in Andijan. HRW also decries the denial of work accreditation for its office director in Tashkent. In denying accreditation, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice said that the office director “exceeded her authority” and that she has “worked outside her office charter.” This denial effectively deprives HRW of the right to carry out any work in Uzbekistan. (See this Human Rights Watch report on the Uzbek government’s crackdown on human rights defenders ahead of the EU meeting on April 23, 2007.)
Human Rights NGOs Call for Retention of U.N. Special Procedures
The UN Human Rights Council is set to decide on the fate of its human rights investigators in June 2007. Collectively referred to as “Special Procedures,” these investigators are independent experts who volunteer their time to report on and prevent human rights violations such as torture, the sale of children, arbitrary detention, unlawful killings, extreme poverty, and attacks against human rights defenders. Cuba is leading an attack by a group of countries that wants to strip these investigators of their independence and powers in a bid to prevent scrutiny of specific countries’ human rights records. This group alleges that the system of appointing special rapporteurs for specific countries is selective and politically-motivated. In response, a group of human rights organizations are campaigning for the retention and strengthening of the system of U.N. Special Procedures. (See this article from Reuters Canada and this press release from Human Rights First. Click here to join the global petition to save the Special Procedures.)
Corporations and Human Rights
by Eric Rahn
The Threat of Enforcement: Amnesty International Seeks SEC Investigation of Dow Chemical’s Alleged Attempts to Escape Liability for Environmental Disaster
Amnesty International USA recently filed a letter with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, asking the Commissioners to investigate whether several letters sent by Dow Chemical to various Indian officials evidenced an intent to escape liability for the 1984 Bhopal chemical spill that has since killed over 22,000 people. The letters, which were recently discovered by a survivors’ group, ask the Indian government for “efforts to ensure that we have the appropriate investment climate to facilitate forward-looking investment and business partnerships.” The innocuous sounding language has been read by Amnesty and related organizations as an attempt to force India to limit remaining liability for the Bhopal spill. It has also been read as an attempt by Dow to avoid being forced to deposit $22 million for ongoing clean-up efforts. Amnesty is also seeking involvement from Dow shareholders, alleging that the letters are evidence of material misrepresentation pertaining to Dow’s ability to expand as rapidly as they desire in India. Concerning the shareholder’s interest, Amnesty’s Amy O’Meara said, “Looking at these letters, it seems that Dow's refusal to address the human rights of the Bhopal survivors may be having a serious, but undisclosed, financial impact.” (For more information, see the Amnesty International USA release and the Amnesty letter to the SEC.)
Furthering a Human Rights Culture: IKEA-UNICEF Partnership Continues to Fuel Education and Economic Self-Sufficiency in India
The IKEA-UNICEF partnership – which has been functioning for over ten years – has recently found success in the Uttar Pradesh district of India. The partnership is currently employing 2000 women in a program designed to foster the economic and social self-sufficiency of women and the education of all children in the villages in which the women are working. The program involves employment of laborers in the embroidery of IKEA’s Grindtorp PS ® line of cushion covers for what IKEA calls a “solid income that has changed and empowered [employees’] lives.” Employees must involve themselves in a mature self-help group that is linked to both economic betterment and a Child Rights Project that, according to IKEA, has helped send over 75,000 children in 500 towns to school. IKEA counts among its other achievements having won the Foreign Policy Association Award for Global Corporate Social Responsibility. (For more information, see the CSRWire story and the IKEA CSR webpage.)
Corporations Behaving Badly: Miami Herald Reports on Increasing Allegations of Corporate Wrongdoing in Columbia on the Heels of Chiquita Settlement
Chiquita’s recent settlement with the United States government, in which it was fined $25 million for paying terrorist organizations to control organized labor, has highlighted the allegedly illegal practices of several other U.S. and foreign companies in Colombia, the Miami Herald reported. Among those facing lawsuits for alleged human rights violations are Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company and the Alabama-based Drummond Coal Company. Both corporations face similar charges to those that eventually resulted in the Chiquita settlement: that they employed terrorist organizations to control organized labor in their Colombian operations. “The Chiquita case simply demonstrated what we've been saying all along: that companies doing business in Colombia are necessarily in bed with the [terrorist] paramilitaries,” said Terry Collingsworth, executive director of the Labor Rights Fund, a Washington-based organization dedicated to protecting the rights of workers the world over. The Herald report also pointed to another trend: despite the dangerous political ground upon which they will have to proceed, the Colombian government is launching its own investigations into the allegations. Colombian Attorney General Mario Iguarán recently said, regarding the Chiquita, Coca-Cola, and Drummond cases, “What I can see is a criminal relationship.” (For more information, see the Miami Herald story and the Human Rights in the Americas posting in the March 21 issue of this newsletter.)
Human Trafficking
by Sarah Yeomans
Ireland Signs European Human Trafficking Convention
Tanaiste Michael McDowell announced on April 13, 2007 that Ireland has signed the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings. As a result, more formalized structures will be formed in Ireland to fight against human trafficking, and more resources will be devoted to trafficking’s victims. Ireland is the 36th country to sign the Convention. Last month, Slovakia became the 6th state to ratify the Convention. (Read the story from the Irish Examiner and the news release from the Council of Europe.)
Anti-Human Trafficking Law Proposed in Uganda
A bill against human trafficking is expected to come to the floor of the Ugandan legislature this week. Reports show that trafficking of young children from northern Uganda is growing at an alarming rate. Trafficking of sex workers is also growing. Lawmakers expect that cracking down on human trafficking will aid in conquering other illicit activity, especially drug trafficking, which is also growing quickly. (Read this story from All Africa News.)
Former US Ambassador Accuses UN of Promoting Human Trafficking
At a conference on April 12, 2007, Professor John Miller accused the United Nations of being one of the major promoters of human trafficking because of its failure to combat sexual abuse by its peacekeeping forces. Miller is a former US ambassador-at-large on modern slavery. It was reported in 2005 that peacekeepers in the Congo were having sex with women in exchange for food or money. Since then, Professor Miller notes that the UN has failed to implement any of the reforms that were suggested by a report on the incident. (Read this story from the Associated Press.)
International Criminal Law
by Xander A. Meise
Lebanon: UN to Step In and Establish Tribunal to Investigate Hariri Death
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced this week that the United Nations would send a legal team to Lebanon immediately to mediate amongst local politicians and facilitate the creation of a special tribunal to investigate (with the goal to prosecute) the events surrounding the death of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. This action comes in response to a memo sent to the United Nations last week by 70 Lebanese parliamentarians and supported by current Prime Minister Fouad Siniora; the memo called for the Secretary-General to invoke the UN Charter and establish a special tribunal to address the Hariri case. (See these articles from the UN News Service and the BBC.)
ICTY: Chief Prosecutor Issues Statement Denying Document Concealment re: Genocide
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) released a statement in seeming direct response to a story last week regarding allegations that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) did not have, and should have had, complete, un-redacted evidence from the ICTY regarding Belgrade’s alleged involvement in genocide in Bosnia. Evidence from an ICTY case was used by the ICJ in its case brought by Bosnia against Serbia alleging Serbian acts of genocide during the wars of Yugoslav succession. The OTP statement “rejected in the strongest terms allegations that the OTP is in any way involved in ‘concealing documents’ from the International Court of Justice or in any ‘deal’ whatsoever with the Belgrade authorities.” The statement went on to explain that the ICTY “has no authority or involvement in proceedings before the [ICJ]” and that “it is the responsibility of [the ICJ] to determine what evidence it will consider and to request documents it deems necessary.” (See the press release issued by the ICTY’s Office of the Chief Prosecutor, as well as this New York Times article.)
International Criminal Court: ICC Criticized for “Softly-Softly” Approach in Uganda
The international community and human rights advocates have been frustrated by the lack of progress with the ICC’s prosecution of individuals for alleged war crimes in Uganda. Despite two years having passed since the ICC issued warrants for Joseph Kony and three other senior members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), all four men remain at large. The charges against them include crimes against humanity, including enslavement, rape, and murder as well as war crimes, such as intentionally directing attacks against civilians and enlisting child soldiers. Not only has the ICC opted for a “low profile” “so as not to be seen as interfering in the ongoing peace process,” but it doesn’t have its own police force so it must rely on local forces to make arrests. Many cite these factors and the fragility of the current peace process as contributors to the dearth of arrests. The ICC has engaged in diplomatic negotiations with Uganda’s neighbors in an effort to build a coalition willing to enforce the warrants. These efforts may prove moot if a Ugandan local court tries the LRA leadership; per the ICC’s statute, the ICC only has jurisdiction in a given case if the local courts have failed to address it through a domestic process. (See this article from IWPR.)
UN Human Rights Mechanisms
by Andrene Smith
LEBANON: The United Nations is hoping to set up a special tribunal to try the suspected killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and on Monday will send its legal chief to Lebanon to help the government and other political leaders end their political impasse on this subject. In April 2004 the Security Council set up the International Independent Investigation Commission after an earlier UN mission found that Lebanon’s own inquiry into the Hariri assassination was seriously flawed. The new tribunal will determine whether other political killings in Lebanon since October 2004 were connected to Mr. Hariri’s assassination and could therefore be dealt with by the tribunal. (See this article from the UN News Centre, this unofficial transcript of the UN Secretary-General’s remarks, and this article from the UN News Centre.)
BURUNDI: The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, a newly-created body that aims to prevent countries from relapsing into civil war and other conflicts, is helping to mobilize resources to support Burundi. The Peacebuilding Commission is providing support to Burundi to help alleviate poverty while promoting political dialogue, human rights, and good governance. On April 14, a Peacebuilding Commission delegation returned from a visit to Burundi; during their trip they met with the African Union, human rights and civil organization groups, the media, and religious groups. Burundi has been politically unstable since 1962. (See this article from the UN News Centre, this 2006 summary of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Burundi-specific meeting, and this article from the UN News Centre.)
SUDAN: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Sudan’s announcement that it will accept the entire “heavy support package” of troops, police officers, civilian staff, and equipment that the United Nations will provide to the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The deployment is to result in 17,000 UN troops and 3,000 police officers in the region. Sudan had previously refused to allow UN troops to enter its territory. On April 16, Mr. Ban met with AU Chairman Konare to discuss the latest developments in Darfur. The Sudanese government is expected to facilitate the immediate deployment of the troops. The deal was first brokered in March but deployment stalled due to Sudan’s tactics. (See this article from the UN News Centre, this statement from the UN Secretary-General, and this article from the UN News Centre.)
Women's Rights
by Amy Steiner
Child Abuse Common in India
A government study has shown that two out of three children in India are physically abused. Over half of the children reported being the victim of some form of sexual abuse. The Minister for Woman and Child Development said: “In India there is a tradition of denying child abuse. It doesn’t happen here is what we normally say. But by remaining silent, we have aided and abetted the abuse of children.” Almost 19% of the world’s children live in India, which has 440 million inhabitants under the age of 18. (See this article from the BBC.)
Sex Trafficking of Women Unchecked in Assam, India
Political problems in Assam, India’s largest north-eastern state, have led to a rise in trafficking of women. The local police are engaged in counter-insurgency operations that prevent them from following up on other crimes. In addition, Assam is home to nearly a quarter of a million displaced persons, and the women living in refugee camps are especially vulnerable to being trafficked. The displaced persons live in acute poverty and desperately seek work, even if the offers are dubious. Recruiters go to the camps, offer parents several thousand rupees for their daughters, and promise they will have jobs. Once the women leave, they never return. (See this article from the BBC and this article from The Hindu.)
Portuguese Government Legalizes Abortion
Following a national referendum, the country’s parliament passed a law to legalize abortion until the 10th week of pregnancy. Although the president of Portugal, Anibal Cavaco Silva, ratified the law, he recommended that the parliament take further measures to ensure that abortions remain rare. Prior to the new law, abortion was illegal except in cases of rape or when the mother’s health was at risk, and over 10,000 women were killed or seriously injured each year as a result of undergoing dangerous illegal abortions. The only countries in the European Union that still ban abortion are Ireland, Malta, and Poland. (See this article from the Feminist Majority Foundation, and this BBC background article.)
What Your Organization Can Do
The United Nations Human Rights Council is meeting in Geneva from April 10 to April 26 to define how it will be carrying out its mission in upcoming years. Human Rights Watch is petitioning the Council to address the rights of women and girls appropriately and prominently. Add your organization’s signature to the Human Rights Watch petition.)
Regional Round-up
Human Rights in Europe
by Pierre Bernheim
Russia: Violent Repression of Peaceful Demonstrations
Russian police officers strongly repressed peaceful demonstrations that took place in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over the weekend. More than two hundred people were arrested. The violent repression was particularly shocking in Saint Petersburg, where the demonstration had been authorized. The police started beating up demonstrators at the end of the event when they were starting to go back home peacefully. Some journalists also suffered from ill-treatment. These demonstrations were lead by the movement Another Russia. The European Commission expressed its serious concern over the violent repression of freedom of expression and assembly in Russia. It said it would discuss the subject during upcoming meetings with its Russian counterparts. (See this article from the BBC.)
Expression of Concern over Turkey’s Restrictions on Freedom of Expression
On April 13, Human Right Watch wrote to Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, Prime Minister of Turkey, to express its concerns regarding freedom of expression in that country. The NGO listed eight examples of journalists, writers, and other persons who have been or are currently being prosecuted for the opinions they have expressed. Here is one case: “The former Chairwoman of the Human Rights Association (HRA) Istanbul Branch, Eren Keskin, was convicted on January 23, 2007, of ‘insulting state, military and security forces’ under article 159 of the former TPC for a speech she made in 2002 in which she said ‘torture is a state policy in Turkey.’ The Tunceli Criminal Court of First Instance gave her a six month prison term, commuted to a fine of 900 YTL (approximately US$640).” (See the Human Rights Watch letter.)
Turkmen Dissident Subject to Possible Extradition by Bulgaria
Turkmenistan is one the most repressive countries in the world, and torture and imprisonment of dissidents are widespread there. Bulgaria is considering extraditing a Turkmen dissident, Annadurdy Khajiev, who fled in 2001 and is awaiting refugee status. If Bulgaria were to extradite Mr Khajiev, it would violate the 1951 Refugee Convention “which bans the return of refugees and asylum seeker to countries where they face persecution” writes Human Right Watch. (See this press release from Human Rights Watch.)
Human Rights in the Middle East
by Babak Mohassel
Syria: Release Kamal al-Labwani
Last week, Human Rights Watch demanded that Syria release Dr. Kamal al-Labwani from detention and end his unfair trial. In addition to being a well-respected Syrian human rights activist, Kamal al-Labwani is the founder of the Liberal Democratic Union in Syria. He has continuously advocated for democratic reforms both at home and abroad. Labwani was arrested on November 8, 2005 at the Damascus airport after returning from Europe and the United States. During his time abroad, he met with “government officials, journalists, independent human rights organizations and Human Rights Watch in Washington.” Joe Stork, deputy director of the Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa division, stated, “Labwani’s arrest is simply an effort by Syrian authorities to punish him from speaking out about the country’s terrible human rights record and to intimidate others from all manner of peaceful dissent.” Although Dr. Labwani’s trial has entered its final stages, his health has been rapidly deteriorating in detention. (See the Alliance for Essential Liberties in the Middle East’s report on Labwani’s abuse and inadequate treatment by the Syrian authorities, and their post of a recent family letter describing his deteriorating health conditions. See also this press release from Human Rights Watch and this 2005 press release from Human Rights Watch.)
Bahrain: Leaflet Detainees
The Bahrain government recently released Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahlawi and Hussain abdulAziz Al Hebshi from prison based on Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s royal pardon. The two Bahraini political activists became known as the “Leaflet Detainees” when they were arrested for distributing political leaflets. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights launched a public petition to the King asking for the release of these two men in January 2007. While the BCHR welcomed the recent release of the political activists, the organization also expressed its deep concern regarding the “veiled warning” and message embedded within the Leaflet Detainees case. BCHR vice president Nabeel Rajab stated, “Although the Leaflet Detainees are now free, the three months they spent in detention, without compensation or apology, was enough to serve its purpose as a veiled threat to other activists and journalists who are critical of the government's actions.” (See this press release from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, this press release from the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, and this press release from the Alliance for Essential Liberties in the Middle East.)
Iran: Undermining the Rule of Law
The Iranian Supreme Court recently acquitted a group of vigilantes charged with “a series of gruesome killings in 2002.” The Court held that the accused were not guilty because the victims were morally corrupt and were engaged in “un-Islamic activities.” The accused confessed to killings that were ghastly in nature and involved prolonged methods of torture and cruel and inhumane treatment. According to the BBC, this case raises “serious questions about vigilantes in Iran taking justice into their own hands.” Human rights organizations are deeply concerned with the Supreme Court’s decision to support persecution by non-State actors. (See this article from the BBC.)
Human Rights in Africa
by Meghan C Fennelly
This week’s update focuses on human rights developments in Nigeria, Sudan, and Kenya.
NIGERIA: Nigeria’s first round of elections on April 14, 2007 was marked by millions of voters at the polls, incidents of violence, and allegations of fraud. The Nigerian newspaper The Vanguard is reporting at least 52 people killed after the elections, and Human Rights Watch has called for reruns in several states after its monitors observed vote rigging. The first round of voting selects state governors and state and local legislators, and Nigeria’s electoral agency has declared the ruling party a winner in the majority of these contests. The presidential vote follows on April 21st, with controversy already surrounding the upcoming election. After the presidential contender and current Vice President Atiku Abubakar was barred from the ballot by the electoral commission, the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled on April 16th that he was illegally excluded. It is still unclear if the elections will be delayed to ensure the vice president is on the ballot. The presidential election is highly anticipated as the first transition of power from one democratically elected leader to another since Nigeria gained independence in 1960. (For more information, see this New York Times article, this Human Rights Watch press release, and this Vanguard (Lagos) story on violence by region.)
SUDAN: The news out of Sudan this week involves conflicting reports about whether or not the Government of Sudan had formally dropped its objections to U.N. peacekeepers entering the country. While U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a statement that he was “encouraged” by the government’s acceptance of a U.N. package, Sudan’s U.N. ambassador then claimed that the Darfur Peace Agreement is only for the African Union (AU) to implement. The package in question would allow for 3,000 U.N. peacekeepers, with hope for an ultimate goal of a 21,000-member joint AU-U.N. peacekeeping force. The current AU peacekeeping mission has been plagued recently by casualties and attacks. In human rights education news, the U.S. Holocaust Museum has teemed with Google to create a Google Earth tool to visualize the genocide in Darfur. For more information, see this Voice of America report, this UN press release, and the U.S. Holocaust Museum’s information on Google Earth.)
KENYA: The government of Kenya has announced several programs to address housing conditions in urban slums, coinciding with the U.N. Habitat Governing Council session taking place this week in the city of Nairobi. Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki announced on April 16, 2007 that he will be seeking $12 billion to pursue a slum eradication program. Kibaki also announced that his government will contribute $15 million toward slum upgrading efforts this year, double the amount of last year’s contribution. Finally, U.N. Habitat Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka announced a joint program with the Kenyan government to initiate a $1.8 million mortgage program for Kenyan slum residents. The mortgage program will start with a pilot targeted at residents of the Kibera slum, which U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited in January of this year and referenced in remarks he submitted to be read at the opening of the Council session. (For more information, see this African News Development story about housing as Kenya’s central challenge, this story from the East African Standard (Nairobi), and U.N. Habitat press release.)
Human Rights in the Americas
by Ingrid Fuentes
Organization of American States’ Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Releases Annual Report
Freedom of expression has gained a lot of attention throughout this month. On April 12, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that “[f]reedom of coverage, as well as freedom of the press, should be protected as a matter of principle.” The Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States issued an annual report on freedom of expression that echoes this sentiment. Below are some key findings:
- HOMICIDES, THREATS, AND IMPUNITY: 19 murders were recorded in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Mexico, and Venezuela. The report criticized governments for failure to prosecute them and for developing a culture of impunity in violation of principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles.
- STATE ACTORS: The Special Rapporteur also noted with particular concern that state agents, including police, military personnel, governors, mayors, and legislators were the source of many threats. Incidents were reported in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.
- PRIOR CENSORSHIP: Principle 5 of the Declaration of Principles condemns prior censorship. Reports of violations were made in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Peru, and Venezuela. Brazil is particularly worrisome, as seven judicial decisions upheld such measures.
- TRANSPARENCY: Enshrined in Principle 13 of the Declaration of Principles, this area achieved progress in Honduras and Uruguay where legislatures passed laws on transparency and access to public information.
- DESACATO LAWS: The report also spoke against “desacato laws,” which criminalize attacks on the honor and reputation of public officials and violate Principle 11 of the Declaration of Principles. The report noted with approval that nine countries had overturned these laws, but also expressed concern that desacato laws continue to be upheld in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. (See the full report and the statement by the UN Secretary-General.)
(See the Special Rapporteur on the right to education's report and the statement by the UN Secretary-General.)
Inter-American Commission of Human Rights to Visit Haiti
At the invitation of the government of Haiti, the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) is conducting an on-site visit to Haiti from April 16-April 20. The Delegation—comprised of the Commission President, the Rapporteur for Haiti and Executive Secretariat staff—is examining the human rights situation in Haiti, including access to justice and the situation faced by women and girls. The Delegation plans to meet with government officials, members of civil society, and representatives of intergovernmental organizations, including the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the OAS Special Mission in Haiti, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. (See the OAS press release.)
UN Mission in Haiti Readies for Elections
The UN Mission for the Stabilization in Haiti (MINUSTAH) announced that it will be receiving 100 Chinese officers to join the Brazilian-led peacekeeping force. These additional forces will assist MINUSTAH in fulfilling its promise to offer security and logistical support to Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Commission as it oversees elections on April 29 for 73 delegate seats. The additional forces will also aid MIUSTAH in fulfilling its law-and-order operations with the Haitian National Police. MINUSTAH was established in 2004 to establish peace in the Caribbean nation after President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced into exile. The UN peacekeeping force was established by the Security Council under its Chapter VII authority to “ensure a secure stable environment within which the constitutional and political process in Haiti can take place” and “to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.” (See this article from the UN News Centre on new forces, background information from the UN on MINUSTAH, this report from Refugees International criticizing the mission and making recommendations, and this article from the Chinese Daily on the Chinese role.)
Human Rights in Asia
by Woo-Suk Jun
North Koreans Travel More than 3,000 Kilometers in Quest for Freedom
Three young North Koreans traveled more than 3,000 kilometers in a quest for their freedom. However, their original plan to seek asylum was blocked in Laos. They were confined in a detention house in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It was known that some Laotian officials demanded money, while the government strongly denied the fact. If they are repatriated to North Korea, they will likely be sent to labor camps or may even be executed. (See this article from the International Herald Tribune.)
Vietnam: The Vietnamese Government and Freedom of Expression
The Vietnamese government respects its peoples’ freedom of expression, as long as they do not speak out about political subjects. But if someone’s expression involves the Communist Party of Vietnam, severe human rights violations may follow. Father Ly’s case shows well the attitude of the government. He was put in jail for 15 years after criticizing the Vietnamese government, and should be imprisoned for an additional eight years for what has been called for his anti-government activity. The U.S. government expressed its concern about the Vietnamese government’s human rights violations. (See this article from the Malaysia Sun.)
China: Protest After China’s State-Run Newspaper Issues Misleading Article
Chinese police detained more than 200 persons demonstrating near a newspaper office. The protesters were demonstrating against an article published in an official newspaper operated by China’s Communist Party, which had alleged that the government had “basically answered” all of the public complaints submitted to the government last year. (See this article from Monsters and Critics and this article from the International Herald Tribune.)
