Menschenrechte News

Burma: Election Laws May Shut Down Opposition Parties

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 23:22:48 +0100

(New York) - Newly issued laws in preparation for 2010 elections in Burma are designed to exclude the main opposition party and ensure a victory for the ruling military, Human Rights Watch said today.

Azerbaijan: Appeal Court Leaves Bloggers in Jail

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 11 Mar 10 00:32:20 +0100

(New York) - The Azerbaijani government should release two bloggers who have been detained since July 2009 as the result of a staged fight designed to frame them, Human Rights Watch said today. The bloggers, Emin Milli and Adnan Hajizade, lost their appeal against their conviction today.

Uzbekistan: UN Review Should Highlight Atrocious Record

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 16:24:46 +0100

(New York) - A UN review of Uzbekistan's human rights record on March 11 and 12, 2010, is a rare opportunity to highlight the government's abysmal record and to urge specific steps to end abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The government's persecution of human rights defenders, rampant torture and ill-treatment, and religious persecution top the list of concerns, Human Rights Watch said.

Saudi Arabia: Drop Charges for Publicizing Bureaucratic Failures

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 18:21:55 +0100

(New York) - Saudi Arabia's Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecutions should immediately drop "cybercrimes" charges against Nasir al-Subai'i for writing about his bureaucratic ordeal as he tried to get the government to pay for his brother's medical care, Human Rights Watch said today.

Sri Lanka: End Witch Hunt Against the Media and NGOs

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 19:55:44 +0100

(New York) - The Sri Lankan government should end its harassment of journalists and activists and take steps against those making threats, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said in a joint statement today.

Uzbekistan: Investigate Brutal Attack on Activist

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 04 Mar 10 16:38:51 +0100

(New York) - The Uzbek authorities should thoroughly investigate and prosecute the men who violently attacked Dmitrii Tikhonov, a human rights activist and member of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch said today.

Philippines: Protect Witnesses to Maguindanao Massacre

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 08 Mar 10 17:25:19 +0100

(New York) - Philippine authorities should act swiftly to protect eyewitnesses to the November 2009 massacre of at least 57 people in Maguindanao province on Mindanao, and to protect their families as well, Human Rights Watch said today.

Yemen/US: Take Steps to Avoid Airstrike Tragedies

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 08 Mar 10 18:10:35 +0100

(New York) - The Yemeni government's acknowledgment that an airstrike killed more than 42 civilians in December 2009 is a stark reminder of the need for careful targeting when using such counterterrorism measures, Human Rights Watch said today.

How not to protect children

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 08 Mar 10 21:23:28 +0100

Lebanon: Investigate Seizure of Human Rights Lawyer's Passport

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 08 Mar 10 21:33:40 +0100

(Beirut) - The Lebanese government should investigate the seizure of a human rights lawyer's passport by General Security, a group of 16 Lebanese and international human rights organizations said today.

Nigeria: Investigate Massacre, Step Up Patrols

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 08 Mar 10 23:30:00 +0100

(Dakar) - Nigeria's acting president should make sure that the massacre of at least 200 Christian villagers in central Nigeria on March 7, 2010, is thoroughly and promptly investigated and that those responsible are prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said today.

Decisive Moment for Global Transparency Effort

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 09 Mar 10 06:01:02 +0100

(Washington, DC) - An international initiative that seeks to promote more openness about how countries profit from their oil, gas, and mining resources should not weaken its modest membership standards because governments are unable or unwilling to meet them, Human Rights Watch said today.

China: Scholars, Writers Press for Liu Xiaobo’s Release

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 02:01:00 +0100

(New York) - More than one hundred leading China scholars, writers, and human rights advocates from around the world are today releasing a letter to China's National People's Congress that calls for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo.

Afghanistan: Repeal Amnesty Law

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 10 Mar 10 12:33:25 +0100

(New York) - The Afghan government should urgently act to repeal a law that provides an amnesty to perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today.

The law was published unannounced in the official gazette, bringing it into force, despite repeated promises by President Hamid Karzai that he would not allow the law to go into effect.