Stories about Citizen Media from July, 2020
Could reform be on the cards for Jamaica's prison system?
Prime Minister Holness called the death of an inmate who had spent decades behind bars without trial "among the most dreadful inheritances of a system in urgent need of reform."
Jamaica wakes up to the plight of prisoners with mental illness
Noel Chambers, 81, had been in Jamaica's prison system for 40 years without a trial when he died in horrible conditions. Now, his case is being used to help other prisoners.
Construction of first Hindu temple in Islamabad faces opposition
The construction of the first Hindu temple in Islamabad was stopped after protests from different quarters, but rights activists and minority politicians are hopeful that the temple will be built.
Sudan uprising: Sweeping reforms usher in justice and freedom
These laws show the identity of a new Sudan that recognizes rights, diversity, freedom of belief and expression.
#BlackLivesMatter resonates in South Asia as Unilever drops ‘Fair’ from ‘Fair & Lovely’ cosmetic line
In the wake of the Black Lives Matters movement, Unilever announced that they would rebrand their leading skin care product ‘Fair & Lovely’ to 'Glow and Lovely'.
Tanzanians debate the meaning of new ‘lower-middle-income’ World Bank status
The World Bank’s updated classification of Tanzania as a middle-income country has evoked a national debate about what development means and how it should be measured — as election season approaches.
Authorities’ response to social unrest in Trinidad & Tobago raises debate about police power and public trust
"The criminalization of the bodies of Indigenous, Africans and Indians is built into the DNA of the police force."
In the Brazilian Amazon, fires and pandemic are a disastrous mix
In the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, the increase in fires in the Amazon could overburden even more the healthcare system, with more cases of respiratory problems.
Indian activists publish the first online magazine in the Santali language
Language activists from the eastern Indian state of Odisha have recently published the very first online magazine in the Santali language.
Russian journalist avoids jail term for ‘justifying terrorism’ – and fears a new assault on press freedoms
While her conviction remains in force, Svetlana Prokopyeva has avoided a prison sentence. The verdict was a silver lining in a new wave of arrests and criminal cases against journalists.
Authorities in Republika Srpska accused of burying genocide memories in tourism bid
The Vilina Vlas hotel hosted unspeakable crimes during Bosnian War in the 1990s. But it is still being billed as a haven for family breaks.
Sudan uprising: Nertati sit-in, the new wave
On June 28, citizens in Nertati, Darfur, held an ongoing sit-in with several demands: An end to armed militia attacks on civilians, disarmament, the arrest of perpetrators and agricultural protection.
COVID-19 leads to closure of popular bookshops in Bangladesh
"There are so many second-hand books with probably no more copies in the world… many valuable documents of Bengali literary culture will be lost like this."
Indians create awareness with #DalitLivesMatter
Inspired by the activity of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Indians are paying attention to one of the country's most disadvantaged populations.
Nigeria declares ‘state of emergency’ on rape and sexual assault
In Nigeria, a culture of rape and impunity persists, making it difficult for victims to hold their abusers accountable. Police often dismiss rape cases and blame the victims.
India bans TikTok, 58 other apps amid rising anti-China sentiment, border clashes
The border clashes and the stand-off between India and China reached naught after India decided to ban video-creation platform TikTok and 58 other apps due to “security issues”.
Everton Weekes, last of the ‘Three Ws’ of Caribbean cricket, dies at age 95
"Everton Weekes was a great Barbados champion who epitomised living life to the full."
Remembering the heartbreaking words of Yugoslavia's war-struck ‘Lost Generation’
"Never in my life [did I imagine] I would shoot at someone or that someone would shoot at me. How can this be? It's not right."
