· February, 2006

Stories about Human Rights from February, 2006

North Korea: Food aid argument

  27 February 2006

Scott Bruce of NKZone notes an essay by South Korean scholar Wonhyuk Lim on food aid to North Korea. “The end of the Cold War showed that even “an evil empire” was full of normal people and leaders who could bring about an enormous change when it was engaged with...

Russia: More On the Anniversary of Khrushchev's Speech

  27 February 2006

Somewhat belatedly, links to more posts by Sean Guillory's on the 50th anniversary of Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin: Boris Kagarlitsky on “sacrificing” the dictator in order to save the system; Anne Applebaum on “authoritarian impulse” in countries new to democracy; Julian Evans on the “cult of Putin” in Russia;...

China: Why unenforced laws matter

  27 February 2006

Chinese Law Prof notes the appearance of a new book by Kevin O'Brien and Lianjiang Li, Rightful Resistance in Rural China, saying it shows how legal texts can be socially meaningful even when they are not in any practical sense enforceable by courts or other state institutions.

Sudan: Sudanese officals involved in HR violations

  27 February 2006

Passion of the Present reports on the release of the names of high ranking Sudanese officials involved in “gross human rights violations”….”The names on the U.N. sanctions list underscore how top Sudanese officials have been responsible for ongoing atrocities in Darfur,”

South Africa: Failed habitats

  27 February 2006

African HOUSEIT writes on “Failed Habitats” that is the thousands of homes that lack proper sewage systems and water supplies...”Thousands in the area have no private access to water, and hundreds of people are forced to share single taps. More than 15,000 use what is euphemistically called the “bucket system”...

A Look at the Syrian Blogsphere

  26 February 2006

After a tense month of anti-violence campaigns, the Syrian blogsphere seemed to be quite calm this week… Discussions revolved about the new step from the US to give a $5 million to promote democratic governance and reform in Syria. While Joshua Landis of SyriaComment.com sees this step as a good...

Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere

  25 February 2006

Many different and interesting topics were discussed in the Saudi blogosphere this week, so let's start our roundup right away. What is the difference between democracy and American democracy? Hassan thinks he has the answer (Arabic). “In democracy, those who gain more votes should win. In American democracy, those who...

This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Refugees Reloaded

  24 February 2006

News of the blogosphere… PSM (Palestine Solidarity Movement) Fifth Annual Divestment Conferece has taken place from February 17-19 in Washington DC, US attracting more than six hundred student and community activists from ninety different university and organization from across the US as mentioned in a report by The Hatchet. Witnesses...

Nigeria: Islam & Violence

  23 February 2006

Chippla writes on Islam and Violence in Northern Nigeria which has once again escalated this time over the Danish cartoons. He wonders if the violence does not hide divisions in Nigerian society…”Why has the lot of Islam in Northern Nigeria become one of violence and intolerance? Does it actually conceal...

Darfur: NATO deployment

  23 February 2006

Sudan-Reeves believes the presence of a NATO force in Darfur alongside the AU forces would immediately challenge the genocidal actions of the Janjaweed militia and bring security to the region.

Uganda: Child Soldiers

  22 February 2006

Uganda-CAN reports from the Northern region on the plight of child soldiers. Even after being rescued and returned home, the children still suffer from being stigmatised by their own families and friends.