Stories about Human Rights from November, 2020
Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert freed from Iranian jail in prisoner swap
"It’s far past time for democratic allies — indeed all responsible governments — to work together to end state sponsored hostage taking once and for all, beginning with #Iran"
Between commemoration and rage: Haitians confront a growth in fatal kidnappings
“The proliferation of armed men, the uncontrolled circulation of illegal firearms, and growing insecurity touch every aspect of life in Haiti"
From #BlackLivesMatter to #VidasNegrasImportam: Call to end colonial legacy of police brutality
"Police brutality is universal, white supremacy is global, and colonialism is not forgotten, which is why Black people every day, around the world, are being killed."
Hong Kong pro-democracy trio defiant in face of upcoming jail sentence
The trio, all former members of the now-disbanded political party Demosisto, faces a number of different charges.
Trinidad & Tobago deports Venezuelan women and children as matter of ‘national security’
The deportation of 16 Venezuelan minors and nine women shortly before they were supposed to have a habeas corpus hearing has prompted energetic debate in Trinidad and Tobago.
Can secularism be compatible with Islam?
"Islam has become an insecure identity that is always undermined by criticism from the Christian or godless, but always colonial, West."
In Pakistan, social media platforms risk bans under new ‘draconian’ rules
New rules vesting the government with the power to regulate online content and ban entire platforms drew criticism from human rights groups and tech companies.
Rubber ducks in Thai protests inspire solidarity and memes
"The image of Thai authorities, armed to the teeth with riot gear and shields, facing off against…rubber ducks…highlights the sheer asymmetry of the battle between protester and state."
Activists protest dam construction in northwest Georgia
A planned US$800 million hydropower project, the largest in Georgia, is meeting resistance from residents of the Rioni River valley
Report into Australian special forces war crimes in Afghanistan ‘gut-wrenching’
"Heinous violence such as war crime cannot be concealed forever, no matter how much efforts are made to do it, as the Australian case shows."
How a grassroots revolt restored democracy in Peru
The protests were massive, with everyone united around the common goal of showing their indignation against the corruption of the political class.
In the Middle East, words escape prison walls to inspire freedom and hope
"Why is our homeland so small and tight, and why am I considered a criminal or an enemy that threatens it!”
Voices in a Bangkok rally a day after police used water cannon and tear gas against protesters
"I feel that I have to come out to demand my rights. My friends, my younger siblings, or my children in the future should have a better life than this."
An internet with borders: A perspective from Pakistan
Pakistan recently adopted new rules imposing fines and bans on services that fail to take down and restrict content within short time frames.
Thai LGBTQ+ activists and pro-democracy protesters march together for equality
In Bangkok, LGBTQ activists join ranks with democracy protestors join to demand gender and marriage equality as well as political reforms of the monarchy.
The victims of forced sterilizations in Peru continue to demand justice
The violation of the bodies and lives of women sterilized against their will and the delays in delivering justice mark Peru as a perpetrator of human rights violations.
Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh raises scrutiny of Israel's arms sales to Azerbaijan
Israeli-produced weaponry gave Azerbaijan a key advantage over Armenia in the latest war over Nagorno-Karabakh. But for some human rights activists in Israel, that's not a matter of pride.
A Hong Kong reporter's account of the crackdown on press freedom under the national security law
"What we are facing now is not just the survival of Apple Daily but the whole independent media sector."
Hong Kong’s opposition resigns en masse following unprecedented Beijing ruling
The new directive allows the Hong Kong government to unseat elected lawmakers deemed unpatriotic.
European Court of Human Rights verdict vindicates Macedonian columnist convicted of defamation in 2010
"This verdict is important for Macedonian journalists, columnists, and overall, for the people that appear in public, as it encourages them to be principled, honest, brave and persistent."
Shutdowns, throttling and stifling dissent online: Africa’s new normal, Part II
Weaponizing digital blackouts or social media clamp down by Algeria, Ethiopia, Guinea, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania is an ominous sign of a deeply problematic system of governance.
