Stories about Human Rights from February, 2014
Russians Eye Ukrainian Turmoil with Hope, Fear
"Seriously, 13 wounded armed cops equals urban warfare"
Toilets Should Not Be Emptied by Humans Say Indian Sanitation Laws
Despite the Indian government's stringent anti-manual scavenging law, the practice continues to flourish in pockets of India. A group of bloggers go on a field visit to find out more.
“Now is the Time for Men of Goodwill to Stand Up” in the Central African Republic
Andrew Harding on Africa Review reports on the courageous acts of a congregation in the shabby town of Boali, Central African Republic and notably one Father Xavier Fagba. The St Peter's Parish church has sheltered Muslims seeking sanctuary from ethnic cleansing perpetrated by anti balaka gangs: “Now is the time for men of...
Assessing Myanmar's Democratic Transition
Tomás Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, concluded his mission by assessing the country's democratic transition: For the time being, the military retains a prevailing role in the life and institutions of Myanmar. State institutions in general remain unaccountable and the judiciary is not...
Amendments to Brazil's Bill of Rights for Internet Users Jeopardizes Privacy
Recent amendments to Brazil's pioneer bill of rights for Internet users, the “Marco Civil da Internet” (Internet Civil Rights Framework), put net neutrality and users’ privacy at stake. The bill is expected to be voted on by Congress during the last week of February 2014. Activists have launched an online campaign asking for the...
Follow the Escalation of Ukraine's #Euromaidan Protests Live
Protests took a deadly turn on February 18, and Ukraine is now the scene of a tense stand-off between hundreds of thousands of citizens and government forces.
The President That Could Not Stand His “Stan”
As far as countries go, "stan" is something of a bad brand. PR-sensitive Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is suggesting it could be time for a change to his country's name.
Seeking Asylum in Australia Is ‘Getting Real Ugly’
Gary Sauer-Thompson pulls no punches in his assessment of the latest crisis at Papua New Guinea's Manus Island asylum seeker detention centre. It is part of the so-called Pacific Solution. In a post for his blog Public Opinion, it's getting real ugly, he calls it a concentration camp… designed to...
VIDEO: UN Report on Crimes Against Humanity in North Korea
Horrible stories about North Korea is nothing new. But this may be one of the most extensive reports worth-reading on the country's abysmal human rights condition. A new report by a UN Commission of Inquiry reveals unspeakable crimes against humanity carried out by the North Korean regime against its own...
“Bring All the Culprits of Ethnic Cleansing to Justice” Says a CAR Citizen of Muslim and Christian Descent
Here is Moussa Tanko–Tchaibou's take on the ethnic cleansing that is underway in his country, the Central African Republic and what should be done to stop it [fr]: Je suis centrafricain de confession musulmane avec cette particularité illustrative de la cohésion sociale, celle d’avoir un père de confession musulmane et une...
Shadow of Olympics Evictions Looms Over Tokyo
Japan has already seen people evicted from their homes and homeless people evicted from parks for past mega-events.
Trinidad Lecture Ignites Fiery Discussion on Gay Rights & Religious Freedom
A public lecture on gay rights, following a Catholic priest's suggestion that LGBT rights should be included in the Trinidad and Tobago constitution, has generated heated discussion on social media.
Sudan: Blogger Remains in Detention for Criticizing Presidents
Tajeldin Arja Arja was arrested at a press conference last December, after he criticized the Sudanese and Chadian Presidents for their actions surrounding the conflict in Darfur.
Dancing and Rising for Justice in Southeast Asia
Thousands in Southeast Asia supported the 'One Billion Rising' campaign with many people calling for justice and the elimination of violence against women
Film Documents America's “Invisible” Drone War in Pakistan
"We speak to journalists, activists and experts inside and outside of Pakistan about the consequences of the strikes in the tribal FATA region."
Reflections Amid Protests and Chaos in Venezuela
Contradictory information, extreme opinions, and fears expressed by both sides continue to circulate amid hashtags, tweets, and blogs. Bloggers reflect on the ongoing protests and the government's response.
A Visitor Describes How it Feels to be Mugged by Bulgarian Police
Political scientist and blogger Anastas Vangeli used social networks to describe his experience of extortion by Bulgarian policemen on his way from Macedonia to Poland.
“They Didn't Drown. They Were Murdered!” Immigrant Deaths in Ceuta, Spain
The Civil Guard has been condemned by immigrants and civil society organisations alike that argue that the security forces failed to assist the immigrants at sea or alert the coastguard so they could be rescued.
Bosnian Protesters Demand Bread, Social Justice and Freedom of Speech
When the citizens of Bosnia’s second largest city, Tuzla, went out to protest on February 4, 2014, few expected to witness the countrywide unrest that erupted a week later.
Rap Musicians Take on Guinea-Bissau's Drug Trafficking Problem
"This is Guinea-Bissau for those who don't know / This is where the traffickers are given more privileges than college professors / I swear pigs wear ties and suits here."
Doubts Arise Over Nigerian Journalist's Undercover Human Trafficking Exposé
A Nigerian journalist went undercover in a human trafficking syndicate, witnessed two brutal beheadings and lived to tell the tale. But some are questioning the veracity of her report.