Stories about Human Rights from June, 2014
Syrian Man Turns Artillery into Art
Douma, Syria-based artist Akram Abu al-Fawz turns missile and rocket shells into art objects and ornaments.
Iran's Internet Under Hassan Rouhani: Hope and Disillusionment as Narenji Bloggers Face Prison Sentence
What explains the recent moves to tighten controls within Iran’s cyberspace alongside Rouhani’s liberal Internet ethos? Mahsa Alimardani and Fred Petrossian explain in this exclusive #longread for GVA.
Beyond the World Cup Headlines: Protests in Brazil, a Jailed Writer in Cameroon and Foul Play From Fans
You have to know more than just football to understand the World Cup. Deji Olukotun gives a play-by-play of the important free expression and human rights issues.
A Tale of Two World Cups in Fortaleza, Brazil
Before Brazil and Mexico battled it out in Fortaleza, the streets were taken over by people protesting FIFA and the government and by Mexican fans in high pre-match spirits.
The Framing of Jamaica's “Gay Menace”
The dismissal of Professor Brendan Bain from his post as head of the Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network is still fueling the debate about gay rights in Jamaica.
Tor's Skyrocketing Popularity in Russia
Since mid-August 2013, the average daily number of Russian users of the Tor anonymity network, a free software for enabling online anonymity and resisting censorship, has multiplied fourfold.
Do You Know About the Deadly Violence Against Muslims in Sri Lanka? Not If You're Reading Local Media
Clashes between extremist Buddhists and Muslims have left at least four people dead, but Sri Lanka's mainstream media isn't giving the situation much coverage.
The Unintended Consequences of Pakistan's Operation Zarb-e-Azb
On June 15, 2014, the Pakistan Army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb, a joint-military operation involving Pakistan against armed insurgent groups such as the Taliban (TTP), al–Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement...
This Experiment Tried To Test India's Rape Problem. The Results Might Startle You.
An entertainment group staged a rape in India to see how passersby would react. Their hidden camera captured many ignoring the woman's screams and doing nothing.
54 Days in Prison and Counting for Ethiopia's Zone 9 Bloggers
Six members of the Zone 9 blogging collective and three journalists have been in prison with no formal charges since April 25, 2014.
The Appropriate Way to Talk to People With a Disability
Salvadoran Jaime Vázquez Villalta explains in this article the appropriate ways to talk to people who have a disability: Al dirigirse a un familiar, amigo o conocido que presenta algún tipo de discapacidad,...
Laos Development NGOs Silent on Human Rights
Writing for The New Mandala, Randall Arnst bemoaned the silence of Laos devleopment NGOs over the disappearance of prominent NGO worker Sombath Somphone: …while UN rights bodies have repeatedly raised...
Fighting for the Human Right to Water in Mexico City
Access to water is a fundamental right in Mexico and several initiatives are being discussed to ensure that right.
A Handbook for Protesters During the World Cup in Brazil
As the 2014 World Cup begins in Brazil, protests against FIFA's interventions and the Brazilian government's spending are taking place all over the country, especially in the host cities. Concerned...
Show Me The Money: Caribbean Discrimination Case Awardee Still Not Paid
Eight months after the Caribbean Court of Justice ruled in her favour, Shanique Myrie, who was strip-searched and denied entry to Barbados, still has not received her award.
Some Clarity on New Russian Blogger Regulations
The Russian agency in charge of regulating the Internet, Roskomnadzor, has released a new document detailing how laws governing blogs will operate when they comes into effect later this summer.
This Unique Anti-Rape Protest by Women in India Has Shocked Kerala
A small group of women in Kerala decided to conduct a unique protest to draw attention to the recent case of the teenage lower caste girls in Uttar Pradesh, India
Heartbreak for Ibrahim and Djouma in the Central African Republic
Djouma and Amadou Moussa are Ibrahim's parents. Djouma and Ibahim are the two lone survivors of an incredibly violent attack by militiamen that took the lives of 5 of Ibrahim's siblings in...
Some Young Soldiers in Tajikistan's Army Are Being Hazed to Death
The Tajik army experience is one of abductions, humiliations and occasionally lethal violence. But many continue to justify these practices in the name of character building.
A Doctor Remembers His Days in Prison With Iran's Unjustly Persecuted Baha’is
The Baha'i Yaran - five men and two women - are serving 20 years in prison, the longest sentence of any prisoner of conscience in Iran.
Kyrgyzstan's Anti-Gay Bill Preserves “Historical Values”, Violates Constitution
Kyrgyz lawmakers will soon vote on "mystical" legislation set to make life even more challenging for the country's harassed LGBT community. But don't they have more important things to do?
