Stories about Human Rights from December, 2017
In Egypt, Both Sexual Harassment and Child Marriages Continue to Plague the Country
"Sexual harassment is a major problem in Egypt. Studies show that large majorities of women have been subjected to it [...] And the problem is deeply rooted."
Twitter Japan is Not a Safe Space for Minority Users
"Of respondents who reported they found it unpleasant when coming across discriminatory articles online (as described above), 19.8% said they would refrain from using the Internet."
Petition to Free the Eritrean Man Unjustly Arrested in Italy for Mistaken Identity
The Italian authorities appear to have gotten the wrong man; will they acknowledge it? The hunt for the mastermind of Mediterranean human trafficking takes a strange turn.
‘We Are One': Same Sex Marriage Becomes Legal Down Under
"Australia legalizing same-sex marriage today should remind us that humanity can only survive when it learns to love one and other."
A ‘Detainee of All Eras': The Prominent Case of Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdelfattah
"His trial is an attempt to silence criticism of a judiciary that has itself become a source of human rights violations."
Muslim Man Set on Fire and Murdered Amid Rising Islamophobia-Fueled Killings in India
"Mohammed Afrazul's brutal killing in Rajasthan should shame us all; if the sickening hate behind it does not disturb our conscience, nothing will."
The Ahwazis of Iran Face Death Sentences after False Accusations of Opposing the Government
An Iranian court sentenced two Ahwazi Arab men to death and gave six others three to 25 years for the crimes of alleged membership in non-existent opposition groups.
Right To Information Requests in Sri Lanka Reveals Process for Blocking Websites
Information released by the Telecom Regulatory Commission revealed that from 2015 onward 13 websites had been blocked, including a number of websites publishing political news, and a few pornographic sites.
Transgender Woman's Murder in Trinidad & Tobago Highlights Ostracism Faced by LGBTQ Community
"This wonderful human being, who cared so much for others, died for no reason .. other than perhaps, being different."
Victoria Becomes the First Australian State to Pass Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation
As Victoria becomes the first Australian state to legalise euthanasia, the country remains divided over what is being called a new, progressive trend in Australian politics.
Harsh Prison Terms for Video Journalist and Blogger as Vietnam Cracks Down on Free Expression
“Repressing citizen journalists is not only a violation of human rights but also a major impediment to Vietnam’s aspirations to become a tech and innovation hub.”
Jailed Bahraini Rights Defender Nabeel Rajab Faces Additional Fifteen Years in Prison
Rajab is in prison for his human rights-related activities and for freely expressing his opinions.
Ashraf Ghani Gets Thumbs Down After ‘Anti-Women’ Headscarf Gaffe
After an outcry, Afghanistan's president apologised for the remark.
Animal Carcasses, Tires, and Medical Waste: A New Report Highlights Health Risks of Lebanon's Trash Crisis
"When they burn we can’t breathe […] We’ve had to go to the hospital because of this."
This Brazilian Doctor Says Science Has Evolved, but Stigma Against HIV Remains
"The voices of people living with HIV are neglected by the media, which often portrays them as victims, or examples not to be followed, under the auspices of promoting prevention"