Stories about Human Rights from April, 2018
Amid Crackdown on Dissent, Six Vietnamese Human Rights Activists Are Dealt Long Prison Sentences
“I will continue the struggle and if I must sit in jail, others on the outside will fight on for me and they will never stop.”
Russian Newspaper Closes After Years of Tense, Often Violent Confrontation with Security Services
In an op-ed announcing the newspaper’s closure, the acting editor Yuri Grozmani said he had little hope for domestic prosecution of FSB officers complicit in the act of censorship
How ‘Power Harassment’ and ‘Karoshi’ Continue to Cause Serious Problems for Japanese Workers
“Power harassment”, which includes verbal intimidation, emotional abuse, and forcing employees to work overtime with no pay, and “karoshi“ (or “death from over-work”), are becoming real perils in Japan.
India's Data Security Dilemma Continues With Cambridge Analytica
The fallout from revelations of data exploitation by Facebook and Cambridge Analytica has taken hold in India, where political leaders are accusing one another of using similar means to manipulate local elections. The two technology companies dominated headlines for days after former Cambridge Analytica employee-turned-whistleblower Christopher Wylie revealed to the...
Netizen Report: Malaysia Outlaws ‘Fake News’ — Will Singapore Be Next?
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Singapore's Economic Success ‘Comes at the Sacrifice of Humans Rights,’ Says Activist Han Hui Hui
"I hope that countries around the world don’t follow the Singapore model...Advocate and have your independent labor unions and student unions because we don’t have that in Singapore."
Indian Government Threatens to Revoke Media Accreditation Over ‘Fake News’
New federal guidelines in India which states that journalists can lose accreditation if found spreading "fake" or "uncomfortable" news raises an issue of media-surveillance.
‘It Is Sad to Realise That When Police Officers Are Sued, the Victims Are Judged Instead’
"His case was not an exception. Every day, black young men are killed by the police in favelas and other marginalised areas."
Tensions Run High in Kashmir Following Deaths of Protesters, Soldiers and Suspected Militants
"One of the civilians killed in Shopian leaves behind this 17 months old child. The tragedy called Kashmir."
On Pakistani Activist Raza Khan, Four Months After His Disappearance
"How could a man who never raises his voice, hardly argues, politely manages disagreements, and has not hurt any being pose a threat? What would anyone gain from his disappearance?"
A Children's Costume Contest in Macedonia Sparks Outrage With ‘Portable Adolf’ Hitler Entry
"Everybody was appalled by the poor kid dressed as Hitler. Who, we all know, was racist...Even those who shouted..."For a clean Macedonia," which is exactly what Hitler was all about."
Marvia Malik, Pakistan's First Transgender Newscaster, Wants to Change Societal Attitudes Toward Her Community
"...there’s nothing we can’t do; we’re educated, have degrees, but no opportunities, no encouragement. This is what I want to change."