Stories about Human Rights from May, 2021
Several NGOs denounce censorship of Palestinian voices by tech companies
The NGOs' statement labelled as "improbable mistakes" the fact that Facebook reported two "technical issues" within 48 hours which they said targeted Palestinian users and "compromised Jerusalemites’ right to freedom of expression..."
A proposal by a Brazilian senator resurrects ideas of restrictive abortion law
A poll conducted at the Senate's page shows about 87 percent of Brazilians oppose Girão's bill, with more than 291,000 votes against the proposal versus 42,560 in favor
Burqa ban in Sri Lanka would undermine national security and human rights
Many in Sri Lanka and abroad are condemning the impending ban on wearing burqas and other full-face coverings in public as a breach of human rights.
Using Clubhouse to counter Beijing-imposed amnesia: An interview with Ai Weiwei
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei continues to fight political censorship in China by using art, sound and social media to maintain the memory of the school victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Burundi is releasing thousands from jail, but many political prisoners remain behind bars
The authorities seek to relieve pressure on the country's overcrowded jails as well as improve diplomatic relations, notably with Europe, which has imposed sanctions on Burundi following its controversial 2015 elections.
Human rights groups propose #7FirstSteps to mend Egypt's ‘dismal’ record
#7FirstSteps is the minimum needed "to gauge meaningful improvement in the dismal human rights situation, and include immediate measures that can be implemented tomorrow morning if a political decision is made."
Inside Myanmar: Testimonies of survival and resistance
"The military junta could only terrorize our country but they can't rule. They could shoot, kill and arrest our young heroes called 'Spring flowers' but they can't avoid Burma's Spring."
Forced fertility or infertility? Peruvian women still have no power over their own bodies
A few decades ago, hundreds of thousands of mainly indigenous and poor, rural women were forcibly sterilised. These days, there are other means of reproductive control.
Hong Kong activists sentenced to jail for commemorating Tiananmen Square Massacre in 2020
Hongkongers have been gathering to commemorate the June 4 Tiananmen Massacre since 1990. The court's ruling signals that anyone participating in commemorations this year risks being charged with unlawful assembly.
Georgia toughens penalties for administrative offences
Georgian MPs have passed legislative amendments that introduce harsher fines and longer periods of pre-trial arrest for offenses that are routinely used by police to detain street protesters.
Russian feminist activist Yulia Tsvetkova announces hunger strike
Demanding a swift trial, Tsvetkova wrote: "Let’s stop waiting for people being persecuted to be heroes. We don’t need heroes. We need to prevent the persecution of the innocent."
Alternative Indian movies: Is Netflix at last embracing cultural diversity?
Netflix, which has become the entertainment go-to for millions during the pandemic's prolonged lockdowns, is exploring new Indian productions that stray away from the typical plotlines and visuals.
#YoTeCreoVZLA: The movement that breaks the long silence on sexual abuse in Venezuela
A new wave of accusations has given rise to Venezuela's #MeToo movement.
As FIFA World Cup draws closer, migrant labour concerns in Qatar persist
Over 6,500 migrant workers have died in Qatar between 2010 and January 2021, according to a recent investigation by The Guardian newspaper.
Egyptian TV show reignites political schism over 2013's bloody summer
The show depicts the official narrative of the 2013 coup, and of the security forces' dismantling of a sit-in at Cairo's Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square in which nearly 1,000 protesters were killed.
China pledges to improve conditions of delivery workers. Arrest of a labor activist suggests otherwise.
Earlier this year, Chen Guajiang, a delivery worker who helped organize dozens of WeChat groups for drivers, was arrested and charged for "picking quarrels." He faces five years in prison.