Stories about Human Rights from December, 2009
Philippines: At The Barricades
A university professor shares a humorous account of her participation in a protest action against last week's planned visit of the Philippine president at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
Egypt: The Capital of Hell on Earth
Many Egyptian bloggers and activists have been detained by State Security on various occasions and for various reasons - real or fake - Wa7da Masreya interviewed several bloggers and posted a detailed post on torture techniques and psychological tricks those bloggers have been subjected to in State Security headquarters in the district of Nasr City.
Rwanda: Move by parliament to criminalise LGBTI people
“The latest move to criminalise LGBTI people comes from Rwanda,” Sokari reports.
Uganda: Updates on the pending anti-gay bill
The impending anti- gay bill 2009 in Uganda that plans on criminalizing homosexuality and locking gays in prison or killing them has raised concerns all over the world. Chances that the bill will pass are very high.
Belarus: New Plans For Internet Control
“Nasha Niva”online portal in Belarus published [Google Translation – ENG] a draft of the President's decree “On Measures to Improve the National Segment of the Internet.” The decree will significantly limit the Internet freedom and introduce new measures of online censorship.
Singapore: ‘No To Rape’ campaign
In Singapore, raping your wife is not treated as rape in most cases. Organizers of the "No To Rape" campaign want to abolish marital rape immunity by launching a petition drive that will be delivered to policymakers. Many Singapore netizens are supportive of this campaign
Iraq: Iraqi Prisons and Iraqis
Iraqi Layla Anwar is “overwhelmed with sadness.” Click here to find out why.
Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Police Boots
Jamaican Annie Paul and Abeni from St. Vincent and the Grenadines blog about police brutality in their respective islands.
Russia: Google Bus Stop Ads Hacked
While Russia and the U.S. were holding meetings on cyber warfare, Russian activists took the process of hacking from virtual space to real bus stops in Moscow where they slightly altered original Google ads.
St. Lucia: Considering the Blind
As new technology makes e-books accessible for the blind, St. Lucia's Caribbean Book Blog says: “It remains to be seen how the Caribbean will be able to justify the blind among us being left behind in the global quest for economic empowerment and basic human dignity.”
Cuba: Say What?
Repeating Islands reports on the Pope's statements that “there are growing signs of religious freedom in Cuba”, while El Cafe Cubano says: “As a practicing Catholic I am troubled and saddened that the Pope…would laud Cuba for openness? Dr. Biscet is currently in prison serving 25 years simply for speaking...
Greece: Riots and Police Brutality Commemorate Teenager's Death
Riots broke out in Athens and Thessaloniki during memorial gatherings for a 15-year old named Alexandros Grigoropoulos who was shot dead by police on December 6, 2008. Ample citizen media evidence of police brutality forced the government to make promises of police reform yet again.
Russia: Government News Agency Reporter Detained by Police
A photo correspondent of RIA-Novosty, Russian government news agency, was detained by the police [RUS] when he was covering a recent opposition rally in Moscow.
Uganda: Election tensions could lead to civil unrest
The durability of this peace in Uganda depends on addressing political divisions at the heart of Uganda's history of violence.
Iran: Men in Hijab to Support Jailed Student
Hundreds of Iranian men have dressed as women in Hijab to support Majid Tavakoli, a student activist who was arrested on December 7. A YouTube video collects some of the new FaceBook profile photos.
Brazil: Police violence on National Anti-Corruption Day
Violence broke out during a demonstration against the latest bribery scandal. Meanwhile, in the run up to Christmas, Panettones have become the iconic image of anti-corruption protests in the country.
Video: Human Rights Day and Non-Discrimination
December 10th is Human Rights Day, and this year's topic is Non Discrimination and today we bring you a small selection of some of the videos people have made and uploaded to sustain this Human Right.
Cuba: Human Rights Day
Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense says that today, which commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “is a day to remember and honor this document, and more importantly, those in Cuba and around the world imprisoned and suffering for demanding that their governments abide by its precepts.”
Philippines: Bloggers Raise Voices Against Martial Law
As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day, Filipino bloggers are eerily reminded of the dark days of the Marcos dictatorship when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo imposed martial law in the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao.
East Timor: Police performance
Tempo Semanal has an article criticizing the human rights record of the East Timor police
Russia: Drug Abuse; HIV/AIDS
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elizabeth Rigbey writes about drug abuse and harm reduction efforts in Russia. Sean's Russia Blog writes about HIV/AIDS in Russia. Scenes from the Sidewalk links to a documentary on children and HIV/AIDS in Russia.
