Stories about Human Rights from August, 2011
Czech Republic: Gay Pride in Prague and Politics
The Reference Frame comments on the politics surrounding Prague's first gay pride parade.
The Balkans, Norway: Anders Breivik and Srđa Trifković
Eric Gordy of East Ethnia writes about the Balkan dimension of the July 22 terrorist attacks in Norway: “[…] [Anders Breivik] has the revelation that his path to violent idiocy began with his shock at the Kosovo bombing campaign in 1999. So to the other sets of concerns he understands...
El Salvador: Reopening Wounds or Paving the Way for Reconciliation?
Mike in Central American Politics comments on the implications of the news of the nine former soldiers who “turned themselves into authorities one week ago. The men are wanted by a Spanish court for the killing of six Jesuits and their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central...
Cuba: “Las Damas” – The Struggle Continues
Attacks allegedly continue against Cuba's Ladies in White.
Poland: Parties Not So Eager to Obey New Gender Quota Act
With the announcement of the date of the Polish parliamentary elections this October 9, bloggers are discussing whether the country's political parties will follow the new rules introduced by the Gender Quota Act.
Malaysia-Australia Refugee Swap Deal Criticised
The refugee swap between Malaysia and Australia that was signed last month has been suspended by the Australian High Court after huge criticism. Under the deal, the next 800 refugees to arrive in Australia will be sent to Malaysia, and in return Australia will take in 4000 refugees from Malaysia in the next four years.
Pakistan: Netizens Protest Moral Policing On Art Curator
A few days ago police stormed into Nairang Art Gallery in Lahore. The raid was carried out on the pretext that the female curator of the gallery was wearing a sleeveless shirt and was intermingling with other men, something quite contrary to the views held by the conservatives here and thus fringing upon obscenity.
Bangladesh: Human Rights Training For Journalists
Shahidul Alam writes about the recently concluded human rights training for journalists in Bangladesh arranged by Drik and INTERNEWS network.
Thailand: Student blogger ‘witch hunted’ on Facebook
Suluck Lamubol writes that the first student blogger who was charged with Lese Majeste in Thailand was ‘witch hunted’ by a Facebook group called Social Sanction. The group's objective is “to increase public awareness of corruption and create pressure to combat it and to stop the crime of lese majeste”.
India: Was Delhi's SlutWalk More of a Media Hype?
On Sunday 31 July, 2011, Delhi held it's own version of the SlutWalk - titled 'Besharmi Morcha' to make it more relevant to the Indian context. Netizens discussed the event, its reach, impact and its coverage in the mainstream media.
Ukraine: Intellectuals Condemn Tymoshenko Trial in an Open Letter
Alexander J. Motyl of Ukraine's Orange Blues comments on an open letter signed by “a diverse group of 28 writers, scholars, and commentators,” in which “they condemn the [Tymoshenko] trial and call on Ukrainians not to be indifferent to the injustice being perpetrated by the Yanukovych regime.”
Chile: Waste Pickers Rummage for Legal Recognition
Environmentalist Bharati Chaturvedi flew for 40 hours from her home Delhi, India, to dig deeper into a dirty issue: trash. As politicians in Chile discuss recycling on a national level, Chaturvedi encourages that those who collect trash professionally, or “waste pickers,” be included in the solution.
Paraguay: Uncontacted Indigenous Group in ‘Imminent Danger’
Ryan Seelau from Indigenous News.org reports that “the only remaining uncontacted people in Paraguay” are “in imminent danger”: “the Totobiegosode are being systematically removed from the Chaco forest where they live so that the land can be used for cattle grazing. The destruction of their land, however, is occurring illegally.”
Australia: Malaysia No Solution to ‘Boat People’ Politics
The Australian government’s attempt to take a hard line on people smugglers and asylum seekers arriving by boat has hit a major snag. In December 2010, approximately 50 asylum seekers were drowned at Christmas Island. A legal challenge has postponed a swap of the surviving refugees with Malaysia.
Syria: World Cities Rally Against and For Bashar
Events in Syria are being echoed around the world. Syrians in the diaspora rallied in the majority of the cities in the world, either asking to overthrow Bashar Al Assad and his regime or chanting their love to their leader. Check out this video round up for footage from demonstrations worldwide.
Lebanon: Cellphone Cameras for Crowd-Sourcing
A crowd-sourcing campaign was launched in Lebanon titled: “Cheyif 7alak” [Arabic for “Do you see yourself”]. It calls on people to use their cellphone cameras (or any others) to shoot any wrong doings they encounter everyday, posts the Lebanese Inner Circle.
Mauritania: Discrimination Plagues Census
adrar-info.net publishes an article on Mauritanian demonstrations in Paris and Mauritania, related to the current population census in Mauritania. Black Mauritanians apparently have a difficult time getting their name registered [fr]. According to Haimout Ba, the Paris based representative of UFP (Union of Forces of Progress, an opposition party), “they...
Iran: Remember Omid Reza MirSayafi
Iran's Freedom of Expression site has conducted [fa] an interview with Omid Reza Mirsayafi's close friend about his death. Omid Reza Mirsayafi, a blogger, died in a prison in Iran more tahn two years ago. if Omid had survived the prison, he would have been released two days ago.
Sudan/South Sudan: Can the Issue of Ngok Dinka Citizenship be Resolved?
Hassan Barakya explains why the issue of citizenship for the Ngok Dinka of Abyei is so complex: “Now that South Sudan is independent, the Ngok Dinka are in legal limbo. While their stated loyalty has always been with the south, the geographical region they inhabit along with migratory groups officially...
Sudan: Coup Against Public Liberties
Osman Shinger examines the uncertain future of media freedom in Sudan: “Journalists and rights activists have expressed concern about diminishing press freedom in Sudan. Reporters attribute their pessimism to what they call a “coup” against public liberties. Chief among their concerns is the press freedom that was stipulated in the...
Haiti: Jobs Needed for Progress
Love Haiti suggests that “the hardships facing Haiti today may be compared to the Great Depression of the United States”, explaining: “The point of this analogy is simply to state that school/education should not be at the top of Haiti's agenda, a country confronted with a housing crisis, an unprecedented...
