Stories about Human Rights from May, 2013
Lebanon's Migrant Workers Mark May Day
KAFA (Enough Racism and Violence) posted [Ar] that the migrant domestic workers in Beirut celebrated Labor's Day by holding a demonstration in which they demanded an end to the Kafala System [Sponsorship System]. The demonstration culminated with a gathering in a public park where the workers shared different aspects from their...
Iran Tightens Grip on Internet Even More
Several reports indicate that the Iranian regime has taken another step to control the already heavily censored internet. Psiphon, Kerio and Open VPN, are no longer effective against the Iranian state's efforts to block websites.
‘Hope, Service, Passion': Meet Laura Boldrini, Italy's Likable Leader in Parliament
Italy's most recent elections swept several non-career politicians into office. Among these new players on the Italian political scene is writer and human rights activist Laura Boldrini, whose popularity during her short time in office has skyrocketed thanks to a reputation for sincerity and compassion at a time when corruption is ever present in the country's politics.
In Venezuela, Still No Justice in Indigenous Leader's Murder
Two months after the assassination of Yukpa indigenous leader Sabino Romero in Venezuela, activists and community members question why no one has been charged for the murder.
Documenting West Papua’s Political Prisoners
West Papuan civil society groups have launched the website Papuans Behind Bars to document the cases of political prisoners in West Papua. West Papua is part of Indonesia although many Papuans have been fighting for independence in the past 50 years.
Fatwas for Imran Khan – Pakistan's Election Gets Dirty
A popular cricket-star turned politician, Imran Khan, has irked some supporters by distancing himself from a persecuted minority group, the Ahmadis, to defend himself from fatwas forbidding Pakistanis to vote for him.
Animal Cruelty In Kathmandu On The Rise
Siromani Dhungana at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal highlights rising cruelty to animals in the Nepali capital Kathmandu and questions how long it will continue.
Hostages and Ransom Payments: What is France's Policy?
Around three months after the French President François Hollande’s January 2013 decision to stop paying ransoms to hostage takers, the Moulin-Fournier family were finally released, to the immense relief of their family and friends. The exact circumstances behind their liberation have not been disclosed, leading many to wonder whether money was used to secure their release, and, if so, what this says about France's policy towards hostage takers.
VIDEO: Turkish Police Crack Down on May Day Protesters
Violent clashes between Turkish police and May Day protesters in Istanbul left 25 civilians and 22 police officers injured, including one man who reportedly lost an eye due to a teargas canister and another 17-year-old girl with head injuries who was left in a coma for a short time.
Singapore’s May Day Protest Against Population Policy
An estimated crowd of 5,000 gathered in Singapore’s Hong Lim Park on May 1, 2013 to protest the government’s White Paper on population. The May Day protest was the second time that a big crowd gathered in the park to speak out against the population program.
Saudi Authorities Continue Crackdown on Human Rights Activists
Saudi Arabian authorities detained yet another member of the country's defiant leading human rights organisation, the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA). Umar Al-Saeed is the seventh ACPRA member to be detained since the kingdom initiated a crackdown on human rights activists in 2012.
PHOTOS: Thousands of Workers March for Rights across Southeast Asia
Global Voices reviews the May 1 Labor Day protests in Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore. The rallies, which were organized to echo the various demands of workers and advocacy groups, were relatively peaceful across the region.
Teargas and Water Cannons for Istanbul's Labor Day Protesters
After three years of peaceful Labor Day celebrations at Taksim square, Turkey's largest city Istanbul was visited by the ghosts of its violent past with the events of May 1st, 2013. Limited by the ongoing construction on site and overzealous measures by the local authorities, protesters and police turned the 15 million strong metropolis into a war zone leaving behind destroyed property and many injured people.
“Women Can Change Afghanistan”: Interview with Noorjahan Akbar
Noorjahan Akbar, 22, is an Afghan women's rights activist and a prolific blogger. She believes that there has been a lot of positive change for women's rights in Afghanistan over the last decade. She also believes that social media serve as an important avenue for Afghan women to highlight their plight.