Archive for the ‘Human Rights’ tag

George Soros gives $100m to Human Rights Watch

The billionaire philanthropist is putting up $100 million, one of the largest donations of its kind, to expand Human Rights Watch and help it court more international support.

Philanthropist George Soros gives $100m to Human Rights Watch

The billionaire philanthropist is putting up $100 million, one of the largest donations of its kind, to expand Human Rights Watch and help it court more international support.

NGO report calls for an end to finger test in rape cases

Hitting out against the blatant indignity a rape victim faces during investigations, Human Rights Watch, an international NGO, has called for a ban against the degrading ‘finger test’.

Juliette Binoche puts the spotlight on human rights

Actress Juliette Binoche uses her celebrity status to save Iranians from inhuman punishment

France under fire for Roma expulsions

A UN panel added its voice to the chorus of condemnation against France, the nation that considers itself the cradle of human rights. Officials have dismantled over 100 illegal camps.

No final decision on stoning

EHRAN, Aug 28, (AFP): Iran said on Saturday that it has yet to take a final decision on the stoning of a woman convicted of adultery and complicity in her husband’s murder in a case that has sparked an international outcry.

As human rights grou…

Condemning migrant killings in Mexico, UN rights chief calls for urgent action

The United Nations human rights chief today strongly condemned the killing of 72 migrants in northern Mexico and called on the authorities to take urgent steps to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Rivals begin backlash against Semenya

They say their human rights have been ignored in the stampede to ensure South African can compete again

Chidambaram’s comments on Kashmir are irresponsible, says Pak (Rediff)

Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram”s comments that Islamabad was playing a role in instigating the Kashmiri population to commit acts of violence. Describing the statement as highly irresponsible and indicative of New Delhi not being serious about solving the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said instead of passing such statements, India should focus on halting and human rights abuse taking place in J & K.

Nepal parliament to look into Indian Embassy ‘threat’

Nepal’s Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations and Human Rights will look into the complaint by a Maoist MP that he was threatened by a senior official of the Indian Embassy.

UN official stresses the importance of human rights in overcoming poverty

The economic empowerment of the world’s poorest people will not happen unless their human rights are also considered, a senior United Nations official said today, urging governments around the world not to separate development and basic rights when devising policy.

General Assembly declares access to clean water and sanitation is a human right

Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared today, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

New Zealand must forge ahead with efforts to improve indigenous people’s rights – UN

As “troubling” inequalities persist between Maori and non-Maori, New Zealand must press ahead with efforts to improve the human rights of its indigenous people, a United Nations independent expert said today.

Cuba: Ban calls for reconciliatory measures in wake of release of political detainees

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Cuban authorities to take more reconciliatory measures on human rights and the rule of law in the wake of the recent release of dozens of political detainees in the Caribbean island nation.

Read our rights

Terrorism and human rights can’t co-exist. Terrorists are the biggest violators of human rights. The State has to play by its ‘own rules’, but these very rules are broken by terrorists, writes Rohit Singh.

Defamation case against Cambodian opposition politician sparks UN concern

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has voiced serious concern about the defamation proceedings against an opposition politician in Cambodia, saying they highlight an “alarming” erosion of fundamental freedoms in the South-East Asian nation.

UN rights chief welcomes Cuba&#39s planned release of political detainees

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has welcomed the announcement that Cuba plans to release 52 political detainees, her spokesperson said today.

UN rights chief welcomes Cuba’s planned release of political detainees

United Nations human rights chief Navi Pillay has welcomed the announcement that Cuba plans to release 52 political detainees, her spokesperson said today.

July 5: July 2009 Ürümqi riots

The July 2009 Ürümqi riots were a series of violent riots over several days that broke out on 5 July 2009 in Ürümqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, China. Protests calling for a full investigation into the Shaoguan incident, a brawl in southern China several days earlier in which two Uyghurs had been killed, escalated into violence. During the first day’s rioting mainly Han (“ethnic Chinese”) were targeted; two days later hundreds of Han people gathered and clashed with both police and Uyghurs. Chinese officials said that a total of 197 people died, with 1,721 others injured and considerable damage to property; Uyghur groups say the death toll is higher than officially disclosed. Human Rights Watch documented numerous cases of arrests and disappearances in the wake of the riots. Rioting began when the police confronted the march, but observers disagree on what caused the protests to become violent. The Chinese central government alleges that the riots themselves were planned from abroad by the World Uyghur Congress and its leader Rebiya Kadeer, while Kadeer denies fomenting the violence in her struggle for her people’s right to self-determination. Uyghur groups claim that the escalation was caused by the police’s use of excessive force. Chinese media coverage of the Ürümqi riots was extensive. (more…)

Draft on changes in Mental Health Act soon: Desiraju

The human rights of persons with mental illness in the country will soon get a comprehensive legal safeguard.

Fali, after 25 years, what’s the Nariman point?

I felt only disdain after reading today that so-called human rights campaigner, Fali Nariman, commenting on the calamitous Bhopal gas verdict in an interview to a television channel, had stated: "If I had to live my life all over again, as a lawyer, and the brief came to me and I had the foreknowledge of everything that later came in, I would certainly not have accepted the civil liability case which I did."

Human rights an essential element of Sri Lankan future: US

Noting that human rights is an essential element of Sri Lanka’s future, US has said that the Rajapaksa Government should use the post-LTTE situation to establish a new dynamic relationship with its people.

‘Kyrgyz unrest systematic, well organised’

The deadly inter-ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan this month was systematic and well-organised, Human Rights Watch said on Saturday, urging an international inquiry into the unrest.

‘Human rights an essential element of;Lankan future’

Noting that human rights is an essential element of Sri Lanka’s future, US has said that the Rajapaksa Government should use the post-LTTE situation to establish a new dynamic relationship with its people.

Human trafficking: UAE keen on boosting EU security ties

Lieutenant-General Saif Al Shafa’ar, Interior Ministry Undersecretary, told the EU diplomats that the ministry had set up several specialised units for human rights and trafficking in persons and social support shelters for victims of these crimes.

‘A bullet-proof vest for us’

Figures collated from the home departments and human rights organisations in the Northeast say counter-insurgency operations claimed at least 38,000 militants and civilians during the past five decades. Rahul Karmakar reports.

UN human rights chief praises Iceland for legalizing same-sex marriage

Iceland deserves credit for eliminating barriers to same-sex marriage, which will become legal in the Nordic country this weekend, the United Nations human rights chief says.

‘Kuwait being put on ‘blacklist’ not random act’

KUWAIT CITY, June 20: The US State Department tackled a number of issues on human trafficking and human rights, which some people would rather not discuss, in its latest report, reports Al-Seyassah daily quoting Head of the Social Committee at Kuwai…

Obama calls for release of Suu Kyi on 65th birthday (NDTV)

US President Barack Obama has called on the Myanmar regime to free Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a message sending best wishes for her 65th birthday. Obama hailed the Myanmar Opposition leader’s determination, courage, and personal sacrifice in working for human rights and democratic change as she marks her birthday on Saturday under house arrest in Yangon.

UN rights chief unveils members of independent probe into Gaza conflict

The top United Nations human rights today announced the composition of the independent committee tasked with monitoring Israeli and Palestinian investigations into the deadly conflict in the Gaza Strip that ended early last year.

UN human rights chief praises Colombian ruling on disappearances in court attack

The United Nations human rights chief today welcomed a Colombian court’s decision to sentence a senior army officer to 30 years in prison for his role in the aftermath of the notorious mass hostage-taking at the country’s Supreme Court complex in 1985.

Stop prosecuting Al-Jassem, says Human Rights Watch

DUBAI, June 8, (Agencies): Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged Kuwait to stop prosecuting a prominent writer for criticising officials and to lift a ban on media coverage.
“Kuwait should stop prosecuting Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem, a journalist…

Trade, human rights seen aiding UN climate deal

BONN, Germany – A planned U.N. climate deal might adapt systems for monitoring trade or human rights as models to check up on poor nations’ curbs on greenhouse gases, Mexico’s climate chief said on Tuesday.

Will protect rights, says PM

Srinagar, June 7: The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, said here on Monday that the security forces combating a two-decade old separatist violence in Jammu and Kashmir have been “strictly instructed” to respect the human rights.

Circuitously touching what has lately turned a critical issue-the slaying of three local youth in a staged gun fight by the troops near the LoC and then passin

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Rights body urges Kuwait to stop prosecuting writer

Human Rights Watch today urged the Gulf state of Kuwait to stop prosecuting a prominent writer for criticising officials and to lift a ban on media coverage.

HRW urges Kuwait to stop prosecuting writer

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday urged the Gulf state of Kuwait to stop prosecuting a prominent writer for criticising officials and to lift a ban on media coverage.

Watchdog urges Kuwait to stop prosecuting blogger

KUWAIT – New York-based rights watchdog Human Rights Watch called on Kuwait on Monday to stop prosecuting a blogger on trial for insulting its head of state, and lift a court ban on news coverage of the case.

UN rights chief calls for special tribunal for Kenya’s post-election violence

The United Nations human rights chief today urged the Kenyan Government to reconsider setting up a special tribunal to pursue accountability for the crimes committed during the violence that followed the disputed December 2007 elections.

World Cup offers chance to tackle racism and intolerance – UN rights chief

The soccer World Cup, set to kick off in South Africa later this week, is a perfect opportunity to highlight the need to tackle racism and intolerance on and off the field, says the United Nations human rights chief.

Kin voice concern over relatives on fleet

KUWAIT CITY, May 31: Speaking to the Arab Times, Human Rights Activist, Fatima Al-Mutawa’a condemned the Israeli attack on the Freedom Fleet to Gaza, and stated that there is still no accurate news on the situation of the seventeen Kuwaiti individual…

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