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Colombia: 15 Hostages Rescued by Security Forces Human Rights Watch today welcomed reports that 15 hostages that had been held for several years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been rescued. Human Rights Watch called on the FARC to immediately and unconditionally release hundreds of others still being held. July 2, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Colombia: McCain’s Visit Should Focus on Democracy and Rights Letter Urges McCain to Ignore Official Spin and Support Threatened Democratic Institutions During his upcoming visit to Colombia, Senator John McCain should not be blinded by the government’s spin that human rights and democracy are on the right track, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to McCain made public today. According to press reports, McCain will visit Colombia on July 1. June 30, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Canada: Imprisoned HIV/AIDS Activist Wins 2008 Rights Award A federal prisoner and health activist is the recipient of the 2008 Canadian Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Human Rights Watch announced today. The award, which recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that protect the rights and dignity of people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, will be presented at a public reception and ceremony in Ottawa on June 16. June 16, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version OAS Adopts Resolution to Protect Sexual Rights States Condemn Violence Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity The General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) has unanimously adopted a resolution condemning human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, taking a crucial step to end the silence around violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Americas, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on OAS member governments to ensure that the resolution is implemented in their countries, and to continue their support for sexual rights internationally. June 6, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version UN: Open AIDS Meeting to All General Assembly Should Reverse Ban on Human Rights and Sexual Health Groups The United Nations General Assembly should reverse its decision to exclude three human rights and sexual health nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from its June 10 high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS, a coalition of human rights groups and international AIDS organizations said today. June 5, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Venezuela: Clarify Relationship With Colombian Guerrillas Recovered Emails Suggest Chávez Support for FARC The Venezuelan government should provide a full accounting of its relationship with Colombian guerrillas responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch said today. June 3, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to President Felipe Calderón I am writing to thank you for your response to our letter of March 6, 2008, expressing Human Rights Watch’s observations to the justice reform package that was approved by the Mexican Congress that day. We value your government’s stated commitment to human rights. However, your administration’s response does not address our fundamental concerns regarding the constitutional reform proposal. In light of the recent approval of the reform package by a majority of state legislatures, your government must take necessary steps to adopt measures that would prevent serious human rights abuses. June 2, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Testimony of Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno before the Canadian Parliament I am honored to appear before you today. Thank you for your invitation to address the situation of violence against trade unionists in Colombia and the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that is now under negotiation. I would like to request that my written remarks be incorporated in the record. June 2, 2008 Testimony Printer friendly version Canada: Supreme Court Rules Ottawa Complicit in Abuse of Omar Khadr Canadian Youth at Guantanamo to Be Given Access to Intelligence Files In a major rebuke to the Canadian government, the Canadian Supreme Court determined today that the United States violated the human rights of Omar Khadr, a Canadian citizen who has been held at Guantanamo since he was 15, and that Ottawa shared culpability by allowing its intelligence agents to interview Khadr and share that information with US authorities. May 23, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version International Efforts Still Failing Child Soldiers New Global Survey Finds Children in Fewer Conflicts but Still Fighting Despite progress, efforts to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers are too little and too late for many children, according to the 2008 Child Soldiers Global Report, launched today by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers. May 20, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Child Soldier Global Report 2008 Summary The Child Soldier Global Report documents military recruitment legislation, policy and practice in more than 190 countries worldwide – in conflict and in peacetime armies – as well as child soldier use by non-state armed groups. This summary provides an overview of facts and figures. May 20, 2008 Background Briefing Printer friendly version Letter to the US Senate I am writing you regarding the paramilitary leaders who the Colombian government extradited last week to the United States. That these criminal bosses will finally face real justice is a positive development. If managed correctly, it could also represent an important step towards dismantling the paramilitary groups responsible for much of the violence against trade unionists in Colombia. While other steps are still needed to address the high level of anti-union violence and break these groups’ power in Colombia, the extradition validates Congress’s decision to delay ratification of the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the country shows concrete, substantial and sustained results in addressing these problems. May 20, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to the US House of Representatives I am writing you regarding the paramilitary leaders who the Colombian government extradited last week to the United States. That these criminal bosses will finally face real justice is a positive development. If managed correctly, it could also represent an important step towards dismantling the paramilitary groups responsible for much of the violence against trade unionists in Colombia. While other steps are still needed to address the high level of anti-union violence and break these groups’ power in Colombia, the extradition validates Congress’s decision to delay ratification of the US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the country shows concrete, substantial and sustained results in addressing these problems. May 20, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version A Vital Choice By Angela Heimburger and Tamara Taraciuk Published in Proceso Mexico City’s abortion law gives women a vital choice. For some, the ability to exercise this choice may mean the difference between life and death. The upcoming Supreme Court decision on the constitutionality of this law will determine if all women and girls in the capital can continue to access abortion services in bona fide medical facilities with qualified professionals under sanitary conditions, or some will be forced to revert to unsafe and often hazardous practices with unlicensed practitioners in clandestine clinics, pharmacies or marketplaces. May 19, 2008 Commentary Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to Attorney General Mukasey I am writing you regarding the Colombian paramilitary leaders who were extradited this week to the United States from Colombia. These criminal bosses, who face charges in the United States for illegal drug trafficking, are responsible for some of the most horrific atrocities and human rights abuses in Colombia’s recent history. May 16, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Colombia: Government Mischaracterizes HRW’s Position on Paramilitary Extradition The Colombian government has mischaracterized Human Rights Watch’s position on the extradition of paramilitary leaders, Human Rights Watch said today. May 14, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Colombia: Paramilitary Leaders to Face Prosecution in US Timing of Extradition Jeopardizes Investigation Into Death Squads The extradition of Colombia’s top paramilitary leaders to the United States increases the odds they will serve substantial prison sentences for some of their crimes, yet the extradition could undermine local efforts to investigate human rights atrocities and paramilitary infiltration of the political system, Human Rights Watch said today. May 13, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Colombia's Past and Present Letter to the Editor Published in The Economist SIR – The decision by the United States Congress to delay consideration of the free-trade agreement (FTA) with Colombia is not, as you suggest, because the Democrats have something “against Colombia”. Last year Congress approved hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Colombia, and such assistance will probably continue. The debate over the FTA revolves around a separate question: whether free trade should trump human-rights concerns, or whether it should be premised on respect for human rights, especially the rights of workers producing the goods to be traded. May 8, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Letter To President Felipe Calderón I am writing to express my profound concern regarding credible reports that your administration has asked Ms. Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), to dismiss Mr. Amerigo Incalcaterra as her representative in Mexico. May 7, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Universal Periodic Review of Guatemala Human Rights Watch's Submission to the Human Rights Council The country continues to face high levels of violence associated with both electoral politics and common crime. Guatemala’s weak and corrupt law enforcement institutions have proven incapable of containing the powerful organized crime groups that, among other things, are believed responsible for continuing attacks on human rights defenders. May 5, 2008 Written Statement Printer friendly version |
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