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  • Ethnic Arakanese with weapons walking away from a village in flames while a soldier stands by. Arakan State, Burma, June 2012.

    © 2012 Private
    Burma: End ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ of Rohingya Muslims
    Burmese authorities and members of Arakanese groups have committed crimes against humanity in a campaign of ethnic cleansing against Rohingya Muslims in Arakan State since June 2012, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today.
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Asia

  • China: Activist’s Imprisoned Nephew Needs Effective Care
    Apr 30, 2013
    Chinese central government and Shandong provincial authorities should immediately facilitate effective medical treatment for Chen Kegui, the imprisoned nephew of blind legal activist Chen Guangcheng, Human Rights Watch said today. Chen Kegui is receiving only antibiotics for appendicitis, which could lead to a life-threatening result. Failure to provide prisoners access to adequate medical care is cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment that may rise to the level of torture, and violates the right to health and the Standard Minimum Rules on the Treatment of Prisoners.
  • Pakistan: Ensure Election Security from Taliban Attacks
    Apr 29, 2013
    Pakistan’s interim government should take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of candidates and political party activists at risk of attack from the Taliban and other militant groups.
  • Bangladesh: Tragedy Shows Urgency of Worker Protections
    Apr 25, 2013
    The collapse of an eight-story factory building near Dhaka shows the urgent need to improve Bangladesh’s protections for worker health and safety.
  • Afghanistan: Urgent Need for Safe Facilities for Female Police
    Apr 25, 2013
    The government of Afghanistan should take immediate action to ensure that the country’s female police officers have access to separate, safe, and lockable restroom facilities in police stations.
  • Taiwan: Reinstate Moratorium on Death Penalty
    Apr 25, 2013
    The government of Taiwan should immediately reinstate its moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 19, the Taiwanese government executed six people who had been convicted on murder charges: Chen Tung-jung, Chen Jui-chin, Lin Chin-te, Chang Pao-hui, Li Chia-hsuan, and Chi Chun-I. The six were executed by a firing squad.
  • Sri Lanka: Commonwealth Should Relocate November Meeting
    Apr 24, 2013
    A senior Commonwealth advisory group should recommend the organization shift the venue of its November 2013 Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from Sri Lanka unless the government makes prompt, measurable, and meaningful progress on human rights.
  • China: EU Commitments Demand Tough Response
    Apr 24, 2013
    European Union (EU) High Representative Catherine Ashton should publicly raise concerns over ongoing and persistent human rights violations in China when she visits Beijing later this week, Human Rights Watch said today. Ashton’s visit to China will take place on April 25 and 26, and is the Head of the EU’s External Action Service’s first official visit since the new Chinese leadership assumed power.
  • Indonesia: Civilian Courts Should Try Abusive Soldiers
    Apr 23, 2013
    The Indonesian government should urgently amend its laws so that military personnel accused of human rights abuses are tried in civilian courts.
  • Burma: the EU has been too quick to lift sanctions
    Apr 23, 2013
    William Hague congratulated the Burmese government last week for its role in spearheading "remarkable changes" in the country. But his upbeat assessment and heady optimism are premature, as is the EU's haste to lift all economic sanctions on Burma except for the arms embargo.
  • EU: Ending Sanctions Undercuts Burma’s Rights Progress
    Apr 22, 2013
    The European Union’s premature lifting of all targeted sanctions on Burma means the EU will need a new platform to press the government to improve the country’s still dire human rights situation.
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