| | |
|
| |
|
|
Afghanistan United States: Bush Signs Law on Child Soldiers Measure to Prosecute Recruiters Abroad Puts Commanders on Notice Under a new law signed today by US President George W. Bush, leaders of military forces and armed groups who have recruited child soldiers may be arrested and prosecuted in the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The law could apply to leaders of dozens of forces that have recruited and used child soldiers in over 20 armed conflicts. October 3, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Civilian Deaths From Airstrikes Airstrikes Cause Public Backlash, Undermine Protection Efforts Civilian deaths in Afghanistan from US and NATO airstrikes nearly tripled from 2006 to 2007, with recent deadly airstrikes exacerbating the problem and fuelling a public backlash, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The report also condemns the Taliban’s use of “human shields” in violation of the laws of war. September 8, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version “Troops in Contact” Airstrikes and Civilian Deaths in Afghanistan
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-362-5 September 8, 2008 Report Download PDF, 669 KB, 43 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Afghanistan: Free Aafia Siddiqui’s 11-Year-Old Son Child Is Too Young to Be Treated as Criminal Suspect The Afghan government should immediately relinquish 11-year-old Ahmed Siddiqui to the custody of his family, Human Rights Watch said today. Siddiqui, a US citizen, is believed to be the son of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman held on US federal charges in New York. August 27, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version American credibility on trial Was one of the youngest prisoners at Guantánamo rushed to court by the Bush administration for political reasons? By Jo Becker, children's rights advocacy director Published in Salon.com One of the youngest detainees at Guantánamo Bay, a 23-year-old Afghan named Mohammed Jawad, spent two days in a courtroom here last week as his defense lawyer argued that his case should never go to trial. The attorney, Maj. David Frakt, claimed that his client was repeatedly tortured and abused in U.S. custody, charges that were supported by the testimony of a senior U.S. Army criminal investigator. August 20, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Open Letter from Human Rights Watch to the International Afghanistan Support Conference on June 12, 2008 Human Rights Watch sent a letter to participants in the International Afghanistan Support Conference urging donor countries to place human rights at the center of discussions with the government of Afghanistan. June 10, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Paris Donor Conference Should Prioritize Human Rights Urgent Need to Address Women’s Rights, Freedom of Expression, Impunity The Afghan government and international donors should place human rights at the center of discussions at the June 12 donors’ conference in Paris, Human Rights Watch said in a public letter today. June 10, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Reinstate Malalai Joya in Parliament Suspension of Female MP One Year Ago Is Setback for Democracy One year after her illegal suspension, the Afghan parliament should reinstate Malalai Joya to office, Human Rights Watch said today. May 21, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Karzai Should Suspend Death Penalty Supreme Court Announces 100 Death Sentences Afghan President Hamid Karzai should suspend the death penalty and reject signing execution orders for about 100 prisoners whose death sentences were announced by the Supreme Court on April 16, Human Rights Watch said today. April 16, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Fifth Meeting of the EU Network of Contact Points on Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Letter to Heads of Delegations to the Article 36 Committee We are writing in advance of the upcoming Article 36 Committee meeting in Brussels, at which you will discuss the EU Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (EU Network). With this letter, the undersigned organizations wish to share their assessment of the EU Network’s achievements to date and urge the Article 36 Committee to support the strengthening of the EU Network, notably through the creation of a permanent secretariat. April 1, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter to the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Urging the Organisation to Improve and Strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, we urge the OIC to consider two amendments to the Convention in order to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and to make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications. March 11, 2008 Letter Also available in 
Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Overturn Death Sentence of Jailed Journalist Blasphemy Case Illustrates Failings of Legal System A journalism student sentenced to death for “blasphemy” should immediately be released and his conviction and sentence set aside, Human Rights Watch said today. His arrest demonstrates the continuing power of the country’s notorious security services and radically conservative judges. February 1, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version UAE: Meetings Should Address Migrant Workers’ Rights When labor ministers from 22 Asian and Middle Eastern countries meet in Abu Dhabi this week to discuss Asian contract migrant workers, they should address widespread violations of migrant workers’ rights, Human Rights Watch said today. January 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to Governments in Asia and the Middle East on International Migrants' Day Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms We are writing on December 18, 2007, International Migrants’ Day, to call upon you to implement key reforms to respect and uphold migrants’ rights. On January 21-22, 2008, the United Arab Emirates will host the latest round of the “Colombo Process,” a series of regional consultative processes focused on Asian contract migrant workers. We believe this meeting could provide an important stepping stone to establishing regional minimum standards regarding recruitment, employment, and protection of migrant workers. December 17, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Asian Migrant Workers Abandoned to Abuse Migrants’ Groups Call for Key Reforms on International Migrants Day Governments in Asia and the Middle East must take stronger action to fight rampant abuse against migrant workers, several migrants’ and human rights groups said in a joint letter on the eve of December 18, International Migrants’ Day. December 17, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version “No Safe Haven: Accountability for Human Rights Violators in the United States" Hearing before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law Human Rights Watch appreciates the invitation to submit a statement for the record on this important subject. On December 6, 2006, the US Department of Justice took an unprecedented step to ensure accountability for human rights violators who are in or come to the United States. The department brought the first-ever criminal charges for torture committed abroad. The charges are against Charles “Chuckie” Taylor, Jr., the son of the former Liberian president Charles Taylor and also a US citizen, who entered the United States in March 2006. The charges relate to Taylor, Jr.’s role in committing torture as head of a security unit under his father’s presidency in Liberia. November 14, 2007 Testimony Printer friendly version US: Close Legal Loopholes Allowing Contractors to Act with Impunity US Contractors in Iraq, Afghanistan Must Be Held Liable for Criminal Activity Congress should quickly pass legislation that would ensure US government contractors who commit felonies in Iraq and Afghanistan can be prosecuted in US federal courts, Human Rights Watch said today. A vote on such legislation is expected in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 3. October 2, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Letter to US Rep. David Price (D-NC) in Support of Accountability for US Contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First write to Rep. David Price (D-NC) in support of his proposed legislation, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdicition Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007. This legislation would help close the legal loopholes that allow contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan to act with impunity. October 2, 2007 Letter Printer friendly version Afghanistan: Taliban Should Immediately Free Hostages Hostage-Taking is a War Crime The Taliban should immediately release all hostages in its custody, Human Rights Watch said today. The recent abduction and hostage-taking of at least five Afghan, two German, and 23 South Korean civilians, and the reported killing of several of them, are war crimes. August 1, 2007 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version Iran: Halt Mass Deportation of Afghans Investigate Abuses at Three Detention Centers Iran should immediately halt the mass deportations of Afghan nationals and investigate allegations that its authorities have abused numerous deportees, Human Rights Watch said today. Iran should also ensure that Afghans faced with deportation are given the individual opportunity to seek protection based on conditions in Afghanistan that would threaten their lives or freedom, Human Rights Watch said. June 18, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version |
  Lessons in Terror  
Related Material Films screened in the HRW International Film Festival 2002: Afghanistan Year 1380 2000: Jung: In the Land of the Mujaheddin | |||||||||||||||
|
Contribute to Human Rights Watch
Home | About Us | News Releases | Publications | About HRW | Info by Country | Global Issues | Campaigns | Free Mailing Lists | Community | Store | Film Festival | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | Press Contacts | Privacy Policy © Copyright 2006, Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA |
