Iran: Four Journalists Receive Hellman/Hammett Grants

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:18:49 -0800

(New York) - Four Iranians are among 37 writers from 18 countries who are receiving the prestigious Hellman/Hammett award, Human Rights Watch said today.

The award recognizes their commitment to free expression and the courage with which they have faced political persecution.

US/China: Obama Should Raise Human Rights in China

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:43:49 -0800

(New York) - United States President Barack Obama should raise key human rights concerns publicly on his first official visit to China, Human Rights Watch said in a letter released today.

Lebanon: Deadly Month for Domestic Workers

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:22:51 -0800

(Beirut) - The Lebanese government should investigate the deaths of eight migrant domestic workers during October 2009, as well as the reasons for the disproportionately high death rate among this group of workers, Human Rights Watch said today. An estimated 200,000 domestic workers, primarily from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Ethiopia, work in Lebanon.

Turkmenistan: Environmental Advocate Freed

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:43:11 -0800

(New York) – Turkmenistan’s release of the environmental activist Andrei Zatoka from prison on November 6, 2009, is a welcome development, but reports that the authorities effectively forced him to leave the country and may have confiscated his apartment, having already brought false charges against him, are troubling, Human Rights Watch said today.

Cuba: Prominent Blogger Abducted, Beaten

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:20:51 -0800

(Washington, DC) – Cuban authorities should cease all attacks on human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and civic activists, Human Rights Watch said today. The international community should condemn attacks on those who peacefully exercise their basic rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and assembly in the strongest terms.

Kimberley Process: Zimbabwe Action Mars Credibility

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:31:12 -0800

(Johannesburg) - The credibility of the world's "blood diamond" monitoring group has been damaged after its failure this week to suspend Zimbabwe despite overwhelming evidence of serious human rights abuses and smuggling in the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe, Human Rights Watch said today.

Uganda: Bill Threatens Progress on HIV/AIDS

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:57:56 -0800

(Kampala) - A proposed Ugandan law on HIV/AIDS promotes dangerous and discredited approaches to the AIDS epidemic and would violate human rights, a group of more than 50 Ugandan and international organizations and individuals said in a report released today. The HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill could be taken up by Uganda's parliament shortly.

Israel: Stop East Jerusalem Home Demolitions

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:12:21 -0800

(Jerusalem) - Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem should immediately stop demolishing Palestinian homes in violation of international law, Human Rights Watch said today.

Iran: Stop Covering Up Sexual Assaults in Prison

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:28:52 -0800

(New York) - Iran's judiciary should immediately investigate cases of sexual assaults in prison and prosecute those responsible, instead of covering up these crimes, Human Rights Watch said today.

Turkey: Bar Entry or Arrest Sudan President

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:22:14 -0800

(New York) – Turkey should not allow President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend a conference in Istanbul, and should arrest him if he sets foot in Turkey, Human Rights Watch said

Sudan: Reform National Security Law

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:44:03 -0800

(New York) - A report released on November 5, 2009 by the United Nations Panel of Experts on Sudan reveals continuing human rights violations in Darfur and underscores the urgent need to reform Sudan's repressive national security law, Human Rights Watch said today.

India: Protect Civilians in Anti-Maoist Drive

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:43:43 -0800

(New York) - Government forces and anti-government Maoist fighters should ensure that civilians are protected during armed operations in central India and elsewhere, Human Rights Watch said today.

US Senate: Move Quickly on Sexual Assault Bill

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:46:09 -0800

(New York) - The introduction in the Senate today of the Justice for Survivors of Sexual Assault Act of 2009 is a significant step toward eliminating the backlog of evidence in rape cases, Human Rights Watch said today.

Iran: Revoke Death Sentences for Juvenile Offenders

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:14:41 -0800

Iran should immediately halt the planned executions of three men under charges of male homosexual conduct allegedly committed when they were children, Human Rights Watch said today.

Italy/US: Italian Court Rebukes CIA Rendition Practice

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:57:37 -0800

(Milan) - An Italian court's conviction of 23 agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for kidnapping is an historic repudiation of the CIA's crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. The Milan court also found that two Italian officials illegally collaborated in CIA abuses.

Bahrain: Migrant Workers Denied Pay, Right to Travel

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:43:47 -0800

(New York) - Bahrain's Labor Ministry should hold employers who withhold wages and passports from migrant employees accountable, Human Rights Watch said today. Both practices are illegal under Bahraini law, but authorities do little to enforce compliance.

Lebanon: Ruling Aids Families of “Disappeared”

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:57:21 -0800

BEIRUT - A decision by Lebanese judicial authorities is an encouraging first step toward recognizing the right of families of victims of enforced disappearances during the 1975-1990 war era to know what happened to them, five international human rights groups said today.

India: Reveal Truth about Childbirth Deaths

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:55:00 -0800

(New York) - India is falling behind other countries in meeting international commitments to improve obstetric care because it does not adequately monitor deaths and injuries in the critical period following childbirth and fix gaps in its health system and programs, Human Rights Watch said today.

UN: Endorse Goldstone Report

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:24:15 -0800

(Washington, DC) - The United Nations (UN) General Assembly should endorse the report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict when it meets to discuss Middle East peace issues on November 4, 2009, more than a dozen groups working on human rights issues in the Middle East said today.

Middle East Human Rights Groups Call on the General Assembly to Adopt the Goldstone Report

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:37:25 -0800

The United Nations Human Rights Council's resolution endorsing the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict is a crucial step toward securing accountability for the civilian victims of the war on all sides. It is now the responsibility of Israel and Hamas to conduct credible domestic investigations.