UN Rights Council: Demand End to Fiji Abuses

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:59:23 -0800

(Geneva) - UN members should press Fiji's military government during a review of its human rights record to end arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment in detention, and interference with judicial independence, and to ensure a swift return to democratic rule, Human Rights Watch said today.

Russia: Activists’ Detention Unjustified

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:15:44 -0800

(Moscow) - The Russian authorities should investigate the arbitrary detention of three human rights advocates in Chechnya and hold those responsible accountable, Amnesty International, Civil Rights Defenders, Front Line, and Human Rights Watch said today.

Bahrain: End Torture of Security Suspects

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:45:00 -0800

(Manama) - Bahrain needs to take urgent steps to end torture and ill-treatment of security suspects during interrogation, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The government should promptly investigate all torture allegations and prosecute security officials suspected of abusing detainees.

Israel: Attacks on New Israel Fund, Critical Groups, Threaten Civil Society

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:19:54 -0800

(New York)–The growing harshness of attacks by Israeli government officials on nongovernmental organizations poses a real threat to civil society in Israel, Human Rights Watch said today.

Israel: Military Investigations Fail Gaza War Victims

Human Rights Watch — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:08:23 -0800

(New York) - Israel has failed to demonstrate that it will conduct thorough and impartial investigations into alleged laws-of-war violations by its forces during last year's Gaza conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. An independent investigation is needed if perpetrators of abuse, including senior military and political officials who set policies that violated the laws of war, are to be held

Thailand: Cease Intimidation of Karen Refugees

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:48:28 -0800

(New York) - Thailand should immediately stop pressuring ethnic Karen refugees to return to Burma, Human Rights Watch said today. Repatriation to the designated "return zone" in Burma would place returnees at serious risk of human rights abuses and landmines.

US: Adopt Anti-Corruption Proposals

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:51:37 -0800

(Washington, DC) - The Obama administration should adopt recommendations in a report issued today to help stop the flow of stolen money into the United States, Human Rights Watch said.

US: Approve Bill to Curb Violence Against Women

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:05:57 -0800

(New York) - Congress should quickly approve a bipartisan bill introduced today that sets out a new strategy for US engagement in the struggle to end violence against women worldwide, Human Rights Watch said.

Kenya: Landmark Ruling on Indigenous Land Rights

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:45:44 -0800

Vietnam: Expanding Campaign to Silence Dissent

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:12:02 -0800

(New York) - The Vietnamese government should immediately drop all charges and free the prominent writer and democracy activist Tran Khai Thanh Thuy, Human Rights Watch said today.

Italy: Speed Investigations of Rosarno Attacks

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:01:00 -0800

(Milan) - Prosecutions of suspects in the racist attacks early this month against migrants in Rosarno, Italy are lagging, Human Rights Watch said today. But migrants accused of participating in the unrest have already been arrested, tried, and convicted.

UAE: NYU’s Labor Rights Provisions Break New Ground

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:27:29 -0800

(New York) - New York University's announcement today that it will require all companies to respect the rights of laborers building its campus in the United Arab Emirates is a significant step toward protecting migrant workers there, Human Rights Watch said.

EU: Follow Swiss Example of Accepting Guantanamo Detainees

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:06:59 -0800

(Washington, DC) - Switzerland's decision to accept for resettlement two Uighur detainees who have been wrongfully detained at Guantanamo for more than eight years is a significant contribution toward closing the prison, Human Rights Watch said today.

Macedonia: Broaden Anti-Discrimination Bill

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:06:07 -0800

(New York) - The Macedonian government's decision to ignore sexual orientation as a protected category in its draft anti-discrimination law would leave lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people without vital protection, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Macedonian authorities.

Colombia: Stop Abuses by Paramilitaries’ Successor Groups

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:54:00 -0800

(Bogotá) - Colombia needs to respond effectively to the violent groups committing human rights abuses that have emerged around the country in the aftermath of the flawed demobilization of paramilitary groups, Human Rights Watch says in a report released today.

Libya: Stop Blocking Independent Web Sites

Human Rights Watch — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:33:51 -0800

(New York) - Libya's moves in late January, 2010, to block access to at least seven independent and opposition Libyan web sites based abroad and to YouTube is a disturbing step awayfrom press freedom, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should restore web site access immediately, Human Rights Watch said.

UN: A Step to Help End Rape in War

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:40:56 -0800

(New York) - The appointment of a senior official to coordinate United Nations efforts to end rape in war is an important step, Human Rights Watch said today.

Russia: Stop Blocking Peaceful Demonstrations

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:22:56 -0800

(Moscow) - Russian authorities should stop blocking peaceful demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said today.

Jordan: Stop Withdrawing Nationality from Palestinian-Origin Citizens

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:46:00 -0800

(Amman) - Jordan should stop withdrawing nationality arbitrarily from Jordanians of Palestinian origin, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Authorities stripped more than 2,700 of these Jordanians of their nationality between 2004 and 2008, and the practice continued in 2009, Human Rights Watch said.

Sri Lanka: End Indefinite Detention of Tamil Tiger Suspects

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:53:48 -0800

(New York) - The Sri Lankan government should end its indefinite arbitrary detention of more than 11,000 people held in so-called rehabilitation centers and release those not being prosecuted, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.