ESC Rights

Olympic Congress: Monitor Host Countries on Rights

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:24:51 -0700

(New York) - The Copenhagen Olympic Congress should create a permanent mechanism to monitor human rights in host countries before, during and after Olympic Games, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch, which has submitted a proposal to the Congress, is particularly concerned about potential abuses in Russia, host for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

Afghanistan: Was the Women's Vote Counted?

Georgette Gagnon — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:53:45 -0700

KABUL-- The young woman from Kandahar sat with me in the office of an independent monitoring group two days before Afghanistan's August 20th presidential election. Halima had defied her family and threats from neighbors in the tumultuous southern region to work as an election observer and to vote. "It's in our destiny to take our rights," she said.

Afghanistan: Law Curbing Women’s Rights Takes Effect

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:26:46 -0700

(New York) - Afghanistan's influential international supporters should insist that President Hamid Karzai act to amend the notorious law that formalizes discrimination against Shia women, Human Rights Watch said today.

Human Rights Watch learned today that the amended bill was published in the official Gazette on July 27, 2009 (Gazette 988), bringing the law into force.

Kosovo: Act Now to Close Poisoned Camps

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:01:00 -0700

(Brussels) - The Kosovo authorities need to work with international donors to close lead-contaminated camps occupied by internally displaced Roma without delay, relocate their inhabitants, and provide medical treatment for lead poisoning, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Iran: Violent Crackdown on Protesters Widens

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:57:29 -0700

(New York) - A notoriously abusive Iranian prosecutor, Saeed Mortazavi, has been put in charge of the investigation of detained reformist leaders and party officials amidst a widening security crackdown in Iran following the disputed June 12 election, Human Rights Watch said today.

Nigeria: Abusers Reign at Midterm

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:00:00 -0700

Burma: One Year After Cyclone, Repression Continues

Human Rights Watch — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:13:26 -0700

Sri Lanka: Government Admission Shows Need for UN Inquiry

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:32:06 -0700

(New York) - The Sri Lankan government's admission that it has been using heavy weapons in an area crowded with displaced civilians underscores the need for an international commission of inquiry into violations of the laws of war by government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Human Rights Watch said today.

Q & A on Accountability for Violations of International Humanitarian Law in Sri Lanka

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:27:18 -0700

Human Rights Watch is calling for a United Nations commission of inquiry to investigate violations of international humanitarian law by both Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the recent fighting. This Q & A addresses various issues relating to accountability for crimes in violation of international law.

Introduction

UN Race Conference Undermined by Western Withdrawals

Human Rights Watch — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:31:23 -0700

(Geneva) – The announcement by the US government that it would not participate in the upcoming UN Review Conference on Racism, followed by the decision of the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Australia to pull out and Germany to attend as an observer, strikes a blow at UN efforts to fight racism, Human Rights Watch said today.