Criminal Justice

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.

Libya: Drop Charges against Journalist

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:49:56 -0700

(New York) - The Libyan government should investigate allegations of sexual harassment in a state-run residence for women who had been orphaned instead of charging the journalist who reported the story with criminal defamation, Human Rights Watch said today.

Iran: Overturn Death Sentences, Other Unfair Convictions

Human Rights Watch — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:04:53 -0700

(New York) - The Iranian Judiciary should immediately quash the convictions that have been handed down by the Revolutionary Court in Tehran since the end of September against defendants accused of inciting post-election unrest, Human Rights Watch said today. The convictions all stem from unfair trials in which the accused were denied access to lawyers.

Bangladesh: Bring Paramilitary Unit Torturers to Justice

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:31:31 -0700

(New York) - The Bangladeshi government should investigate and prosecute the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers who on October 22, 2009, arrested and allegedly tortured F.M. Masum, a journalist at the New Age newspaper, Human Rights Watch said today.

US: Letter to Senator Durbin Supporting the Elimination of Cocaine Sentencing Disparities

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:41:32 -0700

Senator Richard Durbin
United States Senate
309 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Durbin:

FBI's Rape News Isn't Good Enough

Sarah Tofte, researcher for the US Program — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:21:35 -0700

Two weeks ago, the FBI released annual crime statistics showing that reported rapes were at a 20-year low.

Libya: Free All Unjustly Detained Prisoners

Human Rights Watch — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:30:17 -0700

(New York) - Libya should follow its release of 88 prisoners on the night of October 15, 2009 with the release of all political prisoners and those unjustly detained in Libyan jails, Human Rights Watch said today.

Vetoing Justice for Rape Victims

Sarah Tofte, researcher for the US Program — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:01:28 -0700

Over the weekend, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California vetoed legislation that would have made California the first state in the nation to collect comprehensive data on the physical evidence collected from rape victims that is sitting in police storage facilities.

US: Send a Bad Law Away, Not People

Alison Parker, deputy director of the US Program — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:52:40 -0700

Every day the U.S. government is forced to grapple with the consequences of harsh and sweeping immigration laws passed by Congress 13 years ago. Under the 1996 laws, detention and deportation are mandatory for thousands of immigrants convicted of nonviolent crimes, and judges are powerless to intervene, even in the most deserving cases.

Iran: Another Execution of Juvenile Offender

Human Rights Watch — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:12:17 -0700

(New York) - Iran hanged juvenile offender Behnoud Shojaie on October 12, 2009, despite an unequivocal international ban on such executions, and an initial pardon by the victim's family, Human Rights Watch said today. Shojaie, now 21, was executed for a killing that he committed in 2005, when he was 17 years old.