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US: Parole Uighur Detainees Into the United States Uighurs Still Held at Guantanamo Despite Being Cleared of ‘Enemy Combatant’ Status A day after this press release was issued, a US federal judge ordered that the 17 Chinese Uighurs being held at Guantanamo Bay be released into the United States on Friday, October 10. However, on Wednesday, October 8, a federal appellate court temporarily blocked the release of the Uighurs into the United States in order to give the government time to appeal the lower court’s release order. A group of Chinese Uighurs who have been cleared of the “enemy combatant” designation should be freed from Guantanamo and given parole status in the United States. Their case will be heard by a federal judge in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, October 7. October 6, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version 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 Printer friendly version More Blowback from the War on Terror The U.S.-backed Ethiopian military has secreted away scores of "suspects" – including pregnant women and children – and fueled anti-American rancor in Africa. By Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel Published in Salon Ishmael is a victim of a 2007 rendition program in the Horn of Africa, involving Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and the United States. There are at least 90 more victims like him. Most have since been sent home. A few – including a Canadian and nine who assert Kenyan nationality – remain in detention even now. The whereabouts of 22 others – including several Somalis, Ethiopian Ogadenis, and Eritreans--remain unknown. October 1, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version Ethiopia/Kenya: Account for Missing Rendition Victims Secret Detainees Interrogated by US Officials Are Still in Custody Two days after this report was issued, eight of the ten rendition victims known to be in Ethiopian jails were released to Kenya. The whereabouts of 22 others remains unknown. At least 10 victims of the 2007 Horn of Africa rendition program still languish in Ethiopian jails and the whereabouts of several others is unknown. Several of the detained men were interrogated by US officials in Addis Ababa soon after they were secretly transferred from Kenya to Somalia, and then to Ethiopia in early 2007. October 1, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Is the U.S. putting mentally incompetent terror suspects on trial? At Guantánamo, bizarre proceedings with the 9/11 suspects raise questions about a prisoner's psychiatric evaluation and the murky role of the CIA. By Joanne Mariner, terrorism and counterterrorism director Published in Salon It was the second day of a round of pretrial hearings in the 9/11 case, and Ramzi Binalshibh, one of five accused al-Qaida operatives, was in an angry mood. He didn't seem upset about facing the death penalty; in a previous round of hearings he had declared that he would embrace martyrdom. What bothered him were his lawyers' efforts to save his life. September 29, 2008 Commentary Printer friendly version US: Improve Treatment of Crime Victims US Has Mixed Record on Victims’ Rights The United States has not incorporated into its domestic criminal justice systems many of the recommended standards for the treatment of crime victims set out under international law, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. While US jurisdictions, both federal and state, have made significant progress in recent decades, much more can be done to ensure that victims’ rights and their legitimate interests are respected. September 23, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version US: First Trial for Overseas Torture Case of ex-Liberian president’s son important step for justice The upcoming trial in Miami of Charles “Chuckie” Taylor, Jr., who is accused of torture committed in Liberia, should signal the start of a more robust policy toward prosecuting serious human rights violations committed abroad, Human Rights Watch said today. Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin this Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. September 23, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Charles “Chuckie” Taylor, Jr.’s Trial in the United States for Torture Committed in Liberia Questions and Answers Charles “Chuckie” Taylor, Jr. is the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. Born while his father was living in Massachusetts, Chuckie Taylor is a United States (US) citizen. He spent much of his youth in the United States, joining his father in Liberia after his father won the 1997 presidential elections. September 23, 2008 Questions and Answers Printer friendly version Mixed Results US Policy and International Standards on the Rights and Interests of Victims of Crime
HRW Index No.: 1-56432-373-0 September 23, 2008 Report Download PDF, 233 KB, 45 pgs Purchase online Read Press Release Letter Urging Secretary Chertoff to Reconsider the Revocation of Pakistani Activist's US Visa We are writing to express grave concern over the revocation of the US visa of Amina Masood Janjua, a widely respected Pakistani human rights advocate. Mrs. Janjua was scheduled to travel from Geneva to Washington, DC, on September 12, 2008, but at the last moment the US Embassy in Islamabad informed her that her US visa had been rescinded. September 22, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version US: Reconsider Visa Revocation of Pakistani Activist The US Department of Homeland Security should immediately reconsider the visa revocation of a widely respected Pakistani human rights advocate. On September 12, 2008, US officials suddenly and inexplicably revoked the travel visa of Amina Masood Janjua, who was scheduled to fly that day from Geneva to Washington, DC, for meetings about people believed to have been “disappeared” in Pakistan. September 22, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Testimony of Elizabeth Calvin, Children’s Rights Advocate, in Support of H.R. 4300 the “Juvenile Justice Accountability House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank you for holding this hearing and for inviting me to testify on the important topic of the sentencing of youth who were below the age of 18 at the time of their offenses to life without the possibility of parole. I am here to testify in support of legislation that would end this practice in the United States and provide meaningful access to parole hearings or other review for youth offenders serving this sentence. September 18, 2008 Testimony Printer friendly version US: Congress Acts to Prosecute Recruiters of Child Soldiers No Safe Haven for Exploiters of Children New legislation adopted on September 15, 2008 will permit the United States to prosecute foreign military commanders who recruit child soldiers abroad, Human Rights Watch said today. The Child Soldiers Accountability Act passed the House of Representatives unanimously on September 8 and was adopted by the Senate today. September 15, 2008 Press Release Printer friendly version Private-Public Partnerships with Civil Society and the Media in Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Statement at the 2008 Follow up Private-Public Partnership Conference, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The fight against terrorism will not be won by relying simply on military might and repressive measures. Effective private-public partnerships should focus on building good will, promoting compelling alternatives to terrorist ideologies, and providing ground-up information about the impact and effectiveness of states’ counterterrorism efforts. September 15, 2008 Written Statement 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 US: Rice Should Press Algeria on Fate of Returned Guantanamo Detainees US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should press the Algerian government on the well-being and status of Guantanamo detainees returned to Algeria when she travels to Algiers on September 6. Four Guantanamo detainees from Algeria have been returned in the last two months, and Rice is expected to discuss future Guantanamo returns during her visit. September 5, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Tunisia: Rice Should Press for Rights Improvements End Harassment, Detentions of Rights Defenders US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should urge the Tunisian government to end its harassment and imprisonment of human rights activists when she visits the country on Saturday, September 6, Human Rights Watch said today. She is scheduled to meet with President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who has held office since 1987. September 5, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version US: Press Tripoli to Improve Rights Letter to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Human Rights Watch writes on the occasion of Secretary Rice's forthcoming visit to Tripoli, hoping that she will take the opportunity of this historic trip to raise specific human rights concerns at the highest levels. In particular, we urge the US to condition further improvements in the US-Libya relationship on steps by Libyan authorities to end the incarceration of political prisoners, promote freedom of expression and assembly, and stop the use of torture. September 2, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version US/Libya: Rice Should Press Tripoli to Improve Rights Torture and Political Prisoners Deep Concerns During her historic visit to Libya this week, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should press the Libyan government and leader Mu`ammar al-Qadhafi to release political prisoners, abolish laws that imprison peaceful critics, and end the use of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. September 2, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version 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 |
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