| HOME | SITEMAP | SEARCH | CONTACT | REPORTS | Join the HRW Mailing List |
|
Contribute to Human Rights Watch
|
|
||
|
Current Events Focus on Human Rights EU-Russia Summit (Oct 30) Crisis in Colombia (Oct 24) Indonesia: Transition and Regional Conflict (Oct 24) Kosovo: Focus on Human Rights (October 23) Israel/Palestinian Authority : Abuses During Violent Clashes (Oct 19) Yugoslavia: Justice Imperative (Oct 14) Pakistan: Post-Coup Abuses (Oct 10) Sierra Leone: A Call for Justice (Oct 5) Cambodia: Focus on Human Rights (Oct 3) Human Rights Watch Challenge to Candidates (US Elections 2000) (Oct 3) More... |
News Archive
Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch |
||
|
Sierra Leone: Justice and the Special Court (New York, November 1, 2000) The United Nations Security Council may be preparing to place excessive limitations on the Sierra Leone Special Court, Human Rights Watch charged today. United States: Immigration Detention Centers Need Improvements (New York, October 31, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to do more to provide humane and safe facilities for detainees in its custody. Azerbaijan: Government Interference in Elections (New York, October 30, 2000)-- Government interference in Azerbaijan's upcoming parliamentary elections has diminished prospects for a free and fair vote, Human Rights Watch said today. In a nine-page backgrounder issued ahead of the November 5 vote, Human Rights Watch described how the government has prevented opposition candidates from contesting the election, and charged that Azerbaijan was backtracking on its commitments to the Council of Europe. South Africa's Arms Trade: Further Progress Needed (New York, October 30, 2000) South Africa is not living up to its own high standards with respect to arms exports, Human Rights Watch charged today. Turkey: Prison Plans Need Wider Debate (New York, October 28, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today urged the Turkish government to allow greater public debate on the issue of prison design and construction. USA: Children in Maryland's Jails (New York, October 27, 2000) On October 16, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation of the Baltimore City Detention Center to examine possible violations of the constitutional rights of inmates. government. Chad: Hissène Habré's Victims Demand Justice (N'Djaména, Chad, October 26, 2000) In N'Djaména today, 17 victims lodged criminal complaints for torture, murder, and "disappearance" against members of the political police that operated under the regime of Hissène Habré (1982-1990). Peru: Amnesty Proposal A "Disaster for Human Rights" (New York, October 26, 2000) Human Rights Watch today urged the Organization of American States (OAS) to unequivocally condemn a sweeping new amnesty law proposed by the Peruvian government. Protection Must be a Priority for New Refugees Commissioner Human Rights Watch today raised concerns about the appointment of former Dutch Prime Minister, Ruud Lubbers, as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Chechen Detainees Face "Hell" From Russian Captors (Brussels, October 26, 2000) On the eve of the October 30 E.U.-Russia summit, Human Rights Watch today released a report detailing the cycle of torture and extortion faced by thousands of Chechens whom Russian forces have detained in Chechnya. The rights group called on European states to file a case against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights, for these and other abuses during the war in Chechnya. Kuwait: New Report Charges Serious Discrimination (New York, October 25, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on Kuwait to revoke laws that discriminate against women and long-term non-citizens of Kuwait. In a report issued before the opening of the Kuwaiti National Assembly on October 28, Human Rights Watch also called on Kuwait to amend its Penal Code and Printing and Publications Law to protect freedom of expression. Europe Must Support Colombia Civil Society, Address Human Emergency (New York, October 24, 2000) European countries must do more to support Colombian human rights groups and civil society, which are increasingly under siege, Human Rights Watch said today. European Union representatives are gathering today in Colombia's capital, Santafé de Bogotá, to announce aid to Colombia. West Timor: Refugee Safeguards Urgently Needed (New York, October 24, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on Indonesia to halt the "registration" of East Timorese refugees until minimum safeguards are in place for them to choose freely whether they wish to return to East Timor or settle in Indonesia. Security Conditions Likely To Mar Kosovo Elections (Brussels, October 18, 2000) (New York, October 20, 2000) Kosovo's first post-war elections will take place on October 28, against a backdrop of months of attacks on Serbs and other minorities and political violence among Albanian political parties, according to a Human Rights Watch backgrounder released today. Asian and European Leaders Urged to Explore Joint Rights Agenda (Brussels, October 18, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on European and Asian leaders to tackle human rights issues head on at the upcoming ASEM III summit in South Korea. Elections in Egypt (New York, October 19, 2000) As the first round of elections for the People's Assembly elections in Egypt were getting underway, Human Rights Watch today criticized a pattern of harassment of political opponents and human rights activists that is not conducive to a free and fair election. Research Shows Israeli Pattern of Excessive Force (New York, October 17, 2000) - Human Rights Watch today released results of a week-long investigation that condemns Israeli police and security forces for a pattern of using excessive, lethal force in clashes with demonstrators over the past two weeks. Indonesia Urged To Call Off Papua Ultimatum (New York, October 17, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today urged Indonesian authorities to call off an ultimatum to independence supporters in Irian Jaya (West Papua) to take down all West Papuan flags by Thursday, October 19. Thailand: More Protection Urged for Refugees (New York, October 17, 2000) Human Rights Watch today urged the Thai government to take advantage of the final visit by the current United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, to Thailand to change its policies toward Burmese refugees. Ogata is visiting Bangkok on October 17 and 18. Yugoslav and U.S. Rights Groups Highlight Kosovo Albanian Political Prisoners in Serbia (Belgrade, New York, October 14, 2000)—Two leading human rights groups today called attention to the fate of some 650 Kosovo Albanian political prisoners still jailed in Serbia. The Yugoslav-based Humanitarian Law Center and Human Rights Watch called on the new Yugoslav authorities to review urgently these cases and to release immediately individuals for whom evidence is lacking. Korea Should Not Impede Dalai Lama's Visit (October 13, 2000) Human Rights Watch today released a letter to Korean President Kim Dae Jung, urging him to resist Chinese government pressure to prevent a visit to Korea by the Dalai Lama. Serbia/E.U.: Human Rights Agenda for the New Yugoslavia (New York, October 12, 2000)-- European leaders who will meet Serbia's new president Vojislav Kostunica this weekend should send the message that human rights must be at the top of his agenda, said Human Rights Watch today. The European Union Council, which meets on Friday in Biarritz, has invited Mr. Kostunica to attend their session. Eastern Congo: Activists Severely Beaten (New York, October 11, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today sharply criticized the public beatings, detentions, and ill-treatment of at least thirteen leading human rights activists in the rebel-held town of Bukavu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Rights Group Calls for Release of Political Prisoners in Serbia (New York, October 10, 2000) Human Rights Watch today welcomed the release of a Serbian journalist, but also called for the release of hundreds of Kosovo Albanians currently in Serbian jails. Iran: Prosecution of Independent Cleric Condemned (New York, October 11, 2000) --Human Rights Watch today condemned the Iranian government's prosecution of a leading independent writer and religious scholar, Hojatoleslam Hassan Youssefi Eshkevari. Eshkevari, who has been held in solitary confinement and denied legal counsel since August 5, was tried behind closed doors on October 7 on a variety of charges, including "being corrupt on earth" and apostasy, which carry the death penalty. Pakistan Coup Anniversary: Human Rights Abuses Rampant (New York, October 10, 2000) Human Rights Watch today accused Pakistan's military rulers of committing widespread abuses in the name of political "reform," and called on General Pervez Musharraf to immediately return the country to constitutional rule. Independent Inquiry Needed in Israeli-Palestinian Bloodshed (New York, October 7) -- Human Rights Watch today urged the United Nations Security Council to take steps to set up an independent and impartial investigation into human rights violations in the conduct of Israeli and Palestinian security forces in the clashes that have claimed nearly eighty lives in just over a week. The high proportion of civilians among those killed and badly wounded, including children and medical personnel, has led to charges of excessive and indiscriminate use of force. Mexico's Expulsion of Cuban Condemned (Washington, D.C., October 6, 2000) — Human Rights Watch today strongly condemned the Mexican government's expulsion on October 4 of a Cuban who had sought political asylum in Mexico. The man, Pedro Riera Escalante, may well be detained, summarily tried, and face severe punishment in Cuba--including the possible application of the death penalty--the group said. Major Rights Groups Oppose Immunity for Milosevic (New York, October 5, 2000) We believe that Milosevic should be arrested promptly and delivered to The Hague to stand trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). We are seriously concerned about the ambiguity of the U.S. response to date on this matter. "No Amnesty" for Milosevic (New York, October 5, 2000) With Slobodan Milosevic's political future crumbling, Human Rights Watch today categorically rejected the notion of a "safe haven" for the Yugoslav President to avoid prosecution at the Hague. Israel / Palestinian Authority: Restraint Urged (New York, October 4, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today expressed grave concern at the high level of civilian casualties in the clashes that began on Friday and continued today in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and northern Israel. Cambodia: Armed Threat against Human Rights Workers (New York, October 3, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called on the Cambodian government to prosecute an armed military intelligence officer who threatened to shoot an opposition member of Parliament on a busy street in Phnom Penh. Witnesses said police nearby took no action. Indonesia: Indictment of Militia Leader Insufficient (New York, October 3, 2000) Human Rights Watch today called Indonesia's indictment of the notorious militia leader Eurico Gutteres a necessary but insufficient step to address the violence in West Timor. Georgia: Backtracking on Reform (New York, October 2, 2000) In a report released today, Human Rights Watch documents Georgia's repeal of reforms that would have widened access to the courts to hear torture and other complaints of abuses by the police, procuracy, and security forces. Turkey: Journalist Acquitted (New York, September 29, 2000) An Istanbul court today acquitted journalist Nadire Mater and her publisher Semih Sokmen of charges of "insulting the military." The prosecutor had asked for a twelve-year prison sentence for Mater and Sokmen for their work on Mehmet's Book, which tells the stories of veterans of the war in Turkey's southeast. The prosecutor has one week in which to appeal the verdict. Meanwhile the book itself remains banned. Congo: UN Rights Commissioner Visits (New York, September 29, 2000) Human Rights Watch today welcomed the visit of Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C). Mary Robinson arrives in Kinshasha on Sunday, October 1, and travels to rebel-held Goma in Eastern Congo on Tuesday, October 3. Conviction of Iranian Lawyers Condemned (September 28, 2000, New York) Human Rights Watch today condemned the conviction by a court in Tehran of two Iranian human rights lawyers on charges of defamation and disseminating false information. Mohsen Rahami and Shirin Ebadi were both given suspended prison sentences of fifteen months and banned from practicing law for five years by Court Branch 16. More... |
|||
|
Recent Publications
|
HOME | SITEMAP | SEARCH | CONTACT | REPORTS | PRESS ARCHIVES |