The Latest News Last updated Thursday, October 31, 2002 News Archive   |   Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch Contribute to HRW   |   Join the HRW Mailing List Current Events Focus on Human Rights Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (October, 2002) Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (September, 2002) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (September, 2002) Accountability and Transition in the Balkans  (July 24, 2002) D.R. Congo: U.N. Must Prevent “Ethnic Cleansing” in Ituri (New York, October 31, 2002) The U.N. Security Council must increase its peacekeeping force in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to protect civilians against slaughter, Human Rights Watch said in a backgrounder released today. Trade Ministers Urged to Protect Labor Rights in FTAAs (New York, october 30, 2002) Western Hemisphere trade ministers meeting in Ecuador this week should ensure that the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) includes effective workers' rights protections, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Independent Commission of Inquiry Must Investigate Raid on Moscow Theater (New York, October 30, 2002) An independent commission of inquiry must investigate the circumstances of Russia’s hostage rescue operation in Moscow, Human Rights Watch said today. Turkey Fails Displaced Villagers (Istanbul, October 30, 2002) The Turkish government, security forces and paramilitaries are obstructing the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced villagers to their homes in the formerly war-torn southeast, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Kazakhstan: Open Investigation Needed of Charges against Kazakh Journalist (New York, October 29, 2002) Kazakh authorities should guarantee an open and transparent investigation of rape charges leveled against journalist Sergei Duvanov, Human Rights Watch said today. FTAA Summit: Reject Tighter Patents on AIDS Drugs (New York, October 29, 2002) Parties to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) should reject any agreement that strengthens HIV/AIDS drug patents at the expense of public health measures permitted by existing global trade rules, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Uganda: Army and Rebels Step Up Attacks on Civilians (New York, October 29, 2002) Both the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Ugandan government forces have stepped up abuses against civilians in recent months, Human Rights Watch said today in a briefing paper on the war in northern Uganda. Turkey: Elections Pose Test (Istanbul, October 28, 2002) Turkey's November 3 parliamentary elections pose an important test of progress made since 1999 elections marred by serious irregularities, Human Rights Watch said today releasing a backgrounder on Turkey's recent election record. U.S. Senator Was “Real Leader on Human Rights” (Washington, October 25, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch expressed its shock and sorrow today at the death of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, a champion of human rights and justice. Wellstone was killed, along with his wife, daughter and several staff members in a plane crash in his home state of Minnesota. Legendary Labor Activist Alina Pienkowska Dies (New York, October 24, 2002) Alina Pienkowska, one of the legends of the Gdansk Shipyard and of the "heroic" period of Solidarity, died on Thursday in Gdansk, of cancer, at the age of 50. She was the diminutive shipyard nurse who single-handedly prevented the August 1980 strike from ending after two days, after the most basic economic demands of the shipyard were met. Hostage Taking in Moscow Condemned (Moscow, October 24, 2002) The massive hostage taking at a Moscow theater by Chechen forces is an egregious violation of the Geneva Conventions, Human Rights Watch said today. Gaza: IDF House Demolition Injures Refugees (Gaza, October 24, 2002) SAt least 20 people were injured, nine of them children, when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) prevented residents from evacuating their home while the IDF was demolishing the next-door house in Gaza, Human Rights Watch said in reporting eyewitness testimony today. Iraq: Clarify Fate of “Disappeared” (London, October 24, 2002) Iraq should follow up its welcome announcement of a prisoners’ amnesty by clarifying the fate of several hundred thousand detainees who have “disappeared,” died under torture or been summarily executed in previous years, Human Rights Watch urged today. China: Academics Press for Historian's Release (New York, October 23, 2002) The United States should use the summit between U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin to press China to release historian Xu Zerong, a group of prominent scholars said. Nigeria: No Democratic Dividend for Oil Delta The end of military rule in Nigeria has brought little benefit to the people living in the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. U.S.-China Summit Must Focus on Rights New York, October 22, 2002) - Chinese President Jiang Zemin should take the opportunity of his summit with U.S. President George Bush to release all of China's political prisoners, Human Rights Watch urged today. Indonesia: Bali Attack Should Not Undermine Civil Liberties (New York, October 18, 2002) - The Indonesian government's response to the recent attack on civilians in Bali should not undermine the country's already weak rights protections, Human Rights Watch said today. Burma's Denial of Child Soldier Use "Not Credible" (New York, October 18, 2002) The Burmese government’s claim that it does not use child soldiers is contradicted by the evidence, Human Rights Watch said today. Burma has claimed a recent Human Rights Watch report is "just another example of attempts to tarnish the image of Myanmar and the Myanmar Tatmadaw (military) in the eyes of the international community." Burma: World's Highest Number of Child Soldiers (New York, October 16, 2002) Burma has the largest number of child soldiers in the world and the number is growing, Human Rights Watch said in an extensive new report released today. The overwhelming majority of Burma's child soldiers are found in the national army, which forcibly recruits children as young as 11, although armed opposition groups use child soldiers as well. Chile Fast Tracks Free Expression Reform (New York, October 15, 2002) The Chilean government's decision to give urgent attention to draft legislation on free expression reform represents a major stride toward opening up the public debate, Human Rights Watch said today. Kofi Annan Visit to China, Central Asia Should Promote Human Rights (New York, October 11, 2002) Human rights should be at the forefront of the United Nations Secretary-General’s upcoming visit to China and Central Asia, Human Rights Watch said today. Uganda Attacks Freedom of the Press (New York, October 11, 2002) The Ugandan government should immediately end its suppression of the Monitor, the main independent daily in Uganda, and allow the paper to publish again, Human Rights Watch said today. Nigeria’s Action on Bakassi Boys Welcomed (New York, October 10, 2002) The Nigerian government’s recent action to crack down on the vigilante group known as the Bakassi Boys is welcome but more fundamental reforms are needed, Human Rights Watch said today. Venezuela's Political Crisis (Washington, October 9, 2002) We share grave concerns regarding Venezuela's political stability and fear that the potential for large-scale violence remains high. The international community must remain vigilant to the continued risks to human rights, democracy and constitutional rule in Venezuela today. Pakistan: Entire Election Process "Deeply Flawed" (New York, October 9, 2002) - Pakistan's entire election process has been deeply flawed and the October 10 parliamentary vote is stacked against democratic rule, Human Rights Watch said in a backgrounder released today. Vietnam: New Threats to Free Expression (New York, October 9, 2002) A new round of arrests and harassment of prominent dissidents in Vietnam threatens the right of free expression, Human Rights Watch said today. Vietnam should cease the persecution of government critics and release all those who are in custody or under house arrest for non-violent expression of their beliefs. EU: Keep Up Pressure for Arms Trade Reforms in Candidate Countries (New York, October 8, 2002) — The European Union (EU) should continue to press candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe to improve arms trade controls, Human Rights Watch said today. Tomorrow, the EU is expected to release the latest annual reports assessing the progress of individual candidates toward accession. EU To Assess Turkey's Membership Bid (Brussels, October 8, 2002) A European Union (EU) report on Turkey's progress toward membership due out Wednesday could signal whether the European Union considers recent reforms enough for Turkey to start membership negotiations, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S.: California Must Meet Commitment to Gay Youth (Los Angeles, October 3,2002) California should remedy gaps in its efforts to end anti-gay bias in state schools, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called on the legislature to fund efforts to provide training to school districts and monitor compliance with the law. U.S. China Commission: Weak Policy Recommendations (Washington, Oct. 2, 2002) The first report by the Congressional Executive Commission on China provides a useful analysis of some key human rights problems in China, but is weak in recommending U.S. policy actions to address them, Human Rights Watch said today. Croatia Failing Test on War Crimes Accountability (New York, October 2, 2002) -- Croatia’s continued failure to turn over two generals indicted by the war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia could jeopardize its relations with the European Union and United States, Human Rights Watch said today. EU Decision on ICC Sets "Vague Benchmarks" (Brussels, September 30, 2002) Today Human Rights Watch expressed deep dissatisfaction with the European Union's collective response to Bush administration demands against the International Criminal Court (ICC). Washington had insisted on bilateral agreements to exempt U.S. citizens from court prosecution. More...