The Latest News Last updated Monday, September 30, 2002 News Archive   |   Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch Contribute to HRW   |   Join the HRW Mailing List Current Events Focus on Human Rights Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (September, 2002) Accountability and Transition in the Balkans  (July 24, 2002) Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (May 22, 2002) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (May, 2002) 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. Mexico: Don’t Use Military Justice for “Dirty War” (New York, September 30, 2002) The indictment of two generals for grave human rights abuses during Mexico’s “dirty war” is an encouraging step toward accountability, Human Rights Watch said today. Yet the fact that the case will be heard by a military court does not bode well for the success of the prosecution. Sudan Bans All Relief to the South (September 28, 2002) -- Sudan must revoke a relief flight ban announced on September 26 to prevent a humanitarian crisis from becoming a famine, Human Rights Watch said today. The ban cove U.S. Homeland Security Bill Lacks Rights Protections (Washington D.C., September 27, 2002) - A bill introduced Wednesday in the U.S. Senate to create a new homeland security department fails to include critical rights protections, Human Rights Watch said today. Australian Refugee Policy is "Not for Export" (London, September 26, 2002) Australia is trying to export policies that violate the rights of refugees, Human Rights Watch said today in a new briefing paper titled "Not for Export." India: Keep Peace in Gujarat (New York, September 26, 2002) - Human Rights Watch today condemned the brutal attack at the Swaminarayan Hindu temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in which at least 30 people, including children, were killed. Human Rights Watch commended the Indian government for responding swiftly to maintain law and order in Gujarat state. Cambodia: Protect Montagnard Refugees Fleeing Vietnam (New York, September 25, 2002) - Human Rights Watch today criticized the Cambodian government for sealing its borders and deporting hundreds of indigenous Montagnard refugees back to Vietnam, despite a fresh crackdown against Montagnards and ongoing mistreatment of returnees by Vietnamese authorities. Colombia: Castaño Indictment Hailed (Washington D.C., September 24, 2002) The indictment of Colombian paramilitary leader Carlos Castaño represents an extremely promising development for human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Reacting to Tuesday's announcement by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft that Castaño and two other paramilitary leaders had been indicted on drug trafficking charges, Human Rights Watch called on the Colombian government to ensure the men were brought to justice. Argentina: Investigate Buenos Aires Attack (Washington, D.C., September 24, 2002) The attack last Friday on the Buenos Aires home of Estela Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo (Abuelas de la Plaza de Mayo) must be thoroughly investigated, Human Rights Watch said today. U.N.: Human Rights Commission "In Crisis" (Geneva, September 24, 2002) United Nations member states should use an upcoming review process to restore the credibility of the Commission on Human Rights, Human Rights Watch said today. ASEM Summit Should Focus on Rights, Terrorism, Rule of Law (Brussels, September 20, 2002) Safeguarding human rights in counter-terrorism measures, respecting the rights of asylum seekers and migrants, and building support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) should top the agenda at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Copenhagen, Human Rights Watch said today. Detained AIDS Activist Wan Yanhai Released (New York, September 20, 2002) The release of detained AIDS activist Wan Yanhai is a positive step, Human Rights Watch said today. But it is urgent that Beijing open flows of information about AIDS in China, the organization said. New Crackdown on Montagnards in Vietnam (New York, September 20, 2002) - The government of Vietnam has stepped up its campaign of repression of indigenous Montagnard Christians, Human Rights Watch said today. The rights organization called on Vietnam to cease arrests, harassment and arbitrary detentions of individuals based on their religious or political views. Bush Should Address Worsening Kyrgyz Rights Record (New York, September 19, 2002) U.S. President Bush should address Kyrgyzstan's dramatically worsening human rights record in his meeting next week with Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev, Human Rights Watch said today. Nigeria: Government Critics at Risk After Political Killings (New York, September 19, 2002) Critics of the Anambra state government in southeastern Nigeria have been receiving death threats following the assassination of Barnabas Igwe and his wife on September 1, 2002, Human Rights Watch said today. United States: Restrictive Sex Ed Impedes AIDS Prevention (New York, September 18, 2002) - Programs teaching teenagers to "just say no" to sex before marriage are threatening adolescent health by censoring basic information about how to prevent HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. Uzbek Rights Defender Sentenced to Imprisonment (New York, September 18, 2002) An Uzbek human rights defender has been sentenced to seven years in prison in a politically motivated trial, Human Rights Watch said today. Yuldash Rashulov, a member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, was sentenced in Tashkent yesterday. EU Should Support Syria’s Imprisoned Democrats (Brussels, 18 September 2002) -- The European Union and its member states should press vigorously for the unconditional release of 10 Syrian pro-democracy activists, Human Rights Watch said today. Holdout States Undercut Landmine Treaty (New York, September 13, 2002) A marked reduction in the number of governments using antipersonnel landmines in the past year has been offset by widespread use by a few others, most notably India and Pakistan, according to a global report released today by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). Kazakhstan: Turkmen Dissident in Grave Danger of Deportation (New York, September 13, 2002) The Kazakh government will put a leading Turkmen dissident at grave risk if he is deported to Turkmenistan, Human Rights Watch said today. D.R. Congo: Kabila Should Prove Commitment to Human Rights (New York, September 12, 2002) President Joseph Kabila of Congo should use his visit to the United Nations General Assembly, starting today, to announce the release of one of the country's leading human rights defenders, Human Rights Watch said today. Bush Should Urge Democratic Reforms in Pakistan (New York, September 12, 2002) During his meeting with General Pervez Musharraf in New York on September 12, President George W. Bush should strongly object to recent moves to limit democracy in Pakistan and should call for immediate reforms, Human Rights Watch said today. Chinese AIDS Activist Honored Despite Ongoing Detention (Montreal, September 12, 2002) - Human Rights Watch and the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network will honor detained Chinese AIDS activist Dr. Wan Yanhai on September 13 as the first recipient of the two organizations' "Award for Action on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights." New U.N. Human Rights Chief Urged to Speak Out (Geneva, September 12, 2002) - The new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights must stand up publicly to governments seeking to undermine the United Nations' human rights system, Human Rights Watch said as Sergio Vieira de Mello takes up his post today in Geneva. Uzbek Rights Defenders Detained (New York, September 11, 2002) Police in Uzbekistan detained two human rights defenders last week in what looks like government retribution for their human rights work, Human Rights Watch said today. Sudan: End Crackdown on Press (New York, September 11, 2002) The government of Sudan should end its recent crackdown on the press, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the Sudanese president today. Colombia Fails Rights Test (Washington, September 10, 2002) Colombia has failed to meet any of the human rights conditions that U.S. law imposes as a prerequisite to military aid, three leading human rights groups said today. Uzbekistan: U.S. Rubber Stamps Human Rights (New York, September 9, 2002) The U.S. State Department has exaggerated Uzbekistan's human rights gains, evidently in order to maintain foreign assistance to that country's government, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch Statement: Abolition of Capital Punishment and Prevention of Torture Human Rights Watch welcomes the OSCE’s engagement on the important human rights issues of capital punishment and torture—two of the most serious violations of fundamental human rights that still persist in the region. In our comments today we would like to briefly highlight some of the most significant developments in this area over the past year, and then offer a number of recommendations to specific participating countries and to the OSCE as a whole. Google, Alta Vista: Resist Chinese Censorship (New York, September 7, 2002) -- We urge your companies to continue to resist the Chinese government´s censorship pressure as a violation of internationally recognized rights of free expression. Colombia's ICC Declaration a "Prelude to Impunity"  Español (New York, September 5, 2002) Colombian President Alvaro Uribe should immediately reverse Colombia's decision not to accept, for a period of seven years, the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. Indonesia: Investigate Shootings in Papua, No Reprisals (New York, Sept. 5, 2002) Human Rights Watch today condemned the killings of three unarmed civilians in an attack on their vehicles in Papua, Indonesia this past weekend and called for an independent investigation, with the involvement of international human rights experts. Colombia: Deny Pending Human Rights Certification (September 4, 2002) -- Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Washington Office on Latin America sent a letter today to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging him to deny a pending human rights certification to Colombia. The groups argue that Colombia failed to meet even the minimum standard necessary to justify the certification. By law, the Secretary of State must certify before releasing the 40 percent of FY 2002 military aid that remains unspent. ICC: Rules for Elections are Critical (New York, September 3, 2002) The rules for electing the 18 judges and prosecutor for the new International Criminal Court (ICC) must be merit-based and transparent, Human Rights Watch urged today. The historic first meeting of states that have joined the court begins today in New York. Yugoslavia: Council of Europe Should Make Stronger Demands (New York, August 31, 2002) The Council of Europe should seek stronger commitments on police abuse, war crimes accountability, and Roma rights in connection with admission of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FR Yugoslavia), Human Rights Watch said today. More...