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	Current Events Focus on Human Rights Background on War in Iraq (June, 2003) Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe (June, 2003) Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents (May, 2003) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (November, 2002)
Iraq: Insecurity Driving Women Indoors (New York, July 16, 2003) The insecurity plaguing Baghdad and other Iraqi cities has a distinct and debilitating impact on the daily lives of women and girls, preventing them from participating in public life at a crucial time in their country's history, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Letter to President Lagos on Judicial Investigations in Chile (June 15, 2003) -- Human Rights Watch letter in regard to the measures government is currently considering to expedite judicial investigations into the grave human rights violations committed under military rule, and to provide further means of reparation and compensation to relatives of the victims. Iraq: Justice Needs International Role (Baghdad, July 15, 2003) The Judicial Commission established by Iraq's Governing Council is a positive step, but international jurists need to play a prominent role in any courts to ensure their effectiveness and impartiality, Human Rights Watch said today. Guatemala's Former Dictator "Unfit" Candidate for President (New York, July 15, 2003) The decision by Guatemala's highest court to authorize the presidential candidacy of former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt is a disturbing setback for human rights in the region, Human Rights Watch said today. Uganda: Sharp Decline in Human Rights (Kampala, July 15, 2003) Abductions, torture, recruitment of child soldiers, and other abuses have sharply increased in the past year in northern Uganda due to renewed fighting between Ugandan government forces and rebels, a coalition of national and international organizations said in a report released today. Blair Must Raise Rights on China Tour (London, July 15, 2003) British Prime Minister Tony Blair should spotlight human rights and civil liberties on his upcoming visit to China, Human Rights Watch said today. Mr. Blair is scheduled to visit China and Hong Kong from July 22-25. Tibetans Lost in Chinese Legal System (New York, July 15, 2003) -- The recent release of a Tibetan activist is welcome, but Chinese authorities should stop secret trials of other Tibetans, Human Rights Watch said today. Tserang Dondrup was released on July 11 after a year in custody, but little is known about the conditions of his detention or release. What Tony Blair must say in Washington (July 13, 2003) -- The Prime Minister must not pull his punches over the injustice of the proposed US military tribunals for terror suspects. The central issue is not where the trial of the two British prisoners should take place but fair trials for all of those accused of the most serious crimes. Nigeria: Bush Should Condemn Police Brutality (New York, July 10, 2003) - U.S. President George Bush should strongly condemn recent incidents of police brutality when he visits Nigeria, Human Rights Watch urged today. New Chair to Lead Human Rights Watch Board (New York, July 10, 2003) Jane T. Olson, an internationally recognized human rights activist, will become Chair of the Board of Human Rights Watch in January next year, Human Rights Watch announced today. Ms. Olson has been a member of the Board for ten years and co-founded its California Committee of supporters in 1989. Indonesia: New Prisoners of Conscience in the Post-Suharto Era (Jakarta, July 10, 2003) In separate reports released today, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Indonesia and for the repeal of legislation used to prosecute and imprison activists engaged in peaceful political expression. China: Police Violence Against HIV-Positive Protestors Escalates (New York, July 9, 2003) - Police in Henan province are increasingly using arbitrary arrests and violence against HIV-positive protestors seeking access to treatment, Human Rights Watch said today. SA stop pivotal to success of Bush's Africa tour (July 8, 2003) -- South Africa is a key stop for the presidential tour. The country has a vital role to play in ensuring that the visit to Africa is not just symbolic - but also addresses the region's most acute problems, including raging regional conflicts and HIV/Aids. Avoiding War Crimes in Iraq (July 8, 2003) Unfortunately, the US seems more interested in questions of justice and accountability for past crimes mainly to the extent that these can be used to vilify the old Iraqi regime and justify its military intervention. It is far less interested in seeking justice for the victims and survivors of Saddam Hussein's tyranny. Colombia: U.S. "Misses an Opportunity" (Briefing Paper) (New York, July 8, 2003) The U.S. State Department's human rights certification for Colombia does not hold that country accountable for its failure to break persistent links between the military and abusive paramilitary groups, Human Rights Watch said today. Congo: War Is International, Not Local (Français) (New York, July 8, 2003) The war in Congo has been misdescribed as a local ethnic rivalry when in fact it represents an ongoing struggle for power at the national and international levels, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. UN: Global Action Needed on Small Arms (New York, July 7, 2003) The global spread and rampant misuse of small arms and light weapons requires a reinvigorated international response, Human Rights Watch said today. More than 100 governments will gather in New York July 7-11 to assess progress in stemming the trade in small arms since a U.N. Program of Action was agreed two years ago. President Bush's First State Visit to Africa U.S. President George W. Bush will travel to Africa from July 7-12, making stops in Senegal, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda, and Nigeria. Human Rights Watch has produced a series of short briefings on leading issues around the trip and the Bush administration's policy toward Africa's most pressing human rights problems. Liberia: No Immunity for Taylor (New York, July 3, 2003) - If U.S. troops are sent to Liberia, they should not make any deals that involve a withdrawal of the indictment of President Charles Taylor by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, Human Rights Watch said today. Iraq: No Amnesty for Mass Murderers (Letter) (New York, July 3, 2003) U.S. and U.K. officials should not offer former senior Iraqi leaders amnesty or immunity from prosecution in exchange for providing information on Saddam Hussein or weapons of mass destruction, Human Rights Watch said today. Nigeria: President Must End Impunity for Human Rights Abusers (New York, July 3, 2003) Ending impunity for human rights abuses should top President Obasanjo’s agenda as he begins his second term in office, Human Rights Watch said in an open letter to the Nigerian President today. U.S.: Bush Trip to Africa A brief overview of the Bush administration's policy toward Africa Stop Saudi Executions (New York, July 2, 2003) The government of Saudi Arabia should impose a moratorium on executions until all death penalty cases are independently reviewed, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S.: End Bully Tactics against Court (New York, July 1, 2003) With the expiration of its July 1 deadline to cut off military aid to states supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Bush administration should end its ill-conceived campaign to weaken the court, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. India: Gujarat Massacre Cases Sabotaged New York, June 30, 2003) - The ringleaders of massacres committed in 2002 are still roaming free in Gujarat, Human Rights Watch charged in a new report released today. Migrant Workers Need Protection UN Treaty Comes Into Force (New York, July 1, 2003) - Industrialized countries that benefit economically from migration should sign up to a U.N. treaty strengthening legal protection for migrants and their families. (Letter) Kazakhstan: Abuse Worsens AIDS Crisis Drug users, sex workers targeted in one of world's worst AIDS epidemics (Russian) (New York, June 30, 2003) - Human rights abuse against injection drug users and sex workers in Kazakhstan is fueling one of the fastest growing AIDS epidemics in the world, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. More...