The Latest News from Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch
The Latest News

Last updated
Monday, July 31, 2000

Current Events
Focus on Human Rights

China: Human Rights Deteriorate (July 28)

Sierra Leone: Violations of the Peace Accord (July 12)

Elaborating Crimes and Rules - 5th PrepCom (International Criminal Court) (June 30)

Mexico Elections (June 29)

United States: Protect Child Farmworkers (June 23)

Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs - United States (June 8)

Beijing+5: Stop Violence Against Women Now (June 6)

Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe (June 2)

Lebanon Pullout: The Human Rights Dimensions (May 30)

China, Trade and Human Rights (May 24)

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Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch

Lebanon: Letter to President Emile Lahoud
Human Rights Watch is writing with recommendations about the administration of justice for individuals implicated under Lebanese and international law for various acts during the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon.

U.N. Body Criticizes Kuwait's Rights Record
(New York, July 31, 2000) Human Rights Watch today welcomed the conclusions of the United Nations Human Rights Committee's review of Kuwait implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and called on the government of Kuwait to take immediate steps to implement the Committee's recommendations.

Sharp Rise in Serbian Repression
(Washington, DC, July 28, 2000) As Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic announced elections for September 24, Human Rights Watch cautioned against growing repression of opposition figures and independent media.

Syria: Prisoner Releases Welcomed
(New York, July 27, 2000) Human Rights Watch today welcomed the news that some political prisoners in Syria were being released, and urged the government to disclose their names. The releases were reportedly ordered by Bashar al-Asad, who took the oath of office as president on July 17.

Uzbek Police ‘Disappear' Torture Victim
(New York, July 20, 2000)—Days after his detention, Uzbek police have refused to reveal the whereabouts of 38-year-old Bahodir Hasanov, a religious Muslim who was detained and tortured in 1999 and whose brother and father are religious prisoners.

Mesa de Dialogo
(Santiago, Chile, July 20, 2000) Human Rights Watch welcomes the agreement reached on June 13 in the talks between human rights attorneys, religious leaders, members of civil society and representatives of the armed forces and the uniformed police, known as the Mesa de Dialogo. We are also pleased to note that on June 21, Congress, acting by an overwhelming majority, passed legislation enacting the agreement.

Serbia: Violence Against Students Escalates
(New York, July 20, 2000) Serbian authorities loyal to Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic are increasingly using violence against their opponents, Human Rights Watch stated today.

"Regroupment" Camps in Burundi Condemned
(New York, July 19, 2000) -- Although the government of Burundi has promised Nelson Mandela that it will close its squalid "regroupment" camps, that promise has not yet been fulfilled, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.

U.S.A: Pattern of Post-Chase Police Abuse Condemned
(Washington, D.C., July 14, 2000)—Police officers need special training and better supervision to ensure they do not beat or abuse suspects after chases, Human Rights Watch said today.

Egypt: Concerns About Ongoing Detention of Human Rights Defenders
(London, July 14, 2000) In a statement today, seven international human rights organizations expressed their grave concern at the Egyptian State Security Prosecution's decision to extend the detention of Saad El-Din Ibrahim, Director of the Ibn Khaldun Center in Cairo, and Nadia 'Abd al-Nur, the finance director of the institution, for a further 15 days.

Sierra Leone Government Bombing Causes Civilian Deaths
(New York, July 12, 2000)—Human Rights Watch today expressed concern that the Sierra Leone government has caused civilian casualties and massive civilian displacement in helicopter gunship attacks against suspected rebel positions. The attacks took place during the months of May and June in the towns of Makeni, Magburaka and Kambia and have resulted at least 27 civilian deaths and some 50 wounded civilians, as well as the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians.

Tunisia Bars International Monitors From Entering Country
(New York, July 11, 2000) Human Rights Watch today condemned the action of Tunisia in blocking three international human rights monitors from entering the country. Donatella Rovera and Hassina Giraud from Amnesty International and Patrick Baudouin from the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) were prevented from entering the country when they landed at Tunis-Carthage airport this morning.

Clinton Urged to Follow Through on Mine Ban Treaty
(Washington, July 10, 2000) Human Rights Watch today urged President Clinton to keep the promise he made in 1994 to ban antipersonnel landmines by joining the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.

Egypt: Crackdown on NGOs Condemned
(New York, July 8, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch today condemned the Egyptian government's escalating attacks on independent human rights activists and organizations.

Clinton Hailed for Signing Ban on Child Combatants
(New York, July 5, 2000) -- Human Rights Watch praised the Clinton administration today for signing an international protocol that prohibits the use of children in armed conflict. The U.S. is the eighth country to sign the new agreement, which was adopted by the United Nations in May and opened for signature and ratification last month.

Senegal Actions on Ex-Chad Dictator Deplored
(Dakar, July 4, 2000)—A Senegalese court today dismissed torture charges against the exiled Chadian dictator Hissene Habre. The decision came after a panel headed by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade removed the judge investigating the case and promoted the head of the Indicting Chamber (Chambre d'Accusation) which issued today's ruling.

U.S. Thwarted in Effort to Weaken War Crimes Court
(New York, June 30, 2000) - The latest effort to win exemption for U.S. nationals from the international criminal court has not succeeded, Human Rights Watch said today.

Mexico Elections Won't Resolve Human Rights Issues
(New York, June 29, 2000) -- Despite progress toward freer elections in Mexico, the country's human rights performance is lagging behind, Human Rights Watch said today.

Indonesia Must Control Troops
(New York, June 29, 2000)-Human Rights Watch today called on Indonesian authorities in the troubled Moluccan island region to take immediate action against troops believed to have taken sides in the communal conflict there. A recent spate of clashes between members of Muslim and Christian communities has left more than 300 people dead since June 21, 2000. Nearly 3,000 have been killed since communal violence first flared up in the region in January 1999.

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