By Samira Sadeque UNITED NATIONS, Sep 3 2020 (IPS) – Qatar officials reiterated their claim on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) be held responsible for their “discrimination” against Qatari citizens, as the third day of public hearings proceeded…
Tag: Human rights
Myanmar urged to ensure all Rohingya can vote in Nov polls
14 Rohingya-led refugee organisations call on Myanmar Union Election Commission for the right to vote. Fortify Rights on Thursday said the government of Myanmar should ensure all voting-age Rohingya—including refugees in Bangladesh—have the right and opportunity to vote in the…
US Sanctions International Criminal Court Prosecutor
Trump Administration’s Action Tries to Block Justice for World’s Worst Crimes (Washington, DC) – The Trump administration’s unprecedented imposition of asset freezes on prosecutors at the International Criminal Court (ICC) shows an egregious disregard for victims of the world’s worst…
Innocent Zahid released from jail after 20 years
Khulna, Sept 1 – Innocent Sheikh Zahid, who was in jail for the last 20 years on the charge of killing his wife and child, was released from the jail finally on Monday night. Sheikh Zahid, 50, walked out from…
Photojournalist Kajol denied bail in Digital Security Act case
Dhaka, Aug 24 – A Dhaka court on Monday rejected the bail petition of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol in a Digital Security Act (DSA) case filed at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Metropolitan Magistrate Court Judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the…
Free journo Kajol immediately: Artists, activists, family
Dhaka, Aug 24 – Artistes and cultural activists on Sunday demanded immediate release of photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol who has been languishing in jail in cases filed under the Digital Security Act.
Interfaith Rally for Rohingya To Mark Genocide August 22
Standing with the Rohingya: Despite COVID 19 Crisis, Diverse Leaders Come Together to Mark Anniversary of Genocide and Mass Displacement Washington, D.C. – In solidarity with the persecuted Rohingya Muslim Minority of Burma, diverse leaders from a variety of countries,…
Call Rohingya persecution genocide: Rights, faith groups
This week, Refugees International welcomed two important demonstrations of support for our campaign to urge Secretary Pompeo to call Myanmar’s crimes against the Rohingya genocide: one from a group of prominent legal and human rights experts and the second from…
Faith Groups – Ask US Govt call Rohingya repression Genocide
“Refugees International welcomes a powerful letter from a group of faith-based organizations to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to publicly declare that the Myanmar military committed genocide against the Rohingya people.
Call Myanmar’s Crimes Genocide: 33 Legal and HR Experts
WASHINGTON—Refugees International announced today that thirty-three legal and human rights experts, including former high-level State Department and White House officials, delivered a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to publicly determine that Myanmar committed genocide against…
Myanmar Bars Rohingya Muslim Candidates from Election: HRW
Shayna Bauchner, Researcher, Asia Division The Myanmar government is again blocking Rohingya Muslims from running for political office. On Monday, election officials barred Kyaw Min, head of the Rohingya-led Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP), from running in the national…
Beating Anger into Empathy: The Need of the Hour in Ethiopia
By Dr Joshua Castellino LONDON, Aug 17 2020 (IPS) – The murder of Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, an icon of the Oromo people in Ethiopia was a tragic loss for all who struggle for rights in systems that fail to accommodate them.
The Battle over Barriers for People with Disabilities
By Shubha Nagesh DEHRADUN, India, Aug 17 2020 (IPS) – According to the World Health Organization (WHO) at least 15% of the population globally has some form or other of a disability- considered the world’s largest minority population and one…
What is Next for Palestinian Popular Resistance in Gaza?
Speaking to Journalist Wafaa Aludaini By Ramzy Baroud Co-Written by Ramzy Baroud & Romana Rubeo Wafaa Aludaini is a witness to many of Gaza’s recent tragedies and also never-ending resistance. She experienced the violent Israeli occupation, the subsequent blockade on…
Why all in Sierra Leone are not celebrating the new media law
By Mohamed FofanahFREETOWN, Jul 30 2020 (IPS) – Last week, Sierra Leone’s parliament voted to repeal the country’s 55-year-old libel law, which criminalised the publication of information that was deemed defamatory or seditious, and which had been used by successive…
Repeal Digital Security Act, immediately bail out those held
Dhaka, 27 July 2020: Expressing concern over widespread misuse and indiscriminate implementation of the Digital Security Act (DSA) during the Covid-19 pandemic; lawyers, journalists, academics, and human rights activists have called for the repeal of the Act. They called on…
Rohingya Women Share Stories in a Growing Rights Movement
By Samira Sadeque UN, Jul 24 2020 (IPS) – Rohingya women are coming together to feature their own work, plight and stories in mainstream conversations about their community — a space they say they’ve been left out of.
A Ground-breaking Year of Gender Equality fails for Covid-19
SYDNEY, Australia, Jul 24 2020 (IPS) – Sixteen-year-old Suhana Khan had just completed her grade 10 exams in March when India imposed a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. Since then, she has been spending her mornings and evenings doing household chores, from…
When women and children cannot escape their abusers
By Sabine Saliba BEIRUT, Jul 3 2020 (IPS) – Reports of escalating violence against women and children made the news almost every day in March and April following the announcement of lockdowns to control the spread of Covid-19. The main…
Democracy Books Disappear from Hong Kong Libraries
HONG KONG – Books written by prominent Hong Kong democracy activists have started to disappear from the city’s libraries, online records show, days after Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on the finance hub.
Accountability essential for Myanmar for atrocities: UK
UK’s International Ambassador for Human Rights Rita French has said accountability for atrocities is essential for Myanmar to move towards peace and stability.
U.N. establishes fact-finding body in Libya
Slavery In conflict The United Nations Human Rights Council has taken an important step to investigate abuses by all sides in Libya — including human trafficking — by establishing a fact-finding body.
Self proclaimed Jubo League man sued under ICT Act in Savar
Savar, June 21 – A self-proclaimed Jubo League leader was accused in a case filed under the ICT Act for allegedly making derogatory comment about State Minister for Disaster Management Dr Md Enamur Rahman on Sunday.
Freedom of speech threatened in the name of Digital Security
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Saturday alleged that the people’s constitutional right of freedom of speech has been threatened in the name of digital security in the country.
Scourge of Racism Violates UN Charter
By Amina J. Mohammed GENEVA, Jun 18 2020 (IPS) – I welcome this opportunity to speak to this urgent and necessary debate of the Human Rights Council. I bring you warm greetings from Secretary-General António Guterres, who shares your abhorrence…
Meritocracy Legitimises, Deepens Inequality
By Jomo Kwame Sundaram KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jun 18 2020 (IPS) – How often have you heard someone lamenting or even condemning inequality in society, concluding with an appeal to meritocracy? We like to think that if only the deserving,…
RU teacher held for derogatory FB post against Nasim
Police arrested a teacher of Rajshahi University (RU) on charge of making derogatory remarks about late Awami League leader Muhammad Nasim in a Facebook post early Thursday.
DUJ concerned over DMP summoning journalists for probe
Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) has expressed grave concern over the summoning of at least 10 journalists by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) after reports on a senior police officer’s immoral activities were published.
Scrap Digital Security Act: Demonstration held in Shahbagh
A group of protesters demonstrated at Shahbagh area of the capital on Monday seeking cancellation of Digital Security Act after a teacher of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur was arrested for an allegedly ‘derogatory’ Facebook post. Police arrested Sirajum Munira,…
Was there slavery in Australia? Yes. It isn’t even debated
Jun 14 2020 (IPS) – Prime Minister Scott Morrison asserted in a radio interview that “there was no slavery in Australia”. This is a common misunderstanding which often obscures our nation’s history of exploitation of First Nations people and Pacific…