By Ashif Shaikh DEWAS, India, May 3 2019 (IPS) – No external force can bring about real change in society. Only the community itself can. There are 650 districts in India. However, most nonprofits work only in a few districts.…
Tag: Human rights
Myanmar: Deaths in Army Custody Need Independent Inquiry
The Killing of 6 Villagers in Rakhine State Should Be Fully, Credibly Investigated New York – Myanmar authorities should independently investigate the killing of detainees held by the military in Rakhine State, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 2,…
507 enforced disappearances in BD in 11 years, 159 not traced
Dhaka, April 18 – A new report from International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) establishes that enforced disappearances in Bangladesh constitute crimes against humanity, and calls on the international community to take all necessary measures to ensure that the government…
Civil Society seeks ‘togetherness’ against challenges
By Tharanga Yakupitiyage UN, Apr 16 2019 (IPS) – Increasingly facing restrictions and assault, civil society from around the world have come together to celebrate and promote people power. Organised by CIVICUS, International Civil Society Week (ICSW) brought together civil…
US: Assange’s possible extradition threatens journalism: HRW
‘Hacking’ Charges Could Expand to Standard Investigative Reporting Practices The extradition of Julian Assange from the United Kingdom to the United States for alleged computer-related crimes could have dangerous implications for journalists in the digital age. London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed…
The criminalization of peaceful expression in Myanmar
This is the time to talk about freedom of expression. We expected it to become better, but it’s becoming worse and worse. —Maung Saungkha, activist and poet, Yangon, April 2018 They are not using the law to protect the people…
Human rights council membership has its consequences
This month, a new group of countries took their place as members of the world’s top human rights body.
466 extrajudicial killings in 2018: ASK
Dhaka, Jan 10 – Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a human rights organisation, yesterday said that 2018 marked the highest number of extrajudicial killings in history, numbering at 466.
The Uighur question: A civil society solution
By Chandra Muzaffar In the last few months, the International Movement for a Just World (JUST) like so many other civil society groups in various parts of the world has been inundated with videos and articles from different sources alleging…
The significance of human duties and responsibilities
By Chandra Muzaffar As we observe the 70th anniversary of the adoption and proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the UN General Assembly on the 10th of December 1948, it is imperative that we remind ourselves…
Human rights win out in US Election
The 2018 midterm elections showed people resoundingly voted in favor of protecting human rights in America, showing they care about the rights of the most disenfranchised and marginalized communities from coast to coast.
EU for an end to impunity for crimes against Journos
Democracy cannot live without free, diverse and independent media. Journalists and media actors across the globe hold states, government officials, corporations and society at large accountable for their actions.
অবিলম্বে গণস্বাস্থ্য কেন্দ্রে হামলাকারীদের বিচার-শাস্তি দাবী
দেশের ৪৩ জন শীর্ষস্থানীয় বুদ্ধিজীবি গতকাল রোব্বার, ২৮ অক্টোবর ২০১৮ অবিলম্বে গণস্বাস্থ্য কেন্দ্রে হামলাকারীদের বিচার, গ্রেফতার ও শাস্তি দাবী করেছেন। বিবৃতিতে তাঁরা বলেন, আমরা গভীর উদ্বেগের সাথে লক্ষ করছি যে মুক্তিযোদ্ধা, গণস্বাস্থ্য কেন্দ্রের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা ও বুদ্ধিজীবি ডা. জাফরউল্লাহ্ চৌধুরীকে হয়রানি…
Unaddressed domestic violence puts women at risk in Russia
Philippa H Stewart, Senior Media Officer Domestic violence was already pervasive in Russia. Then in February 2017, parliament decriminalized first instances of battery among family members. Some took this as confirmation that beating their wives is acceptable. Yulia Gorbunova spoke to…
US for protecting fundamental civil liberties in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Oct 22 – The United States (US) has said they continue to call on the government of Bangladesh to protect the fundamental civil liberties, especially the freedom of speech and press.
Barrister Mainul Hosein arrested in defamation case
Dhaka, Oct 22 – A team of Detective Branch (DB) of police on Monday night arrested former caretaker government adviser Mainul Hosein in a defamation case filed in Rangpur district.
Create environ conducive to the election without fear: HRW
Human Rights Watch on Friday said eying national election by January Bangladesh government has embarked upon intensive and intrusive surveillance and monitoring of social media ahead of national elections, raising concern over a chilling effect on speech, according to the media…
EU wants Bangladesh to abolish capital punishment
The European Union (EU) has called on Bangladesh authorities to introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of capital punishment.
UN rights body calls Dhaka to revise Digital Security Act
Dhaka, Oct 9 – UN Human Rights body has called on Bangladesh to urgently revise the Digital Security Act, to ensure that it is in line with international human rights law.
An HR-based approach to wat-san improves instts for the poor
by Christian Borja-Vega co-authors: Eva Kloeve In our previous blog, we looked at how water and sanitation came to be recognized as a human right, and what that means in practice. Today, we look at how formal and informal institutional…
UK needs compass of human rights
Benjamin Ward My country feels unmoored since the EU referendum decision. Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his resignation, the main political parties are internally divided, the markets volatile. What will happen next is unclear and people are anxious about…
79 custodial deaths in six months, says HR body ASK
Dhaka – Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a legal aid and human rights organisation, Thursday published a report over the violation of human rights of the country. The report said at least seventy nine people were killed in police custody…
Protect freedoms as core value of democracy: UK Minister
Dhaka – The United Kingdom has urged Bangladesh, as a vibrant, modern and rapidly growing democracy, to protect and promote freedom of expression as one of its core values and rights of all citizens, Unb news agency reported. Addressing a…
Rohingya situation to be briefed to diplomats
Dhaka – The government will brief foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka over the latest Rohingya situation in the country on Monday, Unb news agency reported.
Global events call for Assange’s freedom
Ten cities across the world are hosting a week of events dubbed “First they came for Assange,” featuring Noam Chomsky, Slavoj Zizek, Yanis Varoufakis and Patti Smith, among others. It marks four years of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s detention. Julian…
Making sense of tragedy and guns after Orlando
Antonio Ginatta As the casualty numbers in Orlando come in (now at 49 victims confirmed dead and 54 wounded) people are struggling to make sense of the senseless, to find in the killer’s actions and words some clue to the…
Terror attack on Orlando club is on values of equality, dignity: Obama
Sunday afternoon, President Obama delivered a statement on the tragic shooting that took place overnight in Orlando, Florida. “Today, as Americans, we grieve the brutal murder — a horrific massacre — of dozens of innocent people. We pray for their…
President-elect sends wrong signal on impunity in the Philippines
Bangkok – The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s comments during a press conference justifying the killing of journalists. Duterte made the remarks in response to a reporter’s question on Tuesday about how his government would…
SC upholds HC decision against detention, quizzing
Dhaka -The Supreme Court pn Tuesday turned down the appeal of the State against a High Court verdict against making arrests under Sections 54 and 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and against quzzing one without informing victims lawyer and…
Young man killed in ‘Narsingfdi DB police custody’
Dhaka – A young man was tortured to death by Detective Branch Police (DB) in custody at Bilashdi area in Narsingdi town, east of capital Dhaka on Thursday at about 11.00 am. He was termed ‘wanted terrorist’. The deceased was…