human-rights

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South Africa: Palestinian Solidarity - The Responsibility of South African Intellectuals
[Fahamu] The South African academic community should break out of its "silent and inert", albeit sympathetic, posture toward the Palestinians and fully reject cooperation with Israeli institutions.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 12:08

West Africa: Incidence of Indecent Expression On Radio Goes Up
[MFWA] The level of indecent expression increased from nine in the fourth week to 24 in the fifth week covering the period April 29 to May 5, 2012.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 10:21

Angola: Over 50,000 Local Refugees Live in SADC Countries
[ANGOP] Namacunde - At least 54,000 Angolan refugees live in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, amongst adults and children.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 10:08

Angola: Research Into Slavery History Defended
[ANGOP] Luanda - The national director of museums, Manzambi Vuvu, Thursday in Luanda defended that all information regarding slavery in Angola should be gathered both in the country and in the places of destination of the slaves, with a view to an effective knowledge of that period of the African continent's history.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 10:08

Namibia: Two Years of Suffering and No One Took Him Seriously
[Namibian] THOMAS Nghitemaye (29) complained for nearly two years at Swakopmund hospitals about the pain in his right arm, but all he got was a few general pain pills and encouragement that everything would eventually be alright.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 09:35

Egypt: Amendment of the Supreme Constitutional Court's Law
[EOHR] The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) refuses the proposal of amendment for the Supreme Constitutional Court's law no. 48, year 1979. On May 15, 2012, the Complaints and Proposals' Committee of the People's Assembly received the proposal submitted by two parliamentarians from Al Nour Salafi Political Party and referred the law to the Legislative Committee for discussion.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 09:35

Africa: Japanese International Development - Human Rights and Democracy Still the Elephant in the Room
[African Arguments] The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is clearly an organisation with a positive PR agenda. The lunch laid out after the briefing with their Vice President, Mr Kiyoshi Kodera, told you that alone. With good reason too, because JICA is not well-known in the UK despite having existed in one form or other since the 1970s.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 09:29

Sudan: Repression Intensifies After Border Violence - Human Rights Watch
[HRW] New York - Sudan has stepped up harassment of journalists, censorship, and arrests of political opponents in the wake of recent fighting with South Sudan, Human Rights Watch said today.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 08:30

Zimbabwe: MDC-T Members to Plead Not-Guilty in Cop Murder Case
[SW Radio] All 29 MDC-T members accused of killing police inspector Petros Mutedza last year will plead not guilty to charges of murder, their lawyer said on Thursday.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 08:23

Zimbabwe: Chinese Should Respect Local Labour Laws
[MDC] The Labour based MDC Party continues to fight for a broad based upliftment of the people by ensuring that everyone has decent shelter, food, education, health care facilities and jobs.
AllAfrica | 18-May-2012 07:31

South Sudan: Nation Faces Transparency Test in Pursuing Oil-Backed Financing
[Global Witness] South Sudan must exercise caution and total transparency in pursuing oil-backed financing, said Global Witness today. The detailed publication of any loan agreement will be critical in preventing exploitative terms, corruption, and mismanagement from undermining immediate benefits.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 22:41

Imprisoning a Rapper for Criticizing the Police
[HRInfo] ANHRI denounced the continued policy of the ruling regime in Morocco for clamping down on opinion and expression freedom the Moroccans gained during their long struggle. The rapper "Moaz Balghawat" was imprisoned for one year with fine on charges of "insulting an organized public authority" .
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 18:43

Africa: Saudi Arabia - Activist Detained for His Activities in Support of Religious Freedom
[HRInfo] ANHRI condemns the detention of Kamel Abbas al-Ahmed, engineer and brother of the Saudi dissident Ali Abbas al-Ahmed, head of the Gulf Institute in Washington. The Saudi security services escorted Kamel al-Ahmed to an unknown destination without giving any reasons for his detention and without a warrant.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 18:43

Africa: Kuwait - Blogger Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
[HRInfo] ANHRI condemns the ruling upholding the 10 year imprisonment sentence and 1000 Kuwaiti Dinars fine of Lawrence al-Rashidi, Kuwaiti blogger, on charges of "insulting the Prince and his powers in poems uploaded on YouTube". ANHRI considers this ruling an evidence that freedom of expression in Kuwait has become at its lowest.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 18:43

Zambia: Councils Play Key Role in Fighting GBC
[Times of Zambia] AT least 20 women and children every month are being subjected to all manner of gender based violence (GBV) such as rape, defilement and in worse situations even being killed by well-known perpetrators of GBV as close as fathers, uncles, brothers and neighbours, to mention but a few.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 18:39

Woes of Left-Handed Students
[New Vision] He was born left-handed, but was brought up as a right-handed person, just like many other Ugandans. Rev. Bernard Bogere Ssenkubuge, 60, did not only choose to tell of his woes, he decided to fight against the victimisation of left-handed children.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 18:04

Labor Trafficking - Modern-Day Slave Trade
[SACSIS] The free flow of commodities and capital has been one of the features of the contemporary process of globalization. Unlike in the earlier phase of globalization in the 19th century, however, the freer flow of commodities and capital has not been accompanied by a freer movement of labor globally. The dynamic centers of the global economy, after all, have imposed ever tighter restrictions on migration from the poorer countries.Yet the demand for cheap labor in the richer parts of the world continues to grow,
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 17:42

UNHCR Fulfils Promise to Counties Hosting Ivorian Refugees
[Informer] In fulfillment of a promise made during the Ivorian refugee influx into Liberia more than a year ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has donated six brand new vehicles, including two ambulances and four Toyota LC 200 Land Cruisers, to Liberia's border counties hosting Ivorian refugees.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 17:11

Nigeria: Obeying Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs
[Vanguard] IF President Goodluck Jonathan obeyed Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs, he would do more to ensure that Nigerians have a sense of safety. The Hierarchy of Needs is a theory in psychology developed by Abraham Maslow in 1943. It is a theory of human developmental psychology focused on describing the stages of growth in people.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 17:10

Africa: End Discrimination Against LGBTI On International Day Against Homophobia
[AI London] Discrimination and persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa and Cameroon must be halted, Amnesty International said as activists around the world mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 16:48

Amnesty or Prosecution for War Criminals?
[IRIN] Kampala - The arrest of a senior Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) commander has reignited debate in Uganda about what to do with alleged war criminals: let them go, to encourage other rebels to surrender; or prosecute them in the name of accountability and justice.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 16:47

Angola: Foreign Press Spotlight on Angola
[Maka] The latest press coverage on corruption, human rights abuses, violations of freedom of the press and socio-economic exclusion in Angola (every Wednesday at Maka Angola):
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 16:22

EOHR Calls for Licensing Al Alam Satellite Channel
[EOHR] The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) is worry for freezing activities of Al Alam Satellite Channel for having no license for implementing media coverage activities in Egypt.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 15:11

Angola: Family Ministry Presents Children Protection Programme
[ANGOP] Malanje - The Ministry of Family and Women Promotion presented on Tuesday in the northern Malanje province a government programme related to the promotion of health, education and protection of children under the age of five dubbed "Receita da Felicidade".
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 14:56

Angola: Traditional Midwives to Help in Reduction of Maternal Death Rate
[ANGOP] Malanje - The Vice governor of the northern Malanje province for political and social affairs, Alice Van-Dúnem, said on Wednesday in Luanda that the works of traditional midwives will contribute to the reduction of the maternal and infant death rate in the communities.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 14:56

South Africa: Zukiswa Wanner Explores the Politics of Local Education
[Guernica] In this piece from our Writers Bloc project, our collection of essays about education systems around the world, Zukiswa Wanner explores the politics of South African education.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 14:46

Drug Abuse On Upswing in Capital
[Times of Zambia] ALTHOUGH the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is doing a commendable job to curb the high incidence of drug abuse in Zambia, there is still a lot more that needs to be done to halt the illicit trade and consumption of dangerous psychotropic substances.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 14:32

Liberia: Taylor Begs for Merciful Jail Sentence
[Heritage] Former Liberian President Charles G. Taylor has appealed for merciful jail sentence as judges of the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague decide his fate this month. Judges at the Court are expected to deliver their verdict on Mr. Taylor sentencing on 30 May 2012. Mr. Taylor's appeal comes on the heels of a prosecution request for an 80-year jail sentence. In written filings, prosecutors said a sentence of 80 years would reflect the severity of the crimes and the central role that Taylor h
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 14:26

Nigeria: Policewomen Can Marry Without CP's Consent - Court
[Daily Trust] Lagos - A Lagos Federal High Court yesterday declared as illegal and unconstitutional a provision of the Police Act that forbids a woman police officer from marrying a man of her choice without the approval of the Commissioner of Police in the command where she is serving.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 13:03

Liberia: Charles Taylor - the War Criminal Pleads for Mercy
[iMaverick] It was another bravado performance in The Hague from Charles Taylor, who looked gentle and unassuming as he asked for leniency. Almost tempted to believe him, Simon Allison recalls that no amount of smooth talking can erase the horrors the man inflicted on Sierra Leone.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 13:03

The Real Art of War - MSF's Humanitarian Negotiation
[iMaverick] The greatest myth surrounding humanitarian aid is that those who provide assistance are noble actors independent from the realities of war. Médecin sans Frontiéres' recent book Humanitarian Negotiations Revealed lays bare the compromises and justifications made in conflict zones - and Greg Nicolson spoke to two of its contributors.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 13:03

Country Is Best Hope for Zimbabwe Torture Victims
[OSISA] Last week, the North Gauteng High Court ruled that South Africa's investigating and prosecuting authorities must investigate systematic torture amounting to crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe. Those investigations may result in prosecutions and currently hold the best chance of Zimbabwean officials who are responsible for severe human rights abuses facing any form of justice.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 13:00

IFJ Calls for the Reopening of a Radio and the Release of a Detained Journalist
[IFJ] The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the suspension of radio "Liberté" and the arrest of 9 of its journalists in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 11:47

Africa: IFJ Condemns Killing of Television Journalist
[IFJ] The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has today condemned the killing of Amon Thembo Wa' Mupaghasya, a director of Mupaghasya Community Television Centre in Uganda.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 11:47

Swaziland: 'Times' Gay Hate - Call to Ombudsman
[Swazi Media] A formal complaint has been lodged against Swaziland's Times Sunday and its writer Qalakaliboli Dlamini after the newspaper published an article encouraging hatred of gays.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 09:48

Nigeria: Echoes From U.S. and UK
[Daily Trust] When Nigeria's Senate passed a law banning same sex marriage on December 1 2011, Britain, USA and Canada got angry, threw diplomatese to the dogs and came out charging. Canada's Foreign Minister, John Baird reportedly said he would continue to oppose Nigeria on the issue at every international forum, unless the legislation was abrogated.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 09:30

Nigeria: Court Voids Law Barring Female Policemen From Marriage
[Leadership] Justice Steven Adah of a Federal High Court in Ikeja has declared as illegal and unconstitutional the provision of the Police Act that prohibits a woman police officer from marrying a man of her choice unless she obtained the permission of the Commissioner of Police in the command where she is serving.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 08:59

Rwanda: Gacaca 'Achieved Its Mission'
[New Times] The Gacaca justice system delivered its intended objectives and was the right solution for the complex nature of the cases related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, according to a report released this month by a London-based think tank.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 08:51

Sierra Leone: At Prosecution and Defense Oral Arguments On Sentencing, Charles Taylor Makes Public Statement
[CharlesTaylorTrial.org] Today, convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor made what might be his final public statement in court before Special Court for Sierra Leone judges in The Hague as his defense lawyers and prosecutors made oral submissions on the possible sentence he should serve after being convicted for his involvement in Sierra Leone's 11 year civil conflict.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 08:39

Sudan: Imminent Rains Threaten to Bring Disease to Overcrowded Refugee Camps
[Christian Aid] Seasonal rains due in Sudan and South Sudan will exacerbate already dire conditions in refugee camps, restrict travel and access, and heighten the risk of disease, a group of leading humanitarian agencies warned today.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 08:38

Libya: UN Security Council - Press Country On Impunity
[HRW] Members of the United Nations Security Council should condemn attempts by the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) to prevent accountability for serious and ongoing crimes committed in Libya.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 08:05

Nigeria: Lagos Moves Against Squatters Under Marine Bridge
[This Day] Before the Lagos State government wielded the sledge hammer on squatters under the Marine Bridge area of Apapa, all sorts of anomalies and criminalities were game there.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 07:47

Angola: All in Place to Welcome Refugees in Namibia
[ANGOP] Ondjiva - Conditions have been put in place to ensure that Angolan refugees in Namibia do not experience hardship.
AllAfrica | 17-May-2012 07:42

Africa: Courtney Griffiths to Join Live ICC Debate
[ICC] The Hague - Courtney Griffiths QC, Karim A. A. Khan QC, and Rodney Dixon, some of the most recognised faces in international justice, will be amongst a prestigious panel of speakers that will debate the International Criminal Court's impact on Africa live at "Building Restorative International Justice: the ICC of the Future" this Friday 18th May at the Royal Commonwealth Society in London. The debate will be streamed live online to a global audience.
AllAfrica | 16-May-2012 22:19

Sierra Leone: Taylor Speaks at Sentencing Hearing
[Special Court for Sierra Leone] Convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor expressed his "sadness and deepest sympathy for the atrocities and crimes that were suffered by individuals and families in Sierra Leone," today, but told the Judges at his sentencing hearing that he was not responsible for the crimes committed by rebel forces and that his prosecution for war crimes and crimes against humanity was motivated by politics.
AllAfrica | 16-May-2012 21:48

Africa: Equality Must Prevail Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination
[IFRC] On the occasion of the International Day against Transphobia and Homophobia (17 May), the Red Cross Red Crescent reminds stakeholders all over the world that the value of equality must prevail to combat all discrimination based on sexual orientation.
AllAfrica | 16-May-2012 21:41