Human Rights

Myanmar: UN human rights office welcomes presidential pardon for political prisoners

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Thein Sein, President of the Union of Myanmar.

Saudi Arabia: Terrorism Law Targets Peaceful Speech

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah should reject a new counterterrorism law that criminalizes virtually any speech critical of the government or society. The Council of Ministers passed the Penal Law for Crimes of Terrorism and its Financing (the “terrorism...

Briefing: The humanitarian cost of South Sudan’s continuing violence

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Threat of all-out civil war not yet allayed.

Central African Republic: only concerted international action can prevent an appalling tragedy from spiralling further out of control

The humanitarian tragedy in the Central African Republic continues to unravel in front of our eyes. The entire population of 4.6 million people is affected. 800,000 people are internally displaced. Since early December in the capital Bangui alone, the...

Middle East Remains Most Dangerous Region for Reporters

The Middle East remains the world's most dangerous place for reporters, according to a leading journalism organization.

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Chairperson condemns terrorist attack in Volgograd

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara condemned a terrorist attack at the railway station in the city of Volgograd in the Russian Federation that left some 15 dead...

UN human rights office urges Uganda to scrap anti-homosexuality bill

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Egypt: Terrorist Tag Politically Driven

The Egyptian government’s designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization appears to be aimed at expanding the crackdown on peaceful Brotherhood activities and imposing harsh sanctions on its supporters. The government should...

China: Drop Charges Against Prominent Activist

The Chinese government should immediately drop all politically motivated charges and release the prominent rights activist Xu Zhiyong, Human Rights Watch said. Xu may go on trial as early as December 28, 2013, an apparent effort to minimize...

OSCE media freedom representative condemns brutal attack against Ukrainian journalist, calls for thorough investigation

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović expressed deep concern about journalists' safety in Ukraine following an attack against Tatyana Chernovil, a journalist with Ukrainskaya pravda.