Human Rights | WPN World People News

A United States presidential pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio would effectively endorse racial discrimination by law enforcement. President Donald Trump, speaking at a political rally in Phoenix on August 22, 2017, suggested that Arpaio, who was convicted of criminal contempt, would receive a pardon in the future.

Wide view of the Human Rights Council.

Shackles used to bind slaves.

Reported plans by President Jimmy Morales of Guatemala to seek the removal of the head of a United Nations-supported anti-corruption commission in his country would be a major blow to accountability there, Human Rights Watch said on Aug 23.

The bill to revamp Thailand’s human rights commission would seriously weaken the agency and should be substantially revised, Human Rights Watch saidon on Aug 23. The Thai junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly unanimously approved the draft law on the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand on August 17, 2017. The bill must be vetted by the Constitution Drafting Committee and the Human Rights Commission itself before a final national assembly vote within 25 days.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

The Chilean Constitutional Tribunal protected women’s rights when it ruled on August 21, 2017 that a new law to end the full criminalization of abortion in Chile was constitutional, Human Rights Watch said on Aug 21.

Brazil’s Senate is being asked to consider a bill that would shield members of the Armed Forces accused of unlawful killings of civilians from prosecution in civilian courts. The Senate should reject the bill because it increases the risk of impunity rather than justice in these cases.

A girl walks past a pile of firewood in Mahama refugee camp, Eastern Province, Rwanda, which is hosting thousands of refugees from Burundi.

Houthi authorities in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, should immediately and unconditionally release Hisham al-Omeisy, a prominent activist detained on August 14, 2017, Human Rights Watch said on Aug 18.