Human Rights

Violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state could amount to crimes against humanity – UN special adviser

667396AdamaDieng_1_0_0.jpg
Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng.

Burundi: Measures being used to ‘criminalize’ work of human rights defenders, warn UN experts

02-06-2017Burundi_0_0.jpg
Protestors raise their hands in front of police in the Musaga neighbourhood of Bujumbura, Burundi, on 4 May 2015.

Gender equality: time to close the gap

It would take another 70 years for women to earn the same as men with the current pace of progress, according to the European Commission. Europe might be one of the world's leaders when it comes to gender equality, but in the EU women still get on average lower salaries and pensions and continue to be underrepresented in political and economic positions of power and decision-making. A report adopted by the women's rights committee urges the EU to step up its efforts on February 6.

Saudi Arabia: Intensified Repression of Writers, Activists

Rising Arrests, Prosecutions

Saudi Arabia has stepped up arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of peaceful dissident writers and human rights advocates in 2017, Human Rights Watch said on Feb 06. In January, a Saudi court sentenced two prominent activists to long jail terms, accusing them of being in contact with international media and human rights organizations. The authorities jailed two others, one of whom remains in detention while under investigation.

Burma: Security Forces Raped Rohingya Women, Girls

New Eyewitness Accounts Show Systematic Attacks Based on Ethnicity, Religion

Burmese government forces committed rape and other sexual violence against ethnic Rohingya women and girls as young as 13 during security operations in northern Rakhine State in late 2016, Human Rights Watch said on Feb 06. The Burmese government should urgently endorse an independent, international investigation into alleged abuses in northern Rakhine State, including into possible systematic rape against Rohingya women and girls.

Legal amendments, more responsive law enforcement agencies can enhance journalists’ safety, say speakers at OSCE-supported conference in Ukraine

The safety of journalists in Ukraine can be improved through legislative amendments and a better response from law enforcement agencies, said speakers at a conference which opened in Kyiv on 3 February, organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine, UNESCO and the Institute for Mass Information.

Displacement wave expected if Mosul, Hawiga fighting intensifies

Agency steps up plans to respond to expected spike in numbers fleeing renewed fighting.

589450c84_0.jpg
Iraqi families flee east Mosul through the recently liberated Mosul University complex.

USA must closely scrutinize CIA deputy director’s alleged torture links

Following the Trump administration’s appointment of Gina Haspel as Deputy Director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:

Final evaluation on Eurojust's Action Plan against human trafficking

Tackling trafficking in human beings (THB) calls for further cooperation at EU level, including in financial investigations, finds Eurojust’s Final evaluation of its 2012-2016 Action Plan against THB.

Nine most populous countries meet in Bangladesh to align on Education 2030 Agenda

school_india_e9_688px_1_0.jpg
Pupils in a local school in Raxaul, Bihar, India