Human Rights | WPN World People News

The Russian parliament adopted amendments to the “foreign agents” law on May 25, 2016, without promised improvements to relieve pressure on independent groups, Human Rights Watch said today. President Vladimir Putin should not sign the bill into law.

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors today approved a $20 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit to help support the Government of Zambia implement its program of local integration for long term refugees.

The Cambodian government should ask the United Nations to help it carry out a full and independent investigation into the October 26, 2015 attack on two opposition members of the National Assembly, Human Rights Watch said on May 26 in a new report. Verdicts in the cases of three members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit who beat two members of the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) are scheduled for May 27, 2016.

Burma’s parliament should amend a proposed law on public protest to better protect rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, Human Rights Watch said on May 27. The Peaceful Processions and Peaceful Assembly Act improves upon existing Burmese law, but retains criminal penalties and contains overly broad and vague restrictions on speech contrary to international standards.

Fatou Bensouda, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), speaks to journalists after briefing the Security Council at its meeting on the situation in Libya.

Egyptian courts have sentenced more than 150 people to prison terms since the beginning of May 2016 for participating in peaceful protests or spreading false information. On May 24, an appeals court replaced the prison sentences for 47 who had started hunger strikes, with a fine of 100,000 L.E ($11,270 USD) each which they have to pay before being released.

Iraqi security forces fired bullets and teargas canisters at peaceful protesters in Baghdad’s Green Zone on May 20, 2016, killing four people and wounding more than 100. Iraqi authorities should investigate the use of lethal force against the peaceful protesters.

Chair of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture Malcolm Evans.

A young girl ties tobacco leaves onto sticks to prepare them for curing in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Afghanistan’s government should urgently act to end wrongful imprisonment and humiliating, scientifically invalid “virginity exams” of women and girls, Human Rights Watch said on 25 May. Despite a pledge from President Ashraf Ghani in a February 2016 letter to Human Rights Watch to “prevent the imprisonment of women accused of running away from their family,” Afghan police and prosecutors continue to engage in the abusive practice.