Human Rights

Anne Brasseur in Kyiv: Ukraine needs the help and support of Europe to move forward

“Ukraine needs Europe and Europe needs to support Ukraine,” said Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), speaking at the end of a two-day working visit to Kyiv (15-16 January 2015) together with leaders of the Assembly’s political groups.

At NY synagogue, UN deputy chief says uprooting seeds of racism, hatred vital to prevent genocide

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Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson addresses special event commemorating 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda.

Chad: Torture Detailed at Trial

Court Hears Evidence against 21 Agents of Ex-Dictator Hissène Habré

Dramatic evidence presented at the trial in Chad of 21 former security agents confirms that torture was systematic during the Hissène Habré dictatorship, from 1982 to 1990, Human Rights Watch said on January 16.

Bahrain: Drop Twitter Charges Against Rights Advocate

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Nabeel Rajab on the day of his release from detention on bail, on November 2, 2014 in Manama, Bahrain. A court is expected to rule on his case on January 20, 2015, and he could face up to 6 years in prison.

MEPs call for Italian marò accused of killing Indian fishermen to be repatriated

The European Parliament hopes that diplomatic dispute between Italy and India over the prosecution of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen in 2012 during anti-piracy operations will soon be settled, under Italian jurisdiction and/or through international arbitration, it says in a resolution voted on Thursday. Members also called for the marines to be repatriated, as their detention without charge is a "serious breach of human rights".

Journalism after ‘Charlie’: in Paris, UNESCO hosts day of reflection, free speech debate

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Journalism after Charlie.

Tajikistan: Human Rights Lawyer Imprisoned

Nine-Year Sentence Serious Blow to Legal Profession

A prominent human rights lawyer in Tajikistan was sentenced on January 13, 2015, to nine years in prison following a politically motivated trial, Human Rights Watch said on January 14. The case against the lawyer, Shukhrat Kudratov, struck a blow to freedom of expression and the independence of the legal profession in Tajikistan.

Egypt: 3-Year Sentence for Atheist

Convicted Under Blasphemy Laws

An Egyptian minor offenses court on January 10, 2015, sentenced a student accused of writing Facebook posts that insulted Islam to three years in prison. The sentence, one of several handed down on blasphemy charges in recent years, came amid a coordinated government crackdown on perceived atheists.

Egypt: 3-Year Sentence for Atheist

Convicted Under Blasphemy Laws

An Egyptian minor offenses court on January 10, 2015, sentenced a student accused of writing Facebook posts that insulted Islam to three years in prison. The sentence, one of several handed down on blasphemy charges in recent years, came amid a coordinated government crackdown on perceived atheists.

UN study finds increase in women managers, urges greater efforts for workforce equality

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A woman works in a small shop in Ghana.