Human Rights

East Africa: Human Rights Watch Film Festival

Activism Leading Change

The Nairobi edition of the Human Rights Watch film festival celebrates its 9th season this year with its first digital expansion to audiences in seven countries in eastern Africa, showing free films November 9-13, 2020. The films and panel discussions will be accessible online to audiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

Egypt: 49 Executions In 10 Days

Mass Executions Follow Suspicious Prison Killings

Egyptian authorities executed 15 men convicted for alleged involvement in three cases of political violence as well as 2 women and 25 men convicted in criminal cases between October 3 and 13, 2020, Human Rights Watch said on October 22, 2020. The authorities should immediately halt executions, and re-try those sentenced to death in grossly unfair trials.

Cambodia: Hun Sen and His Abusive Generals

Video Shows Unexplained Wealth of “Dirty Dozen” as Number of Political Prisoners Mounts

Cambodia’s increasingly dictatorial, one-party rule is underpinned by generals in the security forces who are responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said on October 22 as it issued the Khmer-language version of its 284-page report, “Cambodia’s Dirty Dozen: A Long History of Rights Abuses by Hun Sen’s Generals.” Human Rights Watch also released a video showing some of the unexplained wealth of these generals and their family members.

Safeguard human rights defenders, rights of NGOs in India, Bachelet urges

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Street scene in India, August 2020.

Thailand: Outspoken TV Channel Banned

End Suppression of Media, Free Expression

The Thai government’s shutdown of the outspoken Voice TV channel misuses Thailand’s emergency decree to censor the media, Human Rights Watch said on October 21, 2020.

US: Protect Peaceful Assemblies; Limit Use of Force

City, State Officials Should Comply with International Standards

City and state officials in the United States should review their laws, policies, and practices ahead of the November 3, 2020 general elections to ensure that they protect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, five international human rights organizations said on October 20, in letters to over 3,500 mayors and city council members throughout the country, as well as to all governors.

‘We want justice for these girls’: the Kenyan helpline for victims of gender violence

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Kenyan market vendors practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

North Korea: Horrific Pretrial Detention System

Torture, Lack of Due Process, Arbitrary Punishment, Corruption Rampant

The North Korean pretrial detention and investigation system is arbitrary and lacks any semblance of due process, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on October 19, 2020. Former detainees described systematic torture, dangerous and unhygienic conditions, and unpaid forced labor.

Mauritania: Free Activists Held on Blasphemy Charges

Detained for 8 Months, Facing Possible Death Sentences

Mauritania’s government should drop charges of blasphemy and insulting Islam against eight political activists and release the five held in pretrial detention since February 26, 2020, Human Rights Watch said on October 19, 2020. The Nouakchott West Criminal Court is due to hear the case on October 20.

Rape is wrong but death penalty, castration, not the answer: UN rights chief

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Liberian men march with anti-rape posters.