Human Rights | WPN World People News

A proposed Arab League regional court for human rights would deny victims the right to file complaints, 27 regional and international organizations including Human Rights Watch said in a statement of concern.

On June 5, a group of over 400 organizations and experts, along with 350,000 individuals, continue to rally in support of the 13 International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance (the Necessary and Proportionate Principles) a year to the day after Edward Snowden first revealed how governments are monitoring individuals on a massive scale. The international experts who supported the Necessary and Proportionate Principles has issued a press release containing quotes from professionals weighing in on the need to end the mass surveillance.

To better protect the more than 217 million workers in the EU from work-related accidents and diseases, the European Commission presented a new Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014 – 2020, which identifies key challenges and strategic objectives for health and safety at work and presents key actions and instruments to address these. This new Framework aims at ensuring that the EU continues to play a leading role in the promotion of high standards for working conditions both within Europe and internationally, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Aflatoxin on corn.

Parts of Syria are suffering their lowest levels of rainfall in more than half a century, placing more than 4 million children in the war-torn country at even greater risk, UNICEF warned today. The agency said its own work aimed at mitigating the region’s worsening water and sanitation crisis is only 20 per cent funded for 2014.

A young Peul girl lays down beside her mother in a dilapidated government building in Yaloké, where 490 Peuhl who fled the southwestern part of the country four months ago are being housed. Her three year-old sister died from malnutrition three days before this picture was taken.

European Union ministers meeting in Luxembourg on June 5, 2014, should back stronger action to save migrant and refugee lives at sea. The ministers should also improve access to protection in Europe for refugees fleeing Syria and others fleeing persecution and abuse.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, speaks to journalists on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Egyptian authorities should stop prosecuting writers and repeal laws violating freedom of expression, including those banning “contempt of religion.” Egypt’s 2014 constitution guarantees freedom of belief.