Human Rights

Bangladesh: Factory Deaths Could Have Been Prevented

Global Brands Need to Commit to Worker Safety

Seven deaths at an October fire in a fabric mill in Bangladesh could have been prevented, Human Rights Watch said. In interviews, workers from the Aswad Composite Mills told Human Rights Watch that the fire hydrant system at the plant did not work properly, allowing the flames to spread quickly.

UNICEF calls for probe into alleged killings of children in Central African Republic

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In the village of Mélé, Central African Republic, only half of the children in the region go to school because of conflict.

Russia: Drop Charges for Aiding Dying Patient

Ask Court to Reinstate Lawyer Removed From Case

Russian authorities should immediately withdraw drug trafficking and forgery charges against a doctor and a woman who helped a dying cancer patient in excruciating pain obtain pain medication. Authorities should also petition the local court to void a ruling barring the defendants’ lead lawyer from acting in the case.

Continued efforts to address the situation of Roma and Sinti needed, say participants of OSCE meeting

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Governments must confront religious intolerance vigorously, Chair’s representatives say

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L-r: Tetiana Izhevska, Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions; Rabbi Andrew Baker, Personal Representative on Combating Anti-Semitism; and Adil Akhmetiv, Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims, speaking at the Permanent Council, Vienna, 7 November 2013.

European Commission releases emergency funds to help victims of tropical cyclone Haiyan

In its immediate response to the vast devastation caused in the Philippines by the tropical cyclone Haiyan (Yolanda), the European Commission is making available €3 million to help in emergency relief efforts in the worst affected areas.

Iran: Lift Restrictions on Sunni Worship

Keep Promise to Allow Sunnis Religious Freedom

The Iranian government should follow through on President Hassan Rouhani’s promises to improve access to human rights for religious minorities, Human Rights Watch said. That should include allowing Sunni Muslims, a minority in Shia-dominated Iran, to gather and pray freely in their own mosques in Tehran and other areas of the country.

UN expert decries ‘unacceptable’ number of child victims of abuse in Benin

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Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid.

Mexico: Key Supreme Court Ruling on Torture Case

Opportunity to Uphold Prohibition on Evidence Obtained Through Rights Violations

A Mexican Supreme Court ruling on November 6, 2013, affirms the Mexican constitutional principle that evidence obtained through torture or other violations of fundamental human rights is inadmissible, Human Rights Watch said.

Early Childhood Development Handbook launched ahead of UK All Party Parliamentary Group meeting

Push to include ECD in post-2015 development agenda

UNICEF, in coordination with the University of Northampton (UK), launched a ground-breaking new work, the Handbook Of Early Childhood Development Research And Its Impact On Global Policy.