Human Rights | WPN World People News

United States surveillance laws and programs are so broad and contain such weak safeguards that they render the EU-US Privacy Shield invalid, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 26 in a briefing and letter to the European Commission, published jointly with Amnesty International. The Commission’s 2016 decision approving the Privacy Shield arrangement makes it legal for internet companies to transfer users’ personal data from the EU to the US, with major commercial implications. The arrangement will undergo its first annual review in September 2017.

A Kazakh court on July 25, 2017, convicted Larisa Kharkova, head of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, of abuse of office, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 26. The conviction is a blow to independent trade union activism in Kazakhstan.

A former site for internally displaced persons (IDPs) near Kalemie, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was burned down when it was attacked by a militia group in early July.

A two-and-a-half-year old born with intersex traits walks with her parents in their garden. The parents have decided to defer all medically unnecessary surgeries until their child can decide for herself.

French police in Calais routinely abuse asylum seekers and other migrants, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 25. The French authorities turn a blind eye to the widespread reports of the abuse.

Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar Yanghee Lee.

A Thai criminal court’s sentencing of 62 people, including a military general, to long prison terms for their mistreatment of Rohingya migrants is a major step in combatting human trafficking in Thailand, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 24. Thai authorities should build on this case by prosecuting human trafficking gangs and urgently providing protections for Rohingya migrants from Burma and Bangladesh.

Vietnam should immediately release rights activist Tran Thi Nga and drop the charges against her, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 23. Tran Thi Nga, also known as Thuy Nga, is set to face trial on July 25, 2017, at the People’s Court of Ha Nam province. The authorities arrested her on January 21 for “conducting propaganda against the state” under article 88 of the penal code.

The Chinese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Liu Xia, the wife of deceased Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 20. The government should also stop harassing and detaining Liu’s supporters for commemorating his death.

A bill being rushed through Poland’s Parliament would pave the way for government control of the Supreme Court, Human Rights Watch said on Jul 20. The bill would terminate the mandate of existing Supreme Court judges, except those chosen by the government, and lead to a court in which all judges were effectively selected by the government. Parliament is set to vote on the bill on July 20, 2017.