Human Rights | WPN World People News

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.

On July 19, 2017, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, hailed Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo for signing into law House Bill (HB) 5277 — a measure protecting LGBTQ youth in the state from the harmful and discredited practice of so-called “conversion therapy.”

Lebanese authorities should conduct an independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into the deaths of Syrians in military custody and allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention, Human Rights Watch said on July 20, 2017. On July 4, 2017, the Lebanese military issued a statement saying four Syrians died in its custody following mass raids in Arsal, a restricted access area in northeast Lebanon where many Syrian refugees live. On July 14, Human Rights Watch received credible reports that a fifth Syrian detainee had also died in custody.