Human Rights | WPN World People News

The Azerbaijani government is engaged in a deliberate, abusive strategy to limit dissent. The strategy is designed to curtail opposition political activity, limit public criticism of the government, and exercise greater control over nongovernmental organizations. The clampdown on freedom of expression, assembly, and association have accelerated in the months preceding the presidential elections, scheduled for October 9, 2013.

The United States Justice Department’s decision not to prevent the states of Washington and Colorado from legalizing the use, production, distribution and sale of recreational marijuana should reduce the human rights costs of current drug control policies, Human Rights Watch said. The announcement was coupled with the release of a Justice Department memorandum offering new guidance to all federal prosecutors concerning marijuana enforcement.

UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova denounced the deaths of reporter Ahmed Abdel Gawad and photographer Mosab Al-Shami in Cairo in August 14, and journalist Tamer Abdel Raouf, at Damanhur in the north of Egypt on 19 August. The Director-General called for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the three killings.

Detaining migrants is costly and detrimental to their health.

UN peacekeepers escort surrendered M23 fighters in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Israeli government should announce an immediate moratorium on demolitions of “illegal” homes of Bedouin citizens. The government demolishes Bedouin homes based on discriminatory laws and rules, and without respect for the Bedouins’ dignity or the country’s human rights obligations.

Thai authorities have failed to honor past pledges to resolve cases of enforced disappearance and hold those responsible to account. August 30, 2013 is the International Day of the Disappeared.

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo should immediately drop the apparently politically motivated case against a member of parliament. Muhindo Nzangi was sentenced to three years in prison over comments he made on a radio program in proceedings that did not meet international fair trial standards. His prosecution reflects a broader government crackdown on free expression in the country.

Azerbaijani citizens will vote at presidential elections on 9 October 2013.

About 27,000 fishermen make their living in Virunga's Lake Edward, which is ground zero for Soco's oil exploration.