CHRI Human Rights Update
Your round up from CHRI on 04/04/2016
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Top News:
· Australia’s Cambodia refugee resettlement plan ‘a failure’
· Criminalize corporal punishment, Ombudsman Arzu says
· Broken — Class, Colour And Gender Discrimination Hurting Our Youth
· Better law and order, but human rights indicators remain alarming in Pakistan — new report
· UN slams Namibian government for weak human trafficking law
The Commonwealth
Disaster resource centre launched in Dominica by Secretary-General
The Commonwealth
On her first day in office as Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC visited her home country of Dominica and launched a new Disaster Resource Centre. It is expected to serve as a hub for information and support on disaster awareness, reconstruction and resettlement.
Commonwealth Countries
Africa
AU urged to sever relations with the ICC
Ghana Web
The Coalition of Pan-Africanist (CPA) in a news release urged the African Union (AU) to take the decision at the next summit to sever relations with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Campaigners scrutinize women’s rights in Africa
World Bulletin
Human rights leaders have converged in Banjul, Gambia, at the opening session of an NGO forum attended by close to 200 groups from all over Africa. Attendees will discuss progress on the 2003 Maputo Protocol, the African charter on human and peoples’ rights on the rights of women.
Botswana
GBC
The Botswana Centre for Human Rights (DITSHWANELO) held a human rights-themed film festival over the weekend. The Film Festival aims to contribute towards the development of a human rights culture in Botswana.
Cameroon
89 Boko Haram militants sentenced to death in Maroua
Cameroon Concord
Cameroon info.net reports that the Maroua Military Court has already sentenced 89 Boko Haram militants to death. The report say the 89 were convicted for acts of terrorism based on charges brought in 2015.
Argentine commission to train African judges
Premium Times
Argentine human rights commission, CIDPH, has kicked off a programme designed to promote justice delivery in select African countries. The judiciary and other justice operators in Angola, Congo, Morocco and Cameroon will be the first set of beneficiaries of a capacity-building programme aimed at expanding ‘Access to Justice’ across Africa.
Ghana
Women’s reproductive rights demands paradigm shift — Lawyer
Ghana Web
Bernice Sam, a lawyer and gender advocate, called for ‘new paradigm shift’ to safeguard mothers’ rights. Women’s reproductive rights are dangerously missing, she said, and that was evident in the discriminatory customary and religious practices
Report gender-based violence — de Graft-Johnson
Ghana Web
Petra de Graft-Johnson, Program Manager, Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Ministry of Gender Children Social Protection, has called on men to report violence against them. She spoke at an event on the theme: ”Men as Change Agents in Ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Ghana”.
Controlling Internet Use In Ghana — MFWA Calls For Resistance
Peace FM Online
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is urging stakeholders in all 16 West African countries to resist all attempts by governments and regulators to limit freedom of expression online or control internet use.
NGOs express worry about political parties’ absence to event
Business Ghana
Non-Governmental Organisations in the health sector have expressed worry about the inability of political parties to attend their event “Universal Health Coverage with political parties on the health manifesto for election 2016”.
Kenya
Opinion: Housing is a Human Rights Issue and not mere entrepreneurial venture
Capital FM
Dr. Steve Ouma Akoth writes the proposed joint public-private partnership (PPPs) venture for Urban Renewal and Redevelopment of Old Estates in Mombasa County is a necessary initiative, but needs to be protected from illegitimate private interests that may jeopardise the right to housing.
KNCHR provides hotlines for reporting malpractice in police recruitment
Standard Digital
The National Commission on Human Rights wants Kenyans to report to them any form of malpractice in Monday’s national police recruitment drive. KNCHR will monitor state and non-state actors to ensure that they comply with both National and International laws and policies as well as human rights standards in all their undertakings.
Rights lobby asks MCAs to resume sittings
Standard Media
Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) have been urged to resume sittings so that they can deliberate on essential legislative agenda. Western Kenya Human Rights Watch said the continued go-slow by MCAs was hurting locals who want legislators to pass bills that will help improve their living standards.
One year after Garissa, schools are recruiting grounds for extremists
CNN
Despite the stepped up fight against Al Shabaab terrorists in Somalia and at home, Kenya’s security services say that some Kenyan high schools and universities have become a place of radicalization.
Extrajudicial Killings Of Muslims: Council To Petition UN If Courts Fail
The Star
Inaugural Shuura Council chairman Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi spoke to Star reporter Ramadhan Rajab on the council’s role, problems facing Muslims and counter-terrorism measures. Abdi is also the chairman of the National Muslim Leaders’ Forum.
60,000 Somalis return home voluntarily
Mareeg
In February, Kenya launched the enhanced phase of voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees in Kenya. The Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA) says so far 10,000 refugees have been assisted to return home while another 50,000 have spontaneously returned without any assistance.
Malawi
Ministries ignore ombudsman — report
Nyasa Times
Officials from the Office of the Ombudsman have expressed concern that over half of government ministries and departments are not complying with the determinations from their office regarding serious issues of governance and human rights.
Glimmers of hope, despite Malawi pastors’ wrong-headed idea
Erasing 76 Crimes
After a group of pastors urged the government to arrest 4,000 homosexuals in the northern city of Mzuzu in Malawi, Colin Stewart looks at recent positive signs in other countries in the region which have suspended or abolished homophobic legislation.
Malawi’s water situation worries CSOs
Maravi Post
Project Coordinator for CSRS Blessings Chinsinga made an appeal on Wednesday in Lilongwe during a joint Tearfund and Center for Social Research (CSR) water rights workshop for journalist under the project “ Water for all: Climate change” funded by the Scottish government.
Namibia
UN slams government for weak human trafficking law
The Namibian
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has slammed the Namibian government for taking the issue of human trafficking in the country too lightly, saying laws against the crime are not being enforced.
Information Minister Tweya pushes for media regulation
The Namibian
Information minister Tjekero Tweya says he will introduce an access to information law, but insisted that he will push for the establishment of a media monitoring statutory body to protect members of the public.
Nigeria
They were freed from Boko Haram’s rape camps — but their nightmare isn’t over
New Zealand Herald
Women rescued from Boko Haram in a series of Nigerian military operations are faced with distrust rather than support back home. Deposited in displacement camps or abandoned buildings monitored by armed men, many fear the abductees have been converted into assassins.
Victim of human trafficking confesses she aborted 320 pregnancies
Ghana Web
Abigail Olori was promised a position as an auxiliary nurse in Italy but was instead taken along with 30 others from Nigeria to Libya. She faced abuse and underwent multiple abortions while forced to work in a brothel.
Nigeria Is Committed To Ensuring Human Rights Violation Accountability — NHRC
Channels TV
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Bem Angwe, has reaffirmed the Commitment of Nigeria to ensuring accountability for human rights violations.
Rights group tasks government on Damasak abduction
News 24
Human Rights Watch says the Nigerian government should take urgent steps to secure the release of about 400 women and children abducted by Boko Haram from Damasak in Borno State a year ago.
Boko Haram’s Largest School Kidnapping Has Gone Unnoticed
The World Post/ Huffington Post
Boko Haram militants kidnapped some 400 women and schoolchildren in a remote Nigerian town over a year ago, and the world barely noticed. Human Rights Watch released a harrowing new investigation into the abductions this week. At least 300 elementary school children are among those still missing.
Nigerian civic groups reject gender equality bill
Premium Times
The Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill recently rejected by the National Assembly is a contravention of the provisions of the African Human Rights Charter, the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, FACH, a coalition of civil society groups, said on Sunday.
Opinion: The Religious Bill in Kaduna State
All Africa/ The Guardian
Chris Akiri criticises the governor’s executive Bill to replace the 1984 State Religious Preaching Law due to concerns over “draconian sanctions” it would enforce over religious groups and those offering religious services.
Fulani Attacks — Christian Elders, Okonkwo Criticise Government Over Inaction
All Africa/ Vanguard
The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has expressed displeasure over Federal Government’s inability to stem the ongoing carnage and destruction being perpetrated against local communities across the country by Fulani herdsmen.
12-Yr-Old Girl Exposes Father after multiple rapes
All Africa/ Vanguard
The people of Immringi community in Bayelsa State are in shock following the allegation of incestuous relationship between a middle aged man and his 12 year old daughter. The girl allegedly faced complications after an abortion 4 months into a pregnancy.
Rwanda
Ex-Military Officers Convicted Over Comments
Human Rights Watch
The conviction of three Rwandan former military officials in a flawed trial is a clear example of the misuse of the justice system to stifle freedom of expression. The prosecution had accused them of criticizing the government, alleging state involvement in assassinations of opponents, and complaining about foreign and economic policy.
Sierra Leone
Lawyer wants abortion included as a right in the new constitution
New Rising Sun
Barrister and Solicitor Mariama Dumbuya has appealed to her fellow campaigners to continue to push for the inclusion of the inclusion of the Safe Abortion Act in the country’s new constitution.
South Africa
Opinion: Something is rotten in the state of SA
IOL
Two reports show the government is failing on many fronts to safeguard the rights of ordinary people, writes Janet Smith. For instance, the government’s care for privacy is under severe threat in the absence of an inspector-general of intelligence.
Triumph for the rule of law in South Africa?
UK Human Rights Blog
The leader of South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has called for President Zuma to be impeached following the Constitutional Court’s finding that he had flouted the Constitution by failing to “uphold, defend and respect the Constitution.”
Human rights still an issue in SA
SABC
The United Nations Human Rights Committee’s report on Human Rights in South Africa has highlighted a number of issues facing the country, including the failure to detain Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir in 2015, as well as domestic and gender-based violence.
South African civil society groups condemn murder of campaigner against Australian-owned mine
Green Left Weekly
Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe, chairperson of the Amadiba Crisis Committee and a leading campaigner against the Australian-owned Xolobeni mineral sands mine in South Africa was shot dead in his home on March 22. 82 civil society organisations condemned his assassination.
Swaziland
Human Rights Commission against Madonsa evictions
Swazi Observer
The eviction of residents and pending demolition of their houses at Madonsa is unconstitutional, the Swaziland Commisison on Human Rights and Public Administration has said. It does not matter whether or not the imminent evictions are by lawful order or not, the commisison said.
Uganda
Election Petition Verdict Leaves Besigye Arrest Question Pending
All Africa/ The East African
Even though Uganda’s Supreme Court ruled on Thursday March 31 to uphold the outcome of the February 18 presidential election, the question of Dr Kizza Besigye’s contested detention and the aspirations of his supporters across the country remains unresolved.
Uganda Opposition Leader Not Free Despite Police Chief’s Order
VOA News
Ugandan presidential candidate Kizza Besigye remains under house arrest despite an order to Kasangati police to withdraw security from his home, according to a spokesman for Besigye’s party.
Tanzania
AfCHPR Tanzania case: Human rights ruling wake up call to African states
Citizen Digital
The African Court on Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) last month ruled unanimously against the government of Tanzania in a case brought before it by five Kenyan nationals serving 30 years in jail each for armed robbery but whose appeal has dragged on for ten years.
Political Tolerance Urged As Properties Torched in Zanzibar
All Africa/ Tanzania Daily News
Local leaders in Zanzibar are calling for political tolerance after at least seven houses/huts and clove trees were torched by unidentified arsonists in separate incidents in Unguja and Pemba Islands.
Americas
Belize
Criminalize corporal punishment, Ombudsman Arzu says
Amandala
Lionel Arzu, an Ombudsman in Belize has released a report this year concerning corporal punishment. This report covers such punishment in schools as well as in private settings such as the homes of people, and is calling for the end of corporal punishment in the country.
Canada
How genetic testing can be used against you — and how Bill S-201 could change that
Globe and Mail
In Canada, there is no legislation against discrimination based on genetics, this was a harsh truth found out by a Canadian woman who underwent genetic testing to see if she had a gene that made it more likely for her to get ovarian and breast cancer. After testing positive, she was unable to gain insurance.
Asia
Bangladesh
Bangladesh Cyber Expert Becomes Symbol for Forced Disappearances
Voice of America
A cyber expert in Bangladesh was kidnapped by unknown men last month only to be returned a week later, but as he was returned he has refused to speak of who it was that took him. Before his kidnapping he had made critical statements of bank officials which had led to a backlash against him.
Star editor gets bail in Shariatpur
Daily Star
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam who has had multiple cases filed against him for defamation and sedition has received bail for 2 of his cases. The cases against him have been condemned by journalists and human rights bodies over the world.
Repeated interrogation may cause mental breakdown of Tonu’s family
Dhaka Tribune
The families of rape and murder victims need to be treated so as to not further traumatise them and not mentally scar them with the experience of dealing with the police. Police need to receive further training on how to deal with these families as constant interrogations may case mental damage.
Daily Star
Labour practices in Bangladesh have come under close scrutiny lately, so have such practices in the rest of Southeast Asia. Child labour practices and the right to organize by labourers can only be ignored ‘at our own peril’
Bangla New Year celebrations to end before sunset, says Home Minister Kamal
BD news 24
After fears of a repetition of last year’s New Year’s celebrations and multiple sexual assaults, the home minister, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, has put a ban on outdoor events after 5 pm.
India
‘Human rights concerns should not impair India-EU relations’
Hindu
A Member of the European Parliament has, in an interview with the Hindu, said that ‘I think genuine human rights are important, but they shouldn’t necessarily be the predominant motive for the relationships we have with other countries’ and does not want human rights concern in India to stand in the way of a cooperation.
India: Release human rights defender and journalist Prabhat Singh
News Ghana
Human rights defender and freelance journalists William Gomes has written a letter to the Prime Minister of India, strongly condemning the arrest, detnention and poor treatment of Prabhat Singh; a journalist and human rights defender.
INDIA: Man with speech defect arbitrarily tortured and detained in Kerala
Asian Human Rights Commission
A man in Kerala, India, was detained by the police without charges and then tortured and harassed by the police there until he was released against payment. He is now in hospital being treated for his injuries.
Faculty, students rubbish `no assault’ claim
Times of India
The Police Commissioner of Cyberabad dismissed allegations of police brutality in the arrest of teachers and students at the University of Hyderabad, however, students and faculty members have spoken up about witnessing and experiencing abuse and assault at the hands of the police.
Malaysia
Freedom a right, not a privilege, forum told
Malay Online
At a forum called ‘Liberty or Security: You choose’ Azmi Sharom, a law academic spoke out against the concept of liberty and freedom as a privilege rather than a right saying that freedom should not be sacrificed for security as freedom is a right that everyone has.
Drop investigations against members of the Malaysian Bar
Malaysiakini
The Malaysian authorities have to drop the charges against members of the bar association there, it is only a part of the scare tactics the government is using to ‘harass and intimidate critics of the government’.
Waytha blasts inter-faith body on ministry for minorities
Free Malaysia Today
Racism is a big problem in Malaysia, however, the government will not do anything about it claims a human rights NGO, as the two sides of the political divide will not come together to rectify the constitution.
Pakistan
Moot decries government inaction over 7,700 Pakistanis languishing in foreign jails
The News International
Around 7,700 Pakistani nationals are languishing in jails of various countries but the ministries concerned are not making any serious efforts to ensure their release. This was stated by human rights activists on Saturday at a dialogue titled “Pakistani citizens imprisoned overseas”.
Little hope of succour for Pakistan’s religious minorities
Hindustan Times
Christians are being targeted for two reasons, say analysts. The first is that the community is seen as an ally of the West, and any attack on Muslims there is seen as justification for assaults on Pakistani Christians.
Pakistan Human Rights Commission seeks thorough probe into missing journalist
The Hindu
Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission has sought a thorough probe into the mysterious disappearance of a Pakistani woman journalist allegedly kidnapped while pursuing case of an Indian engineer who was jailed over espionage charges by a military court.
Better law and order, but human rights indicators remain alarming in Pakistan — report
Geo TV
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Friday issued its annual report saying that four journalists were killed during one year while 1,100 women were murdered in the name of honour during this period.
Ministry allocates funds for national human rights institute
Pakistan Observer
The Ministry of Human Rights has proposed five new schemes in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the next Fiscal Year with a total allocation of Rs 255 million to protect rights of all without any discrimination. The new schemes include the ‘Establishment of a National Institute of Human Rights at Islamabad’.
Rights group in Pakistan records drop in violence in 2015
KSL
A leading rights group Friday reported that deaths due to violence in Pakistan dropped 40 percent in 2015, but 4,612 people died that year in bombings and other attacks, as the government battles to contain a militant insurgency.
Human Rights Commission demands civilian oversight of military action
Express Tribune
Militarisation of all sectors of civilian authority is damaging the democratic system, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Sunday.
Singapore
Opinion: Why women need to talk about National Service
Online Citizen
Even as commentaries have been written about clear differential treatment between men and women with respect to National Service (NS) in Singapore, women’s attitudes here towards NS have remained relatively nonchalant. Only men have to serve the compulsory two years.
Making film stars out of Singapore’s domestic workers
Online Citizen
The shoestring budget film Remittance depicts the hardship of life in Singapore through its ensemble cast of real life domestic workers. But now they are waiting for its message to reach the people who matter most — their family and friends at home.
Sri Lanka
Opinion: Sri Lankan government presents phony “Right to Information” bill
World Socialist Web Site
The Sri Lankan government presented a Right to Information Bill (RTI) to parliament last month, declaring that it was a “significant democratic achievement” that allowed citizens to seek the release of government-held information. Critics say it provides limited access, while entrenching broad areas that will remain off-limits.
Secret Documents Allegedly Reveal How Britain Funded Possible War Crimes in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Guardian
In 2008, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence “merged” a community policing project that was being delivered by UK advisers, with civil defence activities which “involved forming unarmed youth vigilance groups to report on any suspicious items/people”.
Opinion: It’s not charity they need but acceptance
Sunday Times
After many years Sri Lanka has finally ratified the UN Convention on Disability, but how serious are we in implementing it asks Dr. Padmani Mendis.
Daily News
The heavy international focus on prosecutions for war-time human rights abuses in Sri Lanka is a reductive view, often shutting down discussion as opinions become divisive.
Caribbean
Jamaica
Broken — Class, Colour And Gender Discrimination Hurting Our Youth
According to a new study looking into Jamaica’s youth, discrimination based on especially class, sexual orientation and disabilities is very prevalent. 86% believe that people in their age group have sometime suffered some form of discrimination.
Trinidad and Tobago
Newsday
A discussion on abortion has broken out in Trinidad and Tobago after a reported case of Zika was found in the country. Hazel Brown, an activist and Co-ordinator of the Network of Non-governmental Organizations, has called for a review on abortion laws in the country.
Europe
Malta
Genetic theft failed. Olga Mirimskaya confirmed by court as lawful mother
Pravda
After a long court case and emotional journey for the people involved, the official mother of a young girl has been cleared of alla charges and the surrogate mother is now on the run under allegations of human trafficking.
United Kingdom
Biafra: We have not abandoned Kanu — United Kingdom
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who called for Britain to rescue him from the unfair detention and trials he has received in Nigeria has been answered. According to British officials, they have been in contact with him since his arrest and attended his hearings.
Pacific
Austalia
Australia Says All Asylum-Seeker Children In Mainland Detention Centers Have Been Released
International Business Times
Children who are awaiting the decisions on their asylum requests in mainland Australia have now been released from the detention centres there and have instead been moved to community centres where they are free to move about as they wish until the requests have been processed.
COAG: Rule of law takes (another) back step
ABC
Detention without charge is a violation of a person’s right to liberty, however, this is now a reality in Australia where ‘preventative detention’ can be used to keep people in prison for longer for what ‘they might do if released’.
Talking Point: Powerful religious groups oppose personal freedoms
Mercury
Religious groups in Australia, opposing personal freedoms and rights are controlling politics and the protection of rights and freedoms in the country according to this article.
Australia’s Cambodia refugee resettlement plan ‘a failure’
Sydney Morning Herald
Cambodia has admitted that the Australian refugee resettlement plan to send refugees to Cambodia in return for payment to Cambodia has failed and has said that Cambodia does not have the services in place to take care of the refugees.
Fiji
Fiji human rights lawyer has office ransacked
Radio NZ
A human rights lawyer in Fiji, Aman Ravindra-Singh, had his office ransacked during the Easter weekend. He has served a complaint concerning torture by security forces previously, and is also representing people on charges of sedation.
UN
Shunning People With Autism Is Violation Of Human Rights — Ki-Moon
News Ghana
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday stressed “equal participation and active involvement” of those with autism, saying it is “essential for achieving the inclusive societies.” In his message to mark World Autism Awareness Day, Ban said autism is a lifelong condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
Human Rights Watch
The letter, signed by the Director and Advocacy Director of the Children’s Rights Division, urges the Committee to reaffirm the importance of Convention No. 138 as a legally-binding standard that protects and advances children’s rights.
Other
How satellites are being used to expose human rights abuses
Guardian
Tools known as geospatial technology that map and analyse the earth have been used to expose injustices and human rights abuses for over a decade. Over the years, analysts have found visual evidence for escalating Boko Haram attacks in north-east Nigeria, North Korean labour camps, forced relocations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and have monitored the growing crisis in Darfur, western Sudan.
