Prominent Rights Lawyer Shot in West Papua, Indonesia

When the human rights lawyer Yan Christian Warinussy returned home from work on July 17, his 10-year-old son, Mario, begged for ice cream. Warinussy took off his tie, packed his three children and their cousin into the car, and they headed to downtown Manokwari in Indonesia’s West Papua province. Warinussy, 60, is the head of the […]

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World News in Brief: Rights experts urge US to protect peaceful assembly rights, attacks against Ahmadis in Pakistan, sustainability push at Paris Olympics

“The banning and attacks on student protests are a grave violation of the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression guaranteed by international human rights law, and must stop immediately,” the experts said in a news release. They added that their concerns were conveyed to the US Government in a previous communication.   Students […]

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Venezuela: Repression Mars Key Upcoming Election

(Bogota) – Governments in Latin America, the United States, and Europe should spare no diplomatic efforts to protect the right to vote of Venezuelans ahead of the presidential election scheduled for July 28, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. They should enhance their scrutiny of Venezuela before, during, and in the weeks following election day. […]

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Guinea: High Stakes Verdict in Stadium Massacre Trial Nears

(Brussels) – A domestic court in Guinea is scheduled to deliver a verdict, including on reparations claims, on July 31, 2024, in the landmark trial of 11 men accused of responsibility for the country’s horrific 2009 stadium massacre, Human Rights Watch said today. The organization has released an updated question-and-answer document about the proceedings. On […]

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World News in Brief: Historic Palestine monastery on World Heritage in Danger List, rights office condemnation as Ghana upholds anti-gay law, free jailed Russian activist

“This decision recognizes both the site’s value and the need to protect it from danger,” the agency said , noting the threats posed by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The monastery dates back to the fourth century and is one of the oldest sites in the Middle East. It was founded by Saint Hilarion and […]

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UN urges peace and respect for Olympic Truce as Paris Summer Games begin

In November, the UN General Assembly adopted a vote to observe the truce in Paris. “In a moment like this, it’s important to say that the first recorded in history real peace initiative was the Olympic Truce,” Mr. Guterres said during a press encounter in the French capital alongside International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas […]

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The United States Joins Freedom Online Coalition Joint Statement on the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime

On Friday July 26, the United States, together with 40 fellow Member States of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), issued a joint statement on the UN Convention Against Cybercrime. In advance of the reconvened concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate a UN cybercrime convention, the Coalition has reaffirmed its commitment that the same human […]

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Burkina Faso: Video Shows Soldiers Disemboweling Body

(Nairobi) – Burkina Faso authorities should urgently and impartially investigate a video posted on social media showing Burkinabè army soldiers mutilating and disemboweling a dead body, Human Rights Watch said today. All those found responsible for wrongdoing should be appropriately prosecuted, regardless of their rank. The video, which circulated on social media in late July 2024, […]

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UN rights chief calls for end to protest crackdowns in Bangladesh

Over the past few weeks, students in Bangladesh have been protesting against the Government to demand an end to the quota system for government jobs amid rising unemployment. As demonstrations continued, there were eruptions of violence which led to death and the closure of public and private universities. Deaths, injuries and arrests Latest reports indicate […]

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Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Travel to South Korea, Brunei, Malaysia, and Cambodia 

Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) Sara Minkara will travel to the Republic of Korea (ROK), Brunei, Malaysia, and Cambodia on July 25 – August 2 to promote the continued integration of disability policy in ASEAN and APEC. In the ROK, SAIDR Minkara will meet with government officials to discuss building upon the United […]

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