UN experts condemn sentencing of journalists in Russia

On Friday, Mr. Gershkovich was handed a 16-year prison sentence on spying charges in a Russian court. The reporter was arrested in Russia in 2023 and has been held there since, despite calls for his release.  That same day, Ms. Kurmasheva received a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for “spreading fake news about the Russian army.” She has been arbitrarily detained […]

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Niger: Rights in Free Fall a Year After Coup

(Nairobi) – The military authorities in Niger have cracked down on the opposition, media, and peaceful dissent since taking power in a coup one year ago, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said today. They have arbitrarily detained former President Mohamed Bazoum, and at least 30 officials from the […]

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World News in Brief: Rights chief ‘horrified’ at deadly PNG violence, Lebanon-Israel ‘knife edge’, Sudan refugees suffer sexual violence

The attacks, which took place on 16 and 18 July reportedly occurred because of a land, lake ownership and user rights dispute. These attacks reportedly stem from conflicts resulting from tribal violence in the southwest Pacific nation in February where about 26 people were also killed. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) had urged the […]

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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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