Amnesty International News
Ukraine: First-ever Kyiv pride cancelled in face of ultra-right threat
The Ukrainian authorities should take action to protect the rights of LGBT people and ensure they are able to exercise their human rights without fear of attacks, Amnesty International said today after the first-ever pride parade had to be cancelled on Sunday.
Police advised pride organizers to abandon the march just 30 minutes before it was due to start. They claimed 500 ultra-right football hooligans were en route to the rally point with the intention of preventing the march from going ahead.
Two activists were beaten up and tear gassed by a dozen youths in central Kyiv after those already gathered for the march were evacuated with police escort.
“It has been clear from the start that the Kyiv police department did not want this march to go ahead. Their reluctance to commit to the event and to put adequate security measures in place to protect demonstrators left organizers fearing for their safety,” said Max Tucker, Ukraine campaigner at Amnesty International.
A senior Kyiv police official had previously told pride organizers that he was not prepared to put his officers in harm’s way for the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.
“The Kyiv authorities and police must work harder to ensure next year pride participants can feel confident they will be protected,” said Tucker.
Amnesty International also expressed its deep concern about support expressed on Wednesday by a parliamentary committee for a bill restricting the distribution of and access to information “promoting homosexuality”.
The bill would amend several laws including the law on protection of public morals, the law on print media, the law on television and radio broadcasting, the law on publishing and the Criminal Code.
The provisions, if adopted by the Ukrainian Parliament, would directly discriminate against Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual individuals in the exercise of their right to freedom of expression.
“Passing this bill would fly in the face of Ukraine’s international obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression and prohibit discrimination,” added Tucker.
Amnesty International calls on the Ukrainian Parliament to reject the bill and to ensure that Ukraine protects, respects and fulfills the rights of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual individuals without any discrimination.
Police in Kyiv failed to stop ultra-right hooligans from putting LGBT activists at risk and marring the city's first-ever Pride parade.
Media Node: Police at Kyiv Pride Kyiv Pride injuries Story Location: Ukraine 50° 27' 21.348" N, 30° 30' 44.8776" E “It has been clear from the start that the Kyiv police department did not want this march to go ahead. Their reluctance to commit to the event and to put adequate security measures in place to protect demonstrators left organizers fearing for their safety.” Source: Max Tucker, Ukraine campaigner at Amnesty International Date: Sun, 20/05/2012 URL: ‘Virulent’ homophobic attacks put South Caucasus activists at risk Description: News story, 18 May 2012 URL: Ukraine: Authorities must start to implement police criminality law ahead of Euro 2012 Description: News story, 14 May 2012 URL: Ukraine: Euro 2012 Jeopardised by Criminal Police Force Description: Media briefing, 30 April 2012‘Virulent’ homophobic attacks put South Caucasus activists at risk
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan must do more to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, Amnesty International said after a spate of attacks on activists.
Instead of condemning a firebomb attack on a gay-friendly bar in downtown Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, last week, some public officials went on the record making homophobic remarks and condoning violence against LGBTI people.
Meanwhile, on Thursday in neighbouring Georgia, police in the capital Tbilisi did little to prevent an Orthodox Christian group from obstructing a peaceful march by an LGBTI organization to mark the International Day against Homophobia.
“The virulent nature of these recent attacks shows the need for a public dialogue to tackle homophobia throughout the South Caucasus to protect LGBTI people from discrimination,” said John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.
Yerevan firebomb
On 8 May, self-described “fascists” were caught on tape by a security camera as they threw Molotov cocktails through the windows of a gay-friendly bar in downtown Yerevan.
Police reportedly arrived at the scene 12 hours later to investigate the arson attack.
Two young men were arrested as part of the investigation, but were bailed shortly afterwards by two opposition parliamentarians from the nationalist Armenian Revolutionary Federation - Dashnaktsutyun party (ARF), who condoned the attack, saying it was in line with "the context of societal and national ideology”.
ARF leaders have distanced themselves from the bailout, saying that the parliamentarians acted in their personal capacity, but they have fallen short of publicly calling on their colleagues to apologize for supporting the alleged hate crime.
Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for Armenia’s ruling Republican Party and Parliament Vice Speaker told Hayots Ashkharh newspaper Thursday that, “As an Armenian citizen and member of [the ruling] national-conservative party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against the homosexuals … completely right and justified…Those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the national and universal values.”
Amnesty International believes this type of official discourse is dangerous, fuels discrimination and undermines the role of human rights defenders.
“The official response to the firebombing in Yerevan is utterly shocking – protecting the human rights of LGBTI people is not a concession, but an obligation under international law that Armenia is a party to,” said Dalhuisen.
Homophobia and Transphobia in Tbilisi
On Thursday, a peaceful march in central Tbilisi marking the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia came under attack when a group of Orthodox Christians and members of the “Orthodox Parents’ Union” began insulting and threatening protesters from IDENTOBA, a Georgian LGBTI rights organization.
Orthodox priests were among the counter-demonstrators, who prevented the marchers from continuing to the Georgian Parliament, shouting abuse and throwing punches at the peaceful protesters. Fighting reportedly broke out as the counter-demonstrators attacked marchers, tearing up placards.
A video of the incident shows police intervening once a scuffle broke out between the two groups. Five people were detained – including three of the IDENTOBA protesters – and were released shortly afterwards.
“A hallmark of a tolerant society is allowing peaceful protests to proceed and stopping discrimination in its tracks,” said Dalhuisen.
Public authorities must respect the freedom of expression of all groups without discrimination. This extends to protecting peaceful demonstrators from violent attacks.
“Police in Tbilisi failed to prevent homophobic and transphobic violence from marring the International Day against Homophobia march – they must now investigate what went wrong and implement measures to improve their policing of peaceful demonstrations in future,” Dalhuisen added.
Concerns in Baku ahead of Eurovision
LGBTI groups in the neighbouring South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan have also raised concerns about the safety of LGBTI participants in the upcoming Eurovision song contest, which will take place in the capital Baku from 22-26 May.
Azerbaijan decriminalized same-sex relations in 2001, but has so far failed to enact laws that specifically ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and provide effective protection to LGBTI people. Homophobia and transphobia remain rife and little progress has been made to change public attitudes and the discriminatory practices against LGBTI people.
A spate of attacks on LGBTI activists points to endemic discrimination that needs to be dealt with in South Caucasus countries.
Media Node: Tbilisi LGBT protest Twitter Tag: LGBTI Story Location: Armenia 40° 10' 45.6744" N, 44° 30' 54.8208" E “The virulent nature of these recent attacks shows the need for a public dialogue to tackle homophobia throughout the South Caucasus to protect LGBTI people from discrimination. ” Source: John Dalhuisen, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International Date: Fri, 18/05/2012 URL: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Description: Thematic pageSyria: Deported Palestinian journalist speaks out about torture in custody
A prominent journalist has told Amnesty International how Syrian government forces tortured and detained him in deplorable conditions before deporting him to Jordan on Monday.
Salameh Kaileh, a 57-year-old Jordanian national of Palestinian descent, has lived and worked in the Syrian capital Damascus since 1981.
On 24 April, plain clothes officials from Syria’s Air Force Intelligence arrested him during a raid on his flat in Barzah, a Damascus suburb. Amnesty International considered him to be a prisoner of conscience, held solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
“The main reason for my arrest, from what I understood, is a conversation I had on Facebook with a friend outside Syria about my position on the revolution and my opinion about the Muslim Brotherhood and so on,” Kaileh told Amnesty International.
Following his arrest, Kaileh was held at a Syrian Air Force Intelligence branch in Damascus, where he was insulted and beaten for days. Officers used the falaqa torture method on him, whipping the soles of his feet with a thin bamboo stick.
One unidentified official targeted the journalist’s background by shouting insults against Palestinians.
Throughout his interrogation Kaileh was repeatedly asked about his role in publishing a leftist political publication – he denies any such role, saying he collects the publication for his journalism work.
On 3 May, Kaileh was transferred to another Air Force Intelligence branch, where medical professionals referred him to a military hospital in al-Mezzeh after confirming he bore signs of having been tortured.
While at the military hospital, he faced even more torture than before.
Kaileh and the other patients were crammed in, two or three to a bed, their hands and feet bound and their faces covered with blankets. They were forced to defecate and urinate in the beds.
“Unfortunately, the hospital was much worse than what I was subjected to in prison. It was not a hospital, but a slaughterhouse,” Kaileh said.
“I stayed in this hellish condition for a week … I forced myself not to eat or drink so that I did not urinate in bed. I needed to take medication for a thyroid problem but was not given it.”
During his time in the hospital, Kaileh was subjected to frequent and severe beatings while blindfolded and tied to a bed.
The doctors joined the military officials in shouting insults at the patients, but he was unable to see if they also took part in the beatings.
While in detention, there were serious concerns for Kaileh’s health, as he is required to take daily medication since recovering from throat cancer in 2004.
On 10 May, Kaileh was taken from the hospital to a Department of Immigration branch. Officials there and at several other ministry offices interrogated him before deporting him by aeroplane to the Jordanian capital Amman on Monday.
Kaileh said he wants to return to Syria and plans to file a lawsuit against his deportation.
To Amnesty International’s knowledge, Kaileh did not take part in the ongoing popular protests in Syria and his detention and torture by the Syrian authorities were solely in relation to his political writing and journalism.
Kaileh was previously arrested in 1991 and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment in Damascus for his alleged membership of the Party for Communist Action.
“Salameh Kaileh’s dreadful ordeal shows the extent to which the Syrian authorities will go to attempt to crush dissenting voices,” said Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Programme Director.
“His horrendous account mirrors the reports we’ve received about thousands of detainees being tortured and ill-treated in detention – often in extremely poor prison conditions – amid the Syrian government’s crackdown over the past 15 months.
“This is not the first time that we have documented the involvement of doctors in human rights violations. They should be doing their best to restore people to health rather than allowing patients to be held in appalling conditions and subjected to torture in hospitals.”
Amnesty International published a report in October 2011, Syria: Health crisis: Syrian government targets the wounded and health workers, which documented the abuse of perceived government opponents by medical staff, health personnel and security officials in several government-run or military hospitals.
Since the beginning of widespread, largely peaceful pro-reform protests in Syria in February 2011, a crackdown on dissent has led to thousands of suspected opponents being arrested. During that time, many, if not most, detainees have been tortured and at least 350 people have died in custody.
In the year since then, although peaceful demonstrations have continued, the unrest has turned increasingly violent, with armed opposition groups, many loosely under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) carrying out attacks mainly against Syrian security forces. The FSA and other armed individuals are also reported to have carried out abuses, although not on the same scale as those by government forces.
Amnesty International has obtained the names of more than 9,200 people reported to have died or been killed in connection with the unrest since mid-March 2011. Many of those were killed amid the protests or during army incursions into villages and towns, as a result of extrajudicial executions, a shoot-to-kill policy and indiscriminate shooting/shelling of residential areas.
Members of the security forces have also been killed, some by defecting soldiers who have taken up arms against the government.
Despite the presence of a small UN observer mission to monitor the situation, the violence has continued in recent weeks, with ongoing clashes reported between Syrian government forces and armed groups including the FSA.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court, for an international arms embargo to be imposed on the country, and for President Bashar al-Assad and his close associates to have their assets frozen.
The organization is also calling for a more robust and adequately resourced UN observer mission with a clear human rights monitoring component.
Journalist Salameh Kaileh describes his torture in a Syrian prison and hospital before he was deported to Jordan.
Media Node: Salameh Kaileh Salameh Kaileh bruises Salameh Kaileh injury Story Location: Syria 33° 30' 45.8316" N, 36° 17' 53.3076" E “Unfortunately, the hospital was much worse than what I was subjected to in prison. It was not a hospital, but a slaughterhouse ” Source: Salameh Kaileh, Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Date: Thu, 17/05/2012 URL: Syria: Fears for journalist arrested in Syria: Salameh Kaileh Description: Urgent action, 11 May 2012 URL: Detained Syrian human rights defenders report torture Description: News story, 27 April 2012 URL: Syria: Health crisis: Syrian government targets the wounded and health workers Description: Report, 25 October 2011 URL: Eyes on Syria Description: Interactive mapAccountability for violations needed despite Palestinian prisoner deal
Two thousand Palestinians held in Israeli prisons suspended a month-long hunger strike after Israel agreed several measures to improve prison conditions – a move seen by Amnesty International as a step toward compliance with Israel's human rights obligations.
Under the Egyptian-brokered deal, Israel has agreed to end solitary confinement for 19 prisoners – held in isolation for up to 10 years – and lift a ban on family visits for prisoners from the Gaza Strip, among other things.
"We hope that these commitments signal a new approach by the Israeli authorities founded on respect for prisoners’ human rights,” said Ann Harrison, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
“However, 2,000 prisoners and detainees should not have had to put their health on the line in order to ensure respect for their human rights which the Israeli authorities have been violating for years.”
Amnesty International has repeatedly called for a resumption of family visits for prisoners from Gaza, which were completely suspended in June 2007.
”These repeated violations by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) against hunger-striking prisoners require a full, independent and impartial investigation, and those responsible must be held accountable,” said Ann Harrison.
“Such prolonged solitary confinement – based on information withheld from the prisoners and their lawyers – is a violation of their rights to due process and constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
Under the agreement, these prisoners are expected to be moved to cells where they will have contact with other inmates by the end of this week.
“Those in the Ramleh IPS medical facility who have been on hunger strike for between six to 11 weeks must be transferred to a civilian hospital immediately until their lives are no longer in danger and must be treated humanely at all times,” said Ann Harrison.
Administrative detention is a procedure under which detainees are held under military orders without charge or trial for periods of up to six months which can be renewed indefinitely. Based on regulations initially passed under the British Mandate, Israel has used the measure against its citizens since 1948, and since 1967, against thousands of Palestinians from the occupied Palestinian territories.
Administrative detention orders are based on secret information which is not disclosed to the detainees or their lawyers, denying detainees the opportunity to effectively exercise their right to mount a legal challenge.
At the end of April 2012, some 308 Palestinians were held as administrative detainees according to IPS statistics. Some are held as prisoners of conscience, held solely for their peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression, association or assembly.
For many years, Amnesty International has urged Israel to end the practice and to release administrative detainees unless they are charged with a recognizable criminal offence and promptly tried according to international standards.
“Israel's reported commitment under the deal not to renew the detention orders of current administrative detainees unless significant new intelligence information is presented does not fulfil these recommendations, but would - if implemented - be a first step towards meeting its international human rights obligations,” said Ann Harrison.
Amnesty International and local human rights organizations have documented repeated violations by the IPS against hunger-striking detainees since administrative detainee Khader Adnan began a hunger strike in December 2011.
These include punishing detainees on hunger strike by placing them in solitary confinement and imposing punitive fines; denying them urgent medical care; preventing access to independent doctors and lawyers; banning family visits; physical assaults; and forcibly administering treatment including injections against the detainees' will.
Amnesty International is also concerned that in recent weeks Israeli forces and police are reported to have used excessive force against non-violent protesters demonstrating in solidarity with the prisoners on hunger strike in both the West Bank and Israel.
2,000 Palestinian prisoners are ending a hunger strike after Israel has agreed to improve prison conditions.
Media Node: Gaza women celebrating Story Location: United Kingdom 32° 47' 28.5972" N, 35° 14' 38.9076" E See map: Google Maps “We hope that these commitments signal a new approach by the Israeli authorities founded on respect for prisoners' human rights” Source: Ann Harrison, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa URL: Israel/OPT: Palestinian hunger strikers' lives in danger Description: Urgent Action, 4 May 2012 URL: Israel to free Palestinian detainee as prisoners launch mass hunger strike Description: News, 17 April 2012Africa: End discrimination against LGBTI on international day against homophobia
Discrimination and persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in South Africa and Cameroon must be halted, Amnesty International said as activists around the world mark the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.
Instances of harassment, discrimination, persecution, violence and murders committed against individuals because of their sexual orientation or gender identity are increasing across sub-Saharan Africa.
Political leaders in some countries in Africa not only fail to protect people’s rights not to be discriminated against, but also often used statements or actions to incite discrimination and persecution.
In Cameroon, seven men are currently imprisoned under the laws prohibiting same-sex sexual conduct, while homophobic and transphobic hate crimes are widespread in South Africa, where attacks on LGBTI people are inadequately investigated, creating a climate of impunity for perpetrators.
“It is deeply disturbing that in 2012, people are still being persecuted because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International’s director for Africa.
“It is high time that the Cameroonian government moves to repeal laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual activity.”
“In South Africa, authorities must ensure that hate crimes against LGBTI people are thoroughly investigated and their constitutional right to equality upheld.”
Since March 2011, 13 people in Cameroon have been arrested under the law criminalizing ‘sexual relations with a person of the same sex’.
Most have been targeted on the grounds of their perceived sexual orientation, rather than on any alleged participation in prohibited consensual acts. In virtually no cases have the police or other eyewitnesses claimed to have seen the alleged sexual acts.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found that laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual activity are in violation of international human rights law.
In Cameroon, a court in Yaounde sentenced Jean-Claude Roger Mbede to three years in prison under this law in April 2011. Two other men were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in July 2011, while four more men who were arrested in August 2011 remain in detention awaiting trial.
In South Africa, sexual assaults and other physical attacks against LGBTI people are all too common, particularly against those living in townships and rural areas.
In the early hours of 24 April last year, 24-year old lesbian Noxolo Nogwaza was murdered on her way home from a night out with friends. Her attackers raped, repeatedly beat and stabbed her - apparently because of her sexual orientation - before dumping her body in a drainage ditch.
A year after her death, no progress has been made in the investigation into her murder and her killers remain at large.
Noxolo, who was also a human rights defender, lived and died in KwaThema, a township east of Johannesburg in Gauteng Province.
In the last five years, there have been at least 10 cases reported of rape followed by murder of lesbian women in townships in different parts of the country. South African civil society and Amnesty International are campaigning against widespread failure to investigate homophobic and transphobic hate crimes which contributes to a climate of impunity for perpetrators.
Discrimination and persecution against individuals because of their sexual orientation is increasing across sub-Saharan Africa.
Media Node: EPOC activists Story Location: United Kingdom 31° 42' 38.5992" S, 25° 18' 45" E See map: Google Maps “It's deeply disturbing that in 2012, people are still being persecuted because of their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.” Source: Erwin van der Borght, Amnesty International's Africa director URL: Cameroon urged to overhaul laws criminalizing gay relationships Description: News, 5 March 2012Azerbaijan: Opposition activist freed as pre-Eurovision hunger strike begins
Seventeen Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience must be released immediately, Amnesty International said as 11 people jailed for their role in anti-government protests last year launched a hunger strike on Tuesday.
An unexpected court decision the same day ordered the release of their fellow activist and a prisoner of conscience Elnur Majidli, who had been serving a two-year sentence following his arrest during an unsanctioned demonstration in the capital Baku on 2 April 2011.
The prisoners jailed in relation to last year’s anti-government’s protests have vowed to continue their hunger strike until the end of the Eurovision song contest, which takes place in Baku later this month.
“Elnur Majidli’s release is very welcome news, but the Azerbaijani authorities must now immediately and unconditionally free all the remaining 17 prisoners of conscience who remain behind bars,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.
“When viewers across the world tune in for the Eurovision this month, the most convincing way for Azerbaijan to present itself as a modern, progressive nation will be for the authorities to end their ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression.”
According to Majidli, Baku’s Khazar District Court responded to his request to be released by holding a hearing at his prison on Tuesday. His lawyer was not present at the session, which resulted in the activist being freed.
Speaking to an opposition newspaper, Majidli said the decision was unexpected and his release was unconditional – although he will serve the remainder of his two-year term out of prison.
The 11 hunger strikers still behind bars since last year’s demonstrations are Arif Hajili, Shahin Hasanli, Sahib Karimov, Mahammad Majidli, Babek Hasanov, Tural Abbaslı, Rufat Hajibaili, Ulvi Guliyev, Vidadi Isgandarov, Zulfuqar Eyvazov and Ahad Mammadli.
Some of the prisoners’ relatives have joined the hunger strike in solidarity with them. In addition to the hunger strikers, six other prisoners of conscience – including Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, who also participated in last year’s protests – still languish in Azerbaijani jails.
Members of Azerbaijan’s opposition plan to hold another unsanctioned demonstration in downtown Baku on 19 and 20 May, before the Eurovision finals. Baku’s mayor’s office has yet to respond to their request for a venue.
On Monday, police in Baku violently dispersed two separate peaceful protests in the city centre, detaining 18 opposition activists and organizers.
As with previous recent demonstrations, the protesters were calling for the release of prisoners of conscience and an end to restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association in Baku.
“Baku city authorities must stop preventing peaceful protests, and should grant permission for next weekend’s planned demonstrations,” said Dalhuisen.
“Their attempts to tighten the noose around dissent are bound to unravel amid increased international scrutiny during Eurovision.”
In recent months, Amnesty International has documented how Azerbaijani authorities have repeatedly targeted individuals for their journalistic work or peaceful activism.
In March, well-known investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova received a letter threatening the publication of intimate pictures of her if she did not abandon her work. When she refused and exposed the blackmail attempt, a video of her having sex was posted on a fake mirror website of Azerbaijan’s main opposition party.
Last month, state employees and police severely beat up journalist Idrak Abbasov while he was reporting on a forced eviction on the outskirts of Baku.
And earlier this month, student activist Jabbar Savalan was conscripted into the army despite being exempt from military service, prompting concerns he was targeted for his peaceful activism.
Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience have launched a hunger strike in the run-up to the Eurovision in Baku.
Media Node: Azerbaijan POCs Twitter Tag: Eurovision Story Location: Azerbaijan 40° 23' 42.3276" N, 49° 50' 56.7276" E “When viewers across the world tune in for the Eurovision this month, the most convincing way for Azerbaijan to present itself as a modern, progressive nation will be for the authorities to end their ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression” Source: John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme Director Date: Wed, 16/05/2012 URL: Azerbaijan: Police violently disperse peaceful rallies ahead of Eurovision Description: News story, 14 May 2012 URL: Azerbaijan: Authorities determined to silence dissent to ensure successful Eurovision Description: Media briefing, 1 May 2012 URL: Azerbaijan: Running scared Description: Multimedia featureColombia: Bogotá bomb attack 'reprehensible'
The perpetrators of a car bomb attack on 15 May, which killed two people and injured more than 50 in the Colombian capital Bogotá, demonstrated a complete and reprehensible disregard for human life and must be brought to justice, Amnesty International said today.
The explosion injured former interior minister Fernando Londoño, and killed his driver and bodyguard, and more than 50 passers-by were also injured.
No group has yet claimed responsibility and the Colombian authorities have thus far refused to blame any organization.
"Whoever was responsible for these attacks should be identified and brought to trial. Any criminal investigation must be impartial and independent, and the results made public," said Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International.
"Should investigations into yesterday's bombing uncover the responsibility of a party to the armed conflict, this would constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law, which prohibits direct attacks on civilians and indiscriminate attacks which may result in civilian casualties," said Marcelo Pollack.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack in the Colombian capital which killed two people and injured at least 50.
Media Node: Bogota car bomb Story Location: Colombia 5° 58' 43.9176" N, 75° 37' 47.5788" W “Whoever was responsible for these attacks should be identified and brought to trial. Any criminal investigation must be impartial and independent, and the results made public.” Source: Marcelo Pollack, Colombia researcher at Amnesty International. Date: Wed, 16/05/2012Mali’s worst human rights situation in 50 years
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting in northern Mali and dozens have been subjected to arbitrary detention, extra-judicial executions or sexual violence including rape, Amnesty International said today.
In a report ‘Mali: Five months of crisis, armed rebellion and military coup’ Amnesty International catalogues a litany of human rights violations committed against the backdrop of a food shortage affecting 15 million people in the Sahel region.
“After two decades of relative stability and peace, Mali is now facing its worst crisis since independence in 1960,” said Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International’s West Africa researcher who has just returned from a three week research mission to the country.
“The entire north of the country has been taken over by armed groups who are running riot. Ten of thousands of people have fled the region, creating a humanitarian crisis in Mali and in neighbouring countries.”
During the research mission Amnesty International delegates visited the Malian capital Bamako and four refugee sites in Niger, about 200 kilometres north of the capital Niamey.
According to testimonies taken by Amnesty International women and girls were raped, sometimes collectively, by armed men including by members of the MNLA, particularly in Menaka and Gao.
A 19-year-old female student who had fled to Bamako told Amnesty International:
“I was on the way to a friend’s house around 8pm with one of my classmates. On the way, a motorcycle carrying two Tamasheq [Tuareg] and a car full of armed men and captured women, stopped beside us. One of the two Tamasheqs on the motorbike was wearing a military uniform. They began to tell us that we should go with them to the camp because they needed women. We refused. My friend lied and said she was pregnant. One of the Tamasheks then made me go into an empty house. I told him I was menstruating. He ordered me to show him. I showed him the blood. He said ‘What’s that?‘ and raped me.”
All parties to the conflict are believed to be committing human rights violations and abuses.
Malian soldiers beat and then extra-judicially executed three unarmed people accused of spying for the MNLA in Sevare (630 kilometres north of Bamako) on 18 April 2012. Other suspects are being held in locations not registered as places of detention such as the General Directorate of Public Security (Direction générale de la sécurité d’État or DGSE).
Similarly, Malian soldiers taken prisoner by armed groups have been ill summarily executed and some were ill-treated. Two Malian soldiers who had been taken prisoner in January 2012 before being released as part of an exchange described how some soldiers had been tortured and abused. Some had their throats slit.
Delegates found evidence of the presence of child soldiers within the ranks of the armed Tuareg and Islamists groups who took control of the north of the country.
Amnesty International has collected several testimonies indicating pressure from members of the Ansar Eddin armed group on people to change their behaviour, in accordance with their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam.
Witnesses said that the imposition of these new behaviours has been accompanied by intimidation and physical violence, including deliberate and arbitrary killings.
A resident of Gao said:
“Five days after the rebels took control of the city, a car was stopped at the edge of town by armed men. One of the car’s occupants then phoned the number given out by Ansar Eddin. They arrived immediately on the scene, they shot at the thieves, one was injured, the other ran off, a third was stopped and his throat slit.”
“Without coordinated action to protect human rights, uphold international humanitarian law and the assistance of displaced and refugee populations, the entire sub-region risks destabilisation through the effects of political instability, armed conflict in the north and the food crisis which affects the whole of the Sahel,” said Gaëtan Mootoo.
Amnesty International is calling all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to take the necessary measures to protect civilians and combatants captured during the conflict. The organization calls upon Malian authorities to put an end to the harassment of those who campaign peacefully for the return of the rule of law.
Amnesty International also calls on the armed groups who have taken control of the north to stop immediately sexual violence against women and young girls and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
The organisation also urges the Malian authorities and armed groups to allow United Nations and other humanitarian agencies unrestricted access to refugees and internally displaced people, particularly in northern Mali.
Fighting in northern Mali has displaced hundreds of thousands of people and led to dozens of human rights violations.
Media Node: Mali refugee camp Amnesty International Index Number: AFR37/001/2012 Story Location: Mali 19° 43' 21.3024" N, 4° 18' 23.9076" W “After two decades of relative stability and peace, Mali is now facing its worst crisis since independence in 1960.” Source: Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International’s West Africa researcher Date: Wed, 16/05/2012 URL: Mali urged to release top officials arbitrarily detained Description: News story, 18 April 2012 URL: Mali: Urgent action needed to protect civilians Description: News story, 2 April 2012 URL: Mali: End attacks and detention of peaceful protesters amid military coup Description: News story, 29 March 2012 URL: Mali: Coup heralds period of uncertainty on human rights Description: News story, 23 March 2012Sudan must end clampdown on media
The Sudanese authorities must halt the ongoing harassment of independent media, Amnesty International said after a prominent journalist was re-arrested and copies of a national newspaper seized in Khartoum on Tuesday.
Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a columnist with several national newspapers who has reported in 2011 on the alleged rape of an activist by National Security Service (NSS) agents, is currently being held by the NSS.
Meanwhile copies of national newspaper al-Midan were confiscated at the printing press today for the fifth time in five weeks, putting the publication’s financial future in jeopardy.
“The Sudanese government is continuing its relentless harassment of journalists and editors who dare to do their job,” said Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, Amnesty International’s Sudan researcher.
“The authorities are deploying a wide array of coercive measures against individuals and media organizations to discourage or prevent independent reporting and critical comment.”
“The re-arrest of Faisal Saleh is a smack in the face for free speech and the Sudanese authorities must ensure that the NSS ends these constant attempts to silence any form of dissent.”
Faisal Saleh, who is also head of Teeba Press, an NGO which trains journalists, was summoned to the NSS offices every day for nearly two weeks in April and May.
He was made to wait all day for an interrogation that never took place, without being provided with food or water. After subsequently refusing to attend, he was re-arrested twice.
He now faces new and vague charges of “crimes against the state”, in addition to previous charges of defamation for reporting in March last year that activist Safia Ishaag was allegedly raped by NSS agents.
Amnesty International considers Faisal Mohammed Saleh to be a Prisoner of Conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of his beliefs.
Meanwhile, journalist Haidar al Kashifi from the Al-Sahafa newspaper, was reportedly banned from writing on 6 May on orders of the NSS.
Newspapers similarly face constant obstacles as a result of NSS interference. Editors face great pressure from NSS agents, with whom they must remain in daily contact.
The NSS has repeatedly threatened editors with dismissal or cancellation of their newspaper’s license in a bid to coerce media coverage of events.
Newspapers also face direct forms of censorship, with NSS agents frequently banning editors from publishing articles or opinion pieces prior to publication.
The NSS on occasions seizes the entire print run of newspapers in a move that puts the paper under extreme commercial pressure.
Six issues of national daily al-Jareeda (‘The Newspaper’) have been seized since the beginning of April while the independent daily al-Tayyar (‘The Current’) also allegedly faced confiscation on 8 May.
Independent media in Sudan is facing continous harrassment from the authorities, with arrests of journalists and national newspapers seized.
Media Node: Sudan Faisal Story Location: United Kingdom 14° 12' 27.3312" N, 27° 35' 51.5616" E See map: Google Maps “The re-arrest of Faisal Saleh is a smack in the face for free speech ” Source: Jean-Baptiste Gallopin, Amnesty International’s Sudan researcherAzerbaijan: Police violently disperse peaceful rallies ahead of Eurovision
Azerbaijan must immediately halt the police use of violence to suppress freedom of expression, Amnesty International said after two separate peaceful protests were broken up by police in the capital city Baku on Monday.
Local activists told Amnesty International that opposition party members were specifically targeted at rallies in Baku’s Sabir Garden area and in front of the city authorities’ offices.
Independent video footage from the scene shows police roughing up demonstrators as they are being dragged away.
Around 300 protesters took part in the unsanctioned gatherings which called for the release of political prisoners before Azerbaijan hosts the Eurovision Song Contest later this month.
“The glitz and glamour of the Eurovision are only weeks away, but the international media attention the contest will bring seems to be no deterrent for Baku’s police, who continue to use brute force to put down peaceful protests,” said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme Director.
“We renew our call on the Eurovision’s planners to roundly condemn this unacceptable ongoing repression of freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.
“Azerbaijan’s authorities must take immediate steps to lift bans on public protests in central Baku and to bring to justice all those responsible for the police abuse.”
Before Monday’s protests began, police surrounded the area and attempted to stop activists near the Icheri Sheher metro station.
Abulfaz Gurbanly, one of the protest organizers and the head of the opposition Popular Front Party (PFP) Youth Committee, told Amnesty International that the protesters had gathered to “demand freedom of assembly and the release of all political prisoners”.
In recent months, Baku city authorities have permitted some protests, but have maintained a ban on opposition parties holding rallies in the city centre, instead relegating such gatherings to the far outskirts of the city.
Gurbanly and 17 other activists were detained at Monday’s protests before being held at two different Sabail District Police departments.
Ten of them were driven west of the city to the Gobustan Reserve and released with a verbal warning, and the remaining eight detainees were given written warnings before being set free.
Police also briefly detained another group of 10 female activists at the rallies, and drove them away from the scene before releasing them in the city’s Akhundov Garden area.
Gurbanly told Amnesty International that police had used beatings and violence while dispersing the peaceful protesters. He described how policemen punched him and dragged him by his hair during his arrest.
Independent videos from the protests posted to YouTube show uniformed police officers shoving, punching and kicking peaceful protesters, as well as dragging some away as they shout “freedom” (Azadliq).
“This latest crackdown on peaceful protests is sadly an accurate indicator of the Azerbaijani authorities’ attitude towards freedom of expression. It must be remedied by ensuring those responsible are swiftly brought to justice,” said Dalhuisen.
Just weeks before Azerbaijan hosts the Eurovision song contest, police have violently broken up two peaceful protests in the capital.
Media Node: Azerbaijan opposition protest Twitter Tag: Eurovision Story Location: Azerbaijan 40° 22' 40.5696" N, 49° 51' 41.22" E “The glitz and glamour of the Eurovision are only weeks away, but the international media attention the contest will bring seems to be no deterrent for Baku’s police, who continue to use brute force to put down peaceful protests. ” Source: John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme Director Date: Mon, 14/05/2012 URL: Azerbaijan: Authorities determined to silence dissent to ensure successful Eurovision Description: Media briefing, 1 May 2012 URL: Azerbaijan: Running Scared Description: Multimedia featureUkraine: Authorities must start to implement police criminality law ahead of Euro 2012
A new law which paves the way for independent investigations into allegations of police violence in Ukraine must be enforced in order to curb widespread police criminality in the country ahead of Euro 2012, Amnesty International said.
Ukrainian prosecutors currently work alongside police officers to solve ordinary crimes, and frequently refuse to initiate criminal proceedings against their colleagues,
But the new Criminal Procedure Code allows for a new investigative body to look into crimes by officials. The code does not make clear exactly what this body will look like, but the provision allows for the creation of an investigative body that is genuinely independent.
“While we welcome the introduction of new safeguards against police torture and ill-treatment, some aspects of the law will not come into force for another five years” said Max Tucker, Amnesty International’s campaigner on Ukraine.
“As things stand, fans visiting Euro 2012 are under threat from a criminal police force. Moving quickly to set up an independent body to investigate officers’ crimes now would be a wake up call to a force accustomed to getting away with illegal behaviour.”
In a related development, a Kiev court on Monday ordered a new investigation into the death of Ihor Indilo, a student killed by a blow to the head while in police custody two years ago.
CCTV footage showed Officer Sergei Prihodko dragging Indilo unconscious into a cell and abandoning him there until he was discovered dead seven hours later.
The following morning Indilo’s parents were told that he had choked to death but when they saw his body they noticed numerous bruises. An autopsy revealed he had died of a head injury and found blood in his stomach, which may have been caused by a blow to the abdomen.
In January this year the two police officers who arrested, interrogated and abandoned him unconscious in a cell walked free after an investigation by the local prosecutor’s office absolved them of responsibility for his death.
Indilo’s case is just one of many documented by Amnesty International which highlight the inadequacy of a system that uses local prosecutors to investigate crimes by police.
“The fact that it has taken two years of intense media coverage and a court decision just to get this investigation opened shows how deeply flawed the current system is”, said Tucker.
“Without an institution that will hold officers accountable Ukrainian police will continue to beat and torture as they please. And in all the cases the media doesn’t hear about, they will get away with it.”
The organization also reiterated an offer made in October last year to work with the government on the design of a new investigative body.
“We have considerable experience working with governments across the globe on designing effective police complaints mechanisms. We would be more than happy to share that knowledge with the Ukrainian authorities.” Tucker said.
Ukraine should move quickly to enforce a new law which allows for an investigative body to look into crimes by officials.
Media Node: Ukraine police Story Location: United Kingdom 48° 31' 48.6732" N, 31° 59' 31.8768" E See map: Google Maps “Moving quickly to set up an independent body to investigate officers’ crimes now would be a wake up call to a force accustomed to getting away with illegal behaviour” Source: Max Tucker, Amnesty International's Ukraine campaigner URL: Ukraine: Euro 2012 Jeopardised by Criminal Police Force Description: Press item, 30 April 2012 URL: Ukraine must protect detained asylum-seekers attacked by security forces Description: News, 31 January 2012Brazil: Uncovering the past; President Dilma names Truth Commission members
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The announcement by President Dilma Rousseff of the seven members of a Truth Commission to investigate past human rights crimes is a landmark event. It is crucial that this Commission finally brings to light the full extent of the violations committed during Brazil’s military regime.
"This is a moment of great historical importance for justice and democracy in Brazil. Those who were brutalized, tortured or lost their loved ones in the hands of security forces have waited too long for the truth of these crimes to be revealed," said Atila Roque, Amnesty International Brazil’s Executive Director.
Amnesty International urges the Commissioners to ensure that this Truth Commission works in an impartial, thorough and transparent way to guarantee the full disclosure of past crimes. To this end they must be provided with sufficient resources to effectively fulfil this role.
Successful truth commissions should serve as means of revealing past violations, redress and ultimately as a catalyst to the provision of justice.
As such, the findings of this newly formed Commission will further the vital efforts of the Public Ministry in initiating criminal prosecutions against suspected past violators.
It is time for Brazil to lay to rest the demons of its past, coming into line with the many countries in the region that have held past human rights violators to account.
"The provision of truth and justice serves both to fulfil the rights of victims and their relatives while also ensuring that these crimes are not repeated,” said Atila Roque.
Brazil's new Truth Commission must bring to light the full extent of violations committed under the country's military rule.
Story Location: United Kingdom 20° 13' 55.0524" S, 42° 53' 26.25" W See map: Google Maps “Those who were brutalized, tortured or lost their loved ones in the hands of security forces have waited too long for the truth of these crimes to be revealed” Source: Atila Roque, Amnesty International BrazilUK plans for secret courts 'dangerous'
UK government plans to end centuries of open justice by allowing some court evidence to be heard behind closed doors are "dangerous", Amnesty International said.
The proposed legal changes, part of the Justice and Security Bill, could result in information and evidence of human rights violations by UK state representatives, being kept secret.
Plans by the government to introduce new legislation were confirmed in the Queen’s speech during Wednesday’s state opening of the UK Parliament.
“These proposals are dangerous and should be dropped," said Tara Lyle, Policy Adviser at Amnesty International UK.
“They will allow the government to throw a cloak of secrecy over wrongdoing, including matters as serious as the alleged involvement by UK officials in rendition, secret detention, enforced disappearances and torture."
The Bill would allow for the use of “closed material procedures” in future civil claims cases. This would allow the courts to consider secret material presented by UK authorities in closed sessions.
Claimants and their lawyers of choice would not have access to the material or the closed sessions and would, instead, have a court appointed Special Advocate to represent their interests.
The Special Advocate would be prohibited from discussing any part of the secret material with the claimant or taking instructions from them after seeing the material, seriously impeding their ability to serve the interests of the claimant.
Amnesty International considers that the use of Special Advocates fails to sufficiently mitigate the unfairness of “closed material procedures”.
Amnesty International believes the right to redress and a fair trial for victims of alleged human rights violations could be critically undermined by the proposals.
The proposals for the Bill come amid allegations that the UK has been involved in rendition, unlawful detention and mistreatment.
“After David Cameron promised to get to the bottom of allegations of complicity in human rights violations by UK officials, this Bill is a sell-out to the security services," said Tara Lyle.
“The victims of human rights violations as well as the general public have a right to learn the truth about whether and how government officials have been involved in rendition, secret detention, enforced disappearances and torture.”
“If members of the intelligence and security services are suspected of involvement in human right violations, the government should not be able to invoke ‘national security’ to avoid real accountability.”
Proposed legal changes could result in information and evidence of human rights violations by UK state representatives being kept secret.
Media Node: queeen Twitter Tag: uk Story Location: United Kingdom 51° 16' 42.6936" N, 1° 26' 21.1524" E See map: Google MapsNorth Carolina: Same-sex marriage ban ‘setback’ for human rights
North Carolina’s ban on same-sex marriage is a setback for human rights, Amnesty International said after voters in the south-eastern state approved a state constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriages and civil unions.
Some 61 per cent of voters in North Carolina supported the amendment.
“This is a sad day for same-sex couples in North Carolina,” said Susan Lee, Amnesty International’s Director for the Americas.
“All people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, without exception.
“While several states across the USA have voted to allow same-sex couples to marry, North Carolina has taken a backward step and brought in a discriminatory ban which not only prohibits same-sex marriage but directly contravenes rights safeguarded in international law.”
“Banning same-sex marriage prevents many people from enjoying a whole range of other rights, such as the right to housing and social security, and stigmatises those relationships in ways that can fuel discrimination and other human rights abuses against lesbian, gay and bisexual people.”
The right marry to marry and found a family is clearly articulated under international law, to which the USA is a signatory.
Same-sex marriage is legally recognized only in Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Washington and Iowa.
Twenty-nine US states already have a ban on same-sex marriage.
North Carolina has voted in favour of a ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions, contravening rights protected under international law.
Media Node: north carolina Story Location: United Kingdom 35° 19' 58.4508" N, 78° 18' 37.9692" W See map: Google MapsSingapore authorities urged to save Malaysian man from execution
A young Malaysian man under threat of imminent execution in Singapore for drug trafficking should be granted clemency, Amnesty International and the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) have said.
Yong Vui Kong, who was 19 when he was first arrested for possessing 47g of heroin in 2007, has no other options left.
On 4 April, the Supreme Court rejected his third and final appeal, which was made on the basis he was subjected to unequal treatment before the law.
“Countries around the world have abolished the mandatory death penalty because it does not allow courts to consider the circumstances of the defendant and the crime - Yong Vui Kong must be spared this cruel and degrading punishment,” said Lance Lattig, Amnesty International's Singapore researcher.
In an open letter, Amnesty International and ADPAN urged the Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs and other Cabinet members to intervene and recommend clemency for Yong Vui Kong, to establish a moratorium on the death penalty and suspend executions.
Clemency granted by the President, following advice from the Cabinet, is Yong’s last hope.
Yong’s lawyer cited the Singapore attorney general's decision not to prosecute the alleged mastermind of the drug operation, dropping 26 charges against the Singaporean who was Yong’s boss.
"The Boss of the drugs syndicate has had the charges against him dropped, while Yong Vui Kong, poor and only 19 at the time of his arrest, will be put to death. No enlightened legal system could justify this result," said Mr. M. Ravi, counsel for Yong Vui Kong and ADPAN member.
Yong was sentenced to death in 2008 under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, which requires the death penalty for anyone caught with more than 15g of heroin.
The case has sparked concern around the world. In Malaysia, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and legislators requested the Singaporean authorities to grant clemency in 2010.
The President of Singapore can only grant a presidential pardon upon the advice of the Cabinet.
Clemency for a death sentence has only been granted six times since independence in 1965.
Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases and without reservation.
ADPAN is an independent regional network comprising lawyers, NGOs and civil society groups from 24 countries including Singapore. It campaigns for an end to the death penalty across the Asia-Pacific region.
Yong Vui Kong, who was 19 when he was first arrested for possessing 47g of heroin in 2007, faces imminent execution.
Media Node: yong Twitter Tag: singaporeBahrain: Activist arrested over 'insulting' tweets must be freed
A prominent human rights activist detained for posting tweets deemed "insulting" to Bahrain's Ministy of Interior must be released, Amnesty International said.
Nabeel Rajab, the director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, was arrested on Saturday evening and has been charged with "insulting a national institution".
"This is the Bahraini authorities' latest attempt to clamp down on dissenting voices in the country," said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
"Nabeel Rajab is a prisoner of conscience and he must be immediately and unconditionally released."
Rajab was arrested on arrival at Bahrain International Airport, following a trip to Denmark, Sweden and finally Lebanon.
Just before travelling abroad, he had been summoned for questioning by the Public Prosecutor after the Ministry of Interior accused him of sending "insulting" tweets. He did not attend because of his travel.
The activist was brought to the Public Prosecutor's Office on Sunday and interrogated. Rajab's lawyer said about eight insulting tweets were mentioned, and he was given a seven-day detention order pending investigation.
Rajab also appeared before a lower criminal court on Sunday in another case against him, in which he is charged with calling for participation in illegal gatherings in which some protesters acted violently. The trial was adjourned until 22 May.
"Nabeel Rajab has not called for the use of violence - in fact he has publically stated he is against the use of violence in protests - so the authorities have no grounds to punish him," said Philip Luther.
"Peaceful public gatherings and freedom of expression must be allowed in Bahrain, in line with the country's international obligations to uphold these rights."
Rajab has denied all charges against him and is currently held in al-Houra police station in Manama.
Repression of government critics has continued in Bahrain despite government pledges to implement reforms recommended in November, when a team of international jurists published a key report on the crackdown on protests.
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry – chaired by Egyptian jurist Cherif Bassiouni – prescribed wide-ranging change that included decriminalizing public gatherings. However, key recommendations have so far not been implemented.
Bahrain's High Criminal Court of Appeal today held its first session in the case of 21 prominent opposition activists, seven of whom were being tried in absentia. However, the trial was adjourned until 21 May because two defendants are in hospital.
One of the men, human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, has been on hunger strike for more than two months in protest at his unfair imprisonment. Amnesty International understands his physical condition is critical.
Amnesty International considers all those currently detained in the case as prisoners of conscience and is calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
Nabeel Rajab, the director of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, has been charged with "insulting a national institution".
Bahrain: Reforms risk appearing hollow as violations continue (Report, 17 April 2012)
Media Node: bahrain Twitter Tag: bahrain Story Location: United Kingdom 16° 9' 35.9496" N, 40° 54' 7.56" E See map: Google Maps “Nabeel Rajab is a prisoner of conscience and he must be immediately and unconditionally released.” Source: Amnesty International's Philip Luther Date: Tue, 08/05/2012China must end clampdown on media as Al-Jazeera reporter is expelled
Al-Jazeera English has been forced to close its Beijing bureau after reporter Melissa Chan was expelled from China, prompting Amnesty International to call on the authorities there to immediately renew her visa and press credentials.
The channel has voiced its disappointment at the situation and said it will continue to request a presence in China.
Chan is reportedly the first accredited foreign journalist to have her press credentials and visa revoked since 1998, when Yukihisa Nakatsu of the Yomiuiri Shimbun and Juergen Kremb of Der Spiegel were expelled. China’s foreign ministry has not given any explanation for the decision not to extend her documents.
“The expulsion of Melissa Chan is part of a wider pattern of attempted intimidation of foreign journalists which is preventing them from reporting on subjects seen as ‘sensitive’ by the authorities,” said Corinna-Barbara Francis, Amnesty International’s China researcher.
“International journalists reporting from China have had to self-censor for years in order to stay in the country. But forcing Al-Jazeera to close down its Beijing bureau is a dangerous escalation, which does not bode well for the future of press reporting out of China. “
During the recent case of activist Chen Guangcheng and his six-day stay in the US embassy in Beijing, several foreign journalists were threatened with visa revocation for allegedly entering the parking lot of the hospital where Chen is receiving medical care.
Chan has covered several controversial stories from China, including reports on the imprisonment of petitioners from the countryside in unofficial “black jails” and the illegal seizures of farmland.
Petitioners are individuals who attempt to use traditional rights to report personal cases of injustice directly to authorities, outside the normal legal channels.
Some petitioners take their cases to the central authorities in Beijing, where they are typically forcibly returned to their home provinces, and sometimes imprisoned in the so-called "black jails”, unregistered places of detention where individuals are sent without any legal procedures. They are typically held without notification to their families and are at high risk of ill-treatment.
“If the Chinese authorities have a commitment to freedom of expression, they must stop attempting to muzzle journalists through these punitive measures and immediately renew Melissa Chan’s visa and allow Al-Jazeera English to continue to operate in the country, “said Corinna-Barbara Francis.
The expulsion of an Al-Jazeera journalist from China is part of a wider clampdown on foreign reporters in the country.
Media Node: Al Jazeera mike Story Location: United Kingdom 39° 31' 7.4352" N, 115° 2' 55.7808" E See map: Google Maps “If the Chinese authorities have a commitment to freedom of expression, they must stop attempting to muzzle journalists through these punitive measures ” Source: Corinna-Barbara Francis, Amnesty International’s China researcher URL: China:’For activists, the internet is like dancing in shackles’ Description: Blog, 3 May 2012Romania: Housing law must protect the vulnerable
Romania’s continuing economic challenges that have seen two governments fall in fewer than three months are all the more reason for the authorities at all levels to close legal loopholes that affect the housing of some of the country’s most marginalized groups, Amnesty International said.
“These gaps in the law have allowed local authorities forcibly to evict people from their homes without any safeguards including prior notification or adequate consultation. Often, the local authorities left people homeless,” said Jezerca Tigani, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Programme Director.
“People who live in informal settlements plus social housing tenants who have not had their lease renewed have no legal protection and can be forcibly evicted from their homes at any moment. Such human rights violations are affecting the most vulnerable, very often Roma.”
A briefing by Amnesty International, Unsafe foundations: Secure the right to housing in Romania, outlines key requirements under international law that must be complied with by governments to safeguard the right to housing, including a prohibition of forced evictions.
This briefing provides the Romanian government with a “housing law checklist” based on international standards that should serve as guidance for a legal reform that is long overdue.
The current law in Romania does not prohibit forced evictions. Nor does it prohibit housing relocations to areas which are unsafe and/or polluted, and which pose a risk to people’s lives and health.
It does not oblige authorities to provide public housing in locations which allow effective access to employment, health-care services, schools, child-care facilities and other services.
Further, the current law does not expressly prohibit segregation in housing and does not provide adequate protection against this particularly pernicious form of discrimination.
Amnesty International has documented numerous cases of Romani communities being forcibly evicted and relocated to the outskirts of the cities; to overcrowded homes lacking access to essential services, and to isolated locations which present serious environmental and health risks.
“The absence of fundamental legal protections and safeguards puts Romania directly in contempt of international standards on adequacy of housing and gives the green light to local authorities to put vulnerable families in even more appalling living conditions,” said Tigani.
On the freezing morning of 17 December 2010, 356 people, mostly Roma, who lived for years in Coastei Street in the centre of the city of Cluj-Napoca, were forcibly evicted without adequate notice or consultation. They were taken by truck with their belongings to new housing units in the Pata Rât area situated on a hill close to a landfill site and a chemical waste dump on the outskirts of the city.
On warm days, the smell of chemicals fills the air. Families – sizes of which vary between four and 11 people – were provided with one room of up to 18 m². Four rooms share a communal bathroom with only cold water.
About 30 of the evicted families were not offered any alternative accommodation. Some of them constructed improvised houses next to the existing units without access to electricity, water, or sanitation and at risk of new eviction.
Pata Rât is 9km away from the city centre, it is not a residential area and transport is infrequent and expensive. The closest bus stop is 2.5km away, the closest school 9km, and shopping centre 10km.
Coastei Street is not an isolated case of forced eviction where the authorities have violated their obligations under international law as a result of deficiencies in the Romanian law.
“No matter whether people rent, own or occupy their home or land without proper documentation, everybody is entitled to the same level of protection against forced evictions, harassment or other threats,” said Tigani.
“The new Romanian government should model its housing law on the international standards that it has voluntarily accepted and ensure that the law guarantees adequate housing and related rights for everybody in the country.”
Romania must safeguard the right to housing for some of the country's most marginalized groups.
Media Node: Romania housing Amnesty International Index Number: EUR39/002/2012 Story Location: United Kingdom 45° 10' 36.7464" N, 21° 31' 59.5308" E See map: Google Maps “The absence of fundamental legal protections gives the green light to local authorities to put vulnerable families in even more appalling living conditions” Source: Jezerca Tigani, Europe and Central Asia Deputy Programme Director