(2018-12-31). An Extraordinary Year for Civil Rights. naacp.org This was an extraordinary year for the NAACP. From building more political power in communities of color to fighting to protect the federal bench from those who have a record of purposefully harming our communities, we've had great successes—and it was your support that made it all happen. Here's a look at what we did […]
(2018-12-31). Iran's Oil Exports To Asia Slump To Five-Year Low In November. iranian.com Iran's oil sales to the four major crude buyers in Asia plunged in November to the lowest level in more than five years, as Indian imports slumped and South Korea and Japan had halted purchases before the U.S. sanctions on the Iranian oil industry returned. The combined oil imports from Iran of China, India, South […]
(2018-12-30). Mapuches Send Protest Letters to Piñera Over Militarization. telesurenglish.net Mapuche communities from the Los Rios region, south of Temuco, sent a protest letter to the Chilean President Sebastian Piñera, condemning the murder of Camilo Catrillanca and demanding him to end the militarization process in their territory. | RELATED: | Chile: Police Repress March in Defense of Mapuche's Rights | The letter, signed by representatives of the Lanco, Panguipulli and Mariquina communities, express "total indignation for the horrific and inhumane way in which a group of…
(2018-12-30). Georgia Denies Migrants Equal Access to Higher Education. zcomm.org Educational policies that violate international human rights laws need to be repealed so that every young person, regardless of where they are born or what papers they have, has equal access to higher education…
(2018-12-30). Canada's Barbaric Policies Toward Native Peoples (2/2). therealnews.com 
MP Niki Ashton tells Paul Jay that Canadian government policy in Indigenous communities must be premised on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the principle of respect for free, prior, and informed consent in cases of land development
(2018-12-30). Let's Remember the Social Justice Organizers We Lost in 2018. truthout.org There were thousands of organizers, activists and local social justice leaders around the world who died in 2018. These people may not have made the headlines, but they did crucial work in their local communities. Making Contact brings you some of the voices and stories of this year's Fallen Heroes. | Special thanks to Discover Nikkei. | Featuring: | Dorothy Cotton, civil rights pioneer | Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, researcher and Japanese internment survivor — remembered by Karen Ishizuka, chief curator at the Japanese American National Museum | Muhiyidin Moye aka D'Baha, Black Lives Matter Charleston leader…
(2018-12-30). Egypt: Prison term for human rights defender who spoke out about sexual harassment an outrageous injustice. amnesty.org Responding to the news that an Egyptian court has upheld a two-year prison sentence against Amal Fathy, a woman human rights defender convicted over a video she posted online criticizing the Egyptian authorities for failing to tackle sexual harassment, Najia Bounaim, Amnesty International's North Africa Campaigns Director, said: | "The court's decision to uphold the guilty verdict against Amal Fathy is an outrageous injustice. The fact that a survivor of sexual harassment is being punished with a two-year prison sentence simply for speaking out about her experience is utterly disgraceful. This verdict makes a moc…
(2018-12-29). Guatemala: How Felipe, 7, Died Seeking A New Life In The US. telesurenglish.net Felipe Gomez left Yalambojoch, a remote and marginalized village in Guatemala, hoping to reach the United States, find a better life and help his family back home. Being only seven years old, his dreams were big. | RELATED: | More Broken Promises? US Border Authority to Change Policies After Death of 2 Kids | The migrant child died on Christmas in U.S. custody after being detained by immigration authorities along with his father. The cause of death is yet to b…
(2018-12-29). Exploitation, Marxism, and Labour Law (Part Two). mronline.org 
The first model is a radical critique of all forms of bourgeois right, including employment rights, which are considered to constitute an ideological reflection of the capitalist mode of production, and therefore an inseparable companion of exploitation. | Source
(2018-12-29). Illegal alien with Mexican gang ties arrested in murder of California cop. rt.com 
A Mexican national was arrested in California for the murder of Police Corporal Ronil Singh. He reportedly has a criminal record and gang ties and is in the US illegally, but police say their hands were tied by 'sanctuary' laws.
(2018-12-29). U.S. Military Posture In The Persian Gulf Threatens Indian Hopes For Iran's Chabahar Port. iranian.com The arrival of the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier group in the Gulf to deter Iran from further testing ballistic missiles is likely to dampen Indian hopes that the Trump administration's exemption of the port of Chabahar from sanctions against the Islamic republic would help it tighten economic relations with Central Asia and further regional integration. […]
(2018-12-29). 'No to $5 Billion, No to $2.1 Billion, No to $1.6 Billion': Progressive Groups Pressure Democrats to Reject Any Funding for Trump's Anti-Immigrant Agenda. commondreams.org The ACLU and dozens of other advocacy groups urged Democrats to "reject any additional funding for detention beds, ICE and Border Patrol agents, or other harmful enforcement." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files……
(2018-12-28). The Courts Consistently Brushed Back Trump's Assaults on Immigrants in 2018. aclu.org From family separation to the asylum ban, our independent judiciary stepped in to ensure that the president is not above the law. | This article was originally published in The Los Angeles Times. | For immigrants, there's no way to sugarcoat 2018. The Trump administration enacted a series of draconian policies targeting noncitizens, and the one that will most define the year — and this administration — is the separation of thousands of children, some less than a year old, from their mother…
(2018-12-28). How Israel's Conscription Law Assaults its Own Ultra-Orthodox Community. mintpressnews.com 
Not unlike the Palestinian people whose stance against Zionism is anchored in historical and moral rights, the Haredi community's heroic stance on military conscription is anchored in faith and principle that no power has been able to defeat.
(2018-12-28). What Can Humanity Learn From The Great Law Of Peace (2/2). therealnews.com 
Stuart Myiow, Wolf Clan Representative of the Mohawk Traditional Council, says Western 'democracies' wrongly prioritize individual rights over the rights of the collective
(2018-12-28). The Roots of Venezuela's Economic Crisis. therealnews.com 
As US sanctions against Venezuela take an ever-greater toll on the country and its people, it is important to understand how the sanctions work and the extent of the damage they have caused, say Steve Ellner and Greg Wilpert, in a joint analysis of the situation
(2018-12-27). The First Step Act Is a Small Step for Incarcerated Women. aclu.org While the law ends two gender-specific indignities of federal incarceration, it only begins to scratch the surface for incarcerated women. | The enactment of the First Step Act earlier this month will bring some much-needed change to our criminal justice system. But the First Step Act remains just that, a first step — particularly with respect to the impact that mass incarceration has had on cisgender women and trans people. | The legislation ends two gender-specific indignities…
(2018-12-27). Amber Heard: I Spoke Up Against Sexual Violence and Faced Our Culture's Wrath. aclu.org It's time to reform institutions that protect men accused of abuse. | This piece was originally published in the Washington Post. | I was exposed to abuse at a very young age. I knew certain things early on, without ever having to be told. I knew that men have the power — physically, socially and financially — and that a lot of institutions support that arrangement. I knew this long befor…
(2018-12-27). Counterbalancing Disproportionate Power: The Message from Harris Gleckman. therealnews.com 
No major democratic country deals with domestic civil or criminal matters related to human rights based on a voluntary system, explains Harris Gleckman, in an op-ed on the disproportionate power wielded by transnational businesses in the current world system
(2018-12-27). Saudi King Appoints Former Ritz-Carlton Detainee as Foreign Minister. theantimedia.com 
(MEE) — King Salman of Saudi Arabia has appointed a new foreign minister as part of a major cabinet reshuffle, a royal decree has said. Ibrahim al-Assaf will replace Adel al-Jubeir, the foreign ministry said on Thursday citing the decree. Jubeir will be demoted to minister of state for foreign affairs, it added. Assaf, a former long-serving …
(2018-12-26). Muslim Ban: Meet the Yemeni Americans Suing Trump in an Attempt to Reunite with Loved Ones. democracynow.org 
A group of Yemeni Americans have filed a new federal lawsuit over President Trump's Muslim ban. The suit alleges the State Department has revoked previously approved visas, preventing many Yemenis from reuniting with their families living in the United States. We speak to two of the plaintiffs and the Center for Constitutional Rights, which brought the lawsuit.
(2018-12-26). The Battle to Stop Family Separation. aclu.org How a Congolese mother and child set in motion an extraordinary battle that exposed government conduct unprecedented in its cruelty and carelessness. | In March 2017, John Kelly, then Secretary of Homeland Security, said in an interview with CNN that the Trump administration was considering a national policy to separate parents from their children to deter immigrants from crossing the border into the United States. The proposal triggered a backlash because it was so unpalatable, and the…
(2018-12-26). 8-Year-Old Guatemalan Boy Dies in Border Patrol Custody Days After High Court Rejects Asylum Ban. democracynow.org 
For the second time this month, a Guatemalan child has died in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Eight-year-old Felipe Gómez Alonzo died in New Mexico on Christmas Eve, after being detained since December 18. This follows the death of a 7-year-old indigenous Guatemalan girl, Jakelin Caal Maquín, who died on December 8, two days after she and her father presented themselves at the border in a bid for asylum. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has rejected President Trump's asylum ban, which attempted to deny asylum to anyone entering the country from outside of a legal port of entry. Supreme Court Chief…
(2018-12-26). China: Trial of lawyer Wang Quanzhang a "cruel charade" amnesty.org The trial of Chinese human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang is a cruel charade and he should be immediately and unconditionally released, Amnesty International said. | Wang is one of the few lawyers still held in detention after the Chinese government's mass crackdown in 2015, which targeted nearly 250 lawyers and activists. He is on trial at the Tianjin Municipal No.2 Intermediate People's Court accused of "subverting state power," which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. | "This is a sham trial in which Wang Quanzhang is being persecuted only for peacefully defending human rights," said Doriane Lau, C…
(2018-12-24). Sudan: 37 protesters dead in government crackdown on demonstrations. amnesty.org Amnesty International has credible reports that 37 protesters have been shot dead by the security forces in five days of anti-government demonstrations that have rocked the country. | "With further protest planned tomorrow, the fact that the security forces are using lethal force so indiscriminately against unarmed protesters is extremely troubling," said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International's deputy director for East Africa, the Great Lakes and the Horn. |
(2018-12-24). Russian Federation: The Network case, shrouded in secrecy and marred by numerous torture allegations. amnesty.org Amnesty International is concerned about the ongoing prosecution of at least 10 young men from Penza and St Petersburg, mostly left-wing political activists describing themselves as antifascists and anarchists, in connection with the so called "Network" (Set') case. It is particularly concerning that the complaints, made by several of the co-accused, about torture and other ill-treatment allegedly being used to extract "confessions", are not being investigated effectively.
(2018-12-24). Kenya: Global Compact on Refugees must be quickly anchored in national policy. amnesty.org The endorsement of the Global Compact on Refugees at the United Nations General Assembly on 17 December will not improve the lives of refugees in Kenya, based on the government's record on the rights of people fleeing conflict and persecution, unless it turns rhetoric into action. |
(2018-12-24). UN Members Thwart China's Bid to Gut Funds for Myanmar Probe. hrw.org 
| | Smoke is seen rising from Burma's Taung Pyo Let War village from across the border in Bangladesh. | | © 2017 Private | United Nations member countries thwarted an attempt by China to slash proposed funding for investigations into Myanmar's ethnic cleansing campaign against Rohingya Muslims. This ensures that a newly established UN body will have the necessary financing to gather and preserve criminal evidence for future trials. | After marathon negotiations — during which China called for cutting the propos…
(2018-12-23). DRC: Authorities must facilitate the right to protest peacefully to prevent further violence. amnesty.org Ahead of tomorrow's planned protests on the postponement of the elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 30 December 2018, Amnesty International is calling on the Congolese authorities to prevent further violence by upholding and facilitating people's right to peacefully exercise their freedom of expression. |
(2018-12-23). Major Liberal Groups Sat on Sidelines as Senate Passed Historic Resolution on Yemen War. theintercept.com The Senate vote this month to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen marked a historic break from a bipartisan embrace of a pro-war foreign policy, yet it was accomplished without strong backing from Washington's liberal foreign policy infrastructure. | The resolution, co-sponsored by Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., invokes the rights laid out in the War Powers Act of 1973 that assert Congress's authority over war, and it was the result of many months of work by a coalition of progressive activists and anti-war lawmakers. The war is Saudi-led, but the U.S. has provided cri…
(2018-12-23). Iraq/Kurdistan Region: Risk of Double Trials for ISIS Ties. hrw.org 
| | Cigarette burns cover the hands and arms of 18-year-old "Karim." Kurdish authorities held him for 13 months. He then returned home and was rearrested by authorities under Baghdad's control, who tortured and held him for months. | © 2018 San Saravan | (Beirut) — Sunni Arab boys who serve prison time in Iraq's Kurdistan region for Islamic State (also known as ISIS) connections risk rearrest after their release if they try to reunite with their families…
(2018-12-22). Significant Poverty in the UK Triggers Investigation by Human Rights Expert (1/2). therealnews.com 
Poverty and destitution in the UK, even among those employed, and harsh government policy 'solutions' like punitive 'job centers' hit the most vulnerable hardest, including women and people with disabilities, explains UN Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston discussing his investigation into UK poverty.
(2018-12-22). UK Poverty Is the Consequence of Ideological Policy Choices of the Government (2/2). therealnews.com 
The British model since 2010, based on 'austerity' can be seen as a transfer of resources from the poor to the relatively wealthy, explains UN Special Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty & Human Rights, Philip Alston discussing his investigation into UK poverty.
(2018-12-22). Bangladesh: Violent Campaign Targets Opposition. hrw.org 
| | Police rush Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporters at a protest on February 9, 2018, Dhaka, Bangladesh. | © 2018 Allison Joyce/Getty Images | (New York) — A repressive political environment in Bangladesh ahead of the December 30, 2018 national elections is undermining the credibility of the process, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Bangladeshi authorities should impartially investigate allegations of election violence and ensure that…
(2018-12-21). Headlines for December 21, 2018. democracynow.org Secretary of Defense Mattis Resigns in Rebuke of Trump Foreign Policy, Trump & Senate at Impasse over Border Wall Funding as Shutdown Looms, Acting AG Whitaker Rejected Advice of DOJ to Recuse Himself from Mueller Probe, U.S. Plans to Send Asylum Seekers Back to Mexico While Awaiting Claims Processing, Treasury Dept. Lifts Sanctions on Russian Oligarch's Business Empire, DOJ Charges 2 Chinese Nationals over Massive Hacking Campaign, Yemeni Mother Reunites with Dying Son After Travel Ban Waiver, Egypt: Court Acquits 40 NGO Workers over 2013 Illegal Funding Charges, Pope Francis: Catholic Church Will "Never Again"
(2018-12-21). States Are Cracking Down on the Movement for Palestinian Rights—but Cities Are Pushing Back. thenation.com States Are Cracking Down on the Movement for Palestinian Rights—but Cities Are Pushing Back…
(2018-12-21). 'We Should Expect Them to Keep Developing New Ways to Subvert Public Will' – CounterSpin interview with Paul Rosenberg on GOP power grabs. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Paul Rosenberg about Republican post-election power grabs for the December 14, 2018, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2018-12-21). Sudan: Shooting of protestors must be immediately investigated. amnesty.org In response to security officers opening fire on protestors in Sudan leaving at least nine people dead, five of whom were students, and dozens more injured over the past two days, Seif Magango, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, said: | | "These killings must stop. Opening fire on unarmed protesters cannot be justified and…
(2018-12-21). Emiratos àÅrabes Unidos: Posible sentencia en la causa de defensor de los derechos humanos. amnesty.org El 24 de diciembre de 2018, el Tribunal Supremo Federal de Emiratos àÅrabes Unidos (EAU) verá el recurso de apelación del destacado defensor de los derechos humanos y preso de conciencia Ahmed Mansoor. Es posible que el tribunal dicte sentencia definitiva ese mismo día. El 29 de mayo de 2018, Ahmed Mansoor fue declarado culpable y condenado a 10 años de prisión por "insultar a los EAU y sus símbolos", entre otros cargos.
(2018-12-21). Taiwan: Open Letter on legal recognition of same-sex unions. amnesty.org Dear Premier Lai, | We write concerning the results of the recent referendums in Taiwan in which same-sex marriage rights and LGBT-inclusive education in schools were rejected by voters on 24 November. We urge the Taiwanese authorities not to implement the outcomes of the referendums as this would violate human rights law, bolster discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and undermine comprehensive and inclusive education on gender and sexuality. | We would like to recall that despite the referendum results, the Taiwanese government still is under court order to enact legislation for recognizing same-se…
(2018-12-21). Ethiopia: Commentary on Ethiopia's draft CSO law. amnesty.org Amnesty International is pleased to provide this commentary on the draft Charities and Societies Proclamation submitted by Ethiopia's Legal Advisory Council to the Federal Attorney General. The draft proclamation marks a major improvement on existing legislation and will offer greater respect for the rights to freedom of association and expression. Some provisions would, however, continue to significantly impede the enjoyment of these rights. This commentary proposes recommendations to encourage and urge the Ethiopian government to further strengthen the draft legislation in line with its expressed commitment to…
(2018-12-21). United Arab Emirates: Further Information: Possible Verdict For Human Rights Defender: Ahmed Mansoor. amnesty.org On 24 December 2018 the Federal Supreme Court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to hear the appeal of prominent human rights defender and prisoner of conscience, Ahmed Mansoor. The court may issue a final verdict. On 29 May 2018, Ahmed Mansoor was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges including "insulting the UAE and its symbols".
(2018-12-21). Nicaragua: Report by independent experts affirms that government of President Ortega has committed crimes against humanity. amnesty.org In response to the publication of the "Report on the Acts of Violence Occurred Between April 18 and May 30, 2018 in Nicaragua," by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI-Nicaragua) today, Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas director at Amnesty International, said: | "The damning report by the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts reveals that the government of President Daniel Ortega has committed crimes against humanity in the context of the crisis that began last April. This report constitutes a detailed investigation of the crimes under international law and human rights violations carried…
(2018-12-21). Émirats arabes unis: Jugement attendu pour un défenseur des droits humains. amnesty.org Le 24 décembre 2018, la Cour suprême fédérale des Émirats arabes unis doit examiner l'appel interjeté par l'éminent défenseur des droits humains et prisonnier d'opinion Ahmed Mansoor. La cour devrait rendre un verdict définitif. Le 29 mai, Ahmed Mansoor a été déclaré coupable entre autres d' ´ outrage aux Émirats arabes unis et à leurs symboles ª et condamné à 10 ans de prison.
(2018-12-21). US: Don't Return Asylum Seekers to Mexico. hrw.org 
| | The port of entry to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. © 2017 Human Rights Watch | (Washington, DC) — The US Department of Homeland Security has announced a policy, effective immediately, that will return asylum seekers to Mexico while their claims are processed in the United States. This raises serious concerns about whether asylum-seeking adults and families will be obstructed in their ability to pursue their asylum claims…
(2018-12-21). #SaveHakeem — Stop deportation of Bahraini refugee. greenleft.org.au 
Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi has been held in detention in Thailand since November 27, facing the terrifying prospect of deportation to the country where he was tortured. | Al-Araibi fled to Australia in 2014 and was accepted as a refugee. In November, he travelled on UN travel documents to Thailand for a short holiday with his wife. When he arrived at Bangkok airport, Al-Araibi was arrested under an Interpoll "Red Notice" (an international arrest warrant) issued by the Bahrain government. | Interpol is not meant to issue red notices for refugees, so this red notice should never have been issued for Al-Araib…
(2018-12-20). Congress Just Took a Big Step Toward Ending the Shackling of Pregnant Prisoners. aclu.org Passing the First Step Act will be a step toward upholding the rights and protecting the health of pregnant prisoners. | Congress on Thursday passed the Senate version of the First Step Act, which is now headed for signature to President Trump. He is expected to sign it on Friday. | The First Step Act would, in addition to enacting other important criminal justice reforms, prohibit the shackling of p…
(2018-12-20). 'Domestic Workers Don't Have Protections Against Discrimination and Harassment' – CounterSpin interview with Mariana Viturro on Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. fair.org 
Janine Jackson interviewed Mariana Viturro about the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights for the December 14, 2018, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript. | Media…
(2018-12-20). Tell Google to drop Dragonfly. amnesty.org Google may have paused their plans to support censorship in China – but it's time they commit not to trade human rights for profit. | In August 2018, it was revealed that despite promising not to support censorship in China, Google was preparing to break their promise and launch a search engine that would comply with the Chinese government's repressive internet regulations. | The project was code-named "Dragonfly" and people around the world including journalists, human rights organizations and Google's own employees protested the business move. In December 2018, it was leaked that Google would be hitting pause…
(2018-12-20). United Arab Emirates: Further Information: Hunger-Striking Academic In Critical Condition: Dr Nasser bin Ghaith. amnesty.org Dr Nasser bin Ghaith's health has severely deteriorated. The prominent Emirati economist and academic has been on hunger strike for over 70 days in al-Razeen prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to protest the detention conditions and the denial of access to medical care. He is a prisoner of conscience.