(2019-01-27). Yemeni mothers protest over sons held in secret UAE-run prisons. aljazeera.com Rights group demands the Yemeni government 'reveal the fate' of the missing, as 86 prisoners go on hunger strike.
(2019-01-27). Denouncing U.S. Regime Change Agenda in Venezuela. zcomm.org On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged to send $20 million to the Venezuelan opposition in the form of humanitarian aid to address the shortages of food and medicine caused in part by harsh U.S. sanctions. Pompeo made the announcement while speaking at the OAS, the Organization of American States. Pompeo's speech was Read more…
(2019-01-27). ROBERT PARRY: With the US Meddling Again in Latin America, a Look Back at How Washington Promoted Genocide in Guatemala. consortiumnews.com As the U.S. declares a new government in Venezuela, we look back at how the Reagan administration promoted human rights violations in Guatemala, including genocide inflicted on Indian villages, as the late Robert Parry reported on Feb. 21, 2013. By… Read more →
(2019-01-27). Saudi billionaire Mohammed al-Amoudi released from detention. aljazeera.com The tycoon, who had a net worth estimated to be $10.9bn, was detained as part of 'anti-corruption purge' in 2017.
(2019-01-27). Championing hope and human rights in Kibera. amnesty.org …
(2019-01-27). Sights and Sounds from Oakland's 5th Annual Reclaim King's Radical Legacy Events. indybay.org On Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Oakland on January 21, 2019, the Anti Police-Terror Project hosted a powerful and moving day of civil rights speakers, marches, children's activities, drums, music, song, and dance. In tribute to families who have lost loved ones to police violence, guns were melted and cast into into stars, displayed in a pattern recreating the constellations visible in the night sky when Oscar Grant was murdered ten years ago. These video clips capture some of the sights and sounds from morning and evening events.
(2019-01-27). Transcending Language Barriers to Connect With Asylum Seekers. truthout.org It's a cold, rainy morning in Tijuana, blustery and raw. My car, an old Jetta diesel wagon with more than 200,000 miles on it, has been a trooper, steady and dependable, hauling asylum seekers to and fro for most of a month now. | I'm here as part of a loosely-knit collective known as Sanctuary Caravan; our mission is to provide our friends (which is how we regard those seeking asylum) with the information they need to be able to successfully navigate the labyrinthine path ultimately leading to an asylum hearing before a US immigration judge. | Since arriving in this Mexican border city of 1.6 million people,…
(2019-01-27). Vermont's GOP Governor Says He'll Sign Legislation Protecting "Roe" truthout.org Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican who favors some restrictions on abortion access, came out in support of a bill introduced Wednesday to protect abortion rights in the state. | The bill, which would protect abortion rights should conservatives on the US Supreme Court strike down Roe v. Wade, was introduced on the house floor by Reps. Ann Pugh (D-South Burlington) and Maxine Grad (D-More…
(2019-01-26). The US Strategy for Regime Change in Venezuela. zcomm.org From economic sanctions to international pressure, how has the US strategy for regime change in Venezuela worked until now?
(2019-01-26). The Invisibility of Protester Deaths in Poor Areas. venezuelanalysis.com Twenty-eight people were killed in Venezuela between January 21 and 24. Venezuelan human rights organization SURGENTES examines who has been most affected by the spiral of violence.
(2019-01-26). Advancing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities in Armenia. hrw.org 
| | Artur Hakobyan gives interview to RFE/RL's Armenian Service: Radio Azatutyun. | Screenshot © RFE/RL/Radio Azatutyun | A recent decision by Armenia's highest court promises to advance the right to equal justice for people with disabilities in Armenia. | In 2015, Artur Hakobyan, a then 18-year-old military conscript reported that a military commander physically abused him on several occasions during his mandatory service. Hakobyan alleges that on one occasion, the commander dragged him by his ear and hit him in the n…
(2019-01-26). Australia: Hundreds of immigration detainees launch hunger strikes. wsws.org The detainees describe their living conditions as "worse than a prison."
(2019-01-26). Philippines: Reject attempts to lower minimum age of criminal responsibility to 12. amnesty.org Amnesty International is deeply concerned at renewed efforts by the Philippine government to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years old. The proposed change is contrary to authoritative guidance on international standards relating to juvenile justice, which urges States not to lower their minimum age of criminal responsibility to the age of 12. This move is all the more disturbing when seen in the context of the Philippines' 'war on drugs', which has left thousands dead and continues to claim children's lives.
(2019-01-25). My Time as an NAACP LAW Fellow. naacp.org I applied for the NAACP's law fellows program because of the organization's legacy in protecting the rights of people of color and in doing so the rights of all people. Law school has allowed me to more fully contextualize the history of race in the United States, and I recognized the crucial role the NAACP has played […]
(2019-01-25). France, Yellow Vests and the MEK. counterpunch.org No one today is surprised at the foreign policy of the United States. War, violation of international law and disdain for human rights are all characteristics of the criminal enterprise known as the U.S. government. Most of the U.S.'s allies display some or all of these same vices, but some are often considered above such More
(2019-01-25). Pompeo, Hypocrisy and War. counterpunch.org On January 2 US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Brazil, and his Department noted that in discussions with Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo they "highlighted the importance of working together to address regional and global challenges, including supporting the people of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua in restoring their democratic governance and their human rights." Pompeo More
(2019-01-25). Watch the 14th Vigil for Assange. consortiumnews.com Julian Assange's lawyers filed a petition with the Inter-American Court for Human Rights and WikiLeaks is mentioned in a new Mueller indictment unveiled Friday, two of the topics that were discussed on the 14th Vigil on Friday. Guests included Peter… Read more →
(2019-01-25). "Remain in Mexico" Policy Is a Virtual Wall, Will Lead to Deaths, Rights Attorneys Say. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2019-01-25). It's Time to Give TSA Screeners Full Union Rights. thenation.com 
The shutdown has exposed how dangerous it can be to starve critical safety personnel. | The post It's Time to Give TSA Screeners Full Union Rights…
(2019-01-25). CodePink's Medea Benjamin Disrupts Pompeo Speech to Denounce U.S. Regime Change Agenda in Venezuela. democracynow.org 
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged to send $20 million to the Venezuelan opposition in the form of humanitarian aid to address the shortages of food and medicine caused in part by harsh U.S. sanctions. Pompeo made the announcement while speaking at the OAS, the Organization of American States. Pompeo's speech was interrupted by CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin, who held a sign reading, "OAS: Don't Support a Coup in Venezuela."
(2019-01-25). Amnesty International Should Oppose US Economic Sanctions and Incitement of a Military Coup in Venezuela. mintpressnews.com Writers, academics and political activists wrote the following letter to Amnesty International encouraging the group to publically oppose US sanctions and incitement of a military coup in Venezuela.
(2019-01-25). It's Time to Update Aging Voting Equipment Before the 2020 Election. aclu.org Sixteen million voters encountered problems voting in 2016. A big culprit was aging voting equipment. | When Ronald Campbell went to his polling location in Horry County, South Carolina, to vote in the 2018 midterms, he wasn't expecting it to become an odyssey. But when he and his wife arrived at their polling location, the lines were so long that Ronald feared he and his wife wouldn't be physically able to stand for the amount of time it would take to get to the voting booth. Nevertheless, they returned to the polling location four separate times throughout the day until the line had become reasonable — th…
(2019-01-25). Arrest of Marzieh Hashemi Reveals Bipartisan Nature of Police State. counterpunch.org Arresting PressTV's Marzieh Hashemi on no criminal charges demonstrates by any objective measure the United States operates as a rogue state in its utter contempt for accepted international human-rights law and standards. Hashemi, an African American mother and grandmother converted to Islam, moved to Iran more than 25 years ago. She has become an internationally More
(2019-01-25). Venezuela: Arrests, Killings in Anti-Government Protests. hrw.org 
| | A demonstrator is detained by security forces during clashes at a protest against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, July 10, 2017. | © 2017 Reuters/Carlos Garcia Rawlins |
| (New York) — Venezuelan officials should be held accountable if security forces resort to the same repressive tactics they have used in previous crackdowns against anti-government protests, Human Rights Watch said today. | On January 23,…
(2019-01-25). Tunisia: Bloggers Held for Criticizing Officials. hrw.org 
| | Revolutionary graffiti adorns a wall of the Prime Minister's office in Tunis, January 22, 2011. | © 2011 Reuters/Finbarr O'Reilly | (Tunis) — Tunisian authorities are investigating, charging, and in some cases detaining bloggers and social media activists merely for their peaceful criticism of public officials, Human Rights Watch said today. Several said they have begun to censor themselves because of police action and threat of prosecut…
(2019-01-25). South Dakota Rejects Restrictions on Trans Athletes. hrw.org 
| | Rainbow flags for sale are photographed on June 24, 2017. | © 2017 Reuters | South Dakota lawmakers have rejected a bill which would have barred transgender students from participating in athletics consistent with their gender identity. | The ACLU and other organizations spoke out against the bill, with the South Dakota High School Activities Association, the Association of School Boards in South Dakota, the South Dakota Education Associa…
(2019-01-25). Lebanon: Environmental Prosecutors Named. hrw.org 
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(2019-01-25). Egypt's LGBT Crackdown Expands to Stifle Journalists. hrw.org 
| | Screenshot of an August 2018 television segment in which Egyptian anchor Mohamed Al-Ghaity interviewed an unidentified gay guest. Al-Ghaity was sentenced to one year in prison for the interview in January 2019. | © 2018 LTC TV/YouTube | An Egyptian television anchor was unexpectedly sentenced to one year in prison for interviewing a gay man on TV last week. The conviction of Mohamed Al-Ghaity,…
(2019-01-25). Antiwar Hero Medea Benjamin Disrupts Pompeo Speech on Venezuela. theantimedia.com 
(CJ Opinion) — Before they launch missiles, they launch narratives. Before they drop bombs, they drop talking points. Before they implement crushing starvation sanctions, they demonize and condemn. Before they invade, they propagandize. Before the killing starts, manipulation paves the way. For this reason, the front line of any antiwar movement is a fight against the establishment …
(2019-01-25). While Google paid lip-service to workplace activists, their lawyers fought to strip their rights. rt.com 
Employees at web giant Google are in an uproar after it was reported the company had been pushing to overturn a labor law ruling protecting activists who organize over workplace email and forums.
(2019-01-25). Saudi Arabia: Access for independent monitors urgently needed amid more reports of torture of activists. amnesty.org Amnesty International has obtained new reports of torture and abuse inflicted on a group of Saudi Arabian human rights activists who have been in arbitrary detention since May 2018. These reports follow similar testimonies from November 2018 into the torture of a number of the activists, and highlight the urgent need to allow independent monitors access to those in detention, the organization said today. | According to the testimonies, a total of ten human rights defenders were tortured, sexually abused, and subjected to other forms of ill-treatment during their first three months of detention, when they were hel…
(2019-01-25). Zimbabwe: Security forces must be held accountable for the brutal assault on human rights. amnesty.org The Zimbabwean authorities must act swiftly to ensure security forces are held to account for ongoing brutal human rights violations, including torture, rape, beatings and killings of civilians, Amnesty International said today as the crackdown continues against last week's 'stay-away'. | | Dozens o…
(2019-01-25). Sri Lanka: Hope flickers as justice still proves elusive. amnesty.org Time is running out for the Sri Lankan authorities to deliver on its 2015 commitments to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-recurrence, Amnesty International warned today in a new briefing. | As the tenth anniversary of the end of Sri Lanka's internal conflict looms in May, progress on UN Human Rights Council Resolution 30/1 has proceeded at a glacial pace, the hopes of the victims of crimes under international law and human rights violations and abuses during the conflict have been reduced to a flicker. |
(2019-01-25). DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA: GESTURES ARE NOT ENOUGH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SUBMISSION FOR THE UN UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW, 33RD SESSION OF THE UPR WORKING GROUP, MAY 2019. amnesty.org This submission was prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in May 2019. In it, Amnesty International evaluates the implementation of recommendations made to the DPRK in its previous UPR, including in relation its engagement and cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms and other international human rights-related organizations.
(2019-01-25). How Not to Report on Prison Conditions. counterpunch.org The United States, by all metrics, has one of the cruelest prison systems in the world. In addition to having 25 percent of the world's prison population (with just 5 percent of the world's people), U.S. prisons use tortuous solitary confinement, tolerate widespread sexual violence, host massive racial disparities, and routinely abuse children, among other human rights More
(2019-01-25). Congress Is Pushing Sanctions Against Supporters of Syria's Bashar al-Assad. theintercept.com On Tuesday, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to impose new sanctions on the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and its allies, and those who do business with them. The move comes a month after President Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw troops from Syria, and as some Arab governments are thawing relations with the Assad regime, which has all but secured a military victory after nearly eight years of war. The measure has been passed by the House twice in previous sessions, and a companion bill currently remains pending in the Senate. | House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Eliot…
(2019-01-24). What's been learned won't be easily forgotten. mronline.org 
A young Venezuelan intellectual argues that the revolutionary potential of Chavismo may be in abeyance, but it could come back to life again. | Source
(2019-01-24). Black Children Don't Have Nick Sandmann's Rights. thenation.com Black Children Don't Have Nick Sandmann's Rights…
(2019-01-24). A Trans Woman Was Charged With 'False Personation' for Giving the NYPD Her Real Name. aclu.org 
While in custody, officers cuffed Linda Dominguez to her cell using pink handcuffs and repeatedly called her by her old first name. | On her way home from the bus stop on a spring night in the Bronx last year, Linda Dominguez cut across a park because it was the most direct route to her apartment. Even though others leaving the bus were also crossing the park, three officers from the New York City Police Department singled out and arrested Linda, a Latina transgender woman, and took her to the precinct. | Linda, who doesn't speak English, had no idea why the police had stopped her or what they were arresting her…
(2019-01-24). American-Iranian TV Anchor Marzieh Hashemi Released From FBI Custody Without Charge. mintpressnews.com 
U.S. citizen Marzieh Hashemi, an anchor on Iran's English-language service Press TV, has been released without charge after being illegally detained for ten days by the FBI. | Hashemi was arrested earlier this month while boarding an internal U.S. flight from St. Louis to Denver where she had been filming a documentary on the Black Lives Matter movement. The 59-year-old African American is a convert to Islam and has been living in Iran for the past several years. | Her arrest prompted protests across the worl…
(2019-01-24). Arizona Provides Me Unequal Healthcare Because I'm Transgender. aclu.org I'm part of a class-action lawsuit to ensure that the state of Arizona includes transition-related health care in its insurance coverage. | I'm a professor of family studies and human development at the University of Arizona, and I have dedicated my career to studying how discrimination impacts LGBTQ adolescents. I'm also transgender, and I know from experience that growing up is different — and still much more difficult — for LGBTQ youth. So it came as a disappointment when I learned that the state university where I work does not cover transition-related healthcare for its employees or their depende…
(2019-01-24). Lawyer Wolfgang Kaleck: Bush, Rumsfeld & Cheney Are a Troika of Tyranny & Should Be in Prison. democracynow.org 
As Venezuela faces an attempted coup supported by the U.S., Brazil and the European Union, we speak with human rights attorney Wolfgang Kaleck. In November, John Bolton accused Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua of being part of a "troika of tyranny." Kaleck says the real "troika of tyranny" is George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, who should be in prison for war crimes. Kaleck is a human rights attorney who for decades has been at the forefront of the legal fight to hold powerful actors and governments around the world accountable for human rights abuses. His new book, titled "Law Versus Power: Our Global…
(2019-01-24). A Disturbing Number of Missouri Towns Evict Residents for Calling the Police. aclu.org The ACLU is urging towns across Missouri to repeal unjust 'nuisance ordinances.' | Over the last few decades in towns and cities across America, local authorities have passed laws that punish people for calling 911 with steep fines and eviction, even when they are seeking police protection. Known as nuisance ordinances, these laws present victims of crime with an impossible choice. As a domestic violence survivor in St. Louis put it: "If I…
(2019-01-24). Iran: Prominent Labor Activist Rearrested. hrw.org 
(Beirut) — Iranian authorities on January 20, 2019 arrested two activists who had alleged that authorities tortured them in detention, Human Rights Watch said today. The arrests of Ismael Bakhshi, a prominent labor rights activist, and Sepideh Gholian, a journalist and labor rights activist, came the day after Iranian state television broadcast confessions that they said they were forced to make in detention. | | | Screen shot from Islamic Republic of Iran Broad…
(2019-01-24). Education Finally Gets Global Attention. hrw.org 
| Today, the global community marks the first International Day of Education. | For students, teachers, and organizations that support children's right to education, it's been a long time coming. Since the 1990s, activists have mobilized to try and ensure education gets more attention globally and nationally. The United Nations hopes to use this day to highlight education's fundame…
(2019-01-24). Russia: First Criminal Case under 'Undesirables' Law. hrw.org 
| | Anastasiya Shevchenko at her court hearing in Rostov-on-Don on January 23, 2019. | © Alissa Vasilyeva, Rostov-on-Don, 2019 | (Moscow) — Russian authorities opened their first criminal case against a Russian activist for alleged involvement with a so-called "undesirable" foreign organization, Human Rights Watch said today. On January 23, 2019 Rostov-on-Don court placed Anastasia Shevchenko, a member of the Open Russia Civic Movement (ORCM), under hou…
(2019-01-24). Saudi Arabia: Let Outside Monitors See Detainees. hrw.org 
| (Beirut) — Saudi authorities should immediately allow independent international monitors to enter Saudi Arabia and meet with detainees, including those who have alleged torture, Human Rights Watch said today. The detainees should include the prominent princes and business leaders held as part of a so-called corruption probe, and the prominent women's rights advocates detained since May 2018. | Media outlets have reported that Saudi authorities opened two investigations into the torture allegati…
(2019-01-24). A Voice for LGBT Rights Silenced in Brazil. hrw.org 
| | Jean Wyllys during the 15th LGBT Conference in Brazil ¥s Congress on June 6, 2018. | © 2018 José Cruz/Agência Brasil | Brazil ¥s Congress has lost an important voice for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people at a time when it is most needed: Jean Wyllys, an openly gay member of Congress, has announced he will give up his seat over fears for…
(2019-01-24). UN/ECOWAS: Release Report on Gambia Migrant Massacre. hrw.org 
| | Massacre survivor Martin Kyere at Accra cemetery where six bodies were returned from Gambia. | © 2018 Bénédict De Moerloose/TRIAL International | (Geneva) — Five United Nations human rights monitors have urged the UN and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to release their report on the 2005 massacre in Gambia of more than 50 Ghanaian and other West African migrants, Human Rights Watch and TRIAL…
(2019-01-24). Libya: Displaced Population Can't Go Home. hrw.org 
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