Human Rights in the News

Human Rights in the News: 2021

March 2021

During the COVID pandemic, the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2020 has reported increased violations. Areas of interest include the protests in Belarus, Venezuela, and Hong Kong for freedom of speech, assembly, and free elections; and in China, the condition of health care workers and Uyghurs predominantly.
US and Partners Seek to Deter Human Rights Violations
A report has come out on the effects of ageism from the UN. It examines the effects of ageism on healthcare, mental health, and isolation, especially during the pandemic.
Ageism leads to poorer health, social isolation, earlier deaths and cost economies billions: report calls for swift action to implement effective anti-ageism strategies.
A new anti-protest bill in the UK is met with criticism for adding protection to statues and giving more powers to the police. It has also been accused of targeting Romani, not providing protection to women and girls, and targeting freedom of speech.
New anti-protest bill raises profound concern and alarm, human rights groups say
The Civil Rights Front has been accused of violating security laws in Hong Kong, leading to multiple human rights groups withdrawing their membership. If their violation is proven true, the Front could be banned.
HK Civil Human Rights Front is disbanding amid probe into sources of funding
The list of human rights defenders, journalists, and people in the media killed in Afghanistan has been compiled into a UNAMA report. Afghanistan has historically had difficulties in freedom of speech through killings and harsh treatment of reporters and media members.
Ethiopia's Tigray area has seen an increase in malnourishment cases. The area saw a violent clash with the military in late 2020 after tensions between the federal government and the region's leadership reached a breaking point. Red Cross officials reported about 80% of the six million people living in Tigray are living in starvation. The hospitals are also undersupplied in terms of food, medicine, and support.
The Conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region: What to Know
‘Emaciated’ survivors hint at worse in Ethiopia’s Tigray
Muslims residing in New Delhi have face increased violence through personal attacks and riots. Though they attempt to get the police involved, investigations are not often followed through on the claimed basis of lack of evidence.
Muslim victims of 2020 Delhi violence ‘losing hopes of justice’

Pakistan increases limits on media and expression, especially towards groups of women and minorities.
Pakistan Stepped Up Crackdown On Media, Failed To Stem Violence Against Women, Minorities In 2020: Report
Cameroon opposition leader, Mauice Kamto, had been under de facto house arrest until it was lifted without reason September 2020. There had been protests against the elections in Cameroon and several opposition leaders and officers had been arrested and were being held.
Cameroon Opposition de facto House Arrest Ends
Journalists, media organizations, and human rights organizations have been the targets of violence in Venezuela. Military and police had raided a social organization in early January 2021, and three media outlets were the subject of intimidation around the same time.
Comment by UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado on Venezuela, 14 January 2021
Venezuela: Humanitarian Groups Under Attack
French military claimed to target fighters when firing upon a village in Mali. While the military claimed they were targeting fighters, the attack took place during daylight and ended up killing twenty guests that hd been attending a wedding.
Witnesses say 20 killed in air strike in central Mali
Mali/France: Investigate French Airstrike Killing 19
In December, there was a conflict between the Central African Republic's army, Russian and Rwanda fighters, and rebels who were trying to overturn the election results. Fighter Mahamat Said Abdel Kain was handed over to the Hague after he previously surrendered and was arrested. The accusations against him include him taking part and being responsible for torture, disappearances, and persecutions.
ICC has arrested Central African Republic war crimes suspect Said: statement
C.Africa War Crimes Suspect Handed To ICC: Court

Human Rights in the News: 2020

Haitian citizens protested their living conditions and other human rights violations like limited access to hospitals, education, and food. They demanded the current-sitting president step down next term, regardless of elections and their results.
Thousands of Haitians Protest Violence, Impunity on Human Rights Day
During the COVID-19 crsis around the world, the rights of older people in developing countries have been examined. Dorcas studied the rights of older people in countries like Mozambique, South Sudan, Syria, and others and released a report and how to help.
COVID-19 and the Rights of Older People in Developing Countries
The OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) addresses violations of human rights related to the Belarusian presidential elections in August this year, in accoradance to paragraph 11 of the Moscow Document. Among the rights violated are freedom of expression and media, political rights, freedom of assembly, and right to liberty and security.
OSCE Rapporteur’s Report under the Moscow Mechanism on Alleged Human Rights Violations related to the Presidential Elections of 9 August 2020 in Belarus
Anti-government protests occurred in Angola over the President's handling of the coronavirus and the arrest of protestors and reporters. Along with protestors and journalists being detained, the police forces took violent actions against protestors, inciting further protest.
Angola Braces for Anti-Government Protests
Angolan police detain, harass, and beat journalists covering protests
A year after protests in Iran were met by violence from Iranian security forces and led to the death nearly one hundred protestors, several human rights organizations petitioned for the UN to lead an investigation into human rights violations in Iran by security forces. Among the violations to be investiagted include disappearances, unlawful killings, and torture.
With Brutal Crackdown, Iran Is Convulsed by Worst Unrest in 40 Years
Joint call for states to mandate a UN-led inquiry into the serious human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, torture and unlawful killings during and in the aftermath of the November 2019 protests in Iran, on the occasion of the 45th session of the HRC
The United Nationas has called for action to be taken against the Mozambique government human rights violations taken in Cabo Delgado. Homes and villages, as well as schools and hospitals and government buildings, have been targets of violenceand destruction. There have also been kidnappings and personal attacks against individuals, especially women.
Civilians bear the brunt of violence in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado
Mozambique’s Army accused of human rights violations in Cabo Delgado
Mozambique committing abuses in fight against rebels: Amnesty
Cabo Ligado Weekly: 26 October - 1 November 2020
The African Child Policy Forum released a report highlighting the treatment of African girls including actions the governments have taken to guarantee girls their reights and safety.
The African Report on Child Wellbeing
A radio reporter in Afghanistan dead due to a an IED attached to his car. It is suspected that the Taliban has been the force behind it in response to his reporting on military operations.
Afghanistan: Reporter Murdered in Helmand
‘Alarming pattern’: Second Afghan journalist killed in a week
Journalist Killed in Helmnd Province, Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Radio Liberty journalist killed in bombing
Pope Francis supports same-sex marriage in civil unions, against traditional church teachings and bringing criticism.
Pope Francis, in Shift for Church, Voices Support for Same-Sex Civil Unions
Francis becomes first pope to endorse same-sex civil unions
SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Sqaud) violence escalates in Nigeria and protests arise, along with additional violence towards the protestors from police and armed forces. News in this story are updating and events are still occurring.
Nigeria’s SARS: A brief history of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
Lekki Massacre: JN-CAC, Nigeria Mourns condemn killings of protesters, call for justice
President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines admits to his "war on drugs" being at fault for thousands of deaths.
War on numbers: Philippines targets drug killing data
UN accused over failure to investigate 'war on drugs' killings in the Philippines
War on Numbers
Poland bans abortion in the cases of serious malformation of the fetus, which is why there is a significant amount of abortions in the country.
Justice drastically reduces the right to abortion in Poland
The democratic opposition to Belarus's recent election received Sakharov Prize for Human Rights. Protests have been occurring every every day since Lukashenko got elected in August.
The Sakharov Prize for Human Rights awarded to "women and men of the democratic opposition in Belarus"