Civic Space Developments
Wednesday 3.6.2020 Chad - Latest Developments
Détention d'un défenseur des droits de l'homme et acquittement en appel d'un journaliste condamné
Le 5 mai 2020 la Cour d'appel de N'Djamena a infirmé la décision d'un tribunal de première instance qui avait condamné le journaliste Martin Inoua Doulguet à une peine de trois ans de prison et à des amendes et dommages-intérêts élevés le 23 septembre 2019. Selon ses avocats, la cour d'appel a conclu qu'il y avait eu des « vices de procédure » et a reproché au tribunal de première instance d'avoir poursuivi le journaliste selon les dispositions du Code pénal, en violation de la loi régissant la presse au Tchad. Read more
Wednesday 3.6.2020 South Korea - Latest Developments
Targeting of LGBT+ people, anti-Chinese racism and privacy concerns in South Korea amid COVID-19
Surveillance guidelines were revised in March 2020 after the National Human Rights Commission criticised the detailed logs of patient travels and contacts were made public. There have been increased reports of homophobia and online harassment of the LGBT+ community after LGBT+ friendly nightclubs were linked to the spread of the coronavirus. Anti-Chinese racism has also increased. Read more
Tuesday 2.6.2020 Kiribati - Latest Developments
UN says women’s rights NGOs lack resources in Kiribati while LGBTI+ groups at risk during lockdown
In March 2020, Kiribati’s women’s rights record was reviewed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The Committee was concerned about their limited access to resources, which affects their capacity to independently promote, monitor, evaluate and advocate for the advancement of women’s rights. In Kiribati, LGBTI+ people are at risk if they have had to stay in lockdown during the pandemic with relatives who discriminate against and stigmatise them, a further burden on and threat to their mental and physical health. Read more
Monday 1.6.2020 Chad - Latest Developments
HRD arrested, three-year prison sentence for journalist overturned on appeal
On 5th May 2020, the Appeal Court of N'Djamena overturned the ruling by the Court of First Instance that sentenced journalist Martin Inoua Doulguet to a prison sentence of three years and to high fines and damages on 23rd September 2019. The Appeal Court concluded that there were 'procedural flaws' and reproached the court for prosecuting the journalist under the Penal Code in violation of the law that regulates the press, according to Inoua Doulguet's lawyers. Read more | Read in English
Monday 1.6.2020 Liberia - Latest Developments
COVID-19 pandemic: journalists attacked and intimidated while official threatens media
Press freedom organisations have raised concern at freedom of expression violations that have occurred in Liberia in the context of COVID-19, in particular intimidation of and physical attacks against journalists, while the solicitor general issued threats against the media and attempted to revise journalists’ press passes, creating obstacles for them to move around freely to report.
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Friday 29.5.2020 Uruguay - Latest Developments
Legislation proposed by Uruguay’s new government could be a setback for human rights
On 13th March 2020, Uruguay’s government issued a decree (93/020) declaring a state of national sanitary emergency due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Among other measures, the legislation suspended all public gatherings and announced mandatory quarantine for anyone confirmed positive for COVID-19 or showing symptoms and for those who had recently visited high-risk areas. Read more
Friday 29.5.2020 Laos - Latest Developments
Clampdown on expression online persists as Laos slips further down the press freedom rankings
There have been reports of human rights violations occurring during the lockdown in Laos. Individuals circulating a video of a land grab were detained and there were arrests for ‘fake news’ or ‘spreading rumours aimed at causing public panic’ related to COVID-19. Laos press freedom rankings dropped further, while concerns were raised around the lack of information on another proposed dam, amid a near-total lack of space for free speech. Read more
Thursday 28.5.2020 Russia - Latest Developments
Peaceful Assembly affected by COVID-19 restrictions
Mass protests banned in Moscow due to COVID-19; Marches held to commemorate fifth anniversary of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov; Experts document decreased willingness to join protests; Jamestown Foundation and European Endowment for Democracy banned in Russia; Chechen Opposition blogger attacked by an unknown person Read more
Wednesday 27.5.2020 Mexico - Latest Developments
Calls for more PPE and testing amid coronavirus outbreak in Mexico
In the context of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mexico’s Ministry of Health published on 24th March 2020 regulations suspending mass events, meetings and congregations of more than 100 people until further notice. Read more
Wednesday 27.5.2020 Kyrgyzstan - Latest Developments
Civic space concerns reinforced by COVID-19 response
Emergency measures were introduced in Kyrgyzstan in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a state of emergency in the capital Bishkek and several other cities and regions. These measures affected the protection of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly. For several weeks, journalists were not accredited or granted special permission to move around in the capital and other areas where the state of emergency was in place, which prevented them from effectively carrying out their work. Lawyers were also not exempted from the restrictions on movement that applied, which obstructed their efforts to provide legal assistance to clients. Rallies, pickets and all other assemblies were fully banned during the state of emergency and social media users were detained, threatened with criminal prosecution and forced to “publicly apologise” for spreading alleged false information about the pandemic.
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