extractive industries
Thursday 29.7.2021 Spain - Latest Developments -
Protests over gender-based violence, office of LGBTI rights organisation vandalised
On 3rd May 2021, the headquarters of Cogam, a non-profit organisation that has been fighting for the equality of LGBTI people in Madrid was vandalised with transphobic graffiti messages opposing the Law on Sexual Diversity. On 11th June 2021, spontaneous protests were held across the country against gender-based violence after the body of a six-year-old girl named Olivia was found on the seabed of the Canary Island, Tenerife. Related to LGBTI rights, on , on 29th June 2021, the government however approved a draft bill that would have allowed legal gender recognition based on self-determination. Read more | Read in Spanish
Thursday 22.7.2021 Ecuador - Latest Developments -
Ecuador: criminalisation of environmental defenders and bills affecting freedom of expression
In May 2021, state oil company Petroecuador filed criminal proceedings against Kichwa leader Wilson Geovanni Quindinga Salazar and his legal advisor Luis Xavier Solís Tenesaca for “paralysing public services”. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 28.6.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: Police restricts press access to environmental protests
On 30th April 2021, Canada’s federal government passed back-to-work legislation that essentially ended a strike by Montreal dockworkers, who had been protesting changes to their work schedules which they describe as unfair. Read more
Thursday 10.6.2021 Honduras - Latest Developments -
Violent attack on Indigenous peoples and surveillance of defenders demanding justice for Berta
On 10th May 2021, members of the San Francisco de Locomapa community, Yoro department, were violently attacked by individuals linked to the lumber industry and by the police. Indigenous peoples in the community have faced repeated attacks for their defence of their territories and the Tolupán forest against extractive activities. Read more
Friday 21.5.2021 United Kingdom - Latest Developments -
#KilltheBill protests continue amid police violence; Extinction Rebellion co-founder arrested
#KilltheBill protests against the policing bill continue across the UK, as protesters advocate for the protection of peaceful assembly rights. Meanwhile, the controversial bill has been declared in violation of international rights standards. Amid these developments, climate defenders from Extinction Rebellion remain under threat, with the arrest of the group's co-founder. In other concerning developments, Conservative MPs launched a complaint against independent race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, after the trust made critical comments about the governments controversial Race and Ethnic Disparities report. In addition, 200 UK NGOs have condemned government cuts to the aid budget which will have devastating consequences for the sector.
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Wednesday 19.5.2021 Norway - Latest Developments -
Cases of hate speech; climate protesters arrested
In mid-April 2021 a wide anti-Muslim SMS campaign was organised, which described Muslims as violent. The case is being investigated by police as hate speech under the Criminal Code. Another case related to religious and ethnic hate was also documented. In another development, the Norwegian rapper Kamelen was acquitted for shouting "f*** the police” during a concert in Kristiansand in 2018. On 3rd May 2021, Extinction Rebellion Norway reported that 18 activists were arrested and others heavily fined during a protest.
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Tuesday 11.5.2021 Brazil - Latest Developments -
Dictatorship-era National Security Law used to intimidate critics in Brazil
On 29th April 2021, Brazil became the second country to surpass 400,000 coronavirus deaths, according to data by Johns Hopkins University. In April 2021 alone, the country lost nearly 85,000 lives – the deadliest month yet of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more | Read in Portuguese
Thursday 1.4.2021 Ecuador - Latest Developments -
An environmental defender and a communicator killed in Ecuador in early 2021
The first round of Ecuador’s presidential election was held on 7th February 2021. Andrés Arauz, economist and candidate of the Union for Hope Alliance (UNES), emerged as the front runner. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 30.3.2021 Portugal - Latest Developments -
Far-right targets anti-racism activist
In the past year there has been a growth in far-right movements, both in terms of their presence on the streets and in political support. This has led to a deterioration of social peace and dialogue, resulting in a less enabling environment and the backsliding of rights for minority groups such as people of colour, the Roma population, migrants and LGBTI communities. The recent death of the country’s “most decorated war hero”, Lieutenant-Colonel Marcelino da Mata, has sparked debates on Portugal’s colonial past, resulting in threats to freedom of expression and the targeting of anti-racism activists. In particular, Mamadou Ba, a prominent anti-racism activist from the advocacy group SOS Racismo has been targeted by CDS-PP (conservative-right party) and othe far-right persons, who have called for his deportation. In a separate development. Concerns have been raised about the governments revised law on public utility, which intends to control CSOs. It is also concerning that the consultation with CSOs in the re-drafting process was exclusionary, with only some CSOs being consulted. There has also been limited consultation with CSOs for COVID-19 recovery planning. In addition, CSOs have reported that there was no consultation or process for civil society to feed into priority settings for the upcoming Portuguese Presidency of the EU.
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Wednesday 10.2.2021 South Sudan - Latest Developments -
Concern for violations against journalists in South Sudan ahead of the 2021 election
Despite the ongoing fragile political transition and delays in fully implementing the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, a presidential election is scheduled for 2021. The opposition have been increasingly hindered and locked out of South Sudan’s decision-making process;
UN convoy was attacked while travelling to deliver food items ; residents who live around Palouch and Melut oil fields in the Upper Nile region held demonstrations to bring attention to the environmental damage ; teachers in Jonglei state protest against unpaid allowances;
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