non state actors
Wednesday 10.2.2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo - Latest Developments -
Rights groups: increase in violations in 2020
Rights organisations have raised concern at the increase of human rights violations in the country in 2020. In its annual report, titled 'The return of the predators' and published on 2nd November 2020, Congolese press freedom organisation Journaliste en Danger (JED) said they had documented 116 press freedom violations, up from 85 the previous year. The majority of violations, which includes one journalist killed and tens of journalists detained, were perpetrated by state actors (authorities and security forces), followed by members and supporters of political parties and armed groups. Read more | Read in French
Tuesday 9.2.2021 Germany - Latest Developments -
Freedom of expression under the spotlight - yet again
Freedom of expression has once again come under attack during this reporting period. The Volksverpetzer, a German blog aimed at dispelling fake news and that has most recently been tackling facts around the COVID-19 pandemic, was threatened with legal action by Wolfgang Wodarg who is demanding damages of 250,000 EUR alongside an injunction. Four protests were scheduled to take place at Braunschweig train station and on Burgplatz, organised by right wing group Die Rechte calling for "End lockdown - save livelihoods". Journalists reported that they were ‘de facto’ excluded from the protests at Burgplatz and were only allowed to be in a designated area where they could not hear or see what was taking place. The Walter-Lübcke school in Wolfhagen, Hesse, was threatened in a letter signed ‘NSU 2.0’, referring to a neo-Nazi cell that murdered immigrants between 2000 and 2007. Read more
Wednesday 3.2.2021 Argentina - Latest Developments -
Argentina’s feminist movements celebrate approval of legal abortion law
Celebrations erupted in Argentina’s streets when the Senate passed the Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (IVE) Bill on 30th December 2020, in a victory for women’s movements in Argentina who had long campaigned for the legislation. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 26.1.2021 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Artists, journalists and activists targeted in Bangladesh while protesters threatened and attacked
In recent months, the government has used the repressive Digital Security Act (DSA) against artists, including film director Anonno Mamun and folk singer Rita Dewan, while writer Mushtaq Ahmed and cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore remain in detention. A Daily Sangram reporter was also arrested under this law while photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol was finally released on bail following his disappearance in March and detention in May 2020 under the DSA. There have been acts of harassment against relatives of a human rights defender in exile while anti-rape protesters have been threatened, smeared and attacked. Police also attempt to disrupt medical student protests and prevent opposition gatherings. Read more
Monday 25.1.2021 Paraguay - Latest Developments -
Campesinos and Indigenous peoples mobilise in Paraguay
In October and November 2020, thousands of rural workers, Indigenous peoples and social organisations mobilised for a series of demands, including social justice, land redistribution and support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 19.1.2021 United States of America - Latest Developments -
Democracy in peril in the United States as rioters storm Capitol
At least five people died, including a police officer, and over 50 people were arrested after thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on 6th January 2020 to disrupt a joint session of Congress and attempt to overturn the recent presidential election. Read more
Monday 18.1.2021 Côte d'Ivoire - Latest Developments -
Controversial presidential elections: dozens killed in violence, clashes
Controversial and disputed presidential elections, held on 31st October 2020 and boycotted by the main opposition parties, saw president Alassane Ouattara reelected with 94 percent of the vote. The elections were preceded and followed by political and inter-communal violence and clashes, while dozens of opposition members were arrested. Read more
Thursday 7.1.2021 Germany - Latest Developments -
Journalists continue to face attacks, death threats during protests against COVID-19 measures
On 18th November 2020, about 5,000 people gathered outside the Bundestag in Berlin to protest against stricter COVID-19 measures. The protest was broken up by the police and 31 protesters were detained. The demonstration fits within a larger wave of protests which have taken place all over the country over the past few months, which includes a protest of more than 20,000 in the eastern city of Leipzig against COVID-19 measures. Journalists continue to face physical attacks, harassment and death threats during coverage of protests against COVID-19 measures. Read more
Friday 18.12.2020 Brazil - Latest Developments -
Closing civic space in Brazil: censorship, harassment and attacks on journalists and activists
In November 2020, Brazil held countrywide local elections to elect city councillors and mayors. Politically-motivated attacks and assassinations increased by nearly 200 percent in 2020 in comparison to previous years. Read more
Monday 7.12.2020 Ireland - Latest Developments -
Criminal sanctions for organising gatherings remain, critical social media posts surveilled
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) had continuously questioned the necessity and proportionality of the use of criminal sanctions to enforce public health guidelines on restricting gatherings, especially given the high levels of public compliance, and the lack of evidence that criminalisation and prosecution are justified or likely to be effective. It has opposed the extension of the Emergency Health Legislation without substantial review and debate, which was due to expire in November. In a concerning development, organisers of the Black Lives Matter protest which took place on 6th June 2020 were being investigated under COVID-19 regulations. Anti-mask protests
which took place from August 2020 to October 2020, in which counter-protesters were attacked, have also been a matter of concern. It emerged that the Department of Justice has been carrying out extensive social media monitoring on posts commenting on issues concerning the department during the crisis, such as on the impact of COVID-19 on those living in the direct provision system.
Read more
