attack on HRD
Wednesday 9.9.2020 Bangladesh - Latest Developments -
Suppression of journalists and activists by Bangladesh ruling party and supporters intensifying
The Bangladesh authorities are intensifying their crackdown on the media and critics. The authorities are forcing all news portals to register with them, raising concerns about freedom of expression. A critical news website on Bangladesh, Amar Desh, has been blocked by the authorities. Journalists are facing attacks for their reporting as well as being criminalised under the draconian Digital Security Act. Ruling party supporters were mobilised to disrupt an event by Drik Gallery around extrajudicial killings in Dhaka in early September 2020. The family of human rights defender in exile Asad Noor is facing harassment while some activists are facing attacks or forcible disappearances. Read more
Tuesday 8.9.2020 Tanzania - Latest Developments -
Authorities embark on major crackdown on expression amid COVID-19 and ahead of elections
Opposition members power-through as elections approach; and HRDs stifled by overly stringent laws, raids and prosecution; Targeting of LGBTIQ+ community continues; Journalists, critics face backlash for reporting and speaking out about COVID-19 measures in the country; Journalists, media outlets and artists targeted for criticising president, politicians Read more
Monday 31.8.2020 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Continued rights violations reported throughout COVID-19 lockdown and run up to national elections
Reports have continued to emerge from Uganda concerning rights violations as a result of the measures imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19., and as the country gears up for the next general elections. Protesters have been forcefully dispersed while demonstrating over loss of livelihood during the lockdown. Opposition members arrested and attacked for mobilising food assistance in light of COVID-19, while journalists, comedians and musicians have been charged for content touching on politicians. Read more
Monday 24.8.2020 Honduras - Latest Developments -
Honduran defenders at high risk: two defenders killed and five Garifuna leaders missing
On 10th July 2020, 22-year-old LGBTI+ rights defender Scarleth Cáceres was shot and killed in Tegucigalpa. Cáceres was a member of civil society organisation Asociación LGBT Arcoíris de Honduras, which defends sexual diversity rights. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 24.8.2020 North Macedonia - Latest Developments -
LGBTI activist attacked; female journalists face rape and death threats on social media
LGBTI activist and president of LGBTI United from Tetovo, Bekim Asani, has been a victim of a physical attack near his office. The attack was carried out by two people who inflicted injuries on his face. The ruling party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), strongly condemned the physical attack on the activist and called on institutions to find and punish the attackers. However, no one has been detained yet. In the meantime, Asani has been receiving death threats which state that he should drop the charges connected to the attack. During the reporting period, two female journalists received threats because of their journalistic work.On 11th July 2020 journalist and correspondent in MIA (Media Information Agency), Tanja Milevska, received dozens of messages containing verbal abuses, hate speech, death and rape threats on Twitter and Facebook. Later in July 2020, journalist for Sloboden Pecat (Free Press), Miroslava Burns, received a series of threats on her personal Facebook profile.
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Thursday 20.8.2020 Lebanon - Latest Developments -
Calls for political accountability after Beirut explosion: protesters, journalists face violence
On 4th August 2020, a huge explosion took place in Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, causing more than 220 deaths. Reports indicate that 7,000 people were injured, dozens are missing, at least 300,000 people have been left homeless and these numbers continue to rise. The massive explosion was caused by ammonium nitrate which had been stored since 2014 despite warnings that it was dangerous. It destroyed Beirut’s harbour (in a country whose economy relies heavily on imports) and its neighbouring areas. Human rights experts have called for an independant investigation. Following the explosion, thousands took to the streets to demand political accountability and to protest against the worsening economic situation that the country is now facing. Protesters were met with excessive force as police fired tear gas and shot them with rubber bullets and live ammunition. Over 700 people were injured. What is particularly concerning is that security forces fired from close range, indicating that they were shooting to harm. In addition, 14 journalists covering protests were also met with excessive force, thus resulting in injury and hospitalisation for some.
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Monday 17.8.2020 Costa Rica - Latest Developments -
Violent attacks against three Indigenous communities of Costa Rica
In July 2020, violent attacks against the Bribri, Maleku and Brörán Indigenous communities continued to escalate. On 24th July 2020, Indigenous leader José Enrique Ortíz was attacked by land invaders in Salitre. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 11.8.2020 Belarus - Latest Developments -
Opposition candidates and supporters persecuted, detained ahead of elections
Presidential candidates and opposition protesters arrested and detained, Journalists attacked an arrested while covering protests Read more
Friday 7.8.2020 Iraq - Latest Developments -
Popular Protests: Demonstrators, journalists and human rights defenders killed, attacked & silenced
Protesters continue with the popular protests which began in October 2019 calling for an end to corruption and improved social services. Protesters face attacks, violent dispersal and arrests, as activists are assassinated and attacked for participating in protests, and for supporting the movement on social media Read more
Thursday 6.8.2020 Nicaragua - Latest Developments -
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights highlights continuing human rights violations
At the 44th session of the Human Rights Council on 2nd July 2020, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, provided an oral update on Nicaragua. Bachelet said her office continues to document persistent human rights violations against those who the government perceives as opponents, including human rights defenders, journalists, social leaders and former political detainees. Read more
