labour rights
Thursday 25.2.2021 Kyrgyzstan - Latest Developments -
Civil society flags threats to democracy, human rights and the rule of law during transition period
During the period covered by this update, Kyrgyzstan was in transition following the political crisis that emerged after the October 2020 parliamentary elections, when peaceful mass protests against the election outcome evolved into violent clashes with the police, where protesters seized government buildings and high-ranking officials resigned. Sadyr Japarov, who rose to power during the crisis, won a landslide victory in the presidential election held on 10th January 2021 amid concerns about the lack of a level playing field and the misuse of public resources in his favour. Japarov also used his campaign platform to encourage voters to support a presidential governance system during a referendum held on the same day as the presidential election. An overwhelming majority of the referendum participants supported presidential rule and a new constitution establishing such a system is now under consideration. A first draft constitution put forward in November 2020 drew heavy criticism, with its opponents warning that it would legitimise authoritarian rule and weaken human rights protection in Kyrgyzstan. Due to the criticism, plans to put this document up for a vote during the January 2021 referendum were abandoned and work on the draft constitution continues. Another measure criticised as inherently undemocratic was the parliament’s adoption of a law postponing new parliamentary elections until spring 2021. Human rights groups and labour organisations also rallied against a draft trade union law, which passed its second reading in parliament in November 2020. Intimidation and harassment of journalists, bloggers and other outspoken individuals were ongoing concerns.
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Thursday 18.2.2021 Colombia - Latest Developments -
A deadly January in Colombia
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) warned that January 2021 had been the most violent start to a year since the signing of the Peace Agreement between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian State in 2016. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 15.2.2021 Togo - Latest Developments -
Eight trade unionists detained, media outlet suspended
In January 2021, several trade unionists of the newly established Syndicat des Enseignants du Togo (SET - Teachers Union of Togo) were detained following a call for a teachers' strike. On 17th January 2021, Essohanam Baho was arrested in Kara, followed by Elie Adekplor on 19th January 2021. The heavy-handed arrests sent shockwaves within the trade union sector, motivating several trade unionists to hide. Read more | Read in French
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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Tuesday 9.2.2021 Spain - Latest Developments -
Constitutional Court rulings threatens to limit freedom of expression
During this period, protests were staged over labour rights due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several sectors- including the hospitality and food services industry. In a concerning development, two rulings made by the Constitutional Court took a restrictive interpretation on the right to freedom of expression. In a separate development, a Spanish Court condemned CTXT- a Spanish online media outlet - for breaching the “right to honour” of a famous actor due to a news article published in 2016. The court went further by preventing the outlet from publishing any further information relating to the news that resulted in the legal lawsuit, thus raising concerns of over the right to freedom of information. Read more | Read in Spanish
Wednesday 27.1.2021 Italy - Latest Developments -
School children and climate activists stage civil disobedience protests
Several protests were staged during this period. Twelve-year-old Anita Iacovelli from the Northern Italian city of Turin began staging solo protests against the closure of schools due to COVID-19. On 15th January 2020 Around 50,000 restaurants in Italy defied the government’s COVID-19 measures, with many staying open and serving customers, despite restrictions. In addition, there have been attempts to repress climate protesters, with massive fines issued by police in response to protests staged months earlier.
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Tuesday 26.1.2021 Kosovo - Latest Developments -
Several protests staged demanding inclusion in government’s COVID-19 emergency package
During this period, several protests were staged demanding inclusion in government’s COVID-19 emergency package. There have also been cases of physical and verbal attacks on journalists.
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Friday 22.1.2021 Greece - Latest Developments -
Police brutality during protests and targeting of journalists a huge concern
On 17th November 2020, hundreds of people gathered in Athens to remember the 1973 student uprising. Every year on this day, thousands gather in front of the Athens Polytechnic to remember the protesters who died there. In order to prevent this year’s march from happening, the government tightened the restrictions on gatherings to a maximum of three people between 15th and 18th November 2020 citing the strain on the healthcare system. Human rights groups raised concerns about the blanket ban on the right to protest. Several other protests were staged which saw police using excessive force and detaining protesters. Concerns have been raised over the increase in police brutality during protests. Journalists were also targeted through detentions and harassment from police at protests.
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Thursday 21.1.2021 Panama - Latest Developments -
Police brutality during student-led protest in Panama
On 16th December 2020, police in Panama City repressed a student-led protest against legislation excluding some people under 25 from receiving pandemic aid. Read more
Thursday 21.1.2021 Saudi Arabia - Latest Developments -
Saudi Arabia continues to detain, harass and torture human rights defenders
Specialised Criminal Court (SCC) sentences prominent Saudi woman human rights defender Loujain Al-Hathloul to five years and eight months in prison; human rights defender Mohammad Abdullah Al-Otaibi sentenced to another year in prison; Saudi-American medical doctor Dr Walid Fitaihi sentenced to six years in prison on vague charges; Human Rights Watch criticises proposed reforms to the kafala system for excluding 3.7 million domestic workers; Read more
