environmental rights
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 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
Thursday 4.2.2021 Slovenia - Latest Developments -
Government continues its attack on CSOs
Following the downgrade of Slovenia by the CIVICUS Monitor, attempts by public authorities to undermine civic space in the country continue. After various restrictive measures and hostile rhetoric targeting NGOs since the new government took power in Slovenia in March 2020, in December 2020 the Janez Janša government unsuccessfully attempted to introduce an amendment abolishing the state’s fund for non-governmental organisations through its 7th anti-corona stimulus package. In January 2021, the Ministry of Environment proposed new changes to the Environmental Protection and Spatial Planning Acts which would exclude environmental NGOs from key relevant procedures. The law is currently under consultation. Anti-government protests have continued to take place since April 2020. The protest wave continues despite being challenged by heavy fines by the police. Read more
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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Wednesday 27.1.2021 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Turbulent election period sees attacks on opposition, internet shutdown and police violence.
Opposition leaders face attacks, arbitrary arrests and detention, ahead of and after January 2021 elections; Civil society efforts to monitor elections stifled by authorities; Election-related protests and rallies violently dispersed; Journalists targeted with violence by authorities; Internet, social media accounts shut down ahead of elections 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
Wednesday 20.1.2021 Montenegro - Latest Developments -
New coalition government urged to commit to media freedom
During the reporting period, protests were staged on amendment to religious property law and environmental rights. In addition, European media freedom organisations have called for the new coalition government, which was approved by the Parliament on 4th December 2020, led by Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić, to commit to reforms to develop and maintain media freedom Read more
Thursday 14.1.2021 Honduras - Latest Developments -
Two environmental defenders killed in Honduras
On 24th November 2020, Laura Carolina Valentín Dolmo, a young Garífuna defender and member of the Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH), was found dead in the river Danto in La Ceiba, in the northern Atlantida department. Read more | Read in Spanish
Wednesday 13.1.2021 Canada - Latest Developments -
Canada: protests against COVID-19 restrictions as country struggles with new wave of infections
On 7th November 2020, about 2,000 people demonstrated in Aylmer, Ontario, to express their opposition to facial coverings and social distancing rules implemented by the provincial and federal governments in response to COVID-19. Read more
Wednesday 13.1.2021 Bosnia & Herzegovina - Latest Developments -
Journalists prevented from reporting on migrant rights
A number of protests were staged during this period over education, environmental rights, migrant rights and labour rights. In a concerning development, journalists reporting on the migrant crisis in Lipa camp were prevented from doing their jobs. A woman journalist was harassed and threatened by a senior government official over a story she was doing on migrant rights. Read more
