excessive force
Wednesday 24.2.2021 India - Latest Developments -
Indian authorities target activists, journalists as they suppress support for the farmers’ protests
Since early January 2021, the authorities have continued to suppress and demonise the farmers protest movement using excessive force with over a hundred detained and charged as well as blocking roads and protests spaces. Activists supporting them have been criminalised using draconian laws as well as journalists reporting and commenting on the protests. The government has also attempted to silence criticism online. Read more
Monday 22.2.2021 Honduras - Latest Developments -
Justice for Keyla: nursing student’s suspected homicide sparks outrage in Honduras
In early February 2021, police forces in Honduras repressed protests for justice in the case of Keyla Martínez, a nursing student who died under police custody in La Esperanza, Intibucá. Read more
Wednesday 17.2.2021 Poland - Latest Developments -
Polish Women’s Strike activists targeted by the state: Our livelihoods and families are under threat
On 27th January 2021 the Constitutional Tribunal’s ruling, which outlaws abortion in cases of foetal abnormalities, was published in the Polish Journal of Laws, and came into effect. Following the ruling's enforcement, protesters took to the streets, and demonstrations are expected to continue in the weeks to come. Thus far at least 150 people have been detained during protests. Founders of the Polish Womens Strike have been charged for their role in protests. Police have used execessive force, tear gas, pepper spray, kettling tactics and physical violence. They have also used concerning detention methods which were documented in a recent report by the Polish ombudsperson. Amid these protests, censorship is a concern, with a draft law proposed which aims to prohibit social media platforms from blocking, banning or removing content that does not violate Polish law. In a further threat to press freedom, the government is pushing to introduce an advertising tax which will adversely impact independent media.
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| Read in Polish
Wednesday 10.2.2021 Georgia - Latest Developments -
Voters protest election results; CSOs denounce vilification
Georgian voters protest election results; Journalists attacked during election campaigns; Media Advocacy Coalition denounces harassment of opposition media; CSOs denounce vilification by Prime Minister Read more
Wednesday 10.2.2021 Russia - Latest Developments -
Russia: Thousands arrested, fined, charged in nationwide pro-opposition protests
Thousands arrested, fined, charged in protests supporting Alexey Navalny; Habarovsk residents continue with sustained protests in 2020; New law bans foreign financing of demonstrations and rallies; Dozens of journalists arrested while covering protests; YouTube and Facebook risk fines for refusing to delete prohibited information; Russian journalist burns herself in protest against Russian authorities; EPDE publishes report on the effect of new laws on future elections Read more
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
Monday 8.2.2021 Myanmar - Latest Developments -
Civil disobedience movement mobilises against Myanmar coup despite net shutdown, arrests
On 1st February 2021, the Myanmar military regime seized power in a coup, arrested the civilian leaders of the national and state governments and announced a one-year “state of emergency.” Since then the military regime has blocked access to the internet as well as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Journalists have reported credible threats and some local journalists had reportedly gone into hiding. There have also been arrests of civil society activists following the coup. Pro-democracy activists have launched a civil disobedience movement in response Read more
Friday 5.2.2021 Haiti - Latest Developments -
Presidential decrees could restrict civic space in Haiti as unrest and insecurity grow
Since November 2020, international organisations and national and international civil society have warned of an upsurge in unrest and gang and police violence in Haiti. Read more | Read in French
Friday 5.2.2021 Nepal - Latest Developments -
Protests disrupted by police, met with excessive force in Nepal as UN reviews its rights record
In recent months, mass protests against the decision by the prime minister K.P. Oli to dissolve parliament have been met with restrictions, arbitrary arrests and excessive force by the police. Threats and attacks against journalists have persisted and a new study shows that over-broad, vague and subjective laws are being used to censor or criminalise freedom of expression. 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
