office raid
Thursday 18.11.2021 Guatemala - Latest Developments -
Guatemala: Siege in municipality to prevent anti-mining protests by Indigenous groups
On 12th October 2021, hundreds of people marched in Guatemala City to denounce racism and discrimination against Indigenous peoples, as part of a Day of Indigenous People’s Dignity and Resistance. Several countries in the Americas hold commemorative holidays on the date, marking Christopher Columbus’ arrival on the continent in the 15th century. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 9.11.2021 Myanmar - Latest Developments -
Repression of activists and journalists persists in Myanmar despite ASEAN rebuke
In the last two months, activists and journalists have continued to be targeted and criminalised and there are reports of torture of political prisoners. The internet has also been shut down in some regions. Some activists and journalists were released in a mass amnesty in October but some have been re-arrested. Read more
Friday 29.10.2021 Somalia - Latest Developments -
Onslaught on journalists unrelenting
Several journalists arrested, detained and attacked, peaceful protest disrupted by police Read more
Wednesday 27.10.2021 Guinea - Latest Developments -
Guinea's President ousted in military coup; release of HRD; several journalists attacked
On 5th September 2021, Guinea’s Special Forces under the leadership of Mamady Doumbouya detained President Alpha Condé, suspended the Constitution and dissolved the government and its institutions, prompting regional bodies the African Union and West African ECOWAS to suspend Guinea's membership. The coup follows less than a year after Condé was re-elected for a controversial third term, which required a change in the Constitution, as it contained a two-term limit for presidential mandates. Read more | Read in French
Monday 27.9.2021 Venezuela - Latest Developments -
Three human rights defenders arbitrarily detained in Venezuela
At the end of June 2021, civil society organisations in Venezuela condemned the “Communal Cities” bill under discussion in the National Assembly. According to the organisations, the legislative project is unconstitutional and would result in the creation of parallel bodies of territorial and administrative management, replacing elected bodies such as governors’ offices, mayors’ offices and municipal councils. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 20.9.2021 Tanzania - Latest Developments -
Attacks, pressure on dissent and opposition unrelenting
Members of the country’s main opposition party, Chadema, arrested just hours ahead of planned conference in Mwanza; Authorities in Mwanza ban “unnecessary gatherings” as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, a day before the Chadema party’s planned conference; protesters demanding the release of Chadema party leader arrested; publication and distribution of Raia Mwema, a weekly tabloid, suspended for 30 days Read more
Monday 20.9.2021 Georgia - Latest Developments -
Violent protest against LGBTIQ+ ends in anti-government protests
Protesters denounce new law pardoning violent dispersal of 2019 protests; Violent protest against LGBTIQ+ ends in anti-government protests ; Azerbaijani blogger killed in Georgia under unclear circumstances; State Security Service condemned for surveillance activities
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Wednesday 15.9.2021 Afghanistan - Latest Developments -
Activists and journalists at risk, crackdown on protests in Afghanistan following Taliban takeover
On 15th August 2021, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan after the government collapsed and two weeks before the US was set to complete its troop withdrawal. Civic space violations have been documented including house-to-house searches for activists, excessive use of force or firearms against peaceful protesters and raids as well as the torture and ill-treatment of journalists with impunity. Read more
Thursday 9.9.2021 Nicaragua - Latest Developments -
Closure of 45 civil society organisations within one month in Nicaragua
As reported in the CIVICUS Monitor in previous updates, an unprecedented crackdown against civil society and political opposition has been ongoing in Nicaragua since the end of May 2021. Dozens of human rights defenders and members of the political opposition have been arrested on trumped-up charges. Business leaders, journalists and former allies of President Ortega have also been targeted. Read more | Read in Spanish
Thursday 9.9.2021 Palestine - Latest Developments -
Violations continue: CSOs Offices raided, HRDs arrested, women reporters attacked
On 16th August 2021, the headquarters of the Pioneers Association for Culture and Arts, and the Pioneers Vocational Training Center in Aida camp in Bethlehem was raided. On the other hand, on 7th July 2021, Israeli occupying forces (IOF) raided the home of Shatha Odeh Abu Fannouneh (Ms. Odeh) in Ramallah, arbitrarily detaining her and using gas grenades to terrorise her family. Odeh is the chairwoman of the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO) and serves as the Director of the Health Work Committee (HWC). Protests were staged following the death of activist Nizar Banat as a result of Palestinan security force action on 24th June 2021. According to Amnesty International, Palestinian security forces beat protesters and bystanders and used sound grenades, tear gas and other force to disperse them. Women were particularly targeted, many of them journalists, including with sexual assault during protests. Read more
