release of HRDs
Tuesday 14.1.2020 Tanzania - Latest Developments
Government tightens reins on civic freedoms during the last year
over the last year, the experienced continued closing of civic space by introducing restrictive laws, abduction and detention of HRDs, while crackdown on press freedom continued Read more
Monday 23.12.2019 Kazakhstan - Latest Developments
Kazakhstan: A tightening grip on civil society: ongoing persecution of activists across the country
During the period covered by this report, Kazakhstan witnessed reinforced persecution of civil society activists, journalists and other citizens exercising their fundamental rights. This includes the prosecution of numerous civil society activists, journalists and other individuals in retaliation for expressing their opinion, engaging in online activities or participating in peaceful demonstrations on socio-economic and political issues. The reporting period also saw the continued denial of state registration for NGOs working on issues that are sensitive to the authorities. Read more
Wednesday 11.12.2019 Azerbaijan - Latest Developments
Authorities use force to disperse protests, harass journalists
law enforcement officers violently disperse protests in central Baku that had been organised by the National Council of Democratic Forces; authorities disperse women’s rights activists who had gathered in the city centre to protest domestic violence; 10 senior opposition party members arrested and detained ahead of protests, lawyer Nemat Karimli subjected to excessive controls and verbal intimidation as he went in to meet with his client; Several incidents of police officers using force or violence against journalists documented Read more
Tuesday 19.11.2019 Nigeria - Latest Developments
Concerns about freedom of expression in Nigeria: journalists arrested, protests repressed
According to the Amnesty International report 'Endangered Voices. Attack on Freedom of Expression in Nigeria', at least 19 journalists, bloggers and media practitioners have been subject to attacks between January and September 2019. These range from physical attacks, verbal assaults, death threats, surveillance, indiscriminate detention to pressure to reveal sources, mostly perpetrated by Nigerian security forces. Read more
Thursday 14.11.2019 Venezuela - Latest Developments
Attacks against journalists and confiscation of equipment increasing in Venezuela
Early in the morning of 1st November 2019, members of the Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales (Special Action Forces - FAES) carried out a raid on the residence of social leader Ruth Pérez and her family. A human rights organisation denounced that the raid lasted several hours while FAES officers threatened and beat people who were in the residence. Ruth Pérez's nephew was detained and appeared dead shortly afterward.
Pedro Jaimes Criollo, a victim of enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention for publishing the routes of the Presidential airplane on his Twitter account in May 2018, was released on 17th October 2019 after a year and five months in detention. This update also details cases of intimidation of journalists, and new reports on protests and freedom of expression in Venezuela.
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Friday 25.10.2019 Uzbekistan - Latest Developments
Uzbekistan: Reforming or Redecorating?
This special issue prepared for the CIVICUS Monitor by the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA) and International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR), provides an overview reflecting some of the main developments in freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly in Uzbekistan from April 2018 to October 2019. Read more
Wednesday 16.10.2019 Iraq - Latest Developments
Protesters face brutal violations as widespread protests escalate, internet shut down
Protests which began in July 2018, have continued to escalate throughout the year, as police use lethal force to disperse protesters, at least 100 reported dead, thousands injured. internet shut down as protests continue, journalists continue to face threats to their lives, arbitrary arrests and detention, regional broadcaster suspended. Read more
Tuesday 15.10.2019 United Arab Emirates - Latest Developments
HRD Osama Al-Najjar released but many others remain in detention past their release dates
Human rights defender Osama Al-Najjar, along with two other prisoners of conscience - Badr Al-Bahri and Othman Ibrahim Al-Shehhi, released from Al-Razeen prison, HRD Ahmed Mansoor remains in prison where he is held in conditions which violate international standards Read more
Monday 30.9.2019 Ukraine - Latest Developments
Human rights abuses against Crimean Tatar Community members continue
According to reports, on 27th August 2019 a court in Crimea issued a decision releasing Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov from detention. Read more
Thursday 26.9.2019 Ecuador - Latest Developments
Protests against economic austerity met with repression in Ecuador
On 16th April 2019, hundreds of Ecuadorians marched in Quito against the withdrawal of Julian Assange’s asylum status and the austerity measures imposed by the government of President Lenín Moreno. According to reports, as the demonstration neared the presidential palace, they were met with police repression. Police used tear gas, clubs and horses, leaving several people injured.
On 11th April 2019, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arrested by police at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he had been granted asylum since 2012. On 13th April 2019, Ola Bini, a Swedish privacy and internet security developer and activist, was arrested at Quito’s international airport as he was about to board a flight to Japan. He was detained for over two months without trial and without clear charge.
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