attack on journalist
Monday 13.1.2020 United States of America - Latest Developments
People in the US turn to protest to demand changes to the status quo
As part of a campaign against University of California (UC)’s outsourcing of jobs, thousands of the school’s service and patient care workers held a strike on 13th November 2019. 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 3.12.2019 Mexico - Latest Developments
Journalists and their families continue to face a dangerous environment
Hundreds of people marched in the streets of Mexico City to protest violence against women and girls in the country. In a reference to the country’s traditional Día de los Muertos celebration, the march on 3rd November 2019 commemorated the Día de las Muertas, or “Day of the Dead Women”. Read more
Thursday 28.11.2019 Haiti - Latest Developments
Sustained wave of protests in Haiti met with excessive force
In September 2019, a new wave of protests engulfed Haiti. Fuel shortages, spiralling inflation, accusations of government corruption and a lack of water, food and basic services were among the main causes leading people to the streets. As previously reported on the Monitor, the Caribbean country has been immersed in a political crisis since 2018 and people have often mobilised to demand change. Newspapers such as Deutche Welle have called it the country’s “longest wave of demonstrations for years”. Read more
Thursday 28.11.2019 Nicaragua - Latest Developments
Human rights defenders in Nicaragua subjected to criminalisation, defamation and harassment
A crackdown on protests in November 2019 has raised alarm in Nicaragua. On 14th November 2019, nine mothers of imprisoned opposition activists began a hunger strike in the San Miguel Church in Masaya, calling for the release of 130 people allegedly detained in the context of the protests. According to reports, the premises were quickly barricaded by police and pro-government groups, who cut off water and electricity. They were under siege for nine days. Activists who attempted to provide water and medicine to the strikers have been criminalised.
In addition, reports indicate the continuous harassment of human rights defenders and activists who have taken part in protests in the country. Finally, three Nicaraguan newspapers have decided to suspend publications due to the adverse environment in which they have had to operate.
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Tuesday 26.11.2019 Colombia - Latest Developments
Indigenous communities in Colombia under attack
The Colombia National Indigenous Organisation reported that 115 Indigenous people have been assassinated so far in 2019. On 28th October 2019, rural workers association Asociación Nacional de Zonas de Reserva Campesina (National Association of Peasant Reserve Zones - ANZORC) reported that 16-year-old social leader Flower Jair Trompeta Pavi had been tortured and murdered. On 29th October 2019, an illegal armed group in the Cauca region attacked members of the Nasa people, killing indigenous authority Ne’h Wesx Cristina Taquinas Bautista and four Indigenous Guards. Six other people were wounded.
On 21st November 2019, over 200,000 protesters took to the streets of Colombia for a 12-hour nationwide strike. Initially called by unions, the strike was joined by pensioners, students, indigenous groups and other social sectors. The killing of 18-year-old Dylan Muricio Cruz during a protest for education on 23rd November 2019 in Bogotá has mobilised more protests.
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Monday 25.11.2019 United States of America - Latest Developments
Freedoms under attack with legislation restricting protests and hostility toward journalists
In September and October 2019, there were protests across the U.S. calling on leaders to address climate change while some states have been considering legislation that would criminalise protests near certain infrastructure sites, including oil pipelines - which are often contested by climate and indigenous rights activists. This update also details protests on refugee & immigration policy, education, police brutality and pro- and against President Trump. In the 'Expression' section, incidents of harassment of journalists show an increasingly hostile environment for the press in the U.S. Read more
Thursday 21.11.2019 Paraguay - Latest Developments
Secret agreement with Brazil on Itaipú Dam prompts political crisis in Paraguay
Several demonstrators took to the streets to express their discontent after details of negotiations between Paraguay and Brazil related to the shared hydroelectric facility Itaipú were leaked in late July. In secret, representatives of both countries reached an agreement that many Paraguayans believe would be detrimental to the country’s interests. The controversial deal unleashed a political crisis that has resulted in the resignation of several senior officials.
In this period, a LGBTQ march was attacked by anti-rights protestors and Paraguayan Interior Minister began enacting a new policy to disrupt on protests that block circulation. Several journalists were injured in a protest by taxi drivers.
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Thursday 21.11.2019 Indonesia - Latest Developments
Lack of accountability for police violence, attacks on journalists and activists in Indonesia
In the last few months, mass protests by students were met with excessive use of force and firearms by the police with impunity. Further, activists peacefully protesting on West Papua are facing “rebellion” charges while two journalists and an environmental activist have died. Police have also attacked journalists covering a protest while the authorities continue to pursue a human rights lawyer for her activism on West Papua. Read more
Wednesday 20.11.2019 Guatemala - Latest Developments
Guatemalan ombudsman warns about deterioration of freedom of expression
On 6th November 2019, unidentified men shot and killed human rights defender Manuel Pérez Hernández at his home in the community Agua Mecate de San Pedro Pínula, Jalapa department. Manuel Pérez was a community defender and social leader of Comité de Desarrollo Campesino (Peasant Development Committee - CODECA), which advocates for land reform.
On 2nd November 2019, Guatemala’s Ombudsman Jordán Rodas published a statement on the need to strengthen protection for reporters, creating a framework based on the United Nations Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists. Between May and August 2019, in the context of the country’s electoral campaign, there were 39 incidents where freedom of expression was violated. At the end of October, a group of union workers attacked reporters covering their meeting.
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