negative court ruling
Thursday 29.7.2021 Spain - Latest Developments -
Protests over gender-based violence, office of LGBTI rights organisation vandalised
On 3rd May 2021, the headquarters of Cogam, a non-profit organisation that has been fighting for the equality of LGBTI people in Madrid was vandalised with transphobic graffiti messages opposing the Law on Sexual Diversity. On 11th June 2021, spontaneous protests were held across the country against gender-based violence after the body of a six-year-old girl named Olivia was found on the seabed of the Canary Island, Tenerife. Related to LGBTI rights, on , on 29th June 2021, the government however approved a draft bill that would have allowed legal gender recognition based on self-determination. Read more
Wednesday 28.7.2021 Malaysia - Latest Developments -
Unrelenting harassment of activists and critics by police to stifle all forms of dissent in Malaysia
In recent months, the government continued to curtail fundamental freedoms and intimidate activists and journalists. Dozens have been hauled up by the police for peaceful protests critical of the government and its policies. Activists faced investigation for raising issues related to police brutality and the government handling of the pandemic, while journalists were also targeted for their reporting. Amidst a worsening COVID-19 crisis, the government continued to use the anti-fake news ordinance against individuals, a move criticised as detrimental to promoting access to information which is essential during a public health crisis. P
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Thursday 22.7.2021 Uganda - Latest Developments -
Attack on freedom of expression and 44 people arrested for attending LGBTQI engagement
The Constitutional Court delivered a judgement on 2nd July 2021 that stopped the military court from trying civilian suspects. The ruling deems it unconstitutional for civilians to be tried in the military court if they are not subject to the military system. The court ordered the transfer to the civil court of all civilian cases being tried in the military court, and for the transfer of all persons serving a sentence imposed by the military court to the High Court Criminal Division for retrial. On 15th July 2021, the Supreme Court granted an interim order suspending the implementation of the Constitutional Court order. The Supreme Court will decide on the case on 29th July 2021, when the temporary order lapses. Read more
Wednesday 21.7.2021 Chile - Latest Developments -
Chile: Constitutional Convention begins its work
On 15th and 16th May 2021, over 6 million people in Chile voted in the election of 155 members of the Constitutional Convention, the body responsible for drafting a new Constitution for the country. Read more | Read in Spanish
Wednesday 21.7.2021 Myanmar - Latest Developments -
Protests persist across Myanmar despite ongoing arrests, torture and killings by junta
Over the last month, the junta has targeted artists, medical workers, lawyers, journalists, LGBTIQ activists and their families, youths and others. Some have been sentenced for ‘incitement’ (Section 505a) and ‘unlawful assembly’ (Section 145) and murder, while others have been tortured or killed by the junta with impunity. An investigation by the rights group Global Witness found that Facebook is promoting content that incites violence against Myanmar’s coup protesters and amplifies junta misinformation. Read more
Tuesday 20.7.2021 South Africa - Latest Developments -
Protest action results in arrests, looting and killing
South African’s former president, Jacob Zuma was charged with Contempt of Court by the Constitutional Court after his failure to be available before a commission of enquiry to assess on whether the president was corrupt and expended state funds recklessly during his term of office. The sentence was imposed to Zuma on the 29th of June 2021 and he was to surrender himself to the officials by the 4th of July .The court explicitly highlighted that the failure of the Minister of Police and the Police Commissioner to execute his arrest will lead the officials to be in contempt of court if he was not arrested by the due date. Jacob Zuma turned himself in and was charged with a 15 month sentence for contempt of court and the arrest has tested South Africa’s post-apartheid rule of law status. The arrest of President Zuma has triggered a discontentment among South Africans especially those from the Kwazulu Natal province which is Zuma’s provincial home. Read more
Wednesday 14.7.2021 Vietnam - Latest Developments -
Persecution of activists and journalists continues following rubber stamp elections in Vietnam
In recent months, the authorities have arrested a prominent human rights defender Nguyen Thuy Hanh who raised funds for the families of jailed prisoners of conscience, a book distributor Nguyen Bao Tien and a Khmer Krom activist. Land rights activist Can Thi Theu and her son have been sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment. Journalists have continued to be targeted by the authorities including Tran Thi Tuyet Dieu who has been jailed for eight years. Individuals have also been criminalised in recent months for their social media posts. Read more
Thursday 8.7.2021 El Salvador - Latest Developments -
Democratic backslide in El Salvador deepens
On 1st May 2021, newly elected lawmakers took office in the Legislative Assembly after ruling party Nuevas Ideas won a two-thirds majority in February 2021. On their first day, government allies in the Legislative Assembly voted to remove and replace the five judges on the Constitutional Chamber of El Salvador’s Supreme Court, as well as the Attorney-General. Read more | Read in Spanish
Thursday 8.7.2021 Italy - Latest Developments -
Trade unionist killed during protest, court orders journalists to reveal sources
CSOs have denounced the discriminatory provisions contained in a decree law passed on 18th May 2021, which regulates the relaxation of COVID-19 measures in the country. The law establishes that cultural and social centres will only be allowed to reopen after 1st July 2021, only after many other sectors. Violent clashes took place outside the Fedex-Tnt in Tavezzano, near Lodi, during the night, where workers of the Fedex of Piacenza were protesting the closure of the factory. A few days after this violent episode, a trade unionist - Adil Belakhdim - was killed after being hit and dragged by a truck and two protesters were hurt by the vehicle during a national strike by supermarket workers at the Lidl branch in Novara. In a concerning development, the Lazio regional administrative court ordered journalists of the investigative broadcast programme on Italian public television RAI to reveal their sources in relation to a news report broadcast on the management of public funds in the Lombardy region and the Milanese lawyer Andrea Mascetti, a close associate of the Lega party. Read more
Thursday 8.7.2021 Uruguay - Latest Developments -
Restrictions on press freedom in Uruguay
Uruguay’s legislators are considering a new media law which would impose setbacks for media pluralism, transparency and public participation. Read more
