sexual assault
Monday 22.2.2021 Egypt - Latest Developments -
Restrictions in response to the exercise of fundamental freedoms continue
Restricted civic space and the worsening situation for human rights defenders continue in Egypt. While the three EIPR staff members, namely Gasser Abdel-Razek, Karim Ennarah and Mohamed Bashee were released, 7th February 2020 marks one year since the arrest of EIPR researcher and Bologna University student Patrick George Zaki. Graduate student Ahmed Samir Santawy was arrested on 1st February 2021, in relation to his research on women’s rights. In addition, the crackdown on freedom of expression continues. According to Reporters Without Borders, the number of journalists and bloggers detained in Egypt now stands at 33. In one case documented, freelance journalist Solafa Magdy was physically and sexually assaulted in police custody. Solafa and her husband were first arrested on 26th November 2019. Read more
Thursday 21.1.2021 Panama - Latest Developments -
Police brutality during student-led protest in Panama
On 16th December 2020, police in Panama City repressed a student-led protest against legislation excluding some people under 25 from receiving pandemic aid. Read more
Wednesday 16.12.2020 Nicaragua - Latest Developments -
Laws on Foreign Agents and Cybercrimes restrict civic space further in Nicaragua
On 15th October 2020, Nicaragua’s lawmakers approved the “Foreign Agents Law” which expands government powers to control and muzzle civil society. Read more
Thursday 3.12.2020 Mexico - Latest Developments -
Three reporters killed in Mexico, showing increasingly more dangerous environment for journalists
On 29th October 2020, television news anchor Arturo Alba Medina was killed by armed assailants who shot him multiple times while he was driving his car in Juarez. Read more | Read in Spanish
Thursday 19.11.2020 Peru - Latest Developments -
Upheaval in Peru as president removed
On 9th November 2020, president Martín Vizcarra was removed from office by Peru’s Congress over corruption allegations. Lawmakers voted 105-19 in favour of Vizcarra’s impeachment on the basis of a controversial “moral incapacitation” clause in the country’s legislation, which is set to be evaluated by the Constitutional Court. Read more | Read in Spanish
Friday 30.10.2020 Denmark - Latest Developments -
#MeToo movement resurges after female journalist speaks out about sexual harassment in the industry
Three years after the #MeToo movement sparked people all over the world to publicly share their experiences of sexual harassment, the movement has resurged in Denmark. TV host Sofie Linde reignited the public debate around sexual harassment when she spoke on live television about how a senior TV executive at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), Denmark’s national public service broadcaster, offered to boost her career in exchange for oral sex. She urged media organisations to establish a framework to report on sexual harassment in the workplace. Women from a growing number of sectors, including politics and the medical field, have since come forward with their own stories.
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Thursday 1.10.2020 Liberia - Latest Developments -
Police repression of protest against sexual violence
On 27 August, thousands of peaceful anti-rape protestors were attacked and tear gassed by police in Monrovia on the third day of a series of protests in connection with the 'March for Justice' campaign. Demonstrators attempted to gather in front of Liberia's government offices to present a petition demanding urgent action from President George Weah and the government to address rape and sexual violence against women. Read more
Monday 28.9.2020 Nicaragua - Latest Developments -
Proposed Foreign Agents Law would expand government control over civil society in Nicaragua
On 22nd September 2020, legislators of Nicaragua’s governing party presented a bill that would require individuals, businesses and civil society organisations that receive funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents”. Read more | Read in Spanish
Wednesday 16.9.2020 India - Latest Developments -
Activists, academics and journalists in India face judicial harassment despite pandemic
The Narendra Modi government has continued its persecution of human rights defenders, activists, student leaders and journalists. Political activists and student leaders continue to be the government’s prime targets, with some detained under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and for sedition. A raging pandemic and national lockdown has not stopped the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from making more arrests in the controversial Bhima Koregaon case of 2018. Human rights groups have continued to remain concerned about violations in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
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Monday 14.9.2020 Argentina - Latest Developments -
Argentina’s former government accused of spying on journalists, civil society leaders and others
In early June 2020, a federal prosecutor conducting an audit of Argentina’s Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI) presented evidence to the Eleventh Federal Criminal and Correctional Court, which indicated that the agency had conducted illegal espionage during the administration of former president Mauricio Macri. Read more | Read in Spanish
