extractive industries
Wednesday 12.2.2020 Côte d'Ivoire - Latest Developments -
Concerns over space for opposition and dissent ahead of 2020 presidential elections
On 4th August 2019, police offices arrested human rights defender and journalism student Konan Yao Hubert at a bus station in Djékanou, according to Front Line Defenders. Police officers also reportedly physically attacked him when Yao Hubert resisted the arrest when no arrest warrant was presented. Read more | Read in French
Wednesday 5.2.2020 Armenia - Latest Developments -
Residents protest mine exploration
Residents sustain protests against Amulsar mine exploration, Former president’s supporters protest outside detention centre, Authorities propose amendment to access to information laws without public consultations Read more
Wednesday 15.1.2020 Papua New Guinea - Latest Developments -
Activist group continues resistance against seabed mining in PNG
Over the last few months, an activist group known as the Alliance of Solwara Warriors have continued their campaign to ban seabed mining. Refugee and activist Behrouz Boochani was released from detention on Manus island after six years, a senior Papua New Guinea journalist was reinstated after being sacked briefly and thousands marched in support of West Papua. Read more
Monday 4.11.2019 Namibia - Latest Developments -
Namibians take to the streets in separate protests
Namibians hold separate protests on various socio-economic issues including employment, police brutality, land and housing, mining and environmental protection Read more
Tuesday 22.10.2019 Peru - Latest Developments -
Peru’s institutions in turmoil after Congress dissolution
On 30th September 2019, President Martín Vizcarra dissolved Congress, Peru’s parliament, plunging Peru into a constitutional crisis. Vizcarra’s move came after the opposition-controlled Congress begn voting on new magistrates for the country’s Constitutional Court, bypassing a government proposal to reform rules for the Court’s election procedure. In a televised address, Vizcarra argued that the drastic measure was a last resort to force parliamentary elections, which have been repeatedly blocked by the legislature.
This update also covers a number of developments, including the violent repression of protests against copper mine Tía María, the detention of key union leaders during a miners protest and the proposal of a punitive defamation law.
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Thursday 10.10.2019 Mongolia - Latest Developments -
Flawed prosecution around killing of Mongolian pro-democracy activist
Two individuals convicted for the 1998 assassination of a pro-democracy activist and former parliamentarian were tortured while in custody to confess. In April-May 2019, the UNSpecial Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders visited Mongolia and received reports about cases of discrimination, intimidation, harassment, stigmatisation and accusations against human rights defenders Read more
Tuesday 10.9.2019 India - Latest Developments -
Ongoing attacks against environmental activists and journalists in India while critics harassed
Human rights defenders, particularly environmental and Right to Information (RTI) activists and journalists, continue to be targeted by state and non-state actors for exposing abuses. Read more
Thursday 29.8.2019 Australia - Latest Developments -
Freedoms at risk in Australia with media raids, silencing of whistleblowers and arrest of protesters
In the last few months, press freedom has come under attack with raids by the authorities on the media for their reporting on government actions. Two whistleblowers who exposed government spying are facing prosecution while climate change protesters have been arrested and charged for their activism. Read more
Monday 19.8.2019 Canada - Latest Developments -
Intelligence agency coordinated with energy companies to spy on groups engaged in peaceful advocacy
In early July 2019, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) released a trove of documents, known as the Protest Papers, indicating that Canada's intelligence apparatus coordinated with energy companies to spy on several groups engaged in peaceful advocacy and protest. In the period covered by this update, several protests have also taken place in defense of environmental causes, LGBTQ and religious rights, and in solidarity with Hong Kong demonstrations. Journalist Ben Makuch handed over to the police all his communications with a source, after years of court battles.
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| Read in French
Friday 16.8.2019 Myanmar - Latest Developments -
Sustained attack on civic freedoms in Myanmar with ongoing prosecutions and internet blackout
In recent months there has been a sustained attack on civic freedoms including an internet blackout in Rakhine and Chin State while military critics, journalists and peaceful protesters continue to be arrested or charged. Read more
