HRD acquitted
Monday 6.6.2022 Chad - Latest Developments -
Six members and supporters of Wakit Tama arrested, charged following protest
Between 14th and 17th May 2022, six Wakit Tama members and supporters, including protest organisers, were arrested: secretary-general of the Trade Unions of Chad, Gounoung Vaima Ganfare; lawyer at the Chadian Bar Association Koudé Mbaïnaïssem; President of the Group of Civil Society Executives Hissène Massar Hissène, former ambassador Allamine Adoudou, secretary-general of the Union of Chadian Supplier Traders Youssouf Korom and spokesperson for Wakit Tama Max Loalngar, the former head of human rights organisation Chadian Human Rights League (Ligue Tchadienne de droits de l’homme). The six were charged with gathering to cause public disturbance, harm to property, and physical assault. The trial of the six is set to start on 6th June 2022. Read more
Tuesday 10.5.2022 Kuwait - Latest Developments -
Blogger faces lengthy prison sentence & risk of torture if forcibly returned to Kuwait
Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) issued an appeal calling on the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina to grant Kuwaiti blogger Mesaed Al-Musaileem the right to move to a safe third country; Criminal Division of the Court of First Instance (Kulya Court) acquits the President of the Kuwait Association for Information Security, Dr Safaa Zaman, of broadcasting false news; Bedoon rights defenders began an open-ended hunger strike to demand civil and human rights for all Bedoon citizens; human rights defender Abdulhakim Al-Fadhli summoned by the Public Prosecution in Kuwait for the third time in one month, charged with defamation, Kuwaiti Constitutional Court overturns Article 198 of the Penal Code, which criminalised “imitation of the opposite sex”, Read more
Tuesday 12.4.2022 Azerbaijan - Latest Developments -
New laws impose stiffer restrictions on CSOs & media, journalist killed
New provisions of the Fiscal Code enter put more pressure on CSOs, protests held against proposed media regulations, protests held against Russia's invasion of Ukraine - followed by counter protests on the same, journalist and LGBTIQ+ activist stabbed to death, journalist summoned to General prosecutor's office over published article. Read more
Wednesday 23.3.2022 Honduras - Latest Developments -
Honduras: Guapinol water defenders released after trial annulled by Supreme Court
On 27th January 2022, Xiomara Castro of the Libre party was sworn in as Honduras’ president. She took office amid a dispute with dissidents in her own party, who rebelled against her preferred choice for Congress leadership. Read more | Read in Spanish
Friday 4.2.2022 United Kingdom - Latest Developments -
Threats on civic freedoms continue as government attempts to evade accountability
In September 2021, the UK was added to the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist due to a rapid decline in civic freedoms. Major concerns have been raised on the Policing, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which proposes to give police more power to crack down on protests and will have serious repercussions for minority groups, including Gypsy and Traveller communities, Black people and people of colour. Several other legislative developments, such as proposed changes to the Human Rights Act, the New Elections Bill and the Judicial Review and Courts Bill, threaten fundamental rights and democratic checks and balances, which aim to hold the government accountable. This reporting period was marked by a victory regarding the Policing bill, after the House of Lords voted down several problematic proposals. However, several other concerning parts of the bill, which severely threaten the right to protest, remain. Additionally, the government opened consultations to reform the Human Rights Act, which civil society says will diminish access to justice. Read more
Thursday 2.12.2021 Peru - Latest Developments -
Communities impacted by mining and oil extraction lead wave of protests in Peru
The first months of Pedro Castillo’s presidency were marked by governability challenges, with the government often at odds with an opposition-led Congress. Read more | Read in Spanish
Tuesday 30.11.2021 Mali - Latest Developments -
Mali’s “military coup within a coup”: no elections in February 2022; journalist abducted
On 24th May 2021, members of the armed forces arrested Mali’s transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane in a “coup within a coup”. The move, initiated by vice-president and leader of the 2020 coup Assimi Goïta, followed the announcement of a cabinet reshuffle, with Goïta accusing Ndaw and Ouane of violating the transition charter by not having consulted with him. Ironically, the transition charter does not give the vice-president the power to dismiss the president and prime minister. Read more | Read in French
Wednesday 29.9.2021 Guatemala - Latest Developments -
Guatemalan civic space continues to shrink during Giammattei’s government
On 23rd July 2021, Guatemalan Attorney General Consuelo Porras removed the country’s lead anti-corruption prosecutor, Juan Francisco Sandoval, from his position as head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI). Read more | Read in Spanish
Sunday 1.8.2021 Burundi - Latest Developments -
Prominent HRD Germain Rukuki released
Human rights defender Nestor Nibitanga released; Germain Rukuki’s conviction overturned and released; lawyer Tony Germain Nkina sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of one million Burundian francs (approximately US$ 500); main opposition party CNL raise concerns over the alleged abductions of party members; National Communication Council (CNC) lifted the ban on the BBC and a local news website, Ikiriho Read more
Friday 21.5.2021 United Kingdom - Latest Developments -
#KilltheBill protests continue amid police violence; Extinction Rebellion co-founder arrested
#KilltheBill protests against the policing bill continue across the UK, as protesters advocate for the protection of peaceful assembly rights. Meanwhile, the controversial bill has been declared in violation of international rights standards. Amid these developments, climate defenders from Extinction Rebellion remain under threat, with the arrest of the group's co-founder. In other concerning developments, Conservative MPs launched a complaint against independent race equality think tank Runnymede Trust, after the trust made critical comments about the governments controversial Race and Ethnic Disparities report. In addition, 200 UK NGOs have condemned government cuts to the aid budget which will have devastating consequences for the sector.
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