people with disabilities
Monday 24.8.2020 Kazakhstan - Latest Developments -
Massive restrictions on expression during COVID-19; sudden banning of peaceful opposition
The reporting period was characterised by mass restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association, specifically in relation to the banning of the popular unregistered “Street Party” movement by a court decision in May 2020 after it was labelled as extremist. The reporting period also saw important legislative developments, including changing slander from a criminal to an administrative offence and the corresponding reduction of penalties from prison sentences to fines. However, insult and insulting a government representative remain criminal offences. Read more
Monday 13.7.2020 United Kingdom - Latest Developments -
Police watchdog raises concerns over abusive policing practices at Black Lives Matter protests
Despite restrictions on public gatherings due to the pandemic, people gathered during May and June 2020 in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter mass protests in the US over the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis police officer. Protesters were arrested on several occasions and charged with breaching regulation 7 of the coronavirus regulations, but it remains unclear how these individuals were detained while hundreds of others were not. Police watchdog, Netpol and other organisations wrote a letter to the Met Police to express their concerns on policing protests under regulation 7. Netpol campaigners also reported abusive police practices, such as the use of the controversial containment tactic called “kettling” on four separate occasions during protests in the month of June. Netpol also reports that protesters face masks were pulled down by the police to make sure faces were captured and names and addresses of the protestors were demanded, using section 50 of the Police Reform Act. Press freedom has also come under serious threat from UK officials during the reporting period. Read more
Friday 3.7.2020 Venezuela - Latest Developments -
Enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions increase in Venezuela during pandemic
On 8th May 2020, civil society organisation Foro Penal reported that arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances increased in Venezuela since the beginning of COVID-19 containment measures in March 2020. Read more
Thursday 23.5.2019 Kenya - Latest Developments -
Dispersal of protests continues to be a major challenge to peaceful assembly
Authorities continue to disperse and restrict protests, while the courts issue positive orders holding security officers to account for excessive force. Read more
Wednesday 1.5.2019 Kyrgyzstan - Latest Developments -
Some positive civic space developments, but more to be done to keep promises
As reported previously on the Monitor, the Kyrgyzstani authorities committed to improve the human rights situation in the country. Read more
Tuesday 12.2.2019 Canada - Latest Developments -
Arrest of 14 people at a pipeline protest prompts national outrage
Thousands of people took to the streets in multiple cities to protest the arrest of 14 demonstrators at a protest camp in British Columbia on 8th January 2019 over a proposed pipeline running through First Nations territory. Read more
Wednesday 19.12.2018 Bulgaria - Latest Developments -
Investigative journalists suspicious of official version of Viktoria Marinova's killing
On 6th October 2018, Viktoria Marinova, a Bulgarian journalist, presenter and administrative director of the local TV channel TVN was found dead in the town of Ruse. Read more
Thursday 29.11.2018 India - Latest Developments -
Women's rights come to the fore in India
On 25th September 2018, Bollywood actor Tanushree Dutta alleged that she was sexually harassed by director-actor, Nana Patekar on a film set in 2008. Speaking on television, the actor recollected her struggle after the incident. The Tanushree Dutta interview, single-handedly sparked a #MeToo movement in India. Thousands of women took to social media to share their experiences of sexual harassment, assault, violence and sexual violence. Read more
Friday 15.6.2018 Ireland - Latest Developments -
Concerns over free expression rights and censorship emerge during abortion referendum
A number of instances during the campaign to relax Ireland's abortion laws led civil society groups to raise concerns that artistic freedom was being unduly restricted. Read more
Thursday 14.6.2018 Poland - Latest Developments -
State restricts protest on disability benefits
The Polish authorities took measures to restrict the visibility of a 40-day long protest by parents of people with disabilities. Read more
