land rights
Thursday 26.3.2020 Canada - Latest Developments
Canada: Natural gas pipeline project on Wet’suwet’en territory sparks national protests
Throughout February 2020, Indigenous-rights and environmental activists participated in country-wide demonstrations and set up blockades on major rail lines to challenge a natural gas pipeline project in British Colombia. Read more
Friday 20.3.2020 Costa Rica - Latest Developments
An Indigenous leader killed and another shot in the leg by land invaders in Costa Rica
On 24th February 2020, a leader of the Indigenous Brörán community of Térraba, Jerhy Rivera Rivera, was killed in the Puntarenas province. Rivera led the land recovery process of indigenous territories in the region. Read more | Read in Spanish
Monday 9.3.2020 Guatemala - Latest Developments
NGO oversight law limits and restricts freedom of association in Guatemala
On 11th February 2020, the Guatemalan Congress approved a decree (No. 4-2020) which would impose sweeping controls over civil society, restricting freedom of association in the country. Favourable legislators say the reform of the Law of Non-governmental Organisations for Development (Ley de Organizaciones No Gubernamentales para el Desarrollo) enables “transparency and oversight”, but critics argue it establishes harsh sanctions which authorise the arbitrary closure of organisations. Read more | Read in Spanish
Friday 21.2.2020 Laos - Latest Developments
Laos activist Od Sayavong still missing six months on, while critics continue to be silenced
Lao authorities are believed to have been involved in the enforced disappearance of activist Od Sayavong and Phetphouthon Philachane in 2019. Government critic Houayheuang Xayabouly has been convicted for criticising the authority’s slow response to floods. Villagers in Luang Namtha are resisting a land development project while there has been no progress around the case of disappeared human rights defender Sombath Somphone seven years on. Read more
Friday 17.1.2020 Myanmar - Latest Developments
Despite serious crimes probe, Myanmar continues to silence critics and block the internet
Over the last few months, the authorities convicted film maker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi and the Peacock generation poetry troupe for criticism of the military, while a Kachin activist was jailed for insulting a judge. The internet shutdown in Rakhine state remains. Rohingya campaigners outside the country faced threats while protesters continue to be arrested and convicted. Read more
Friday 29.11.2019 New Zealand - Latest Developments
Indigenous activists in NZ continue struggle to block development at Ihumātao
Over the last few months, indigenous activists have continued their struggle to block land development at Ihumātao in Auckland. Pro-Hong Kong student activists have been threatened while protesting and climate activists have been arrested. Read more
Thursday 21.11.2019 Indonesia - Latest Developments
Lack of accountability for police violence, attacks on journalists and activists in Indonesia
In the last few months, mass protests by students were met with excessive use of force and firearms by the police with impunity. Further, activists peacefully protesting on West Papua are facing “rebellion” charges while two journalists and an environmental activist have died. Police have also attacked journalists covering a protest while the authorities continue to pursue a human rights lawyer for her activism on West Papua. Read more
Wednesday 20.11.2019 Guatemala - Latest Developments
Guatemalan ombudsman warns about deterioration of freedom of expression
On 6th November 2019, unidentified men shot and killed human rights defender Manuel Pérez Hernández at his home in the community Agua Mecate de San Pedro Pínula, Jalapa department. Manuel Pérez was a community defender and social leader of Comité de Desarrollo Campesino (Peasant Development Committee - CODECA), which advocates for land reform.
On 2nd November 2019, Guatemala’s Ombudsman Jordán Rodas published a statement on the need to strengthen protection for reporters, creating a framework based on the United Nations Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists. Between May and August 2019, in the context of the country’s electoral campaign, there were 39 incidents where freedom of expression was violated. At the end of October, a group of union workers attacked reporters covering their meeting.
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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
Friday 1.11.2019 Philippines - Latest Developments
Philippines human rights body launches national inquiry as attacks against activists persist
Over the last few months, critics of the President have been charged with sedition and other offences and journalists have been killed. Further, a anti-fake news bill has been tabled in the Senate which could restrict freedom of expression. Left and indigenous activists have also been killed and there are increasing attacks on lawyers. Read more
