harassment
Tuesday 14.1.2020 Eritrea - Latest Developments
Eritrea second on list of worst jailers of journalists in Africa
Eritrea accuses Qatar of supporting opposition groups and encouraging anti-government protests in Eritrea, Berlin’s ambassador to Eritrea summoned over DW’s (Germany’s state-owned international broadcaster) media coverage of the country Read more
Tuesday 14.1.2020 Tanzania - Latest Developments
Government tightens reins on civic freedoms during the last year
over the last year, the experienced continued closing of civic space by introducing restrictive laws, abduction and detention of HRDs, while crackdown on press freedom continued Read more
Monday 13.1.2020 India - Latest Developments
Discriminatory citizenship law sparks a month of protests in India and brutal response from police
Over the last month, a divisive and discriminatory citizenship law has sparked widespread protests in India. It has been met with excessive force and deadly violence by the authorities, with at least 27 killed and hundreds injured. Critics of the law and activists have been arrested while there have been allegations of torture in detention by the police in Uttar Pradesh. The police also failed to protect attacks against students by a pro-government mob at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Read more
Monday 23.12.2019 Kazakhstan - Latest Developments
Kazakhstan: A tightening grip on civil society: ongoing persecution of activists across the country
During the period covered by this report, Kazakhstan witnessed reinforced persecution of civil society activists, journalists and other citizens exercising their fundamental rights. This includes the prosecution of numerous civil society activists, journalists and other individuals in retaliation for expressing their opinion, engaging in online activities or participating in peaceful demonstrations on socio-economic and political issues. The reporting period also saw the continued denial of state registration for NGOs working on issues that are sensitive to the authorities. Read more
Thursday 19.12.2019 Serbia - Latest Developments
Death threats intensify after civil society questions changes to criminal code
Changes to Serbia's criminal code have spurred a barrage of abuse targeted at civil society. The changes adopted in May 2019 include the possibility of life imprisonment without parole for felony murder, rape with a fatal outcome, rape of a powerless person with a fatal outcome, rape of a child with a fatal outcome and rape in a situation of position abuse. Read more
Sunday 15.12.2019 Sri Lanka - Latest Developments
Journalists and activists targeted as many fear regression of rights following Sri Lankan elections
Over the last two months, journalists have faced harassment, threats and attacks for their reporting while a Swiss embassy employee was detained by unknown persons and interrogated for information around asylum provided to Sri Lankans. Academic and human rights lawyer Kumaravadivel Guruparan has been targeted, while there have been reports of surveillance and intimidation against anti-disappearance protesters. Read more
Friday 13.12.2019 Vietnam - Latest Developments
Alarming number of activists being jailed in Vietnam for ‘anti-state’ Facebook posts
Over the last few months, activists, journalists and academics have been either arrested or jailed for their postings on Facebook critical of the regime. Many have faced politically motivated charges under Article 117 of the 2015 Penal Code for “making, storing, spreading or propagating information, materials or items for the purpose of opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”. There is also concern about intimidation and harassment of a publishing house, the removal of anti-government postings by Facebook and the use of terrorism charges against political activists. Read more
Thursday 12.12.2019 El Salvador - Latest Developments
Human rights organisations accuse prosecutors of criminalising community defenders
Human rights organisations of El Savador’s Foro del Agua (Water Forum) have denounced the criminalisation of activists defending the right to water in Tacuba, Ahuachapán department. According to their complaint, two prosecutors have accused community defenders of offences such as aggravated theft without providing evidence, in legal cases that have been technically inconsistent.
Also in this update: protests against gender-based violence and sexual assault, two journalists were attacked by an anonymous account seeking to discredit their work, and El Salvador had its first Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in loco visit in 32 years.
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Wednesday 11.12.2019 Azerbaijan - Latest Developments
Authorities use force to disperse protests, harass journalists
law enforcement officers violently disperse protests in central Baku that had been organised by the National Council of Democratic Forces; authorities disperse women’s rights activists who had gathered in the city centre to protest domestic violence; 10 senior opposition party members arrested and detained ahead of protests, lawyer Nemat Karimli subjected to excessive controls and verbal intimidation as he went in to meet with his client; Several incidents of police officers using force or violence against journalists documented Read more
Tuesday 3.12.2019 Mexico - Latest Developments
Journalists and their families continue to face a dangerous environment
Hundreds of people marched in the streets of Mexico City to protest violence against women and girls in the country. In a reference to the country’s traditional Día de los Muertos celebration, the march on 3rd November 2019 commemorated the Día de las Muertas, or “Day of the Dead Women”. Read more
