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Human rights
RSS FeedKenya: Mau Mau veterans win right to sue British government
2012-10-09, Issue 600
The UK government is bracing itself for thousands of legal claims from people who were imprisoned and allegedly mistreated during the final days of the British empire after the high court in London ruled that three elderly Kenyans detained and tortured during the Mau Mau rebellion have the right to sue for damages. The court rejected claims that too much time had elapsed since the seven-year insurgency in the 1950s, and it was no longer possible to hold a fair trial.
Sudan: UN should adopt stronger resolution to prevent human rights violations
2012-09-27, Issue 599
The UN Human Rights Council (the Council) should not take a soft approach to the deteriorating situation in South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur when it adopts a resolution on Sudan at the end of its 21st session this week. The Council should act in accordance with its mandate to address ongoing widespread and serious violations of human rights and prevent any further deterioration of the situation in the conflict areas. 'The Council should not turn a blind eye to the potential for further abuses, in particular in South Kordofan, Blue Nile. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) and FIDH call on the Council to keep a close watch on the human rights situation in Sudan,' said ACJPS Director Osman Hummaida.
Kenya: Information ‘drought’ hampers ICC probe
2012-09-27, Issue 599
The International Criminal Court prosecutor’s office has expressed frustration over the slow pace at which the government has adopted in cooperating with The Hague based court. The prosecutor’s office wrote to Attorney General Githu Muigai asking the State to hasten its promise to deliver certain information to the ICC. 'The slow pace of processing these requests is a source of frustration,' Mr Phakiso Mochochoko, Head of the Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation said in the letter.
Zimbabwe: Torture in Zimbabwe
2012-09-27, Issue 599
Recently, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court unanimously 'chastised' state security agents for torturing Jestina Mukoko, national director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, four years ago, reports blog Africa is a Country. 'They came at dawn, December 3, 2008. Armed men broke into the house of Jestina Mukoko, the only surviving parent of a teenage child who watched, helplessly. They took her, in unmarked cars, and held her incommunicado for 21 days. During that time, they beat her feet with rubber truncheons. They dumped her into solitary confinement. They forced her to kneel on gravel, to endure searing pain.'
South Africa: Kennedy Road shackdwellers sue
2012-10-01, Issue 599
Former residents of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban are pursuing damages claims against the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, three years after the police failed to protect them from an armed gang that invaded the settlement in September 2009. This is an important case because it holds the police responsible to prevent violence perpetuated by others when it is in a position to do so, says this press release from the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa.
South Africa: Probe into police killings of Lonmin miners starts
2012-10-01, Issue 599
South Africa’s judicial inquiry into the police’s killing of 34 striking mineworkers at Lonmin Plc’s Marikana mine begins on Monday with a visit to the site of the most deadly police action since the end of apartheid. Retired Supreme Court Judge Ian Farlam, assisted by two lawyers, is mandated to investigate events between August 9 and 16, Kevin Malunga, spokesman for the commission of inquiry, said in an interview on SAFM radio on Monday. Public hearings are being held in the northwest town of Rustenburg.
Gambia: Stepping up pressure on human rights
2012-09-23, Issue 598
Public, forceful international pressure on Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to halt ongoing executions of death row prisoners was successful - at least temporarily - leading activists to call for governments, multinationals and human rights groups to exert more sustained pressure on the government to clean up its human rights act. 'For far too long the international and regional community has been far too quiet [on Gambia] - we haven’t been able to test if pressure does indeed work,' said Sherman Nikolaus, an Amnesty International Gambia researcher, who noted that the about-turn shows the president does care about his reputation, internationally and regionally.
Kenya: Mass graves found in Kenya's delta region
2012-09-19, Issue 598
Two mass graves have been discovered in Kenya's coastal Tana Delta region, the number and identities of the bodies in the graves are unknown, police say. The discovery of the graves comes a week after at least 38 people were shot, hacked and burnt to death after two tribes fought over land and water in the same area. The graves were located in Kilelengwani village, the epicentre of fighting that has left 100 people dead in the last three weeks, including nine police officers.
Egypt: Missing protesters: lost between two regimes
2012-09-19, Issue 598
Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protested during the revolution that led to the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak. Some of the men and women that took to the streets to reclaim their rights never came back home. The disappeared are neither dead nor alive. There are no government records about their cases, reports www.english.al-akhbar.com
Global: Violence against women, property rights most pressing indigenous issues
2012-09-20, Issue 598
Violence against women and girls and the indiscriminate extraction of natural resources are among the most pressing issues that indigenous peoples face today, a United Nations human rights expert said. 'A recurring issue that has come to my attention in various contexts is that of violence against indigenous women and girls,' said the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya, in his statement to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In the past year, Anaya has collaborated with various countries, UN agencies and indigenous peoples in several studies and country assessments on the challenges indigenous peoples face on a daily basis. He has also made recommendations to states of good practices and responded to cases of alleged human rights violations.
Ethiopia: Indigenous people demand accountability from World Bank
2012-09-25, Issue 598
Anuak indigenous people from Ethiopia’s Gambella region have submitted a complaint to the World Bank Inspection Panel implicating the Bank in grave human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ethiopian Government. The complaint alleges that the Anuak people have been severely harmed by the World Bank-financed and administered Protection of Basic Services Project (PBS), which has provided 1.4 billion USD in sectoral budget support for the provision of basic services to the Ethiopian Government since 2006.
Mauritania: March to commemorate the passing of rights activist
2012-09-25, Issue 598
Civil rights organisation Touche pas à ma nationalité TPMN (in English: Do not interfere with my citizenship) has called for a large march on September 27, 2012 in the capital Nouakchott to commemorate the passing of anti-racism activist Lamine Mangane. Mangane was killed a year ago by authorities in the town of Maghama during protests against a census that marginalized black citizens of Mauritania.
Morocco: Minister admits police abused protesters
2012-09-25, Issue 598
Morocco's justice minister has admitted to 'several cases of abuse' by police at recent protests, a local newspaper reported, saying the government would review how such protests were dealt with by them. 'There have been several cases of abuse by the police forces of citizens' protesting,' Mustapha Ramid was quoted as saying by the Arabic-language daily Akhbar al-Youm. 'The government must review the way in which the security forces intervene, to ensure that it conforms with the law,' he added, referring to peaceful protests violently dispersed by baton-wielding riot police in recent days.
Gambia: Jammeh halts executions amid outcry
2012-09-16, Issue 597
The Gambian president has suspended the execution of prisoners on death row, amid an international outcry. In a statement, Yahya Jammeh said he was responding to 'numerous appeals'. Nine prisoners have been executed since his vow in August to clear death row. Another 37 inmates remain on death row.
Swaziland: Armed police invade freedom summit
2012-09-10, Issue 597
Heavily-armed police in Swaziland invaded the venue for a ‘people’s summit’ due to take place 6 September as part of week-long pro-democracy activities in the kingdom. The Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC) reported ‘a large number of heavily armed and hostile police’ invaded the Bosco Skills Centre, Manzini, where the summit was due to start.
Tanzania: Support ‘Stop Thomson Safari’ online Maasai land rights campaign
2012-09-10, Issue 597
An over 12,000-acre land dispute spanning more than two decades in Loliondo division, Ngorongoro District in Northern Tanzania pitting Thomson Safaris, a US-based tourism company, and Maasai villagers has sparked an online campaign to boycott the tour company which prides itself on its community involvement. The primary cause of the conflict between the local community and Thomson Safaris is over the land ownership of Sukenya Farm and consequently the rights of the villagers to graze their cattle and access important water sources.
Ethiopia: Rebel group claims military carried out massacre of women, children
2012-09-11, Issue 597
Ethiopia’s rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) has accused the Ethiopian military of committing a massacre against predominantly women and children in the Wardher region on 6 September. At least 13 people have been confirmed dead. The ONLF said in a statement that the killings targeted family members of ONLF rebels, including the Guuleed family.
Kenya: Towards reconciliation
2012-09-13, Issue 597
The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation’s Justice and Reconciliation in Africa programme has released a new Policy Brief entitled ‘Reconciling Kenya: Opportunities for constructing a peaceful and socially cohesive nation’. The Brief forms part of an ongoing project focused on promoting national cohesion and reconciliation in Kenya, which will be jointly implemented by the IJR, the Kenyan National Cohesion and Integration Commission and the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden over the next two years. The project pieces together the initiatives taken in Kenya towards reconciliation since the post-election violence in 2007/2008 and gives recommendations to different actors on the way forward to consolidate national cohesion and reconciliation.
Kenya: Submission of a joint alternative report to the UN Human Rights Committee
2012-09-17, Issue 597
A coalition of organisations is to submit an alternative report to the UN Human Rights Committee to inform its review of Kenya’s Third Periodic Report at its 105th Session (9 - 27 July 2012) on the implementation of the Provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in relation to torture. The report seeks to highlight the prevalent incidences of torture and related human rights violations in Kenya as serious concerns remain in this area. The overall conclusion is that whilst Kenya has endeavoured to include the principles of the ICCPR in its newly promulgated Constitution of 2010 and legislative framework, there continue to be important legislative and administrative gaps that still provide challenges towards full implementation of the ICCPR as specified in subsequent chapters.
Zimbabwe: WOZA slams police intimidation as another member arrested
2012-09-18, Issue 597
Pressure group Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) has slammed what it calls a 'disturbing trend' of police intimidation in Bulawayo, after the arrest of another member on Tuesday 18 September. Tuesday morning saw a group of more than fifty WOZA members march together to the Bulawayo offices of the Joint Operating and Monitoring Committee (JOMIC) to deliver letters of complaint about their treatment at the hands of the police. This followed the indiscriminate arrest of WOZA’s leaders, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu last week.
DRC: The London Stock Exchange, a haven for laundered conflict assets?
2012-07-25, Issue 595
In a new report, 'Asset laundering and AIM: Congo, corporate misconduct and the market value of human rights', the business and human rights organisation Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) catalogues the inadequacies of the London Stock Exchange's regulatory framework. The Central African Mining and Exploration Company plc (CAMEC) was allowed to trade and flourish on London's junior Alternative Investment Market (AIM) despite its close links to Robert Mugabe's ZANU PF party (Zimbabwe), the dubious provenance of its Congolese mining assets and the unsavoury reputation of key business associates.
Mali: Security forces ‘disappear’ 20, torture others
2012-07-25, Issue 595
Soldiers loyal to Mali’s coup leader have forcibly disappeared at least 20 soldiers allegedly linked to an 30 April 2012 counter-coup, and committed torture and other abuses against dozens of others, Human Rights Watch said. The security forces of Capt. Amadou Sanogo, who led the 22 March coup against President Amadou Toumani Touré, have also engaged in a campaign of intimidation against journalists, family members of detained soldiers, and others deemed a threat.
Senegal: AU, Senegal strike trial court deal on Chad dictator Habre
2012-07-25, Issue 595
Senegalese and the African Union officials have proposed a special court within the Senegalese judicial system to try former Chadian dictator Hissene Habre, sources said Wednesday, 25 July. Senegal’s justice minister said on the national broadcaster that the special court would consist four sections to handle instruction, investigations, trials, and appeals. Madame Aminata Touré said that the chambers would be presided over by African Union legal experts and Senegalese magistrates.
Gambia: Global rights body urges Gambia to free jailed anti-government activist
2012-07-25, Issue 595
An activist serving life imprisonment with hard labour for printing and distributing T-shirts calling for an end to dictatorship in The Gambia must be freed, global rights body, Amnesty International (AI), has said. The global rights body made the call as it marked its annual Day of Action, calling for improved human rights in the West African country.
Kenya: Court overturns ban on separatist group
2012-07-25, Issue 595
Kenya's High Court lifted a ban on Wednesday on a separatist group demanding the secession of the country's coastal strip and famed tourist haven, the latest twist in a dispute that has unnerved investors and raised fears of violence. The Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) was outlawed by the Kenyan government in 2010 along with 33 entities described as 'organised criminal groups', but a Mombasa-based court ruled that the ban was unconstitutional.
Rwanda: Kagame warned he may be charged with aiding war crimes
2012-07-26, Issue 595
The head of the US war crimes office has warned Rwanda's leaders, including President Paul Kagame, that they could face prosecution at the international criminal court for arming groups responsible for atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Stephen Rapp, who leads the US Office of Global Criminal Justice, told the Guardian the Rwandan leadership may be open to charges of 'aiding and abetting' crimes against humanity in a neighbouring country.
Kenya: UK admits abuses took place in Kenya
2012-07-18, Issue 594
The British Government on Tuesday 17 July acknowledged that colonial forces in Kenya tortured and abused detainees during the Mau Mau rebellion. Queen’s counsel Guy Mansfield made the first ever official acknowledgement in the British High Court during the hearing of a case filed by three elderly Kenyans. Mr Mansfield told the Kenyans suing for damages that the British Government did not dispute that 'terrible things' happened to them. Before cross-examining witnesses, the lawyer said he did not want to dispute that civilians suffered.
Sudan: Security forces arrest lawyers
2012-07-18, Issue 594
Three lawyers were arrested in Nyala after they met with the government of South Darfur. During a meeting with the head of security and head of police they handed over a petition in which they demanded President Omar Al Bashir to stop the use of excessive violence against peaceful protesters.
Tanzania: Call for investigation into attack on doctor
2012-07-18, Issue 594
Human rights organisations have condemned the acts of violence committed on 26 June 2012 against Dr. Stephen Ulimboka, Chairperson of the Special Committee of Doctors, and called for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry mandated to shed light on the circumstances of this aggression so that its authors can be brought to justice. Dr. Ulimboka was kidnapped and beaten while leading a strike by doctors seeking improved working conditions in public hospitals.
Equatorial Guinea: Controversial UNESCO science prize finally awarded
2012-07-19, Issue 594
The UNESCO-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences, controversially endowed by Equatorial Guinea, was finally awarded in Paris 17 July, after years of wrangling and postponements. The three prize winners - from Egypt, Mexico and South Africa - each received US$100,000 from Equatorial Guinea's vice president, Ignacio Milam Tang, amid speculation about whether the country's dictatorial president, and the prize's original funder, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, would attend in person (he did not).
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