Full Coverage: Human Rights

06/30/2007

06/30/2007 ATLANTA, Jun 29 (IPS) - Under the banner, "If another world is possible, another U.S. is necessary," 10,000 civil society activists gathered in Atlanta, Georgia Wednesday for the beginning of the first U.S. Social Forum.

06/29/2007 Sri Lankan journalists are worried about their safety as authorities have been hostile to them and are creating a climate of self-censorship. The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Sri Lanka has found that even ministers threaten scribes.

06/29/2007 The mid-point to the 2015 deadline, 07.07.07, for meeting the Millennium Development Goals is just around the corner. NGOs worldwide are gearing up to press governments for faster action. In India, the UN Millennium Campaign and other civil society organizations are pushing the ruling UPA government to meet the MDG targets.

06/29/2007 A 100 giorni dalla Marcia Perugia-Assisi, la Tavola della Pace lancia il sito www.perlapace.it come strumento di lavoro in grado di rafforzare la partecipazione, il confronto e la sua coesione. "Lo abbiamo costruito pensando ad una piazza aperta all’incontro e alla collaborazione tra tutti coloro che vogliono dare una mano alla costruzione della pace. Senza etichette né appartenenze, lontano dai luoghi comuni che ancora oggi impediscono l’affermazione di un’autentica cultura nonviolenta della pace" - afferma Flavio Lotti, coordinatore nazionale della Tavola. Intanto il 6-7 luglio ad Assisi si terrà il 23° Seminario Nazionale della Tavola della pace per fare il punto sulla marcia e organizzare la Settimana della pace e la 7a Assemblea dell’ONU dei Popoli di ottobre.

06/28/2007 GENEVA, Jun 28 (IPS) - Global civil society leaders called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Thursday to use both international channels and their muscle on the ground for applying pressure on governments to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

06/28/2007 The government of the south Indian state of Kerala has made it clear that discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS will not be tolerated and has readmitted HIV-positive children who were dismissed from a school in December 2006.

06/28/2007 In November 2006, a High-level Panel recommended the establishment of an independent women-specific agency with a minimum budget of $1 billion US. Women's organisations and other groups from the civil society held a global day of action on 20th June, 2007 and urged their respective Governments, UN Permanent Missions and Ambassadors to endorse and push for the GEA recommendations.

06/28/2007 The violation of minority rights is often a first sign of an approaching conflict, which could be prevented by protecting minority communities at an early stage, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) has stated in a new report.

06/27/2007 Greenpeace, Legambiente, WWF e Cisl hanno lanciato un appello online per la democrazia e l'ambiente in Myanmar (Birmania). Nel Paese le foreste vengono distrutte per sovvenzionare una brutale dittatura e per sostenere il suo sforzo di guerra contro le minoranze nazionali che, per le stesse ragioni, a loro volta sfruttano le foreste nelle aree da loro controllate. Per dare l'idea di quello che succede, alcune aree le concessioni forestali vengono "protette" con mine anti-uomo. Spesso nelle concessioni si fa uso di lavoro schiavile e comunque vengono violati i diritti delle comunità. Le foreste del Myanmar sono uno degli ultimi spot di foresta primaria tropicale nell'Asia continentale, ma il commercio internazionale di Teak ne minaccia la sopravvivenza: infatti questo legno è prelevato in quantità eccessive per sovvenzionare un regime sanguinario, grazie alla costante domanda da parte dell'industria del parquet e della cantieristica navale.

06/27/2007 Kansallisesta ja kansainvälisestä painostuksesta huolimatta ihmisoikeusrikkomuksia tehneitä sotilaita ei Meksikossa edelleenkään aseteta tuomiolle siviilioikeuden eteen. Uhreilla, kuten raiskatuilla naisilla, ei näin ollen ole mahdollisuuksia saada syyllisiä maksaamaan teoistaan.

06/27/2007 To support interactions between the prisoners and their
families, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) of Jamaica and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will inaugurate community radio in the penitentiary center in collaboration with the Canadian Agency of International Development (CIDA).

06/27/2007 The Supreme Court of Nepal has established a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the thousands of enforced disappearances in Nepal during civil conflict and ordered the government to comply with international human standards.

06/26/2007 This anthology, edited by Rehana Ghadially, throws light on the contextual realities of urban Indian women in a most comprehensive manner. It presents a view of the Indian women's movement – past and present – as it responds to a range of issues (including those related to identity, globalisation, media, ICTs and political participation) in the pre and post liberalization eras. It is recommended for students and academics in women's studies, political science, sociology, psychology, ICTs, media studies and development.

06/26/2007 The UN Mission has welcomed the decision of the Nepalese government to hold elections to the Constituent Assembly on 22 November, 2007. The election is seen as a progressive step in the direction of peace and democratically elected
Constituent Assembly.

06/26/2007 The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) urged the government to keep in mind the recent recommendations on juvenile justice by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child while reviewing the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO).

06/26/2007 Aerosmith, U2, Christina Aguilera, R.E.M. ja Green Day tulkitsevat John Lennonin musiikkia Amnestyn ja Warnerin tupla-albumilla. Levyn tuotoilla tuetaan Amnestyn ihmisoikeustyötä Sudanin Darfurissa.

06/26/2007 To commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse, PVR Nest in India, in association with United Nations (Office of Drug and Crime) and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organising a play on prevention of drug abuse titled 'Mission Possible'. The play will be presented by Barry John's troupe "Imago" on 26 th June, 2007 at PVR Priya, New Delhi, India at 5:30 pm.

06/26/2007 "Caste-Based Reservations and Human Development in India" by K.S. Chalam analyses one of the most contentious issues of our times – caste-based reservations, one which has seen tragic, needless deaths and riots and has torn the country apart into protagonists and antagonists.

06/25/2007 Communities as diverse as manual scavengers, people with disabilities, Gujarat riot survivors, indigenous groups, HIV positive people, children out of school and sex workers from across India assembled to discuss a range of human rights issues at the National Conclave – Towards A people's Alliance organised by ActionAid India.