'06 News

12/28/2006 Conflict has forced the World Food Programme to suspend a helicopter operation delivering humanitarian aid following the country's worst flooding in nearly a decade.
From: World Food Programme

12/22/2006 Serious human rights violations, impunity, and the failure to protect individual rights--notably those of the poor and marginalized--are highlighted in the Asian Human Rights Commission's annual report.

12/22/2006 The Spanish government has made the largest contribution by any country to the UN to help meet the Millennium Development goals by 2015.

12/22/2006 Hundreds of thousands of people are at risk in Somalia's flooded crisis areas because of severe water shortages, internal displacement, food insecurity, and the threat of escalating violence, according to Oxfam.

12/22/2006 The European Union took historic action last week to strengthen its laws on chemicals; health advocates hope the precedent will be followed in the United States.

12/22/2006 A UK government decision to allow its departments to purchase wood products certified by schemes that allow destructive logging practices has come under fire from major environmental groups.

12/21/2006 He dubbed himself "The Great Head of the Turkmen People," required all students read his spiritual tome, and held total control of all state institutions. Following Saparmurat Niyazov's death Thursday, the future is uncertain for the former Soviet republic that holds vast gas and oil reserves and is considered a strategic regional country bordering Iran and Afghanistan.

12/21/2006 Six aid organizations have warned that an upsurge in violence since December 1 has forced them to temporarily evacuate staff supporting nearly 500,000 people across Darfur.

12/21/2006 For the first time, an international treaty requires states to incorporate the crime of enforced disappearance into their domestic legislation and to prosecute and punish the perpetrators.

12/21/2006 Don't drop "smart sanctions" against the Zimbabwe government, two major international trades union groups have urged the European Union.

12/20/2006 Early results from three elections held last week indicate that Iranian voters have repudiated most candidates associated with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's political camp; even the president's sister managed only 11th place in the Tehran city council vote.

12/20/2006 Despite a death and injuries in an explosion in the Lebanese village of Marjayoun on Tuesday, mine clearance specialists say the incidence of cluster bomb casualties has fallen significantly in recent weeks.

12/20/2006 Following the December 10 "megamarch" demanding the freeing of political prisoners and the departure of federal troops from the restive Mexican province of Oaxaca, groups supporting the protestors have declared Friday an international day of action.

12/19/2006 The Botswana government's statement that it will not appeal a High Court ruling in favour of the Central Kalahari Bushmen was welcomed by Survival International Tuesday.

12/19/2006 Air pollution from ozone and soot over Asia is twice the global average and is especially strong over tropical regions, a scientist has told government representatives of 20 Asian countries.

12/19/2006 The "last cod" was presented to the British government by Greenpeace campaigners yesterday as they accused politicians across Europe of wiping out the fish.

12/19/2006 Britain's aid ministry is failing to support democracy in Burma and failing to provide aid to some of the most vulnerable people in the country, according to a report launched today.

12/19/2006 Community groups mobilized across the United States Monday to call for immigration policies based on the principles of dignity, justice, and equality.

12/18/2006 More than 89,000 people in 70 countries have joined a campaign asking Starbucks to stop dragging its feet and to support Ethiopia's ownership of its coffee names--a move that could be very important for the country's coffee farmers.

12/18/2006 Equality advocates are hailing last week's passage of a law on civil unions in New Jersey as a positive step, though they are disappointed that the legislature did not provide for same sex marriages.
From: Human Rights Campaign