Human rights

Geneva (AP/UNB) — Myanmar’s envoy to the top U.N. human rights body says his country rejects any move to bring the issue of alleged rights violations against ethnic Rohingya Muslims to an international legal forum. Read More »

At heart, democracy is about people, says UN chief Dhaka, Sept 15 – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all governments to respect the right to active, substantive and meaningful participation. Read More »

Charlie Cole, one of the photographers who captured the famous Tank Man on film during the Tiananmen Square protests, has died. Read More »

by Anita Inder Singh on 12th September 2019 If Vladimir Putin thinks liberalism is obsolete when it comes to managing cultural diversity, democratic western-European leaders should not be echoing him. Greece is one of the latest member states of the European Union to be framing measures to tackle a fresh wave of human arrivals. And the handling of such newcomers—whether ... Read More »

Dhaka, Sept 11 – In a new development of Rohingya crisis, Myanmar government has agreed to take high level representatives of Bangladesh to make a visit to the affected areas in Myanmar from where Rohingya people were displaced due to the persecution of the Myanmar army. Read More »

Dhaka, Sept 11 (UNB) – The Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) partners – UN agencies working in support of the government of Bangladesh — are assisting thousands in the host community and Rohingya refugee camps who have been impacted by severe rain and winds that have continued to batter Cox’s Bazar since Saturday. Read More »

India, Sept 11 (AP/UNB) — The Indian soldiers descended on Bashir Ahmed Dar’s house in southern Kashmir on Aug. 10, a few days after the government in New Delhi stripped the disputed Himalayan region of its statehood and launched a crackdown. Over the next 48 hours, the 50-year-old plumber said he was subjected to two separate rounds of beatings by ... Read More »

Human Rights Watch Mourns the Passing of Marca Bristo Shantha Rau Barriga, Director, Disability Rights Division It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Marca Bristo, tireless partner to and supporter of Human Rights Watch’s Disability Rights program. To me and so many around the world, Marca was a true force of nature; a fierce advocate, visionary ... Read More »

Restrictions on mobile communications deepens vulnerability of Rohingya community, Article19 said on Tuesday. The decision by Bangladesh authorities to restrict access to mobile telecommunications services by Rohingya refugees violates the rights to freedom of expression, information and non-discrimination, ARTICLE 19 said today. Bangladesh’s initiative to limit mobile access follows the imposition by the Myanmar government of a mobile Internet blackout ... Read More »

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Monday urged the government of Myanmar to cooperate with the international mechanisms that have been established both to ensure justice and consolidate Myanmar’s democratic transition. Read More »

Sept, 08 – Sunday Turkmen labor rights activist Gaspar Matalaev was released from prison. He served his full three-year sentence, handed down on spurious charges, in response to his work to expose the use of forced labor in Turkmenistan’s cotton industry. Gaspar is currently at home, receiving the support of his family. Read More »

Bangkok, 2 September 2019 – The Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) strongly condemns the Malaysian Government for the recent return of refugee Arif Komis and his family to Turkey. Read More »

Dhaka, Sept 1 – To give Rohingya refugee women a platform to raise their voice, access to information and obtain referrals for service, “all women’s committees” were launched yesterday at the refugee camp with support from International Organization of Migration (IOM), said a press release of IOM.A total of 110 women are now active in those committees, including 10 with ... Read More »

Dhaka, Aug 30 – Eminent citizens and rights body activists yesterday demanded formation of an independent and neutral commission to find out the people who were behind enforced disappearances during the various period of time across the country. Read More »

Dhaka – The High Court on Monday asked the authorities concerned to inform it about steps taken against those involved in the incidents of recent mob-beating. Read More »

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 23 2019 (IPS) – Two years after the start of an exodus of Rohingya civilians from genocide-like attacks in Myanmar, members of the mainly Muslim minority have little hope of securing justice, rights or returning to their homes, according to the United Nations and aid groups. Reports this week from the U.N. and Oxfam, a charity, show ... Read More »

By James Reinl Reprint UN, Aug 14 2019 (IPS) – World governments are not doing enough to stop armed groups from committing mass rape, torture and other war crimes, the head of the Red Cross aid group head Peter Maurer said on Tuesday. Read More »

Dhaka, Aug 19 (UNB) – Norway has laid emphasis on working together to make sure that things are improving on Myanmar side and expediting the global efforts to ensure the “voluntary and safe” return of Rohingyas to their place of origin in Rakhine State. “We’ll have to work together to make sure that things are improving on Myanmar side. I’m ... Read More »

By James Reinl UN, Aug 6 2019 (IPS) – Two major humanitarian groups have warned that United States sanctions on Iran are stopping cash flows for vital humanitarian work in the country, adding another complication to the growing rift between Washington and Tehran. Read More »

Free Political Leaders, Restore Communications, Exercise Restraint New York – Indian authorities have adopted measures in anticipation of unrest in Jammu and Kashmir state that raise serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said today. The government announced on August 5, 2019 that it was altering the special constitutional status of the state. Read More »

Dhaka, Aug 4 (UNB)— Home Minister Assaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday directed Gulshan police to take immediate steps to rescue missing Mohona TV journalist FM Mushfiqur Rahman. He came up with the instruction at a programme in Karwan Bazar. Minister Kamal hoped the journalist would be rescued soon. “I’vespoken with (Gulshan Division) Deputy Commissioner Mostak Ahmed and ordered him to ... Read More »

Police Detain 1,373 in Moscow, Use Excessive Force Police used brutal force at the July 27 peaceful protest over the exclusion of opposition candidates from upcoming Moscow city assembly elections. Read More »

Trump Official Cites Bad Science to Continue Harmful Border Policies Jasmine L. Tyler Advocacy Director, US Program Last week, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) chief Brian Hastings told a United States congressional committee that CBP officers will separate migrant children from their parents at the border based on HIV status alone. Read More »

State House of Representatives and Governor Baker Should Act Next Nesha Abiraj, Schuette Fellow, Global Health and Human Rights abirajnesha Yesterday, the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously voted in favor of Senate Bill S.2294 to ban child marriage in the state. After each senator said “yes,” the public gallery, filled with members of the Children’s League of Massachusetts, other constituents, and ... Read More »

By Thalif Deen UN, Mar 7 2019 (IPS) – The United Nations, which diligently monitors human rights violations worldwide, believes that centuries-old slavery still exists worldwide. Read More »

DHAKA, July 27, 2019 (BSS) – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has unanimously adopted a resolution declaring 2021 as the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, and has asked the International Labour Organization (ILO) to take the lead in its implementation. “The UNGA has urged the international community to step up efforts to eradicate forced labour and ... Read More »

Dhaka, Jul 25 – Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) on Thursday denounced comments by Priya Saha, one of its organising secretaries. During a meeting with US President Donald Trump, she claimed that 37 million members of minority communities have disappeared. Read More »

Dhaka, July 24 – Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said the foreign ministry did not know anything how Priya Saha, who made remarks to US President on religious persecution in Bangladesh, went to USA. Read More »

By Stefan Grobe This is Miguel Roldan. He is a Spanish firefighter who says he helped save thousands of lives from drowning in the Mediterranean. Read More »

Dhaka, July 16 – Experts have said the visit of the delegation of International Criminal Court (ICC) would put extra pressure on Myanmar as ICC is going to start the trial process of the genocide committed Rakhine state that led the expulsion of Rohingya community. Read More »