Saudi Arabia was elected chair of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) by “acclamation” on Wednesday after an unopposed bid for leadership with no dissent, despite outcry from human rights organizations ahead of the vote. Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdulaziz Alwasil will assume the position. The CSW is dedicated to promoting gender [...]
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El Salvador is 'ignoring' human rights obligations under state of emergency: Amnesty International
An Amnesty International report on El Salvador, published on Tuesday, revealed the consequences of a prolonged state of emergency on human rights in the country. The report detailed how the government has used its emergency powers to “ignore” its obligations to protecting human rights. The report claimed that the suspension of fundamental human rights “is [...]
Thailand House of Representatives votes to legalise same-sex marriage
The Thai House of Representatives approved Wednesday an equal marriage bill, with 400 favouring votes out of 415 members of the house. The bill still requires approval from the Senate and endorsement from the king. If the Senate and the king approve the legislation, Thailand will become the third Asian country/region that recognises same-sex marriage, after [...]
Human Rights Law Centre urges Australia government to reject permit requirement for protests
Australia’s Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) urged the Victorian Government on Monday to reject proposals requiring protestors to get a police permit to protest, following the country’s recent shift to anti-protest measures . Chaos erupted in Melbourne on Saturday as 24 hours of protest from different groups, with violent interactions at times between protestors, left three [...]
Georgia ruling party introduces bill restricting LGBTQ+ rights ahead of elections
The governing Georgian Dream party announced a controversial bill on Monday aimed at curbing LGBTQ+ rights in the Transcaucasian country. The bill aims to combat what the party has called “LGBT propaganda” and proposes significant changes to the constitution. It seeks to prohibit sex changes, adoption by same-sex couples and gatherings promoting same-sex relationships. Observers [...]
Brazil police arrest three people in connection to 2018 murder of city council member
Brazilian police arrested three people Sunday in connection to the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro city council member Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes. The case has remained unsolved since 2018. The police arrested brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão for ordering the murder. Police also arrested former police chief Rivaldo Barbosa for alleged [...]
Russia watchdog labels 'LGBT public movement' as terrorist organization
A Russian state financial watchdog labelled the “LGBT public movement” as a terrorist organization on Friday, as reported by Russian state media outlet TASS. This development comes three months after the Supreme Court of Russia ordered the LGBT+ movement to be declared as extremist. The Federal Service for Monitoring (Rosfinmonitoring) added the LGBT+ movement to [...]
HRW calls for fair, transparent and impartial proceedings in Seychelles anti-corruption case
Human Rights Watch (HRW) in a statement issued Thursday called on Seychelles to hold fair and open legal processes against former presidential advisor Mukesh Valabhji and other defendants accused of embezzlement and money laundering in addition to unlawful firearm possession and conspiracy to commit terrorism in November 2021. Valabhji and his wife were both implicated [...]
IACHR orders Peru to compensate victims of lead poisoning living near mine
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) conducted the notification of the judgment in the case of Residents of La Oroya v. Peru this Friday, addressing the Peruvian State’s responsibility for the damage suffered by 80 residents of La Oroya and ordered the payment of compensation to the victims for the damage incurred. In December [...]
UN official warns of escalating violence in Myanmar against civilians by junta
UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews warned on Wednesday that Myanmar’s ruling military junta escalated violence against civilians in response to resistance victories by pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups. He wrote last week that the junta escalated aerial attacks on villages, obstructed humanitarian aid and announced plans to conscript youths into the military. According to Andrews, [...]