FIFA reverses Saudi sponsorship of women’s World Cup
17/3/2023: In an off-field victory for human rights, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association has reversed its sponsorship plans with Visit Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s state tourism authority, for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Saudi Arabia is a global outlier on women’s rights and also violates the rights of LGBT people.
Source: Human Rights Watch
World parliaments could take 80 years to achieve gender parity
8/3/2023: Women’s participation in parliaments has never been as diverse and representative as it is in many countries today. However, the World Bank reports that only 14 countries have full legal equality between women and men, and much more needs to be done to increase women’s political representation.
Source: Inter Press Service
Did Nigeria’s election tech fail or was it sabotaged?
2/3/2023: Young voters put their faith in recent amendments to Nigeria's electoral law that promised robust standards through digital technology. But at polling units nationwide, many were transported to an elections twilight zone.
Source: African Arguments
Cambodia’s opposition leader convicted on bogus charges
3/3/2023: The Cambodian political opposition leader, Kem Sokha, has been jailed for 27 years, just months ahead of national elections. UN experts believe that the treason charge against Mr. Sokha is politically motivated.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Rights groups urge UN Human Rights Council to act on Egypt
24/2/2023: The 2021 UN climate conference in Cairo drew attention to the unsatisfactory human rights situation in Egypt. International rights groups are calling on the UN to respond to the further deterioration that has occurred since COP27.
Source: Human Rights Watch
China and Russia fail to defund UN human rights work
15/2/2023: UN member states have agreed to fully fund UN human rights mechanisms that China and Russia had sought to eliminate from the 2023 budget. UN investigations in Sri Lanka, Iran, Venezuela, Russia, Ukraine, Nicaragua, North Korea, Belarus, Syria, and Eritrea will continue.
Source: Inter Press Service
Zimbabwe proposes law that threatens rights and civic space
2/2/2023: A bill that threatens civic society organizations working on human rights in Zimbabwe has been presented to President Mnangagwa for signature. The proposed bill will restrict civic space and access to humanitarian support services.
Source: Amnesty International
Senior UN leaders show support for Afghan women
31/1/2023: A UN delegation has visited Afghanistan in response to a series of Taliban decrees that have stripped women of the means to actively participate in society. The country is reliant on international aid which in turn is reliant on respect for human rights.
Source: Inter Press Service
Amnesty calls for global action on Myanmar coup
30/1/2023: Amnesty International is calling for increased global action and solidarity ahead of the anniversary of the 2021 coup in Myanmar. The military’s onslaught against anyone perceived to be opposed to its rule has caused widespread human rights violations.
Source: Amnesty International
ICC authorizes resumed Philippines investigation
27/1/2023: Judges at the International Criminal Court have authorized the resumption of its investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippines. The ICC’s action is an important step toward accountability for the “drug war” killings during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Source: Human Rights Watch