Inspiring stories for Human Rights Day 2022
8/12/2022: Women protesting for their freedoms in Iran and Afghanistan have shown the heart of resistance in a challenging and uncertain year. Other inspiring human rights stories from 2022 offer a reminder of the power of people and perseverance.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Horrifying execution of young protester in Iran
8/12/2022: The Iranian authorities have executed a young protester, Mohsen Shekari, on a charge of “enmity against God” in connection with blocking a street in Tehran. Amnesty International has identified at least 18 others at risk of execution in connection with the protests.
Source: Amnesty International
To achieve human rights, start with food
7/`12/2022: The right to food became a legal obligation for countries in 1966 and is recognised in the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. Recent projections that more than 670 million people could still not have enough to eat in 2030 raise serious concerns for human rights.
Source: Inter Press Service
The decline and fall of democracy worldwide
5/12/2022: A report released by International IDEA finds that the number of countries moving towards authoritarianism is more than double the number moving towards democracy. Problems range from restrictions on freedom of expression to distrust in the legitimacy of elections.
Source: Inter Press Service
Iran protests: UN Human Rights Council holds special session
24/11/2022: The UN Human Rights Council is set to hold a special session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. The UN estimates that over 300 people have died since protests were triggered by the death in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini.
Source: DW
UN decision to advance crimes against humanity treaty
18/11/2022: Unlike for the crimes of genocide, torture, apartheid, and forced disappearances, there is no international treaty specifically devoted to crimes against humanity, despite their proliferation in every region of the globe. The UN General Assembly has now agreed to draft a treaty on such crimes.
Source: Human Rights Watch
COP27 draws attention to Egypt’s repressive regime
8/11/2022: The COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh has triggered a negative fallout for Egypt’s authoritarian regime which stands accused of human rights abuses. At least 151 detainees are currently being investigated by the Supreme State Security Prosecution, while hundreds more have faced shorter arrests and questioning.
Source: Inter Press Service
Global Rule of Law recession enters 5th year
26/10/2022: For the fifth year in a row, the rule of law has declined globally, according to the 2022 Rule of Law Index. Respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms is down in three-quarters of countries since 2015.
Source: World Justice Project
Xinjiang vote betrays core mission of UN Human Rights Council
6/10/2022: The UN Human Rights Council has decided not to debate the findings of its High Commissioner concerning crimes against humanity in China's Xinjiang region. The head of Amnesty International calls out this decision as a chronic dysfunction of the Council.
Source: Amnesty International
Uyghur rights report a litmus test for global governance
3/10/2022: The Chinese government is doing everything in its power to block a debate in the UN Human Rights Council on a recently released UN report alleging crimes against humanity in Xinjiang region. The Human Rights Council was conceived in 2006 as a representative body of states expected to uphold the highest standards.
Source: Inter Press Service