PCHR refutes findings of Israeli committee concerning killing of Mohammed al-Durrah

Thursday 23 May 2013Source: The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2013 Keywords: Palestine, Human Rights, Justice, Israeli authorities The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) refutes the findings of the recently-published report from the Israeli Government Review Committee, titled ‘The France 2 Al-Durrah Report, its Consequences and Implications’, released on 19 May 2013. The report examines the incident involving the killing of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammed (...) Read more >>

Letter to AU Member States on Advancing Justice for Grave Crimes

Thursday 23 May 2013Source: CIHRS Date: 14 may 2013 Keywords: Justice, African Union, Crimes, African civil society Foreign Ministers African Union Member States Re: 50th Anniversary and Advancing Justice for Grave Crimes To Foreign Ministers of African Union member states: We, the undersigned African civil society organisations and international organisations with a presence in Africa, working on human rights and international criminal justice, are pleased to congratulate the Organisation of African (...) Read more >>

Syrian Rights Activists Face Terrorism Charges Free Award-Winning Journalist, Colleagues

Tuesday 21 May 2013Source: CIHRS Date: 17 may 2013 Keywords: Syria, Freedom of Expression , Activism, Terrorism The international community should urge the Syrian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against a freedom of expression activist and two of his colleagues, 19 regional and international human rights organizations said today. Mazen Darwish and two of his colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), Hussein Gharir and Hani (...) Read more >>

Four Palestinian Prisoners and Five Jordanian Prisoners on Open Hunger Strike; Military Court to Consider Request from PLC member Ahmed Sa‪‘adat‪ for a Visit from his Granddaughter‪

Monday 20 May 2013Source: Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association’s Date: 20 May 2013 Keywords: Palestine, Prisoner, Hunger strike Occupied Ramallah‪, 20 May 2013 - Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association’s Research and Documentation Unit has learned that 4 Palestinian prisoners are on open hunger strike. They are making several demands from the Occupation authorities and the Israeli Prison Service (IPS). Addameer can also confirm that 5 Jordanian prisoners are on hunger strike (...) Read more >>

“Delivering Democracy” The Future of Human Rights between the “Arab Spring” and Political Islam?

Friday 17 May 2013Source: CIHRS Date: 16 may 2013 Keywords: Arab region, Human Rights, Civil society, Aarb Spring,Muslim Brotherhood PRESS RELEASE ON THE LAUNCH OF CIHRS’ ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE ARAB REGION Two years after the “Arab Spring” swept the Arab region and led within months to the ouster of the autocratic rulers in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen, the state of human rights in these countries remains dire and the chances for democratic transition face major challenges. (...) Read more >>

Ziad Abdel Samad of ANND Speaks with CIVICUS about the Building Bridges Project in North Africa

Friday 17 May 2013Source: ANND Keywords: North Africa , ANND, Civil society, Citizen Ziad Abdel Samad is the Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), based in Beirut, since 1999. The ANND brings together 30 NGOs and nine national networks from 11 Arab countries active in the protection of social and economic rights. Mr. Samad is a member of several institutions and organisations including the coordination committee of the Civil Campaign for Electoral Reforms (CCER), the board of (...) Read more >>

Nakba 2013: The Palestinian Youth Movement Commemorates 65 Years of Al Nakba (Introduction)

Friday 17 May 2013Source: Palestinian Youth Movement Kewyords: Palestine, Nakba, Resistance The fifteenth of May 2013 marks the sixty-fifth commemoration of the day the oppressive Zionist state came into being. It also marks sixty-five years from the beginning of our collective fragmentation and simultaneous resistance. This current period that we are living also marks a significant shift in our history not only as Palestinians, but as Arabs, colonized, and young people of today’s world. While there are (...) Read more >>

Sudan : Asma Ahmed WHRD And Human Rights Lawyer At Risk Of Torture

Thursday 16 May 2013Source: AWID Date: 13 may 2013 Keywords:Civil & political rights, Economic, social & cultural rights, Human rights defenders, Violence against women, Women human rights defenders She has not been charged with any offence, and is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Agents of the National Security Services (NSS) visited Asma Ahmed’s family house in the capital, Khartoum, early on 2 May while she was away. They returned later that day, asking where she was and demanding that (...) Read more >>

Turkey: Trial Against VAKAD And Other Civil Society Organisations In Van Continues

Thursday 16 May 2013Source:AWID Date: 15 may 2013 Kewyords: Religious Fundamentalisms, Women human rights defenders On 17 May 2013, the second hearing in the case against the Van Women’s Association (VAKAD) and nine other civil society organisations is due to take place at the Van 3rd Court of First Instance. The Van chief prosecutor initiated court proceedings for the closure of the ten groups on charges of links with the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK). Amongst the nine other associations facing closure are (...) Read more >>

PCHR welcomes Presidential Order confirming prohibition of all forms of torture

Thursday 16 May 2013Source: PCHR Date: 15 may 2013 Keywords: Palestine, Human Rights, Humanitarian law , Torture The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) welcomes the order issued by President Mahmoud Abbas to all competent authorities confirming the prohibition of all forms of torture and calling for compliance with the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant laws. PCHR hopes that this decision represents a serious step towards putting an end to the use of torture, investigating all complaints relevant (...) Read more >>