The 23rd annual conference to discuss human rights and democracy in OSCE participating states, the Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM), kicked off in Warsaw on 16 September. The HDIM is Europe’s largest annual human rights and democracy conference, and, amongst others, an important forum for civil society voices to be heard at a time where … Read more →
On 14 September, the Australian government named the third person revealed to be in detention in prison in Iran as Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a Melbourne academic from Britain who has published work on the 2011 Arab uprisings and authoritarian governments. Her case came to light last week along with those of another British-Australian woman, Jolie King, … Read more →
An Iranian football fan who set herself on fire a week ago has died. Sahar Khodayari, 29, set herself alight in Tehran after her trial, for attempting to enter a football stadium disguised as a man, was postponed. She has been dubbed the “Blue Girl” on social media, after the colours of her favourite football … Read more →
Almost one million Rohingya Muslims living in refugee camps in Bangladesh face a communications blackout after the government ordered a ban on mobile phone services and sim cards. Officials say the mobile network block is intended to protect national security, citing incidents of violence that have broken out in the camps. “Access to sim cards … Read more →
Od Sayavong, a political activist from Laos is feared missing in Thailand and was last seen on August 26, nearly two weeks ago. Savayong had fled to Thailand and was seeking refugee status with the United Nations. He feared for his safety in Laos – a one-party communist state with a dim view of dissent … Read more →
In a short speech to parliament on 1 September, Iranian legislator Parvaneh Salahshouri severely condemned the recent moves to punish journalists, artists and activists with long prison sentences. The next day, a group of MPs signed a letter urging Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi to reverse the long prison sentences issued against several people who were … Read more →
Anti-proroguing protests have taken place across the UK seeing tens of thousands of demonstrators take to the streets on 31 August to express their concern over new Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament. New protests are set to take place in more than 30 cities and towns across England and Wales this week. … Read more →
Privacy and freedom of expression rights face increasing oppression in the United States, as border controls are now holding individuals to account for messages and social media posts that are sent to them or posted by friends and associates. A number of foreign nationals have been rejected at the border because of the posts of … Read more →
The human rights community operating in Afghanistan is increasingly coming under attack from both the authorities and armed groups including the Taliban and Islamic state according to a briefing released by Amnesty International today. The briefing, Defenceless Defenders: Attacks on Afghanistan’s Human Rights Community, highlights how human rights defenders and activists have faced intimidation, harassment, … Read more →
On 22 August, as a record number of fires are raging in the Amazon, a number of groups representing indigenous peoples declared an environmental and humanitarian emergency in an open letter. They are calling on the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to … Read more →
