Human Rights Action Update August 10-17

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

HE WHO PERMITS OPPRESSION PERMITS CRIMES.-Erasmus (1466-1536)

Desiderius Erasmus in 1523 as depicted by Hans Holbein the Younger. The Greek and Latin words on the book translate to "The Herculean Labors of Erasmus of Rotterdam".

 

EMBASSY FINDER 

Survival International provides a useful tool for locating the embassy of any country in your country. http://embassy.goabroad.com/ You can also find embassies at https://embassy-finder.com/

CHARITY CORNER 

This week your attention is drawn to The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, aka DNDi. Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a collaborative, patients’ needs-driven, non-profit drug research and development (R&D) organization that is developing new treatments for neglected diseases. Since  founding of DNDiin 2003, seven key stakeholders have helped to propel the initiative. Each of the original Board Members represents one of the  Founding Partners, all of which are centers of excellence in neglected disease research and/or patient care. Drawn primarily from the public sector in neglected disease-endemic countries, they have continued to serve as the backbone of DNDi by providing their expert advice, the benefit of their experience, and key project participation.

Mycetoma, treated only in Khartoum

DNDi’s Founding Partners are:
Indian Council of Medical Research (India)
Institute Pasteur (France)
Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kenya)
Médecins Sans Frontières
Ministry of Health (Malaysia)
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Fiocruz (Brazil)
WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) is a Permanent Observer

We urge you to support this most essential and worthy organization.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Indigenous tribes do not simply die out. They are killed by the actions of so-called civilized nations. Survival International provides a long list of cases in which a letter from you can and will make a difference. Please open this link and write at least one letter. This link will be a permanent feature on our blog and we would be grateful if you gave it a bit of attention each week. We suggest going down the list in the order given. The letters are pre-written for you. All you need to do is send them. It would be nice also if a donation to Survival International could be forthcoming. We send you to the campaign page and urge you to choose a cause to support.  View this video.

THE STRUGGLE AGAINST SLAVERY

We have added this section to the blog in order to join the struggle against slavery worldwide. This week we refer you to the the ILO’s Protocol on Forced Labor which is all about modern slavery. We call your attention to the anti slavery campaign. There you can sign up for action updates.The importance of checking your sellers' supply chains cannot be overemphasized.
Look for these logos:

 

Blast it out and make it go viral. Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

Think of your own child or grandchild

Good News! - Mexico

Ildefonso Zamora Released 

Mexican prisoner of conscience Ildefonso Zamora was released on 12 August after almost nine months in jail. The local judge presiding over the case complied with a federal judge decision to release Ildefonso Zamora due to lack of evidence that he had been involved in a robbery. No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

Good News!

Russian Federation: Konstantin Zadoya Released

Konstantin Zadoya was released on 3 August from a psychiatric hospital in Novosibirsk, western Siberia. He had been detained there since 7 July and forcibly treated on the basis of a court decision that violated his right to a fair trial. His release happened after the hospital received dozens of letters from activists.
No further action is requested of the UA Network. Many thanks to all who sent appeals.

USA: Stop the Execution of Jeffery Wood 

Jeffery Wood is scheduled to be executed in Texas on 24 August. He was sentenced to death in 1998 for a murder committed during a robbery of a convenience store in 1996. He was sitting in a truck outside the store when the murder took place.  Please write immediately in English or your own language, including Inmate No. #999256 in your appeals

Syria: Help 10-Year-Old Syrian Girl Ghina Ahmad Wadi Immediately 

Ghina Ahmad Wadi, a 10-year-old girl, was shot in the leg on 2 August by a sniper at a government checkpoint in Madaya, a town west of Damascus besieged by Syrian government forces since July 2015. Syrian government forces have blocked her evacuation to a hospital in Damascus or Lebanon to receive urgently needed surgery
Please plead for her.

Thailand

Immediately Release Jatupat Boonphatthararaksa and Wasin Prommanee 

Two activists were arrested on 6 August for distributing materials critical of a draft constitution. Both face up to 10 years’ imprisonment under a repressive law governing the referendum. One remains in police custody and began a hunger strike on 7 August. Please act on their behalf.

Israel

Amdocs must recognize union

During April 2015, workers at Amdocs Israel, a hi-tech company, started to organize in the Histadrut-General Federation of Labour in Israel in order to form an employees' committee and to negotiate for a collective agreement. Despite court ruling in favor of the workers, for the past 6 months the Amdocs management has refused to acknowledge the Histadrut as the employees' representative and refuses to bargain with it.   Please click and support the workers.