Human Rights Action Update Dec. 21-26

Miriam, Human Rights Defender, 1947-2012

We wish a happy holiday season and new year to all our readers. Let us hope that 2014 will see an improvement in the human rights situation around the world.

SOUTH KOREA 
The abuse of striking railway workers in South Korea is continuing. The right to strike is an essential human right and must be defended. Please click and join the protest. We also request that you contact new media to protest about the new blackout with respect to this struggle. At the bottom of the linked page you will find some media contacts.



UNITED STATES 
Amnesty is calling for a petition to request clemency for Chelsea Manning. Respect should be given to her motivation which was to try to  spark a meaningful debate on the costs of war and specifically on the conduct of the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan. Please join the action

© REUTERS/Jose Luis Magana  

UGANDA 
This is worse than usual homophobia.  Please act to stop the bill to put gays in prison for life. The Ugandan parliament has passed a bill that would do just that.  The president may veto it, as he has promised to do before, if enough international pressure is applied. We have to act now.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA 
We keep returning to that place in matters involving the abuse of women. Please sign on to the petition protesting the gang rape of a woman in Papua New Guinea and the subsequent arrest of a woman human rights defender assisting her.  You are asked to copy the letter into an email and send it to the address given.

Human Rights Action Update Dec. 13-19

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

Advice for use of letter templates: if you download them from the cloud via the link, you  must further click on the download menu under the file tab to chose an editable format such as rtf or docx.

CHINA
The activist Zhang Lin is at risk of being sentenced to five years in prison as a result of his peaceful activism defending his daughter’s right to education. It is believed that he has been targeted due to his association with the “New Citizens’ Movement”. His trial will begin on 18 December. He has several health problems and may not be receiving the medical treatment he requires. Please act on his behalf. A template letter is available.


INDONESIA WORKERS 
Workers at the Accor Group's Ibis Tamarin hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, have been struggling for rights and recognition since their union was formed and legally registered in August 2012. Management's aggressive response to their efforts to claim their rights has now escalated.  Please click on their behalf.











UNITED STATES 
Kellogg's locks out Memphis workers to force the expansion of disposable jobs - tell them to lift the lockout! Please click to help these workers.

Human Rights Action Update Dec. 6-12

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

During this Human Rights Week, let us honor Miriam's memory by doing what she did so well and would want us to do--defend human rights.

HONDURAS 
The Committee of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH) is one of the country’s main human rights organizations. Its work includes seeking justice for current human rights abuses by the security forces and for “disappearances” in the 1980s, and training local human rights activists. Their brave work places them at great risk.  Please open the site and write on their behalf.

KAZAKHSTAN 
Two years after the shocking massacre of striking oil workers in Kazakhstan, seven activists remain in jail.  Please join the action
   

INDIA
We all love potato chips, but they turn bitter if there are connected with union busting. Please tell PEPSICO
that their Frito-Lay workers in India are being subjected to terrible abuse and to do something about it. 
 

Human Rights Update Nov. 30-Dec. 5

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

AFGHANISTAN
Terrible amendments to the penal code are being put forward. They include at least 26 amendments to the country’s Penal Code such as::

• public stoning to death for ‘adultery’ by married people
• amputation of hands and feet for theft and robbery
• up to 100 lashes for unmarried people found guilty of ‘adultery’.   

Please act at once.

Bringing back stoning is a betrayal of the Afghan people © UNHCR / J. Tanner

 Global Campaign Targets Violence Against Women And Girls Caused By 'militarism'
 Please join this campaign sponsored by Amnesty International. There are actions aimed at several countries. Please do as many as you can.