Human Rights Action Update December 27-January 4

Miriam, Human Rights Defender, 1947-2012

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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 we refer you to the International Labor Rights Forum. Their work is aimed at improving working conditions around the world.  Their mission statement:

VISION

ILRF works for a world where workers have the power to speak out and organize to defend and advance their rights and interests; a world where workers have the right to form unions and bargain collectively to secure a safe and dignified life for themselves and their families; and a world where everyone is free from discrimination, forced labor and child labor.

VALUES

ILRF works with allies and networks around the world – labor unions, consumer activists, religious and community-based organizations, human rights organizations, and student groups – to demand dignity and justice for workers.  We build transnational campaigns in consultation with the workers who stand to benefit directly.  And we have long term partnerships in key countries with the groups most committed to worker empowerment and able to advocate solutions.Please support this worthy cause. In the link you will find ongoing campaigns that you might wish to join.

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.
This week we raise the issue of forced development and its deadly effect on uncontacted tribes.  Please open the links and post them wherever you can.

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:

 

  Find a campaign to work for. Light must be made to shine in the darkest of places.

 

 Note the magnitude of the slavery issue in products around the world. Raise your voice and post this poster on all your social media sites.

WRITE FOR RIGHTS 

This is the time of year to take action on human rights in a big way. 

Amnesty International offers its Write for Rights program. Write like someone’s life depends on it. Sometimes a letter can change someone’s life. That’s the premise of Write for Rights, Amnesty’s global letter-writing campaign. Today, it’s one of the world’s biggest human rights events.
Every December, Amnesty supporters across the globe will write millions of letters for those whose basic human rights are being attacked. They are people like you, continuing a long tradition of writing letters to right some of the world’s biggest wrongs.

And it’s not just letters – it could be petitions, emails, Tweets, Facebook posts, photos, postcards. Your words really can change lives. Join us. Here is a good example of what is needed.

PAKISTAN 

GOOD NEWS Urgent Action Victory! Human Rights Defender Reunited With Family

Human rights defender Wahid Baloch has been released more than four months after suspected enforced disappearance by state security forces in Karachi. No information about his situation or whereabouts had been communicated to his family throughout the ordeal.

 

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Urgent Action: Twenty Activists Arrested After Peaceful Sit-In

Twenty activists of the youth movement Lutte pour le Changement (LUCHA) were arrested during a peaceful sit-in in the city of Goma on 21 December. They were protesting against President Kabila’s stay in power beyond the end of his second mandate on 19 December. Please call for their immediate release.

 

 

 

 

CHINA

Urgent Action Update: Activist Arrested For "Leaking State Secrets" 

Huang Qi, founder of Sichuan-based website “64 Tianwang” (www.64tianwang.com), who has not been heard from since he was taken away on 28 November, has been formally arrested for “leaking state secrets”. He still does not have access to a lawyer.

 

 

 

 

Urgent Action Update: Missing Lawyer Is Said To Be In Police Custody

Beijing human rights lawyer Jiang Tianyong, last heard from on 21 November, is said to be in held in police custody for allegedly “leaking state secrets”. His whereabouts remain unknown and, without access to a lawyer, he is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.









Please act for them.

BRAZIL

in line with the country's wave of attacks on labor rights, the president of the largest University in Brazil, the University of São Paulo (USP), Marco Antônio Zago, is stubbornly pursuing his declared project to ‘eliminate trade unionism on campus’. Please support the workers.