Human Rights Action Update December15-21

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

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel

Established in 1972, ACRI is Israel’s oldest and largest human rights organization and the only one dealing with the entire spectrum of rights and civil liberties issues in Israel and the Occupied Territories. An independent and non-partisan organization, ACRI’s mandate is to ensure Israel’s accountability and respect for human rights, by addressing violations committed by the Israeli authorities in Israel, the Occupied Territories, or elsewhere.


ACRI is committed to promoting the universality of human rights and defending the human rights and civil liberties of all, regardless of religion, nationality, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic background.
Since its inception, ACRI has been consistently successful in bringing precedent-setting litigation to the Supreme Court and has contributed significantly to the protection of human rights in Israel and in the Occupied Territories. ACRI has built a solid reputation for professionalism and integrity and is widely respected within the legal community, and among decision makers, the media and the public at large. This reputation enhances ACRI’s ability to make a real and lasting difference.

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.

SOUTH SUDAN 

Four More Arbitrarily Detained

Two of the 30 men who had been in arbitrary detention in the prison at the National Security Service (NSS) headquarters were released. At least five more were detained, but one of them was released on 17 December. There are currently at least 32 men arbitrarily detained in the NSS prison. Please call for their immediate release from arbitrary detention.

CUBA 

Urgent Action Update: Demand Release Of Cuban Graffiti Artist

Cuban graffiti artist Danilo Maldonado Machado (‘El Sexto’) has been transferred to another new detention center where he continues to be detained without charge since his arrest on 26 November. He is a prisoner of conscience who must be released immediately and unconditionally. Please act on his behalf.
 

TURKEY 

Take Action! - Massive Crackdown On Media After July Coup Attempt

Nine journalists and board members of the opposition daily Cumhuriyet were imprisoned pending trial on 4 November. At least 112 journalists and other media workers have been remanded in pre-trial detention since the 15 July coup attempt and the declaration of the state of emergency on 21 July. A total of 169 media outlets have been shut down during the same period by executive decree. Please call for their release and the restoration of press freedom. 

NICARAGUA

Stop criminalizing labor protest, drop the charges

Twelve workers are awaiting sentencing, and could receive up to three years in prison, for protesting against the dismissal of union representatives. The workers were arrested in June 2016 when riot police stormed a peaceful protest outside the Korean-owned SAE-A Tecnotex factory in a free trade zone in Tipitapa, Nicaragua. The union leaders were dismissed after raising concerns about drinking water and production targets.  Please click and protest for them.