Human Rights Action Update February 15-22

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

Disclaimer: Any ads or commercial material appearing with this blog have been placed there without permission of the owner of the blog. Please ignore them.

 

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 direct your attention to Physicians for Reproductive Health.  There mission is to protect the reproduction rights of women and girls. They have a 100% rating from Charity Watch. Please donate and support.

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 enforced "progress." and its deadly effect on uncontacted tribes.  For example:


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.

 

 VIETNAM 

• Urgent Action

  Three Human Rights Defenders Held Incommunicado
  Within 10 days of each other, three unassociated Vietnamese human rights defenders were arrested in January and are currently being held in incommunicado pre-trial detention. With no access to lawyers, they are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Please call for their release.

•  Urgent Action Update: Growing Health Fears For Prisoner Of Conscience  

  Denied proper medical treatment by prison authorities since April 2015, when she was first diagnosed with a tumour on her uterus, Trần Thị Thúy is no longer able to walk without assistance. A prisoner of conscience, she has been detained since her arrest in 2010 and has expressed fears of death due to appalling prison conditions. Please call for her immediate release and medical treatment for her

PERU 

Urgent Action: Indigenous Community At Risk Due To Threats

More than 60 heavily armed individuals entered Asháninka Meantari Indigenous community territory in the Central Peruvian rainforest and forced out 21 families by subjecting them to death threats. Please call upon the government to protect them.

THAILAND 

Urgent Action Update: Activists Could Be Charged For Exposing Torture

A decision by the Public Prosecutor on whether to prosecute three human rights defenders on criminal defamation and computer crimes in connection with their online documentation of torture in Thailand is expected imminently. The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment plus fines of up to 300,000 baht (US $8,330). The group are to report to Pattani Police Station on 21 February 2017. Please take action on their behalf.

HUNGARY  

On January 13 four trade unionists were sacked during the wage negotiation round by the CEO of the Fővárosi Közterület-fenntartó Nonprofit - FKFZrt (Capital Public Domain Maintenance Company). The union representatives demanded a fair wage increase and expressed readiness to resort to strike action due to the dissatisfaction of workers. Please click and join the protest.

 

 

 

 

 

 AUSTRALIA 

Workers at the Lactalis/Parmalat dairy factory in Echuca, in Australia's Victoria state, have been locked out since January 18 in a dispute over the company's insistence on radically slashing pay for new employees. Please join the protest against this unacceptable behavior of a huge corporation
 

Human Rights Action Update, February 8-15

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

Disclaimer: Any ads or commercial material appearing with this blog have been placed there without permission of the owner of the blog. Please ignore them.

 

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 are calling on all progressive people to support Breaking the Silence. Breaking the Silence is an organization of veteran combatants who have served in the Israeli military since the start of the Second Intifada and have taken it upon themselves to expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories. "We endeavor to stimulate public debate about the price paid for a reality in which young soldiers face a civilian population on a daily basis, and are engaged in the control of that population’s everyday life. Our work aims to bring an end to the occupation."Soldiers who serve in the Territories witness and participate in military actions which change them immensely. The organization has come under fire from the government and certainly needs and deserves all the help it can get.

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 land theft and its deadly effect on uncontacted tribes.  Please open the links and post them wherever you can.

Without their ancestral land, the Guarani cannot survive.

© Survival

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.

 

 We present you with a few case studies about slavery in today's world.

 

 

ALGERIA 

Urgent Action Victory! Algerian Journalist Hassan Bouras Released

Algerian journalist Hassan Bouras was released on 17 January after his sentence was reduced to a six-month suspended prison term on appeal.Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.

UKRAINE 

Urgent Action Victory! Crimean Lawyer Released But Still At Risk

Human rights lawyer Emil Kurbedinov was released on 5 February in Simferopol, Crimea, having served 10 days in administrative detention to which he was sentenced as reprisal for his human rights work. Kurbedinov vowed to continue his work. Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.

VENEZUELA 

Urgent Action: Trans Man And Daughter Threatened By Police

Transgender lawyer Samantha Seijas was threatened by a police officer from the Aragua Police Force, in central Venezuela, while filing a complaint in a police station accompanied by his daughter. Fears exist for their safety. Please take action for them.

ZIMBABWE 

Urgent Action Update: Zimbabwe Human Rights Defender Out On Bail 

Pastor Evan Mawarire, a human rights defender and leader of the #ThisFlag movement in Zimbabwe has been granted bail by the High Court. He is expected to stand trial for the charges against him. Amnesty International is concerned that Pastor Evan Mawarire’s charges are an attempt to intimidate him and prevent his human rights work. Please call for the charges to be dropped.

UKRAINE 

Kyiv transport workers face attacks on rights. 

April 2016 workers of the state-owned ​transport enterprise Kyivpastrans ​formed an independent union to fight against violations of safety standards ​in the Kurenivske trolley bus depot​. The administration responded with ​a refusal to recognize the union, ​pressure​, threats and intimidation of the members of the union​, which is affiliated to the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU)​. Union members were blackmailed, deprived of their bonuses, suspended​ from the job, evicted from the company-provided housing, and physically ​attacked.​ ​
Help protect the independent union at Kyivpastrans ​b​y sending a message to the mayor of Kyiv​.
 

 

Human Rights Action Update February 1-8

Miriam, Human Rights Defender, 1947-2012

Disclaimer: Any ads or commercial material appearing with this blog have been placed there without permission of the owner of the blog. Please ignore them.

 

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 Just Detention International, an organization that works to protect prison inmates from sexual and other types of abuse. Founded in 1980, JDI is the only organization in the world dedicated exclusively to ending sexual abuse behind bars. JDI works to: hold government officials accountable for prisoner rape; promote public attitudes that value the dignity and safety of people in detention; and ensure that survivors of this violence get the help they need. Rape is never part of the sentence for anyone, regardless of the crime he or she may have committed.

 

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 land theft and its deadly effect on uncontacted tribes.  Please open the links and post them wherever you can.

Without their ancestral land, the Guarani cannot survive.

© Survival

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.

 

 We present you with a few case studies about slavery in today's world.

CHINA 

Urgent Action Victory! Not-Guilty Verdict For Men Sentenced To Death 

After more than 13 years since Huang Zhiqiang, Fang Chunping, Cheng Fagen and Cheng Lihe were originally sentenced to death, the Jiangxi Provincial Higher People’s Court has announced a not-guilty verdict. All four men were immediately released after a closed-door retrial on 30 November 2016. No further action required. Thanks to all who participated in this long action.

INDIA 

Urgent Action Victory! Children Released From Unlawful Detention 

Rayees Ahmad Mir and Waheed Ahmed Gojree have been released after the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed their detention orders on 6 and 31 December 2016 respectively. The teenagers were unlawfully detained in prison under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA), an administrative detention law that expressly prohibits the detention of anyone under 18 years of age.  No further action required. Thanks to all who participated in this action.

ZIMBABWE 

Urgent Action Update:  Human Rights Defender Re-Arrested

Pastor Evan Mawarire, a human rights defender and leader of the #ThisFlag movement in Zimbabwe, was arrested again on 1 February on arrival at Harare International Airport. He was initially charged with ‘subverting a constitutional elected government’ and now faces additional charges of ‘insulting the flag of Zimbabwe’. He has not been brought before a court. Amnesty International is concerned that Pastor Evan Mawarire’s arrest and detention are an attempt to intimidate him and keep him from his human rights work. Please call for his immediate and unconditional release as a prisoner of conscience.

COLOMBIA 

Urgent Action Update: Paramilitary Build-Up in Peace Community 

Residents in several hamlets in or near the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó in north-western Colombia continue to report the presence of paramilitaries. The security of Peace Community members and other inhabitants in the area is at serious risk. Please call upon the government of Colombia to take action to protect the community.

 

 

 

 

 

MEXICO

Urgent Action: Indigenous Leader Killed, Community at Risk 

On 1 February, Indigenous leader Juan Ontiveros Ramos was found dead in Chihuahua State, northern Mexico. Unknown men forcibly took from his home the day before and brutally beat other members of his family during the attack. Inhabitants of the Choréachi community remain at risk. Please call for action on the part of the government.

NIGERIA 

Thousands of dockworkers in Nigeria are struggling to support their families since losing their jobs in December 2015. Please open the site and join the protest against arbitrary dismissals on their behalf
 

HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE JANUARY25-FEBRUARY 1

Miriam, human rights defender, 1947-2012

Disclaimer: Any ads or commercial material appearing with this blog have been placed there without permission of the owner of the blog. Please ignore them.

 

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 are promoting the A.J. Muste Memorial Institute, devoted to nonviolence and peace. “There is no way to peace — peace is the way”

This was A.J. Muste’s simple statement of his convictions.

A.J. Muste was a pacifist, anti-war activist and a leader of the labor and civil rights movements whose personal integrity won him a rare universal respect.

The A.J. Muste Memorial Institute was organized in 1974 to keep A.J.’s legacy alive through ongoing support of the nonviolent movement for social change.Throughout his years as a leader of the labor, civil rights and anti-war movements, A.J. Muste motivated many people with his dedication and commitment to nonviolent action. has provided grants and sponsorships to hundreds of grassroots projects around the world working to:

•     end war and expose the military-industrial complex

•     oppose nuclear power and halt environmental racism

•     stop the death penalty and curb the prison industry

•     defend labor rights and build economic justice

•     fight for racial and sexual equality, and for immigrant rights

•     promote the use of nonviolent action

    It has a very high rating from Charity Navigator. The aims are worthy of support from all of us. 

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 land theft and its deadly effect on uncontacted tribes.  Please open the links and post them wherever you can.

Without their ancestral land, the Guarani cannot survive.

© Survival

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.

CONGO Urgent Action: Detained Opposition Member Hospitalised 

Congolese political opposition member, Modeste Boukadia, has been hospitalised for the third time as a result of injuries he sustained during a severe beating by prison guards on 15 November 2016 while in prison. There has been no investigation into the incident. He has been at central prison of Pointe Noire for more than a year. Please call for an investigation and his release.

THAILAND Urgent Action Update: Student Activist's Fifth Bail Request Denied 

On 1 February, on the expiry of his detention order, authorities are due to ask the courts permission to continue the detention of law student Jatupat Boonpattararaksa who may face up to 15 years’ imprisonment for posting a BBC article on Facebook. The Khon Kaen Provincial Court revoked his bail on the basis they considered his subsequent social media comments that satirised authorities to be a threat to security. Please call for his immediate and unconditional release.

JAPAN Urgent Action: Prominent Peace Activist Detained Without Bail

Hiroji Yamashiro has been detained since mid-October 2016 after protesting against new U.S. military construction projects in Okinawa. Aged 64 years, concerns for his well-being have been raised as medical tests show a deterioration in his health. All requests for bail have been denied. Please call for his release on bail.

 HUNGARY: Public sector union leaders sacked in unprecedented attack on unions. Please click and join the protest.