Human Rights Action Update March 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 direct your attention to the AFYA Foundation whose vision and mission is to make a positive impact on the health of people in developing countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Please read the page, select a worthy project and donate.

Afya Foundation Partners with JDC, Consulate General of Ecuador to Send Medical Supplies to Ecuador’s Earthquake Victims

How it works?

Afya collects and delivers critically needed surplus medical supplies, hospital equipment, and humanitarian provisions for acute and ongoing health crises worldwide.

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.  

"Progress" can kill

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.

A worker inside a textile factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh producing jeans. Around 4 million people, mainly women, work in the garment industry in Bangladesh, the second largest in the world. The industry is worth around GBP12.5 billion a year. Workers often are significantly underpaid and forced to work in extremely difficult conditions.

Photo credit, GMB Akash

 A worker inside a textile factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh producing jeans. Around 4 million people, mainly women, work in the garment industry in Bangladesh, the second largest in the world. The industry is worth around GBP12.5 billion a year. Workers often are significantly underpaid and forced to work in extremely difficult conditions.

Photo credit, GMB Akash

INDIA 

Urgent Action Victory! Detained Journalist Released On Bail 

Santosh Yadav was released from prison on 9 March 2017, over a week after the Supreme Court of India granted him bail. Detained since September 2015, it is believed that he was targeted for his work among Indigenous Adivasi communities in Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. He is required to report to the local police station daily. Speaking to Amnesty International India, Santosh Yadav said, “I want to thank Amnesty from the bottom of my heart. No one supported me, or came to meet me in jail, like you did.”

SUDAN 

Urgent Action Victory! Three Human Rights Defenders Freed

Three human rights defenders Khalafalla A. Mukhtar, Midhat A. Hamdan and Mustafa Adam have been released after being sentenced to time served by a court in Khartoum, Sudan. The three, who were released on 6 March, had been in detention since their arrests on 22 May 2016. Earlier in January, the court dropped all charges against Arwa Elrabie, Al Hassan Kheiry and Raye Imany Leyla. Thanks to all who helped.

USA

Urgent Action: Virginia Execution Reset As Doubts Persist

Ivan Teleguz, a Ukrainian national, is scheduled to be executed in Virginia on 25 April. He maintains his innocence of the 2001 murder for which he was sent to death row in 2006. Please call for his execution to be stopped and his sentence commuted.

COLOMBIA 

Urgent Action: Over 300 Displaced Due To Paramilitary Incursion

An incursion by paramilitaries and subsequent armed confrontation between them and guerrilla groups forced a mass displacement of families and the potential confinement of surrounding communities in Peña Azul, Chocó department, in north-western Colombia. The increase in paramilitary activity in the area is placing residents of rural areas of Chocó department at risk. Please write to express your concern for the safety of rural communities and to demand action against paramilitary groups.

INDONESIA 

Urgent Action Update: Minority Religious Leaders Convicted Of Blasphemy

Three followers of the ‘Millah Abraham’ religious belief have been convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to between three and five years’ imprisonment. They have all been convicted for peacefully manifesting their right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and must be immediately and unconditionally released. Please demand their release in the name of freedom of religion. 

TURKEY 

14 union leaders face prison

Fourteen leaders and members of Turkish union TÜMTİS’ Ankara branch are facing imprisonment on politically-motivated charges dating back to 2007.  Demand their unconditional release.