Horizons
Hungary’s Authoritarian Takeover Puts European Union at Risk
On Monday, under the pretext of addressing the COVID-19 public health emergency, Hungary's parliament gave green light to the Orban-led government to rule with unlimited power for an indefinite time. Prime Minister Viktor Orban can now suspend any existing law and implement others by decree, without
Economic sanctions should be lifted to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by COVID-19 – UN rights expert
The continued imposition of such measures on Syria, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe in particular, severely undermines the fundamental right to sufficient and adequate food,Hilal Elver, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, stressed. History has shown that unilateral economic sanctions
Release inmates in Yemen to avert nationwide COVID-19 outbreak, experts urge
Despite calls from the UN Secretary-General and others for a global ceasefire during the pandemic, fighting has continued between pro-Government forces and Houthi rebels in recent days. In a statement, the Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts on Yemen, said prisoners and detainees in
The Kremlin is terrified that Putin will catch Covid-19, and the whole regime will collapse
With “unusually high” activity levels of the Russian navy in the North Sea and the English Channel, it might be tempting to picture a menacing Moscow, with President Vladimir Putin directing operations from a position of total control. But that would be wrong. This show of strength comes
UN rights chief urges quick action by governments to prevent devastating impact of COVID-19 in places of detention
“In many countries, detention facilities are overcrowded, in some cases dangerously so,” Ms. Bachelet said, making physical distancing and self-isolation practically impossible. People are often held in unhygienic conditions. Health services are inadequate – or non-existent &ndash
Xi Jinping calls on Trump to improve US-China relations amid Covid-19 crisis
Chinese president Xi Jinping has called on Donald Trump to take “substantive actions” to improve relations between the two countries, as China prepared to shut its borders to foreign arrivals amid fears of infections coming from abroad. On Friday, Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping
Human rights must be maintained in beating back the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘without exception’ – UN experts
“Everyone, without exception, has the right to life-saving interventions and this responsibility lies with the government”, said the group of 42 experts – representing nearly every independent rights specialist working within the Human Rights Council-mandated system - maintaining t
New coronavirus measures will ‘significantly curtail’ freedoms but legally justifiable, human rights committee says
Enhanced measures to curb the coronavirus outbreak will “significantly curtail” fundamental freedoms in Britain – but can be legally justified, MPs have said. Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights said it would be thoroughly scrutinising new laws and action taken by a
UN rights chief urges South Sudan authorities to address inter-communal violence
The increased number and range of weapons used by rival clans, as well as the “apparent failure” by the authorities to respond, has contributed to clashes which have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced, while women and children have been subjected to sexual violence. Expressing c
Exiled Tajik Activist Brutally Attacked in Lithuania
This week, two men attacked and injured a Tajik activist living in exile in Lithuania, the latest in a long line of what appear to be politically-motivated attacks on critics of the Tajikistan government. Ilhomjon Yakubov after the attack on March 16, 2020, Kaunas, Lithuania.EXPANDIlhomjon Yakubov
Prominent Journalist Freed in Azerbaijan
Afgan Mukhtarli, a prominent investigative journalist and a political activist, was freed yesterday – a rare bit of good news from Azerbaijan.Mukhtarli had been serving a 6-year prison sentence handed down in 2017 on bogus, politically motivated charges. On March 17, a Baku court unexpectedly
Trump administration ‘to send all asylum seekers to Mexico’ citing coronavirus fears
Officials in Donald Trump‘s administration have been briefed on plans to block all asylum seekers and foreigners from entering the United States as a response to the coronavirus epidemic. The measures will see all persons bar American citizens on the southwestern border with Mexico turned bac
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES USED MILITARY-STYLE GRENADES INTENDING TO KILL AND MAIM PROTESTERS: REPORT
During the height of protests in Baghdad late last year, hundreds of civilians died. More than 15,000 were injured. Protesters crammed national squares, overtaking bridges and public spaces to voice concern about corruption, continued American military presence and drone strikes around the country,
More support needed for victims of sexual abuse by UN personnel
Jane Connors, the UN’s Victims’ Rights Advocate, was presenting an overview of the latest report on her mandate, which covers the past year. Eighty SEA cases were reported at peacekeeping and political missions in 2019, while 95 allegations were recorded at other UN entities. “We
Human Rights film festival finds alternative in face of Coronavirus threat
The International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights in Geneva is one of the most important events dedicated to cinema and human rights around the world. But when the 2020 edition was hit by the Coronavirus, the festival team reacted immediately by proposing a version 2.0. Festival chairman B
Swedish midwives who oppose abortion fail in rights case
Two nurses denied midwife jobs as midwives for refusing to carry out abortions have lost their legal bid to take Sweden to a top European court for violating their religious beliefs. Ellinor Grimmark and Linda Steen had told the European court of human rights (ECHR) that being denied employment due
In 4 years, 494 attacks on health killed 470 patients and health staff in Syria
Every 4 days in 2019, a health facility in Syria was attacked. A majority occurred in the northwest, where the world‘s most urgent humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. March 2020, Geneva/Copenhagen/Cairo – The World Health Organization condemns in the strongest terms, attacks on hea
De-escalate now, to steer Yemen off ‘precarious path’, UN Security Council hears
Mr. Griffiths the UN envoy underscored that “thousands of families have been displaced by the recent fighting and are in critical need of shelter and assistance”, and reiterated that indiscriminate attacks on civilians are “unlawful and reprehensible”, urging them to exercise
