By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

CALIFORNIA, United States - On August 15, 2010, the Native American Kawaiisu Tribe of Tejon in Southern California filed an amended complaint objecting to a statement in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) of Kern County which indicates that “the property owner (who is also the owner of the remains), and of any associated archaeological materials.”

Kawaiisu Family  Read more...

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Arpaio calls himself "Washington's whipping boy." (Photo courtesy of NY Daily News)

ARIZONA, United States—The self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America” is now being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for possible civil rights abuses.  Allegations against him include systematically discriminating against Latinos and being uncooperative in the investigation.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County has become a household name, gaining popularity and controversy for his relentless pursuit of illegal immigrants.  He is also noted for aggressive law enforcement policies and his colorful, defiant attitude.  Read more...

By Ricardo Zamora
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – Mexico’s Supreme Court upheld a law granting same-sex couples in Mexico City the right to adopt children earlier this week. The decision comes a week after the Court upheld the constitutionality of same-sex marriage, and after Argentina legalized gay marriage and adoption in July.

Juliana Cano Nieto, researcher in the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch, said that “the Supreme Court’s ruling confirms that the state cannot withhold any legal rights on the grounds of a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity.” This decision will “have resonance for courts throughout the continent for protecting the basic human rights of LGBT people,” she added.  Read more...

By Erica Laster

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America 

NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico – Nuevo Laredo, the busiest city along the United States-Mexico border with a population of over 360,000 is adhering to a near complete news blackout.  Drug cartels have forced the population and news outlets to stop reporting events occurring from drug related violence.   The Televisa affiliate in Nuevo Laredo suffered from a grenade attack thrown at the front door of its building less than two weeks ago.   However, both Televisa and its competitors failed to report on the attack.  Read more...

FBI Website photo of "Nacho Coronel" or Ignacio Coronel Villareal

By Erica Laster                    Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – In a raid on a drug trafficking house in a wealthy suburb of Guadalajara Thursday night, soldiers shot and killed Ignacio Coronel Villareal (Nacho Coronel), a top Mexican drug cartel leader.  His death comes the same day as the United States embassy in Mexico City announced the closure of the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, a city located across the border from El Paso, Texas.  Read more...

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Last Thursday, the Federal Court of Appeals for the 11^th Circuit’s three judge panel upheld the conviction and 97 year sentence of Charles McArthur Emmanuel, also known as Chuckie Taylor. Emmanuel is the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor, and is notorious for leading a violent paramilitary unit, Anti-Terrorism Union, ordering the torture of dozen’s of his father’s political opponents between 1997and 2003.

Chuckie Taylor On Trial  Read more...

By Erica Laster
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Despite being the first country to abolish slavery in the Americas, the recent earthquake leaving Port-Au Prince in ruins has increased fears of a soar in child slavery.  Jean-Robert Cadet, a Haitian advocate an author suspects that the number of child slaves will double from its previous number of 300,000 in the country.  The 10 Americans caught at the Dominican border with 33 Haitian children in February only serves to fuel these concerns.

Restavek Child Scrubs Pots In Haiti, Photo courtesy of ABC News  Read more...

By Erica Laster                                                                                                                        Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

Havana, Cuba – Amid growing international criticism, Cuba has agreed to free fifty two political prisoners of conscience. This would mark the most political prisoners released since Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1998 which freed 101 among a group of 300 Cuban prisoners. 22 of the prisoners being released were arrested and sentenced in the infamous Black Spring crackdown of 2003.

Cuban Opposition activist Guillermo Farinas stands with the help of his doctor in Cuba

Despite acting in non-violent protests, 75 were arrested in the crackdown under Cuban legislation that criminalized political dissent.  Read more...

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – Honduras continues to suffer from political unrest and polarization in the wake of the military coup this past January. The country continues to receive threats to citizens’ freedom of expression.  In the past three months, seven journalists have been killed. The government forced censorship on a variety of journalists, closing several media outlets inside of the country.  Judges, opposition leaders and human rights activists have also suffered intimidation and threats from unknown sources.   Read more...

By Ali Sprott-Roen
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

(Photo courtesy of Michelle Gabel / The Post-Standard)

NEW YORK, United States – Maparo Ramadhan, a refugee from Burundi, escaped persecution, torture and murderous officers in his home country, only to be victimized by guards at the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse, NY.  Read more...