News

Amnesty International Recognizes Six Women for Human Rights Advocacy

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

MANILA, Philippines – Amnesty International has warned of the human rights violations being committed in South Asia. The organization is reporting that the rights of journalists and activists have been increasingly disregarded over the past few years. According to the organization, LGBT activists, Hindus, Christians, Sufi Muslims, and scholars have all become targets after the 2015 murders in Bangladesh, where five bloggers were killed in separate attacks.

Leila de Lima faces three separate criminal charges after speaking out against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Photo courtesy of: Reuters.

The region has become hostile towards mass media and journalism, as new laws have been invoked against online critics and colonial-era laws are being unleashed against government critics. However, in light of International Women’s Day, Amnesty International recognized six women for their extraordinary efforts in human rights advocacy.

The group of women, comprised of lawyers, activists, and a former justice secretary, were each commended for their dedication to taking stands against injustices, despite the grave danger they faced by doing so. In Thailand, Sirikan Charoensiri, a lawyer who regularly defends clients investigated and prosecuted for peacefully defending human rights, faces 15 years’ imprisonment under charges of treason and a local ban on political assembly of five or more persons.

Similarly, in the Philippines, Senator Leila de Lima, former justice secretary and chair of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, has been arrested under politically-motivated charges in response to her criticism of Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte.

Human rights organizations are working to raise awareness of the injustices faced by advocates, critics, and journalists in the region. These organizations are now trying to protect the human rights which local governments are choosing to ignore.

For more information, please see: 

Amnesty International – Southeast Asia: As governments fail on human rights, women stand up – 7 March, 2017

Amnesty International – Human rights violations endemic in South Asia – 28 February, 2017

Jakarta Post – Six Southeast Asian women recognized for advocating for human rights – 8 March, 2017

Asian Correspondent – Amnesty names 6 women leading human rights activism in Southeast Asia – 8 March, 2017

Women in U.S. Strike – ‘A Day Without a Woman’

By Sarah Lafen


Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America

 

WASHINGTON D.C., United States — Last Wednesday, on the holiday designated International Women’s Day by the United Nations, the female activist group who organized the Women’s March on January 21 organized a strike by women in the workplace.  Women across the nation skipped work, wore red to signify love and sacrifice, and refused to spend money to support the cause.

Protestors rally at Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Wednesday (Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)

One thousand people gathered on a city block in New York City, and eventually moved to Trump International Hotel.  According to the Women’s March on Washington group, 10 organizers were arrested in NYC for blocking traffic.  In Providence, Rhode Island, the municipal court shut down because eight employees stayed home from work for the day.  Schools in Alexandria, Virginia, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina, and Prince George’s County, Maryland were all closed for the day due to the amount of teachers who skipped work.

Spokeswoman Cassady Findlay explained that organizers of the strike were inspired by the recent “Day Without an Immigrant” protests which were held last month.  Findlay said that the goal of the strike was to highlight the effect of women on the United States’ socio-economic system, and would demonstrate how the work of women keeps communities and economies functioning.  Findlay told reporters that “[women] provide all this value and keep the system going, and receive unequal benefits from it.”

Shannon Craine, of San Francisco, told reporters that while it was a diverse crowd, everyone was at the protest for the “same reasons.”  Craine emphasized that everyone who attended the strike “care[s] about women’s rights” and that there are some things “[they] are just not willing to negotiate about.”

Conservative group Right2Speak is organizing a “positive counter-movement” to the strike.  Right2Speak wants to encourage women to “to continue working, serving, giving, sharing and loving their communities, their families and their endeavors.”  The group is also encouraging women to use the hashtag on social media #NotMyProtest and #WeShowUp accompanied by pictures of them working.

Protestors held signs reading “Resist like a girl” and “Power to the resisters forever!”

 

For more information, please see:

CBS New York — ‘Day Without a Woman’ Celebrates Female Power on International Women’s Day — 8 March 2017

The Huffington Post — ‘A Day Without a Woman’ was a Day of Activism Across the Country — 8 March 2017

The New York Times — ‘Day Without a Woman’ Protest Tests a Movement’s Staying Power — 8 March 2017

USA Today — Conservative Group Counters #DayWithoutAWoman with #WeShowUP — 7 March 2017

China Passes New Regulation on Education for Students with Disabilities

By: Nicole Hoerold
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

BEIJING, China – The Chinese government is working to extend more rights to its disabled citizens. On February 23, 2017, the government passed the Regulations of Education of Persons with Disabilities. The goal of the new regulation is to encourage students with disabilities to pursue a mainstream education. Currently, Chinese schools only admit children with physical disabilities or mild forms of mental and other disabilities.

A blind girl reads Braille in her classroom at Shanghai’s School for the Blind. Photo courtesy of: Reuters.

Critics of the new regulation suggest that the current climate regarding disabled school children is unlikely to change, as the government failed to provide adequate means of achieving the regulation’s goals. However, the regulation does mandate local governments to allocate sufficient funds and resources to further the education of people with disabilities.

China does have other laws that protect the rights and interests of disabled individuals. In China, all private and public employers are subject to disability employment quotas, and are required to meet a quota of at least 1.5 percent of employees with disabilities for every 20 employees. Employers who fail to meet these requirements are taxed by the government and the money collected is paid into a Disabled Persons’ Employment Security Fund, controlled by the Disabled Persons’ Federation.

The Chinese government has made commendable efforts to enhance the protections of the rights of individuals with disabilities. Human rights organizations urge that these efforts are a move in the right direction, but the Chinese government must continue to work towards ensuring the rights and protections of the disabled.

For more information, please see:

Sydney Morning Herald – How China trumps Australia when it comes to supporting disabled workers – 4 January, 2017

Human Rights Watch – China: New Rules for Students with Disabilities Inadequate – 6 March, 2017

Hong Kong Free Press – China’s new rules on education for people with disabilities still fall short, says NGO 25 February, 2017

Bloomberg – China: Foreign Companies Hit With Much Higher Disability Payments – 10 February, 2017 

8 Dead as a Result of Stampede for Food in Zambia

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter 

LUSAKA, Zambia– 8 are dead after a stampede in Zambia.  The stampede happened as people were trying to receive food aid in the capital city of Lusaka.  A church called the Church of Christ was handing out food aid at the Olympic Development Centre to about 35,000 people when the stampede happened.  Many of the people the church hoped to serve are residents of Lusaka’s slums.

Police spokeswomen Esther Katongo. (Photo Courtesy of ZNBC)

Police spokeswomen Esther Katongo confirmed that eight were dead.  Six of the victims were female, one male, and one male juvenile.  Five died at the scene while the three other succumbed to their injuries at the hospitals that they were rushed to.  After the chaos police ordered the church to halt the handouts of food, but some still stayed hoping to still get food.  An official statement reads “The victims are among the 35,000 which the group called Lesedi seven, had invited for prayers at OYDC. The group had also organized food hampers to distribute to people. This Lesedi seven is a grouping under Church of Christ.”

Zambia like many other countries near the horn of Africa is experiencing an extreme drought that is crippling resources.  Food prices have also risen which has made food unaffordable for many.  Zambian police are inquiring into all eight deaths as well as the other twenty or so people that were injured.  Despite the chaos Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja has said he has had a hard time convincing people to go home.  Many families are so desperate for the food they will risk their lives to get it.

For more information, please see: 

Africa News – Zambia: 8 dead, 28 Injured in stampede for free Church food – 6 March 2017

Al Jazeera – Zambians seeking food aid killed in stampede – 6 March 2017

Stuff – 8 die in as crowd stampedes to get food handouts in Zambia – 6 March 2017

ZNBC – 8 die in stampede – 6 March 2017

Sweden Reinstates Draft

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Amidst heightening tension with Russia, Sweden reintroduced conscription, or compulsory military service.  The draft, which has not been active since Sweden abolished the 109-year practice in 2010, will be implemented on a gender-equal basis.  In 2010, after suspending conscription, Sweden adopted a voluntary recruitment system.

The Wartofta tank company in Gotland, Sweden is temporarily defending the island while a new, permanent group is training to take its place. (Photo Courtesy of The New York Times)

Peter Hultqvist, Swedish Minister of Defense, called the move a “response to the new security situation” in Europe.  Hultqvist cited Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine, and increased military activity in Europe as some of the triggers behind the decision.  Though it is not a member of NATO, Sweden is strengthening its ties with the organization.  Sweden is also strengthening its military cooperation with Finland.

The new draft will aim to ensure there are 6,000 full time members, and 10,000 part-time members.  According to Marinette Nyh Radebo, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, men and women born between 1999 and 2000 will undergo testing on July 1 to see if they are eligible for the draft.  The goal is to gather 13,000 men and women in the correct age category and have them undergo physical and psychological tests.  Recruits will then participate in their first military exercise on January 1, 2018, and will spend nine to eleven months in training before they choose whether to continue in the military, or join as a reserve soldier.

This is the first time that Sweden will include women in the draft.  There will not be a quota system to ensure an equal ratio between men and women, however the “gender equal” policy should ensure there will be an increase of women in the armed forces.  Sweden’s gender-neutral policy will mirror that of Norway’s, which features one of the only gender-neutral military forces in the world.

17-year old Sofia Hultgren told reporters that others her age view military careers as old-fashioned.  However Hultgren welcomed the revival of conscription, and said she would consider participating in training activities even though she might not want to make it a career.  Hultgren thinks conscription “can give a feeling of comfort” and believes that it will strengthen Sweden’s defense.

Sweden is not alone in reinstituting conscription.  In 2015, Lithuania reinstituted the draft, and the Ukraine did the same in 2014.

For more information, please see:

The Atlantic — Why Sweden Brought Back the Draft — 3 March 2017

CNN — Sweden Reintroduces Conscription as Tensions Rise over Russia — 3 March 2017

The New York Times — Sweden Reinstates Conscription, With an Eye on Russia — 2 March 2017

Reuters — Sweden Returns Draft Amid Security Worries and Soldier Shortage — 2 March 2017