Battle Looms As Colombia’s High Court Considers Same-Sex Adoption

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

Colombias Constitutional Court is set to rule on adoption rights for same-sex couples (photo courtesy of colombiareports.com)
Colombia's Constitutional Court is set to rule on adoption rights for same-sex couples (photo courtesy of colombiareports.com)

BOGOTA, Colombia – Last week, Colombia’s Constitutional Court announced that it needs more time to rule on the legality of same-sex couples adopting children. The court was asked to analyze the case of a lesbian couple who want one partner to be recognized as the legal guardian of the other partner’s child. According to Juan Carlos Henao, President of the Constitutional Court, many of the magistrate judges have asked for more time to study this case.

According to media reports, the Colombian ambassador to the Vatican has voiced his opposition to the same-sex adoption issue. Ambassador Cesar Mauricio Velasquez has been quoted as saying that “the criteria of a family is man, woman and child.” Velasquez also said that allowing gays to adopt children would oblige a “change of the concept of family in Colombia.”

The Bishops’ Conference of Colombia has also come out publicly opposing same-sex adoption rights, calling on the Constitutional Court to reject the case. According to the Bishops’ Conference, “the rights of children should be placed above the affective and emotional needs of same-sex couples.”

The Bishops’ Conference claims that the purpose of adoption is to “replace what was lost, namely, the child’s biological mother and father, and the child is given a substitute mother and father so he can have a new home.” Although the bishops are affiliated with the Catholic church, they claim that faith has nothing to do with their stance against same-sex adoption rights. Rather, the bishops claim this is a matter of “natural law” and “anthropology.”

A recent poll carried out in Colombia showed that “82 percent of Colombians do not support the adoption of children by same-sex couples,” a statistic that the bishops have been quick to rely on. Bishop Juan Vicent Cordoba claims that children who are raised in same-sex households will face “great difficulties.” Although he does not provide proof of such difficulties, Cordoba says that these children are more likely to “grow up to become homosexuals, bisexuals or they will have identity problems that will affect their ability to sustain a relationship.”

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – Colombian Ambassador to Vatican Opposes Gay Adoption – 3 March 2011

Colombia Reports – Court Needs More Time for Gay Adoption Ruling – 2 March 2011

Catholic News Agency – Colombian Bishops Stress Protection of Adopted Children – 26 February 2011

Several Woman Killed During Attack on Ivory Coast Protest

by Laura Hirahara
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Women Collect Sandals Left by Protesters Who Fled the Shooting (Photo courtesy of BBC)
Women Collect Sandals Left by Protesters Who Fled the Shooting (Photo courtesy of BBC)

Video of Attack on Ivory Coast Protesters- Warning: Content is graphic, viewer discretion is advised (Video courtesy of CNN)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast– In the midst of a protest held today by over 5,000 women in the Ivory Coast capital city of Abidjan in the southern district of Abobo, tanks entered the area and began shooting on the crowd, killing at least six women and injuring dozens more.  As the video from CNN shows, the women were engaging in a peaceful demonstration that included chants and singing and according to observers, they appeared to be unarmed.  The women gathered to protest the ongoing violence that has occurred since President Laurent Gbagbo lost the election in December and has refused to leave office.  Gbagbo has denied responsibility for the attacks and says his security and military forces were not in the area today, despite the fact that one tank was emblazoned with the word ‘Police’.

One of the protesters gave an account to BBC after the shooting, telling the reporter that she saw eight women killed during the attack, including a pregnant woman.  She said as she ran, another woman next to her was shot in the head.  “We have no idea why they shot at us. . . I don’t know how I managed to get away unharmed. . . .Only God knows how I escaped the killing.”  The street quickly cleared as clothes, bags and shoes were left, abandoned by the women trying to escape the gunfire.

The women had gathered to protest Laurent Gbagbo’s presidency, holding signs that called him an assassin and robber of power.  During the protest, many women blew on whistles, joining chants and singing as others danced.  The crowd became silent as the three tanks rolled into view.  With no warning, shots came from the tanks and the women starting fleeing.  Observers rushed to pull the bodies of the slain women from the street as the tanks continued to drive through the area.

Violence has been building in intensity in the capital and the country as a whole since the election results were announced in December of last year.  Gbagbo’s opponent, Alassane Ouattara, won just over 54% of the vote, a result verified by the UN and recognized by the international community.  However, Gbagbo has said that the results, especially from the polls in the north where Ouattara garners the most support, were falsified.  Specific religious and ethnic groups are being targeted due to political party divides in the Ivory Coast.  Gbagbo is the leader of the Christian party, located largely in the southern region and Ouattara is the leader of the Muslim party, located mainly in the north.  Security forces and military troops have been targeting those with Muslim last names as well as those who openly support Ouattara.

As Ouattara attempts to run his cabinet out of a hotel guarded by UN security forces, the African Union in charge of resolving the dispute have declared they are extending their deadline for the second time to March.  The UN has also stated that the escalating violence is making it difficult to continue providing humanitarian aid to people in the Ivory Coast.  Many are fearful that this violence will lead to a renewed civil war as plumes of black smoke from burning tires can be seen each day in the Abidjan skyline.  Even Gbagbo’s supporters are growing weary of the situation.  Said teacher Frank Agny, “I voted Gbagbo, but I don’t understand how a leader of this country can use tanks and break human rights like this. We don’t want war, but only Gbagbo will be to blame if it happens.”

For more information, please see;

BBC– Ivory Coast: Parts of Abidjan Resemble War Zone– 4 March, 2011

BBC– Ivory Coast Eye Witness: Women ‘Slaughtered By Soldiers’– 4 March, 2011

CCN– Video Documents Carnage in Ivory Coast– 4 March, 2011

TIME– Ivory Coast Massacre: Army Mows Down Female Protesters– 4 March, 2011

Executions Raise Concern about Human Rights in Iran

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TEHRAN, Iran – As protests continue throughout the country, the international community has ratcheted up pressure on Iran due to its excessive use of the death penalty to punish crimes.  This comes after ten people were hanged Wednesday for trafficking narcotics.  Statements from Amnesty International and United Nations representatives condemned the executions, noting that international law reserves the use of the death penalty for only the most serious crimes.   Iran’s death penalty policy has received much scrutiny over the years but the government has yet to succumb to demands to reform the policy.   According to Amnesty International, Iran executed 388 people in 2009 alone and is second only to China in the total number of individuals put to death.

Recent unrest and uprisings in the country have led the government to crack down on opposition groups.  UN rights chief Navi Pillay reported that a wave of arrests of protesters and critics has occurred since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt over a month ago.  Supporters of the government have called for the execution of opposition leaders and anti-regime demonstrators. 

Some argue that these latest executions are being used as a political tool to frighten and deter the citizenry from protesting.  Drewery Dkye of Amnesty International contends that “[t]he Iranian authorities have used the implementation of the death penalty…to convey a message to opponents of the regime to get in line.”   The government denounced critics of its policy noting that it was necessary “to maintain law and order and is applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings.”  One report finds that 89 individuals have been executed since the beginning of the year. 

Now Sweden and the United States are seeking to appoint a special investigator to look into human rights violations committed by Iran.  Iranian activists have applauded this move and have expressed their hope that the United Nations Human Rights Council embraces the proposal.  In addition to drug related crimes, the death penalty is considered a proper punishment in Iran for rape, armed theft and adultery.  While the proposal has received wide support, analysts predict that the resolution will fail under opposition from Russia and China who generally disfavor international quarries into other nation’s affairs.

For more information please see:

Reuters – U.S. and Sweden to Push U.N. Rights Body to Act on Iran – Mar. 4, 2011

Payvand Iran News – Iran Executions Under Scrutiny – Mar. 3, 2011

Agence France Presse – Iran Hangs 10 Drug Traffickers – Mar. 2, 2011

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia – Iran: 10 Drug Dealers Hanged – Mar. 2, 2011

“Jasmine Revolution” Call For Change Hits China

David L. Chaplin II
Impunity Watch, Asia

BEIJING, China – The anonymous campaigners behind the so-called “Jasmine rallies”, a reference to the “Jasmine revolution” in Tunisia that sparked unrest across the Arab world, said their movement had support in dozens of cities. Chinese authorities deployed hundreds of policemen, blocked internet services and detained several dissidents by force to thwart ” Egypt-style’ ‘ protests in Beijing and Shanghai on Sunday.

China’s Jasmine Protest Organizers Call For Regular Sunday Strolls (VOA News)
China’s Jasmine Protest Organizers Call For Regular Sunday Strolls (VOA News)

Ambassador Jon Huntsman called the detention and beating of the foreign press “unacceptable and deeply disturbing.” He is urging the Chinese government to hold the perpetrators accountable and respect the rights of foreign journalists in the country.

Beijing’s Wang Fu Jing street, a busy shopping area was washed repeatedly with high-pressure water hoses to keep people away. The entry to the area was also restricted.

China’s leaders have watched developments in the Arab world nervously, as similar issues were among the root causes of the upheaval there.

Chinese authorities have reacted to these demonstrations by rounding up more than 100 known dissidents and rights advocates, activists said, and blocking references to the “jasmine” rallies on websites and search engines.

“We believe these deeds cannot stop the development of the Chinese Jasmine Revolution,” the organizers said.

On Sunday Premier Wen Jiabao promised action on top public concerns including soaring inflation, runaway economic growth and official corruption in an online chat with Internet users.

Hundreds of uniformed and plainclothes police had blanketed the city’s Wangfujing shopping street for the second week running, aggressively pushing away foreign reporters with cameras and briefly detaining several.

Bloomberg News said one of its correspondents was kicked and punched by at least five men in plainclothes, believed to be Chinese governmental security personnel. He required medical treatment.

“This type of harassment and intimidation is unacceptable and deeply disturbing,” U.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman said in a statement.

The new statement was posted on Facebook, Twitter and other overseas social networking sites officially blocked in China, and came one day after security personnel turned out in force to thwart gatherings in Beijing and Shanghai.

Citizens have been urged to gather for subtle “strolling” demonstrations, but take no overt protest action, each Sunday afternoon at designated locations in cities across China, people protest to highlight public anger with the government.

The latest call urged “all social groups, intellectuals, unemployed college graduates, retired soldiers, Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, laid off workers, victims of forced land seizures and building demolitions, and all people suffering from governmental injustice” to take part.

According to the feedback received by various new sources, on Feb. 27, 2011, this movement spread to over 100 cities, largely exceeding  initial expectations of 27 cities, it said, calling for people to “walk” for change again next Sunday.

“We send our salutations to all Chinese citizens supporting and participating in this noble movement!”

For more information, please see:

Vancouver Sun – Organizers plan new rallies despite tough weekend clampdown – 1 March 2011

The Times of India – China cracks whip, crushes ‘jasmine’ stir – 28 February 2011

Voice of America – US Ambassador Decries Chinese Abuse of Journalists – 28 February 2011

CTV News – Diplomats criticize harassment of journalists in China – 28 February 2011