Stories about Human Rights from December, 2023
Looking forward to 2024: A year of crucial elections in South Asia
In 2023, pre-election implications were evident in certain South Asian nations as repressive laws stifled free expression and targeted critics. Opposition leaders faced arrests and judicial harassment, reflecting a concerning trend.
Cyberbullying hinders women’s participation in Indonesia’s 2024 elections
"Online attacks ramp up during elections which now also involve cyber troops running campaigns in the digital world and targeting women."
Mozambique: Digital landscape and internet disruption in the context of elections
This is a new situation and could be indicative of a violation of the right to information enshrined in Mozambican law.
Do you condemn?
The question "Do you condemn?" serves to delegitimize the Palestinian struggle for rights and justice, deflecting attention from the root causes of the conflict by encouraging blanket condemnations.
The invisible labor cost of famous clothing brands in Thailand
"Making demands was like banging your head against the wall. It was pointless, because we got nothing."
Turkey bans access to 16 VPN providers
Pundits say, the goal of the recent ban is to prevent access to already blocked news websites in the country that were only accessible with VPN services.
Retelling the history of Nepal's Gurkha fighters
Nepali Artist Suzana Thapa Shris’s recent exhibition focuses on retelling the stories of the famous Gurkha soldiers from the perspective of their wives.
Russian musicians sing about war resistance — few people take them seriously
Through the musical project “We Exist” that premieres on December 12, anti-war artists oppose the narrative of Russian war resistance as a marginal point of view.
Georgia embarks on a journey toward EU membership
The December 14 decision comes amid a growing rift between Georgia's ruling government and Western allies, as well as the local civil society groups that insist the government has failed to fulfill 12 priority conditions.
Hong Kong embraces televised confessions of political prisoners
"It is the same kind of propaganda: the court’s ruling is justified and reasonable, and look, he himself confessed it. How would the National Security Judge wrong a good person?
Khurram Parvez, wrongfully incarcerated, completes two years in prison in India
In Kashmir, the "policies of the Indian government have proceeded at an extraordinary speed, choking and diminishing any remnants of free space and expression."
Battle of survival and expression in Jerusalem's Armenian Community
The Armenian community in Jerusalem, rooted in the fourth century, faces a dire battle for survival, grappling with challenges that threaten not only their freedom of expression but their very existence.
Undertones: Critical voices from Israel, inhibited voices from Palestine
In this newsletter, we delve into Israel’s war on Gaza and provide behind-the-scenes reflections about our research and difficulties of covering a war.
While the UK perceives migration as a problem, human rights activists from Africa and the African Union disagree
The UK and Rwanda governments have inked a controversial deal to relocate certain asylum seekers from Britain to Rwanda.
Hong Kong: Subscribers of overseas activists’ blogs and channels face legal threat
Government adviser Ronny Tong said those who subscribe to content created by "wanted individuals" could be considered culpable under the National Security Law.
How Indonesia’s ‘illiberal cyberlaw’ undermines free speech and human rights
"We regret that the Indonesian Parliament has passed the amendment to the ITE Law, which contains problematic articles that undermine freedom of expression and freedom of the press."
Filipino academics and civil society groups express support for Palestinian cause
"We support our Palestinian brothers and sisters in their rightful and just cause for peace and self-determination."
Four change leaders combating gender-based violence in Africa and India
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence(NPSV) are two of the most common forms of violence experienced by women.
Religious minorities in Iran face cultural violence
Over the last 45 years, the Islamic Republic has weaponized textbooks, religious debates, movies, city walls, and even cemeteries to impose cultural violence, particularly over religious minorities, but it faced resistance.
Russian LGBTQ+ asylum seeker dies outside Dutch refugee camp
LGBTQ+ support NGO: 'Deaths in refugee camps, especially among the LGBTQ+ community, are becoming a troubling trend. This is no longer just an incident but a cry for help.'
Myanmar’s ‘Spring Revolution’ in the United States
"The overwhelming support, protests and political education of the overseas Burmese community for the Spring Revolution has been critical to our victories."
