Stories about Human Rights from November, 2024
Georgian police crack down on pro-EU demonstrators after halting EU membership bid ‘until 2028’
Georgian riot police in Tbilisi have violently cracked down on a pro-EU demonstration sparked by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s earlier announcement that Georgia was halting its EU membership bid “until 2028.”
How tech companies enable censorship in Vietnam
"Our findings show a concerning situation where these companies almost always comply with an increasing number of content moderation requests from the Vietnamese government."
In Turkey, women's march marked with violence, arrests as well as threats of deportations
As in previous years, bans on public gatherings, roadblocks, heavy police presence and subsequent violence did not go unnoticed.
Embracing the feral in Kingston, Jamaica's concrete jungle
Buoyed by various partnerships, Camille Chedda’s vision for an equitable and beautiful multi-species community space blossomed, but true to Kingston’s “concrete jungle” reality, the road to fruition was hard.
Criminalized for seeking a better life: The story of Homayoun and Greece's troubling policies against migrants
The cases of migrants like Homayoun highlight how such policies violate human rights, which are integral to being protected under the European Union's values — freedom, justice, and dignity.
The COP29 is over, and so is the spotlight on Azerbaijan
What's next for the country's civil society now that COP29 is over and the spotlight has shifted?
Indonesia’s new government pushes transmigration plan, stirring protests in Papua
"Transmigration has produced structural discrimination in education, land rights, and employment. There is high level of income and wealth inequality between Papuans and Indonesians, while migrants dominate the labour market."
Drought in Somalia is forcing thousands of climate refugees to Kenya's Dadaab Refugee Camp
Between 2022 and 2023, Dadaab experienced an influx of refugees due to droughts and conflict, which caused the camp’s population to swell from 234,000 in July 2022 to 320,000 in March 2023.
Hong Kong’s top court affirms same-sex married couples’ housing and inheritance rights in landmark decision
After six years of legal battles with the Hong Kong government, the city's top court finally ruled that same-sex married couples should receive property and inheritance rights.
Women's rights are backsliding left and right in Latin America
In Latin America, there are many elected and non-elected governments, democracies with left- or right-wing authoritarianism, and none respect the rule of law and the right of women to a life free of violence.
The great Pakistan firewall and use of religion as a tool for digital authoritarianism
Pakistan has implemented a national firewall to regulate online content and mandated the registration of lawful VPN usage, with a ban on unregistered VPNs set to take effect from December 1.
Forty-five Hong Kong pro-democracy activists jailed up to 10 years in landmark national security case
The U.S government said the 45 were punished for peaceful participation in political activities under the protection of Basic Law while the HK government insisted on the severity of the crime.
Reflections on youth-led movements against state repression in Bangladesh and Indonesia
Grassroots approaches not only ensure the continuity of the movement but could also strengthen solidarity and trust among protesters, deepening the connection to local communities, which is vital for sustained resistance.
China's impact on the Rogun Dam Project in Tajikistan
Tajikistan's Rogun Dam Project is one of the most ambitious hydroelectric projects in the world. Do the ballooning costs, environmental concerns, and human rights abuses outweigh the potential benefits?
Nigeria ranks lowest among Sub-Saharan African countries in women’s representation in parliament
Nigeria ranks lowest among Sub-Saharan African countries in terms of women’s representation in politics. Some of the barriers include an unfavorable political system, social and cultural barriers, and gender-based violence.
In Russia, people with diabetes face an unending financial burden
For many in Russia's interior regions, many of whom are barely making ends meet, managing diabetes can be an expensive and stressful process.
Scores of Nepalis tricked into joining the Russian army
A Nepali cook falsely recruited in the Russian Army started seeking a way to escape when he saw his name on a roster of soldiers being sent to the frontlines.
Torture, abuse, and degredation are rampant in Azerbaijani prisons
In Azerbaijani prisons, torture and ill-treatment are common. But for queer inmates, the persecution is much worse. The existing legislation offers no legal remedies.
Smog chokes Pakistan's Punjab province as AQI soars to 1,900 in Lahore and 2,000 in Multan
With smog intensity escalating in Lahore at the end of October, affecting its 13 million residents, the Punjab government imposed a “green lockdown” and set up a “smog war room.”
Villagers vow to return to ghostown in ruins in Oaxaca, Mexico
"In the past, we went to work in the United States to support our families, but now we can't go because we are worried about what might happen to our families."
What changes will arise from the Brazilian Supreme Court's ruling on personal marijuana use
In June, the highest court in the country approved the decriminalization of marijuana possession for personal use, marking a significant step, while also raising questions.
