Stories about Human Rights from October, 2022
Azerbaijan’s thriving feminist movement: challenges and perspectives
In Azerbaijan, feminist activists endure pressure from the authorities, harassment and hate from strangers as they stand up for countless women across the country protesting domestic violence and femicide.
Indonesia rallies to support women in Iran amid concerns over rising domestic conservatism
As protestors gathered to support Iran, some activists warn that rising conservatism in parts of Indonesia means that women in Indonesia could lose their own right to choose
Armenia is rocked by the suicide of a gay couple
In Armenia, a suicide of a gay couple on October 20 sparked a wave of criticism against existing and widespread homophobia in the country.
Police detains scores of activists at an opposition party rally in Azerbaijan
According to local media reports, police started rounding up members of the party and other attendees hours ahead of the scheduled rally.
How Palestinian youth resisted Israeli occupation: With a haircut
A new generation that has become hopeless over the brutal realities of Israeli apartheid now leads the fight. Palestinians express sympathy for those youngsters but also support their resistance.
Activists predict homophobic and transphobic violence in Russia, but most avenues of escape are slammed shut
The law on prohibiting "propaganda" from the LGBTQ+ community might trigger homophobic and transphobic violence. Time is running out, and the plea to help needs to be urgently heard.
‘Call them by their names’: Stories of Russian anti-war political prisoners
In March 2022 the Russian parliament passed amendments to the Russian Criminal Code allowing for real prison terms for an anti-war stance. Some people now face up to 10 years in prison.
More guns, fewer control mechanisms: Brazilian journalist analyzes Bolsonaro’s gun policy
"The access to guns was expanded and control mechanisms did not follow the growth pace of guns in the hands of civilians," says Cecilia Olliveira.
Turkish lawmakers ratify new disinformation bill
Aimed to combat fake news and disinformation, the 40-article legislation passed by Turkey's parliament, is a threat to freedom of speech say critics of the bill.
Citizen journalists face challenges in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar
"To provide coverage of the protests, citizen journalists stepped up do the job themselves. The result was a truer coverage of events."
Ugandan poet spreads her message despite new law to criminalize online dissent
The irony in the duality of how President Museveni decisively dealt with his son's threats of war on Twitter versus his treatment of dissident Dr. Nyanzi was not lost on many Ugandans.
‘The fight for human rights begins in the kitchen': Interview with Czech writer Radka Denemarková
Following a brutal hate murder in Slovakia, Czech author Radka Denemarkova discusses the models of patriarchy that still shape societies in Central Europe.
Nong Bua Lamphu massacre in Thailand: Recounting mistakes, seeking a way forward
In the wake of the carnage of the October 6 incident, authorities and the media have begun to reflect on past errors and look for a way forward.
Albania's tourism industry is on the rise, increasing risk of child sexual exploitation, warns new report
Albania's first research on the exploitation of children in tourism identified a lack of awareness of the issue as a key concern. Albania received more than 5.6 million foreign visitors in 2021.
The true colours of Truecaller in India: app accused of being negligent about data privacy
According to recently published research, the popular app TrueCaller is plagued with constant breaches and data security failures, and the company is avoiding regulations and taxes in India.
Activists decry shrinking freedom of expression in the Philippines
“We note that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to protect journalists and we challenge this administration to denounce media killings, and translate his promise into concrete actions.”
The world must hear the voice of Iranian women
The Iranian government is attempting to silence the online and offline voices of women and all dissidents through a brutal and ongoing crackdown.
Activists speculate on Elon Musk's foreign influence after proposing Ukraine and Taiwan peace deals
Speculation about Elon Musk’s ties with Beijing and the Kremlin have been boiling on Twitter after the world's richest man proposed peace plans for the Ukraine-Russia and Taiwan-China conflicts.
Iranian protest crackdown targets ethnic minorities
Like the Baloch, Iran's Kurdish population is predominately Sunni Muslim, and as a result, they experience systematic racial and religious discrimination.
‘When the porridge is hot, one eats it on the side': Haiti's current protests, explained on Twitter
'I challenge anyone to make a case for [international] military intervention in Haiti [...] it wouldn’t solve the problem [and] it would be an escalation of the crisis.'
Why most Salvadorans want Bukele's re-election despite his growing authoritarianism
Despite accusations of human rights violations, authoritarianism, power grabs, and gang negotiations, most Salvadorans want the re-election of Bukele.
