Stories about Human Rights from September, 2017
Africans in Solidarity Online With Rohingya People Over Their Persecution in Myanmar (Burma)
"Silence is consent. Our silence is troubling. We need to speak out about this, we need to get angry, we need to help them."
Netizen Report: From Puerto Rico to Bangladesh, Mobile Blackouts Exacerbate Humanitarian Crisis
This week, two populations on opposite sides of the globe are facing communication shutdowns amid rapidly worsening humanitarian crises.
Saudi Women Activists Win Driving Victory in Shadow of Guardianship System and Wave of Arrests
Saudi women may soon be able to drive. However, they continue to face discriminatory barriers under the kingdom's male guardianship system.
Sri Lanka Condemns Mob Attack Against Rohingya Refugees by Buddhist Monks
"I condemn these actions as a Buddhist who is very proud of the fact that Buddhism is a religion of non-violence & compassion."
Peru's Clever Social Media Campaign Raises Awareness About Human Trafficking
Peruvian Ministry of Interior Affairs launched the campaign "Que no te encuentren" (Don't let them find you) to counter human trafficking in Peru.
Malaysia Detained Turkish Scholar Mustafa Akyol for ‘Unauthorized Teaching’ of Religion
"By policing religion, authorities are not really protecting it. They are only enfeebling their societies, raising hypocrites and causing many people to lose their faith in or respect for Islam."
The Unsung Heroes of the 2017 Floods in Mumbai, India
"...I want to ask this government, is the cleanliness of the streets the only important thing? What about the people who do this work?”
#WhereIsMySchool? Parents Fight for Proper Education for Children with Disabilities in Bosnia
"More and more parents...refuse to accept the social stigma that comes with developmental difficulties, and reject the misguided notion that they have to carry all the weight themselves."
Brazil’s Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant License Is Suspended Again
The works are frozen until the hydroelectric plant improves the resettlement housing for the hundreds of displaced families in Altamira, Pará, Brazil.
After Years of Cultural Appropriation, Mayan Weavers Want Legal Protection for Their Heritage
“...our work is not being valued [...] Rather, there has been an appropriation and a commodification of the culture and the designs.”
Ayotzinapa: It's Been Three Years Since 43 Students Disappeared in Mexico
Three years and three prosecutors later, calls for justice for the Ayotzinapa case have been drowned out in a sea of scandals surrounding the Mexican government.
Purple March Unites a Thousand Malaysian Women Against ‘Toxic Politics’
"It was quite a sight to behold. 1,000 people does not sound like a lot, but in Malaysia...protesting is not looked upon kindly..."
As Italy and Egypt Strengthen Diplomatic Ties, Will Giulio Regeni’s Murder Case See Justice?
Did Italy give up on the quest for Giulio Regeni's killers so Egypt would help Italy block migration to Europe?
Myanmar Government Vows to Address Refugee Crisis in Rakhine State, but Avoids Saying ‘Rohingya’
"Aung San Suu Kyi today demonstrated that she and her government are still burying their heads in the sand over the horrors unfolding in Rakhine State."
Is Ex-Soviet Georgia Backsliding on Justice?
While Georgia still scores respectably in international rule of law rankings, public confidence in the justice system is dipping.
Saudi Arabia Eases Restrictions on Messaging Apps, But WhatsApp and Viber Are Still Blocked
Since 2013, the Saudi government has partially or fully blocked chat and call applications including WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook Messenger and FaceTime.
Netizen Report: Germany’s New Social Media Law Puts a Price on Hate Speech
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Inciting Protest,’ a Moroccan Journalist Goes on Hunger Strike
Several journalists have been arrested by Moroccan authorities over their coverage of the unrest in the Rif region.
Evidence of Government Surveillance in Mexico Continues to Mount
Intrusive technologies used to intimidate and silence dissent continue to be used in Mexico.
In Ukraine, Fears of ‘Technological Terrorism’ Cause Free Expression to Decline
State of Internet freedom in Ukraine is a reflection of challenges brought to free speech and independent reporting under the conflict settings, explains legal expert Olga Kyryliuk.
The Conflict in Eastern Ethiopia, Explained
The latest conflict in Ethiopia killed at least dozens of people and displaced thousands. The cause of the violence again was scarce water and land resources.
