Stories about Human Rights from December, 2019
Trinidad and Tobago continues to face HIV stigma and lack of sex education
Drugs that can prevent HIV are available, but Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Health won't make it available because he thinks it will promote promiscuity.
Who has ruined Christmas peace and joy in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong’s Christmas was neither peaceful nor joyful as riot police charged major shopping districts with anti-riot weapons to disperse flash mob protests.
Global Voices quinceañera: The Caribbean steps out of the box
Pride parades. Cannabis legislation. £20 million in reparations. These were some of the victories in the Caribbean for 2019. Part 3 of 5.
Data protection policy void threatens privacy rights of citizens and refugees in Jordan
Jordan is considering a data protection bill. Will its adoption reinforce privacy protections in the country?
Bangladesh's first Human Milk Bank faces challenges before inauguration
With the aim of saving their lives, the Human Milk Bank will help newborns in critical care get much-needed mother's milk.
Police violence is increasing in Greece, but government is unconcerned
"They asked for a warrant and in response [the police] put them down, tied their hands and beat them severely".
Death toll reaches 27 in India's citizenship protests
Mass demonstrations have engulfed both large and small cities nationwide.
Conference in Thailand debates state of human rights in the northeast provinces
"We need to shame the government for using violence and intimidation against villagers who are just trying to preserve their livelihoods."
Macedonian government promises to retract misogynist school textbook
The text has been taught in Macedonian schools since 2002.
How China's Belt and Road Initiative is affecting Shan communities in north Myanmar
"The majority of the people are worried about losing their homes, farmlands and water resources. Some people voiced concerns about losing natural resources and heritage places."
Anti-vax groups in the Balkans find support with the Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church defends the right of parents to choose not to vaccinate their children.
Rash of abductions and arrests signals ‘dramatic slide’ in human rights in Tanzania
In recent years, an uptick in abductions, arrests, detentions and trumped-up charges of economic crimes for activists and journalists have amounted to a disturbing trend toward silencing dissent in Tanzania.
Nigerian government orders release of Omoyele Sowore, journalist and human rights activist
Omoyele Sowore was arrested in August on charges of treason, money laundry and harassing President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria. He has been in jail despite court pronouncements ordering his release.
8 West African countries rename currency in historic break from France — but colonial-era debts persist
Changing the CFA franc to "Eco" does not change the fact that many West African countries are still locked in a legacy of debt to France in its colonial-era deposit system.
Kenya now has a data protection law. What does this mean for netizens?
Will Kenya’s new data protection law protect the rights of citizens? Or will it serve as a conduit to acquire, store and use data in the digital capitalism food chain?
Protests, internet shutdowns and biryani: 2019 in South Asia
Overall, our coverage in the past 12 months highlighted stories of protests and internet shutdowns from across the region.
Family members preserve the memory of a worker killed during Brazil's dictatorship
In 1979, Santo was handing out pamphlets outside a São Paulo factory during a protest when he was killed by being shot in the back by police.
Abduction of human rights activist echos chilling trend in Tanzania
Human rights activist Tito Magoti's abduction echoes a chilling trend toward the disappearances of journalists, human rights defenders and opposition leaders in Tanzania since 2015 when Magufuli first took office.
Masterminds behind Ampatuan massacre convicted but campaign against impunity continues in the Philippines
"The past ten years have galvanized us, fortified our ranks. After the massacre, killings of journalists continued. Fifteen of our colleagues have been gunned down under this administration."
Scenes from Ma'shour: On the brutal suppression of protests in an Iranian city
"In the days after the horrific incident, the stench of charred corpses in the marshes remained so strong that it reached across the city."
Serbian fact-checking service Istinomer files criminal complaint after serious hacker attack
Istinomer has demanded an investigation that would disclose the identities of both those who ordered the attack and funded the technology that underpinned it.
