Stories about Human Rights from September, 2020
Thai activists share hopes and wishes during a night camp protest
“Meeting the kids in this generation again, I don’t want them to be 74 and still having to come and sit like this again. I want it to end already.”
Azerbaijani authorities disrupt internet nationwide amid Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
Access has been on and off since clashes broke out on September 27.
After documenting land grabs in their reserve, 18 indigenous and black leaders detained in Nicaragua
Since 2015, self-trained Kriol and Rama forest rangers monitor deforestation and land grabs in the biological reserve.
It’s time to remove Sudan from the US’ state-sponsored terrorism list
Sudan landed on the US state sponsor of terrorism list in 1993, but none of the original reasons still hold now. It’s time to remove Sudan from the SST list.
The untold plight of imprisoned women in Africa, the Americas, and Asia under the pandemic
"Not only are women at risk of contracting COVID-19, they are also exposed to an increased threat of sexual violence during the pandemic."
Press freedom impeded in Hong Kong as police limits definition of recognized media representatives
If approved, a new scheme limiting the definition of officially recognized media will deliver a serious blow to freelance journalists and student reporters.
#FreeMuay: Groups call for release of Laotian net idol and environment advocate
"Muay bravely stood up to protect the environment. Muay does not deserve to be let alone imprisoned from taking this stand."
In Turkey, women rise up to stop withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention
The public outcry seems to have made an impression on the AKP—a decision on the Convention that was meant to be announced in August has now been postponed.
Fearing the national security law, Hongkongers change their social media habits
Of the 2,587 people who responded to an online survey conducted by The Stand News, 96 percent said they fear "loss of free speech."
Thai protesters submit petition for monarchy reforms, install ‘people’s plaque’
The plaque has this inscription: "People shall know, that this country belongs to the people, not the king as they lied."
In Pakistan, women stage nationwide protest in response to shocking rape incident
The protests' organizers also expressed opposition to public hangings, a call that often resurfaces in Pakistan whenever a rape incident gains media attention.
What Weibo and Chinese media are saying about TikTok's pending sale to US companies
"ByteDance's CEO needs to be tough and get prepared to withdraw from the U.S. market," one Chinese user said on Weibo.
Journalists face sedition charges under cybercrime law in Pakistan
"The alarming increase in such actions against journalists confirms that the government is bent on muzzling freedom of expression."
A new ‘cyber defence’ system in Oman raises human rights concerns
The Omani Sultanate passed a new decree giving security authorities further control over the internet.
Lebanon protests: Authorities prey on digital spaces to silence criticism
While social media and WhatsApp have been extensively leveraged by demonstrators to organize, document, and sprawl the protest, Lebanese authorities have resorted to identifying and persecuting dissidents.
Border row, trade turmoil and rising Chinese influence send Indo-Nepal ties to lowest ebbs
Nepal finds itself in the line of fire of the China-US trade war and the Indo-China border conflict.
Social media in Latin America: Caught between a rock and a hard place
As researchers, it is very difficult to know how, or even if, high profile global announcements are actually impacting users in Latin America.
Barbados declares intent to recognise same-sex unions and remove British queen as head of state
The Cayman Islands recently made same-sex partnerships legal, but Barbados may become the first CARICOM member to do so. It will also replace the queen as head of state.
In Bolivia, indigenous Aymara question Bolivia's Independence Day celebrations
"The independence of these countries where we Aymara live did not mean the liberation of the Aymara, but a change of 'master'."
China's persecution of Muslim minorities: An Uyghur student living in Turkey shares her story
I came to Turkey legally, on a passport issued by the Chinese authorities. Why did they punish my family?
Millions of Indian students sit university entrance exams after government disregards protests to postpone them
Students protested throughout the entire month of August, citing concerns with COVID-19 transmission and reduced transportation in quarantined zones.