Stories about Human Rights from May, 2023
A silent march in Uruguay keeps asking: ‘Where are our disappeared loved ones from the dictatorship?’
In May 20, 1976, while dictatorships were ruling countries in South America, four Uruguayans were found dead in Argentina. The date was picked by families of those still disappeared to march on every year demanding answers and justice.
Poet Galal El Beheiry’s poetic protest and the perils of expression in Egypt
Imprisoned Egyptian poet Galal El Beheiry, detained since March 2018 for a poem, smuggles a letter from prison, vowing to escalate his 81-day hunger strike with a water strike starting June 1.
VIDEO: A different kind of bike ride
In this video, Nathan Matias and Ivan Sigal explain more about the fundraising ride they'll be starting on June 1, and their motivations for undertaking it.
Russia may ban transgender transitioning
Over the past year, the situation for the transgender community in Russia has significantly deteriorated. in May 2023 the Ministry of Justice actively discussed either making more difficult or completely banning transgender transition.
‘Almost all famous artists have left or will leave [Russia], and those who remain will be blacklisted and banned’
For Russian rock, the “golden era” was the years of the underground, the end of the 70s and the first half of the 80s. The question is, will this “new underground” emerge?
#FramedinBelarus: An art group makes embroidery depicting the stories of political prisoners
The project aims to create portraits of each illegally convicted citizen in Belarus (political prisoners) using the traditional Belarusian embroidery technique of red thread on a white background
Persecuted Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light minority denied asylum in Europe amidst escalating violence
Since its inception in 1999, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light minority has been subjected to systematic oppression based on a belief that they are heretics.
Interview with the author of “The Fugitive of Gezi Park”
Ten years ago, a group of environmentalists gathered at Istanbul's Gezi Park resisting the demolition of one of the remaining green spaces in the heart of this cosmopolitan city.
In Azerbaijan, violence against LGBTQ+ people continues unabated
According to ILGA Europe, an international non-governmental organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms, Azerbaijan occupies the last place among 49 countries on the organization's Rainbow Index consecutively for three years in a row.
‘Telman was here': the story of an Azerbaijani man searching for a better life
At 50, Telman spends his days walking the streets of Baku going through every trash box he finds, collecting recyclable items, food, and dreaming of a better life.
Pakistan invokes draconian Army Act to put protestors on trial
The political situation in Pakistan is escalating after the National Security Council decided to invoke the Army Act and Official Secrets Act to try civilian protestors.
How the school massacre in Serbia played out on TikTok
Comments demanding the release of the detained teenager who committed the school shooting in Belgrade were common on TikTok videos, expressing “love” for him as a “hero” and a “legend”.
Journalists from Serbian KRIK convicted for criticizing SLAPP suits against newsroom
"The judgement clearly indicates that SLAPP lawsuits have become the main tool of the regime for closing down the few independent media left," stated Stevan Dojčinović, editor-in-chief of the Serbian investigative outlet KRIK.
What we're aiming to achieve with our fundraising bicycle ride—and the details of the route
As we cycle the route of the 1966 Farmworkers March, we'll be interweaving history with the stories of people who are shaping the future of California's Central Valley today.
‘Post at your own risk': An interview with Indian journalist Srishti Jaswal
Global Voices conducted a telephonic interview with Srishti Jaswal, an award-winning journalist from India who became the target of online harassment from right-wing trolls, receiving thousands of threats.
Sanctions against violators of women’s rights: A political lens
Emphasizing humanitarian aid and empowering women's self-determination and autonomy might be a better approach to creating meaningful change for women and girls than sanctions as a sole strategy.
Taiwan denied access to the World Health Assembly: Interview with Taiwan representative Chen Hsin-Hsin
As the World Health Organization holds its annual World Health Assembly, Taiwan continues to be refused entry to key discussions about global public health in an post-pandemic world.
Teaching Afro-Brazilian history still faces challenges, despite 20 years as law
A law which makes teaching about African-Brazilian history mandatory is now 20 years old, but a lack of training for teachers and superficial content in textbooks hinder its implementation in practice.
Mapping a different kind of bicycle tour
Bicycle tours tend to prioritize exquisite landscapes, but since our ride is also a journalistic exercise, we needed to adopt a different philosophy of route-making.
WHO claims to serve all but repeatedly excludes 23 million Taiwanese
The WHO meets in Geneva, claiming to focus on public health at a global level, yet it denies the right of over 23 million Taiwanese to be included and protected
Time for reflection on lock-ins, lockdowns, and shutdowns at the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly
EngageMedia Executive Director Phet Sayo invites allies to join in the collaborative sense-making process and reflect on the lessons and challenges ahead in navigating the digital rights landscape.
