Joint Letter to the Human Rights Council Calling for States' Action To
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The FCO's Human Rights Work in 2012
House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee The FCO’s human rights work in 2012 Fourth Report of Session 2013–14 Volume I: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence Additional written evidence is contained in Volume II, available on the Committee website at www.parliament.uk/facom Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 8 October 2013 HC 267 Published on 17 October 2013 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £15.50 The Foreign Affairs Committee The Foreign Affairs Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its associated agencies. Current membership Richard Ottaway (Conservative, Croydon South) (Chair) Mr John Baron (Conservative, Basildon and Billericay) Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell (Liberal Democrat, North East Fife) Rt Hon Ann Clwyd (Labour, Cynon Valley) Mike Gapes (Labour/Co-op, Ilford South) Mark Hendrick (Labour/Co-op, Preston) Sandra Osborne (Labour, Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) Andrew Rosindell (Conservative, Romford) Mr Frank Roy (Labour, Motherwell and Wishaw) Rt Hon Sir John Stanley (Conservative, Tonbridge and Malling) Rory Stewart (Conservative, Penrith and The Border) The following Members were also members of the Committee during the parliament: Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth (Labour, Coventry North East) Emma Reynolds (Labour, Wolverhampton North East) Mr Dave Watts (Labour, St Helens North) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the internet via www.parliament.uk. -
Turkey Part Ii
TURKEY PART II Turkey’s Civil Society on the Line: A Shrinking Space for Freedom of Association May 2021 FIDH and OMCT Europe would like to thank the European Union for making the publication of this report possible. FIDH and OMCT are both members of ProtectDefenders.eu, the European Union Human Rights Defenders Mechanism implemented by international civil society, and this report was produced notably within the framework of the EU-funded program titled ‘Comprehensive Support to Human Rights Defenders in Turkey’ (https://protectdefenders.eu/en/turkey.html). This Turkey program, managed by a consortium of NGOs, including FIDH and OMCT Europe, aims to support and build capacity for civil society and HRDs in Turkey, including through documentation of the situation and challenges they face. The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of FIDH and OMCT Europe and shall under no circumstances be interpreted as reflecting the views of the European Union. Cover photo: Women protesters clash with Turkish policemen during a demonstration against Turkey’s withdrawal from Istanbul Convention, an international accord designed to protect women, in Istanbul, on March 20, 2021. Thousands protested in Turkey on March 20, 2021, calling for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reverse his decision to withdraw from the world’s first binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women. © BULENT KILIC / AFP Directors of publication: Alice Mogwe, Gerald Staberock Authors of the report: FIDH’s Western Europe Desk; FIDH/OMCT’s Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Editing: David Hans Coordination: Elena Crespi, Hugo Gabbero, Mushegh Yekmalyan, Miguel Martín Zumalacárregui Design: FIDH Dépôt légal mai 2021 FIDH (English ed.) = ISSN 2225-1804 – Fichier informatique conforme à la loi du 6 janvier 1978 (Déclaration N° 330 675) TABLE OF CONTENTS I - INTRODUCTION . -
Article 19: Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Article 19: Freedom of Opinion and Expression Why would a human rights organization go to court to support someone whose extreme political views or ethical position it fundamentally opposes? A pornographer perhaps, or an anarchist? Because of the rights asserted in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), we all have the right to form our own opinions and to express and share them freely. “If we do not believe in freedom of expression “The first human who hurled an for people we despise, we do not believe in it at insult instead of a stone was the all,” says linguist and political activist Noam founder of civilization.” Chomsky. Adds Human Rights Watch: –Sigmund Freud “freedom of speech is a bellwether: how any society tolerates those with minority, disfavored or even obnoxious views will often speak to its performance on human rights more generally.” This right underpins many others, such as religion, assembly and the ability to participate in public affairs, but freedom of expression is not unlimited. A common metaphor to describe its limits is that you cannot falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theatre and cause a panic and possible injury. Other forms of speech generally not protected include child pornography, perjury, blackmail, and incitement to violence. The UDHR’s drafters wrestled with the issue of how tolerant a tolerant society should be of people like Nazis and fascists who themselves are intolerant. They were acutely conscious of the role played by the Nazi media and film industry in the creation of an environment that enabled the slaughter of 6 million Jews, and other groups such as the Roma and people with disabilities. -
Algeria Joint Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review 27Th Session of the UPR Working Group
Algeria Joint Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review 27th Session of the UPR Working Group Submitted 22 September 2016 Submission by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, NGO in General Consultative Status with ECOSOC And Ibn Khaldoun Center for Research and Maghrebi Studies (IKCRMS) CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Ibn Khaldoun Center for Research and Participation Maghrebi Studies CIVICUS UPR Lead, Email: UPR Lead Ammar Djeffal [email protected] Email: [email protected] Ms Renate Bloem, Email: [email protected] Tel: +213 (0)662826248 Fax: +213 (0)23817103 Tel: +41 22 733 3435 Web: www.civicus.org 1. (A) Introduction 1.1 CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world. Founded in 1993, we proudly promote marginalised voices, especially from the Global South, and have members in more than 160 countries throughout the world. 1.2 Ibn Khaldoun Center for Research and Maghrebi Studies (IKCRMS) is a Research Institute dedicated to the documentation and research in the key issues of democratic transition in Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, economic and social rights and public freedoms processes. 1.3 In this document, CIVICUS and IKCRMS examine the Government of Algeria’s compliance with its international human rights obligations to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society. Specifically, we analyse Algeria’s fulfilment of the rights to freedom of association, assembly, and expression and unwarranted restrictions on human rights defenders (HRDs) since its previous UPR examination in May 2012. To this end, we assess Algeria’s implementation of recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cycle relating to these issues and provide a number of specific, action-orientated follow-up recommendations. -
Euromed Rights Regional Seminar Countering the Shrinking Space For
EuroMed Rights Regional Seminar 20-21 October 2017, Brussels Countering the shrinking space for civil society in the Euromed Region Venue: Palais des Académies, Rue Ducale 1, 1000 Bruxelles Objectives of the seminar This seminar will follow the EuroMed Rights 20th Anniversary Celebration Event: I/ The ceremony for the 20th anniversary of EuroMed Rights: in the morning of 20 October, high-level EU representative and representatives of Member States are invited to present their views on the ‘shrinking space’ phenomena as well as to interact with Civil society organisations from all over the EuroMed region. Attendees in the shrinking space seminar will take part to the conference and the debate. II/ Shrinking space yearly seminar: two days (20-21 October) focused on exchanging experiences between CSOs from the region on countering multi-faceted restrictions through different means at national and regional levels. Participants will assess the situation of public freedoms in their own country and the region; they will learn about the possible establishment of an Early Warning System by the European Union aimed at anticipating restrictions of the civil society space in third countries. They will discuss about the launch of a new “EU Structured Dialogue with civil society”. The seminar will also be the opportunity to define concrete recommendations that can be jointly addressed to the EU to protect civil society space and promote human rights and democracy in the MENA. Participants will finally debate about the impact of internet censorship on freedom of association and assembly as well as to identify adequate responses to build partnerships among CSOs, increasing their protection and fostering impact of their campaigns. -
2014 Annual Report
20 14 ANNUAL REPORT 20 14 ANNUAL REPORT ACCORDINGLY, WE BELIEVE THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE ENTITLED TO: HRF FREEDOM... ... of self-determination MISSION ... from arbitrary detainment or exile ... of association & OVERVIEW ... of speech and expression ... from slavery and torture ... from interference and coercion The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a in matters of conscience nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. Our mission THE RIGHT... is to ensure that freedom is both preserved ... to be able to participate in the governments and promoted around the world. We seek, in of their countries particular, to sustain the struggle for liberty in ... to enter and leave their countries those areas where it is most under threat. ... to worship in the manner of their choice ... to equal treatment and due process under law ... to acquire and dispose of property 04 05 This year, HRF also launched ‘‘Speaking Freely,’’ a three-to-five-year legal research project that aims to expose the pervasive abuse of incitement and official defamation laws by authoritarian regimes, with the goal of encouraging international human rights courts to Letter from take a more robust stand for free speech. Through our various partnerships we were also able to provide tools and knowledge to human rights activists. We helped countless dissidents and journalists the President encrypt their sensitive information with tech firms Silent Circle and Wickr, taught human rights defenders how to ensure their digital and physical safety with a security firm, and, with the head of culture and trends at YouTube, brought together activists to learn how to create successful videos. -
Annual Report on the Implementation of the IACHR Strategic Plan 2017
Annual Report on the implementation of the IACHR Strategic Plan 2017-2021 2018 January 2019 1 The Executive Secretariat is submitting a report on results achieved for the period of January to December 2018 in the implementation of the 2017-2021 IACHR Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Commission on March 20, 2017 (OEA/Ser.L/V/II.161, Doc. 27/17) as the principal instrument for the management of the institution. The Report first provides a summary of the major results for the period. The summary is followed by 6 chapters, one for each of the Plan’s five Strategic Objectives and one chapter on the Special Program to Monitor IACHR Recommendations (Program 21). In a final section, conclusions are drawn about plan implementation. We thank the member and observer countries and donors, whose voluntary contributions have been instrumental in achieving the results reported hereafter: Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, United States, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Dominican Republic; Germany, European Commission, Spain, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden and Switzerland; Fundación ARCUS, Fundación Aldeas Infantiles, Google, Freedom House, Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and UNHCR. Main Achievements ➤ Strengthening the petition and case system by hiring 21 new professionals to increase the staff by 75%. ➤ Streamlining case system management and decision-making processes, increasing the number of petitions and cases examined as compared to the number in 2017. Examining 2,897 petitions at the Initial Review stage, while completing 133 reports on admissibility and 43 reports on the merits. ➤ Increasing the number of requests for Precautionary Measures and of precautionary measures granted, breaking the all-time yearly record. -
OPEN LETTER to EU Heads of State on Funding the Fight to End Violence Against Women and Girls
OPEN LETTER To EU Heads of State on funding the fight to end violence against women and girls Brussels, 23 September 2020 Dear President of the European Council, Charles Michel Dear Head of Presidency of the Council, Chancellor Angela Merkel Dear EU Heads of State Dear Members of the European Parliament We, the undersigned, members of the European Coalition to end violence against women and girls consisting of civil society organisations, networks and trade unions fighting for gender equality and the rights of women and girls to live free from violence, are writing to you regarding the MFF 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU (NGEU). We urge all EU decision-makers to demonstrate their political leadership and commitment to protecting gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights, and eliminating violence against women and girls in all of its activities through increased funds to the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. We are pleased about the recent decision by the European Commission to reverse the 20% cuts of the budget to the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme, which is now proposed at €638 million (current prices). These commitments were further welcomed by the European Council following the July 2020 Special Meeting, who supported the Commission’s 2018 proposed amount of €841 million (2018 prices) to the Justice, Rights and Values Fund. In light of the European Parliament’s vote to withhold its consent for the MFF on 23 July 2020, we urge EU decision-makers to swiftly come to an ambitious agreement and meet the Parliament’s demands for targeted increases to flagship programmes, including tripling the amount allocated to the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme to €1.83 billion (current prices). -
Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Calls for Expansion of Freedom of Expression Rights to Be Integrated Into the New Draft Constitution of Kenya
For immediate release – 15 May 2009 Kenya: ARTICLE 19 Calls for Expansion of Freedom of Expression Rights to be Integrated into the New Draft Constitution of Kenya Today, ARTICLE 19 Kenya and East Africa, based in Nairobi, Kenya, submitted its comments to the Committee of Experts for the new Constitutional Review Process currently ongoing in Kenya. ARTICLE 19 welcomes the review process and calls on the Committee of Experts to ensure the new Draft Constitution of Kenya is in line with freedom of expression and information best practice and international standards, as laid out in Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Kenya has signed and ratified. The Constitutional Review Process seeks to improve the current Constitution of Kenya which was first developed in 1963, and amended in 1996. The current process to review the Constitution will be the third of its kind. The Committee of Experts is responsible for developing a new draft Constitution by 1 December 2009. The final draft is expected to be adopted by Parliament by 2 March 2010 prior to a constitutional referendum. In its note to the Committee of Experts, ARTICLE 19 highlights the areas where guarantee of freedom of expression falls short of international human rights law and standards on the right to freedom of expression, the right to access information, and media freedoms. ARTICLE 19’s recommendations to the Committee of Experts include: That the Committee should ensure that the new Draft Constitution of Kenya protects the right of freedom of expression, including the right to information, in compliance with international and regional human rights law and standards. -
Freedom to Write Index 2019
FREEDOM TO WRITE INDEX 2019 Freedom to Write Index 2019 1 INTRODUCTION mid global retrenchment on human rights In 2019, countries in the Asia-Pacific region impris- Aand fundamental freedoms—deepening oned or detained 100 writers, or 42 percent of the authoritarianism in Russia, China, and much of the total number captured in the Index, while countries Middle East; democratic retreat in parts of Eastern in the Middle East and North Africa imprisoned or Europe, Latin America, and Asia; and new threats detained 73 writers, or 31 percent. Together these in established democracies in North America and two regions accounted for almost three-quarters Western Europe—the brave individuals who speak (73 percent) of the cases in the 2019 Index. Europe out, challenge tyranny, and make the intellectual and Central Asia was the third highest region, with case for freedom are on the front line of the battle 41 imprisoned/detained writers, or 17 percent of to keep societies open, defend the truth, and resist the 2019 Index; Turkey alone accounted for 30 of repression. Writers and intellectuals are often those cases. By contrast, incarceration of writers is among the canaries in the coal mine who, alongside relatively less prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, with journalists and human rights activists, are first 20 writers, or roughly eight percent of the count, and targeted when a country takes a more authoritarian the Americas, with four writers, just under two percent turn. The unjust detention and imprisonment of the count. The vast majority of imprisoned writers, of writers and intellectuals impacts both the intellectuals, and public commentators are men, but individuals themselves and the broader public, who women comprised 16 percent of all cases counted in are deprived of innovative and influential voices the 2019 Index. -
Euromed Rights 2019 Annual Report
EUROMED RIGHTS EUROMED RIGHTS 2019 ANNUAL REPORT July 10, 2020 Read in: French Arabic In 2019, the Euro-Mediterranean region was marked by both new restrictions and glimmers of hope. Throughout the year, EuroMed Rights, with its members, partners and with the help of its donors, carried out work along the regional and country speci됍c priority areas to better connect, support and create new dialogue opportunities for and between human rights defenders and civil society organisations. The annual report below details some of the main outcomes achieved in 2019 and demonstrates the in됍uence and credibility that EuroMed Rights has gained over time. But the network will not rest on its successes. In the run-up to the 2021 General Assembly, it will analyse and strategise with the aim that its next development phase adequately takes into consideration the organisation’s accumulated competences, the tectonic changes that can be observed in the region, and the internal dynamics as a members-based network. On its way to meet these numerous challenges, in your company and with your support, EuroMed Rights wishes you an excellent read! Read Now READ ALSO: Facebook Administration to take further measures to limit the spread of hate speech against The LGBTIQ+ community in the mena region AUG 10 read more ... Jordan: authorities urged to immediately release syndicate board members AUG 07 read more ... Turkey’s social media bill, another obstacle to freedom of expression JUL 31 read more ... Eren Keskin: “If Turkey leaves the Istanbul Convention, it will legitimise violence against women” JUL 31 read more ... Morocco: end the judicial harassment against journalist Omar Radi JUL 23 read more .. -
Human Rights & Democracy
Human Rights & Democracy The 2016 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report Human Rights & Democracy The 2016 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by Command of Her Majesty July 2017 Cm 9487 d Human Rights and Democracy: The 2016 Foreign & Commonwealth Office Report © Crown copyright 2017 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected]. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at: Parliament and Communications Team, Human Rights and Democracy Department, Room K1.01, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH Print ISBN 9781474141130 Web ISBN 9781474141147 ID P002863281 07/17 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the Williams Lea Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Designed in-house by the FCO Communication Directorate Cover image: Displaced men, women and children after fleeing ISIL-controlled areas in rural Raqqa to Ain Issa, the main staging point for