The secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. has told African leaders it is time for them to respect gay rights. Speaking Sunday before the annual African Union summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr. Ban said discrimination based on sexual orientation has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens or even criminals. “Let […]
African Leaders Urged to Respect Gay Rights
Posted January 29th, 2012 at 2:40 pm (UTC-5)
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Wife, Son of Prominent Jailed Chinese Dissident Arrive in US
Posted January 24th, 2012 at 2:50 am (UTC-5)
The family of a prominent Chinese dissident who is jailed on charges of subverting state power has fled China and arrived in the United States. The U.S.-based ChinaAid group said in a statement that the wife and 12-year-old child of former university professor Guo Quan arrived Monday in Los Angeles, with the help of several […]
Rights Group Says Burma Must Still Address Abuses
Posted January 23rd, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
An international human rights group says Burma showed signs of reform in 2011, but has not addressed “serious abuses” in the country. In a yearly report released Sunday, New York-based Human Rights Watch credited Burma for releasing hundreds of political prisoners, but called for an independent process for assessing the condition and location of others. […]
US Urges Burma to Ensure Free By-Elections
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
A key U.S. senator says the United States is pleased with recent progress toward democratic reforms in Burma, but says the country’s new, nominally civilian government must ensure “free and fair” by-elections in April. John McCain, the senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke Sunday in Rangoon, after meeting with President Thein Sein […]
US Urges Burma to Ensure Free By-Elections
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
A key U.S. senator says the United States is pleased with recent progress toward democratic reforms in Burma, but says the country’s new, nominally civilian government must ensure “free and fair” by-elections in April. John McCain, the senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, spoke Sunday in Rangoon, after meeting with President Thein Sein […]
HRW Urges Support for Arab Democracies
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
A human rights organization is urging Western powers to support the rights of Arab Spring protesters to build real democracies after ousting strongmen once backed by the West. In its World Report 2012, Human Rights Watch said Sunday that Western policy toward Arab countries traditionally has been “one of containment,” backing an array of Arab […]
Human Rights Group Condemns Conditions Across Asia
Posted January 22nd, 2012 at 5:40 am (UTC-5)
The group Human Rights Watch released its annual World Report Sunday, painting a bleak picture of conditions across much of Asia. HRW said Burma’s human rights situation remained dire last year, despite the transition to a military-backed civilian government. The report accuses Burma’s military of rape, torture and the killing of civilians in ethnic minority […]
China Sentences Dissident Writer to 10 Years in Jail
Posted January 19th, 2012 at 4:25 am (UTC-5)
Chinese writer and democracy activist Li Tie has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after penning a series of essays urging citizens to defend their rights. A relative of the activist said Thursday Li was found guilty of “subversion of state power” by a court in central China earlier this week. The relative says […]
China Sentences Dissident Writer to 10 Years in Jail
Posted January 19th, 2012 at 12:05 am (UTC-5)
Chinese writer and democracy activist Li Tie has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after penning a series of essays urging citizens to defend their rights. A relative of the activist said Thursday Li was found guilty of “subversion of state power” by a court in central China earlier this week. The relative says […]
China to Require all Microblog Users to Register Using Real Names
Posted January 18th, 2012 at 6:35 am (UTC-5)
China’s top Internet regulator says Beijing will soon require all users of microblogs to register under their real names to post comments online. Wang Chen, who heads China’s State Council Information Office, said Wednesday increased Internet monitoring is necessary in order to prevent the spread of harmful information. “We must impose control and management measures […]
