Beijing is rejecting an annual report by the U.S. State Department that says China’s human rights record worsened during the past year. The State Department report released Thursday categorized the human rights condition in China as “extremely poor,” saying authorities were stepping up efforts to stifle dissent and restrict freedom of speech. Chinese Foreign Ministry […]
Clinton: 2011 a ‘Tumultuous’ Year for Human Rights
Posted May 24th, 2012 at 12:00 pm (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says 2011 was a “tumultuous and momentous” year for those whose human rights are at risk around the world, and for all trying to ensure that governments honor rights guarantees. Clinton said Thursday people demanded their rights from the Arab Spring revolutions in the Middle East to Burma, where […]
Clinton: 2011 `Tumultuous’ Year for Human Rights
Posted May 24th, 2012 at 11:05 am (UTC-5)
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says 2011 was an especially “tumultuous and momentous” year for those whose human rights are at risk around the world, and for all trying to ensure that governments honor human rights guarantees. In a news conference Thursday, Clinton said men and women demanded their rights from the Arab Spring […]
Amnesty Says Rights Abuses Continue in Burma, Despite Reforms
Posted May 24th, 2012 at 1:50 am (UTC-5)
Amnesty International says human rights abuses in Burma’s ethnic minority areas have increased in the past year, despite recent political and economic reform in the Southeast Asian nation. In an annual report released Thursday, the Britain-based rights watchdog documented cases of extra-judicial executions, torture, and forced labor by Burma’s military in the country’s ethnic conflict […]
Amnesty: Collapse in World Leadership Undermined Pro-Democracy Protesters
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 7:45 pm (UTC-5)
Amnesty International, in its 50th annual human rights report, says a collapse in world leadership has undermined the courage of pro-democracy protesters around the world, especially in Syria. The group says the U.N. Security Council seems ineffective, out of step, and unable to fulfill its mandate. It says Russian and Chinese intransigence puts the credibility […]
Human Rights Watch Criticizes Chinese Para-Police for Abuses
Posted May 23rd, 2012 at 3:05 am (UTC-5)
A leading human rights group says the Chinese law enforcement agency in charge of urban management is fueling public resentment and stoking social tensions with its heavy-handed behavior. Human Rights Watch released a report Wednesday entitled “Beat Him, Take Everything Away” detailing abuses by China’s “chengguan” para-police agency. It documents reports of illegal detention, theft, […]
Zimbabwe Minister Rejects Torture Claims
Posted May 21st, 2012 at 11:15 am (UTC-5)
Zimbabwe’s justice minister says there is no state-sponsored torture in the country, rejecting allegations by human rights groups. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa spoke to reporters Monday after a meeting in Harare with visiting U.N. human rights chief Navi Pillay. Zimbabwe invited Pillay in response to rights groups accusing state authorities of torture and violence against […]
Malawi President Urges Repeal of Gay Ban
Posted May 18th, 2012 at 4:55 pm (UTC-5)
Malawi’s President Joyce Banda says she wants to repeal the country’s laws against homosexuality, a move sure to be condemned by some religious and conservative groups. President Banda told parliament Friday that indecency and unnatural acts laws will be repealed. But repealing a law requires a parliamentary vote and it is not clear whether she […]
Mali Faces Worst Crisis in 50 Years: Rights Group
Posted May 16th, 2012 at 12:35 am (UTC-5)
Amnesty International says rebel groups who took control of northern Mali following a coup are committing serious human rights abuses, including sexual violence, murder and use of children as combatants. The British-based human rights group said Wednesday that Malian soldiers have also carried out arbitrary detentions and extra-judicial executions in the conflict, calling it Mali’s […]
Chinese State Media Defend Expulsion of Al-Jazeera Reporter
Posted May 10th, 2012 at 2:10 am (UTC-5)
Chinese state media are defending the government’s decision earlier this week to expel Al-Jazeera reporter Melissa Chan, who is believed to be the first foreign correspondent in 14 years to be kicked out of the country. A Thursday editorial in the Communist Party-affiliated Global Times acknowledged that authorities did not give a specific reason for […]
