HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
MONTHLY EMAIL UPDATE
May 2001

The Human Rights Watch monthly email update highlights the impact of our work around the world, as well as recent campaigns, publications, and special features. This update is sent to all HRW listserv subscribers. If you have not subscribed to an HRW listserv and would like to receive the monthly email update you can subscribe by sending a blank email message to hrw-update-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com.

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IN THIS ISSUE:
> UN Commission on Human Rights Condemns Russia
> Rape in U.S. Prisons Documented
> Greece and Turkey Agree to Ban Landmines
> Maryland Prisoners Going to School
> Bulgaria Bans Arms Sales to Human Rights Abusers
> Death Penalty Update
> New on the 'Net
> Other April Publications
> Become a Member or Make a Contribution
> Subscribe or Unsubscribe to this Update
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UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS RUSSIA

On April 20, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in Geneva strongly condemned Russian violations of human rights in Chechnya. Condemnation of the ongoing atrocities and Russia's failure to act was the focus of intense lobbying by HRW staff in the capitals of Commission member states and at the Geneva meeting itself. Also key to the victory was fresh information about Russian atrocities collected by our research team in Ingushetia.
    The UNCHR also moved forward on the Draft Convention on Disappearances. Human Rights Watch played a leading role in the fight for a global accord to combat this heinous practice.
    Still, not all the news out of Geneva was good. Despite strenuous lobbying efforts, the UNCHR passed a motion that prevented the Commission from even discussing the human rights situation in China. We are also concerned about the human rights records of many current members of the Commission. In an op-ed in the International Herald Tribune, HRW Executive Director Ken Roth argued for the need to address the increasing trend of abusive governments joining the Commission only to sabotage its work.

For more information on Chechnya visit http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/russia/chechnya
For more information on Human Rights Watch's United Nations work visit http://www.hrw.org/un

Many thanks to everyone who participated in our online letter writing campaign on the Chechnya resolution. Watch this space for more ways you can get involved online.

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RAPE IN U.S. PRISONS DOCUMENTED

On April 17, Human Rights Watch released "No Escape: Male Rape in U.S. Prisons." The 378-page report, based on more than three years of research and more than 1,000 inmate letters, attempts to explain why and how rape occurs, who commits it, who the victims are, and what reforms can be instituted to prevent it. The Web version of the report features first-person testimony from prisoners and two short documentary films, "The Rodney Hulin Story" and the "The Rules of the Game: Prison Rape and Reform." The films -- the first time HRW has featured streaming video on our Web site -- were created for HRW by Gabriel Films.
    Coverage stemming from the report included a front page article in the Sunday New York Times, editorials in the Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, a three-part series on ABC-TV Evening News, items on Nightline and CNN, and stories in other papers in the U.S. and abroad.

Visit the Web site at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/prison
Or order a copy at http://store.yahoo.com/hrwpubs/noesmalrapin.html

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GREECE AND TURKEY AGREE TO BAN LANDMINES

On Friday, April 6, Turkish Foreign Minister I'smail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou issued a joint statement announcing that Greece will take the necessary domestic steps to ratify the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and Turkey will initiate the process to accede to the treaty. When the ratification and accession process is complete, all NATO members except the United States will be party to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.
    Human Rights Watch staff have met numerous times with delegates from Greece and Turkey to discuss the treaty. Globally, 139 countries have joined the Mine Ban Treaty, of which 112 have ratified it. The HRW Arms Division promotes and tracks ratification and accession to the treaty and chairs the Treaty Working Group of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

For more on HRW's work to ban landmines visit http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/mines/1999/index.htm

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MARYLAND PRISONERS GOING TO SCHOOL

On March 27, the Department of Corrections in Prince George's County, Maryland reached agreement with the U.S. Department of Education to take steps to provide students with disabilities access to special education while in detention. Human Rights Watch's 1999 report "No Minor Matter: Children in Maryland's Jails" detailed the appalling conditions faced by children held in adult jails, including the lack of adequate education, medical and mental health care.

The report can be found online at http://www.hrw.org/hrw/reports/1999/maryland
Or ordered online at http://store.yahoo.com/hrwpubs/maryland1199.html

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BULGARIA BANS ARMS SALES TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS

Since the end of the cold war, as they've begun modernizing their militaries in the hope of joining NATO, former Warsaw Pact countries have sold vast quantities of unwanted Soviet-standard weapons to conflict regions around the world. This is especially true in Africa where central and eastern European countries, Bulgaria in particular, have sold arms to abusive forces in violation of international and regional arms embargoes.
    Human Rights Watch's 1999 report "Money Talks: Arms Dealing with Human Rights Abusers" details Bulgaria's arms sales to abusive forces. The sales continued throughout the 90's despite government promises to regulate arms exports in its effort to join NATO and the European Union.
    Since the release of the report, Human Rights Watch staff have continued to keep the heat on the Bulgarian government. On April 5, 2001 the government of Bulgaria announced a ban on the sale of arms to nineteen countries, nearly half of them war-torn countries in Africa. Many targeted under the new policy are human rights abusers who have used weapons to terrorize civilians.

To view the report online visit http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/bulgaria
Or order a copy at http://store.yahoo.com/hrwpubs/bulmontal04.html
For more information about the HRW Arms Division visit http://www.hrw.org/arms

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DEATH PENALTY UPDATE

Since the March 20 release of Human Rights Watch's report "Beyond Reason: The Death Penalty and Offenders with Mental Retardation," there have been several developments towards a ban on such executions:

• On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider whether the Constitution bars the execution of people with mental retardation as "cruel and unusual" punishment.
• On April 23, the Texas House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to a bill that would spare offenders with mental retardation from execution. The bill faces an additional vote in the House before it faces the Texas Senate. The state of Texas has carried out the most executions in the U.S. since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976.
• On April 25, the North Carolina Senate voted to prohibit the execution of offenders with mental retardation. The bill is now before the North Carolina House.
• On April 26, Arizona Governor Jane Hull signed legislation to ban the state from seeking the death penalty for persons with mental retardation. The legislation also prohibits the execution of defendants with mental retardation who are already on death row. Of the 38 states with the death penalty Arizona is now the 14th to forbid such executions.
      The author of the report, researcher Jamie Fellner, appeared on NBC's Today Show on March 27 and on two Fox News programs the week of April 23 to debate the use of the death penalty.

More on Human Rights Watch's work on the death penalty in the U.S. can be found at http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/deathpenalty

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NEW ON THE 'NET

HRW COMMUNITY
To highlight the work of our members -- and express our appreciation -- the HRW Web site now features a special section devoted to the Human Rights Watch Community. The Community section features examples of member advocacy and outreach, a calendar of events, and book reviews by Human Rights Watch staff and members.

Visit the Human Rights Watch Community at http://www.hrw.org/community

2001 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The schedule for the 2001 Human Rights Watch International Film Festival is now online. The New York festival launches on June 13 with a gala benefit and screening at Lincoln Center of "The Kiss of the Spider Woman", unavailable to movie audiences for 15 years. From May through August, the British Film Institute is sponsoring a tour throughout the United Kingdom of selected films from the HRW International Film Festival.

For schedule, venue, film information -- even tickets -- visit http://www.hrw.org/iff

ARMS DIVISION EMAIL LIST
The Human Rights Watch Arms Division has launched a new email listserv: hrw-news-arms. Subscribers to the list will receive press releases, public letters and other advocacy materials on various arms issues, including landmines, the arms trade, and the development of inhumane weapons. Subscribers will also be alerted to new HRW/Arms reports and campaign initiatives. The Arms Division of Human Rights Watch was established in 1992 to monitor and curb the flow of arms to abusive forces, and to oppose the development and use of inhumane weapons.

To subscribe to hrw-news-arms send a blank email message to hrw-news-arms-subscribe@topica.email-publisher.com

HRW COMMENTARY
Recent editorials by Human Rights Watch staff are now on our Web site.
- "Despots Pretending to Spot and Shame Despots" by HRW Executive Director Ken Roth (mentioned in the first item above) appeared on April 17 in the International Herald Tribune published. - On April 20, The Washington Post published "China's Willing Censors" by Washington Advocacy Director Tom Malinowski. The article examines the relationship of U.S. technology companies to the repression of free speech in China. - In the April 30 issue of The Nation, "Justice: The First Casualty of Truth?" by Advocacy Director Reed Brody considers questions of truth, justice, and reconciliation raised in four recent books on transitional justice and truth commissions.

These and other editorials by HRW staff are available online at http://www.hrw.org/editorials

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OTHER APRIL PUBLICATIONS

"Center of the Storm: A Case Study of Human Rights Abuses in Hebron District" draws on two extensive investigations conducted in November 2000 and February 2001 that documented a variety of abuses, including excessive use of force and unlawful killing by Israeli Defense Forces and Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians. Copies of the report can be downloaded in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. (Apr. 11)

View online at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/israel

"Trading Away Rights: The Unfulfilled Promise of NAFTA's Labor Side Agreement", timed for release just before the Summit of the Americas in Quebec, links the agreement's structural weaknesses to the failure of Mexico, Canada, and the US to meet their obligations under it. (Apr. 16)

View the report online at http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/nafta
Or order a copy at http://store.yahoo.com/hrwpubs/tradawrigunp.html

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