June 2005
Sweden: United Nations Confirms Sweden Violated Torture Ban
In two recent
reports, Human Rights Watch has exposed the increasing reliance by Western governments on a practice called
"diplomatic assurances," which enable those governments to return terror suspects to their home countries, many of which are known to practice torture. In May, we were backed up by the United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) ruling that Sweden had violated international law by sending a terrorist suspect to Egypt where he was tortured. Ahmed Agiza, an asylum seeker, was expelled with the help of the United States from Sweden to Egypt. The CAT rebuked Sweden for its reliance on diplomatic assurances from Egypt that it would treat Agiza humanely upon return, noting that Sweden was well aware of Egypt's long track record of torture. Human Rights Watch had worked on the Agiza case since June 2003, monitoring his unfair trial in Egypt; bringing his case to the attention of the U.N. and European human rights actors; and, with other human rights groups, calling for an independent inquiry by the U.N. into the actions of the Untied States, Sweden, and Egypt.
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More.
United States Backs Down on Prostitution Pledge
In coalition with other human rights, public health, faith and community-based organizations, Human Rights Watch successfully challenged U.S. policies that impede effective HIV/AIDS work with men and women in prostitution. United States law requires that foreign organizations receiving HIV/AIDS funds must adopt policies explicitly opposing prostitution. A new policy would have required even multinational organizations (including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and U.N. agencies) to comply with this requirement. While none of the groups promote prostitution, by directly condemning prostitution they would further alienate and stigmatize sex workers and thwart an effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. After intense pressure from an international coalition of organizations to withdraw the stipulation, the U.S. rescinded the policy. Human Rights Watch has worked to combat discrimination and violence against high-risk populations-including sex workers in Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, and Togo. Such mistreatment fuels the spread of HIV/AIDS. Read more
about this work.
European Union: Parliament Calls on Jamaica to End Violence and Homophobia
The European Parliament called on all countries, and specifically Jamaica, to repeal their antiquated and discriminatory sodomy laws and to actively combat widespread homophobia. Member of the European Parliament criticized the use of sodomy laws as a justification for the harassment of HIV/AIDS educators-a practice that Human Rights Watch documented in our November 2004 report on Jamaica, Hated to Death. Our research found a pattern of discrimination, police persecution, and rampant violence against gay men and people with HIV/AIDS. Though the Jamaican government launched an ambitious project in 2004 to provide antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS, homophobia has undermined prevention and treatment efforts in the country. Read more about
Jamaica.
United States: HRW Honoree Allowed Access to Los Angeles Jail
After spending two years fighting for access to the Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail, Javier Stauring, a children's rights advocate and Human Rights Watch honoree, was finally allowed to return to the facility. A chaplain who had worked in the juvenile wing, Stauring was barred from entering the jail after he publicly denounced the harsh detention conditions he saw there. He questioned whether excessively harsh conditions, such as almost 24-hour daily confinement, were a factor in the suicide attempts of two young inmates at Men's Central. Human Rights Watch had worked with Stauring to investigate detention conditions for youths at the jail. Our joint efforts succeeded in securing the transfer of all but two of the youths from the detention facility. To return to his work monitoring the jail, Stauring successfully sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department, citing violations of his right to freedom of expression. Read more about juvenile justice.
IN THE NEWS:
Bush Must Take More Aggressive Stance on Darfur
Washington Advocacy Director Tom Malinowski argues in The Washington Post that the Bush Administration must stop hiding behind the African Union and take action on Darfur.
Colombian Paramilitaries Must Be Held To Account
In The International Herald Tribune, Americas Division Executive Director José Miguel Vivanco and Colombia Researcher Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno condemn the Colombian government's protection of demobilizing paramilitary leaders.
HRW Emergencies Researcher Profiled
Rolling Stone profiles Senior Emergencies Researcher Peter Bouckaert, focusing on his recent work in Nepal to document abuses by government security forces and Maoist rebels.
Nigeria Must Confront Rights Abuses
In The Guardian, London Director Steve Crawshaw urges the British government to speak out against abuses by Nigerian security forces.
