The Latest News Last updated Thursday, August 1, 2002 News Archive   |   Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch Contribute to HRW   |   Join the HRW Mailing List Current Events Focus on Human Rights Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (July 23, 2002) Accountability and Transition in the Balkans  (July 24, 2002) Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (May 22, 2002) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (May, 2002) U.S.: Spare Two Texas Juvenile Offenders (New York, August 1, 2002) - Texas should halt the executions of two juvenile offenders scheduled for this month, Human Rights Watch urged today. Powell Should Urge Accountability by Indonesian Military (New York, July 31, 2002) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell should urge Indonesia to demonstrate effective civilian control of the military and take action to hold senior military officers accountable for human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said in a backgrounder released today. Egypt: Ibn Khaldun Verdict Meant to Silence Criticism (New York, July 31, 2002) The seven-year prison sentence handed down July 29 to human rights defender Dr. Saadeddin Ibrahim is intended to silence real or potential criticism of the Egyptian government, Human Rights Watch said today. Free Political Prisoners in Tunisia (Washington D.C., July 31, 2002) The United States should urge Tunisia to release Hamma Hammami and all others imprisoned for peaceful political expression and activity, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S. Senate Committee Backs Women's Treaty (New York, July 30, 2002) The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee's favorable vote today on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is a landmark in the advancement of women's rights, Human Rights Watch said. U.S. Should Spotlight Nigeria, Angola Abuses (New York, July 26, 2002) As Walter Kansteiner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, traveled to Angola and Nigeria this week, Human Rights Watch urged him not to overlook serious human rights concerns in both countries. Pakistan: Powell Should Promote Women's Rights and Democracy (New York, July 25, 2002) U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell should address violence against women and the military government's proposed changes to the constitution during his visit to Pakistan, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to him released today. ECOSOC Adoption of New Torture Protocol Welcomed (New York, July 24, 2002) - Leading human rights groups welcomed the adoption today by the United Nations Economic and Social Council of a new protocol on torture, despite opposition from the United States and other governments. Banned, Censored, Harassed and Jailed (New York, July 24, 2002) — A diverse group of writers from nineteen countries have received Hellman/Hammett grants in recognition of the courage with which they faced political persecution, Human Rights Watch said today. Israeli Airstrike on Crowded Civilian Area Condemned (New York, July 23, 2002) Today's Israel Defense Forces air strike on a crowded Gaza apartment building demonstrated a clear failure to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch condemned the attack as a violation of international humanitarian law. Afghanistan Unsafe for Refugee Returns (New York,July 23,2002) The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should reverse its newly-announced policy of promoting voluntary repatriation to Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said today. New U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Should Speak Out (New York, July 22, 2002) – Current and new global human rights crises will call for a robust defense of human rights principles from the new U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S. Moves to Undermine New Torture Treaty (New York, 20 July) — The United States is set to defy its allies on another critical human rights treaty, warned Human Rights Watch as the United Nations debates a new treaty to prevent torture. Deteriorating Human Rights Situation in Liberia (New York, July 19, 2002) As United Nations (U.N.) Security Council members met yesterday to deliberate the situation in the Mano River Union of West Africa, Human Rights Watch called on them to take a comprehensive approach to ending the bloodshed and repression in Liberia. Burma: Crackdown on Muslims (New York, July 18, 2002) The impact of violent attacks against Muslims last year in Burma should be high on the agenda of the U.N. special envoy when he visits Burma next month, Human Rights Watch said today. The U.N. should also focus on the continuing violations of religious freedom and other fundamental human rights faced by Muslims in Burma. East Timor Amnesty Bill Flawed (New York, July 18, 2002)-- A proposed amnesty law in East Timor could undermine due process and equal protection of the law and allow those responsible for some of the most serious rights abuses to go unpunished, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to the newly elected East Timorese leadership, Human Rights Watch expressed concern that the amnesty law pending in parliament contains vague and broadly written provisions that would lead to serious problems if adopted. Kashmir: Attack on Civilians in Jammu Condemned (New York, July 16, 2002) Human Rights Watch today condemned the attack Saturday by gunmen on a shantytown in Jammu, the winter capital of the Indian-administered portion of Kashmir. Twenty-seven civilians were killed and about thirty were injured in the attack. Bulgaria: Weapons Trade To Be Restrained   (Bulgarian) (New York, July 16, 2002) Anticipated legal reforms in Bulgaria mark an important step toward improved control over the arms trade, Human Rights Watch and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee said today. The Bulgarian parliament is expected to vote shortly to adopt changes to the country's law on the foreign trade in weapons. Tunisia: Release Hamma Hammami and Imprisoned Colleagues (New York, July 12, 2002) -- Human Rights Watch said today that Hamma Hammami is unjustly imprisoned in Tunisia for exercising his rights to peaceful political expression and activities, and should be released immediately and unconditionally. U.S. Campaign for Permanent Immunity Fails (New York, July 12, 2002) – The adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday marks the failure of the Bush Administration´s latest effort to permanently exempt Americans from the reach of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Human Rights Watch said today. Georgia: "Vicious" Assault on Rights Leaders (New York, July 12, 2002) -The Georgian authorities must swiftly investigate and prosecute those responsible for the July 10 attack on the Tbilisi headquarters of a leading Georgian human rights organization, Human Rights Watch said today. Pakistan: Tribal Councils Source of Abuse (New York, July 12, 2002) The gang rape case of Mukhtaran Bibi highlights the urgent need to investigate the role of tribal councils in Pakistan, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch sent a letter this week to President Musharraf urging scrutiny of the role of such councils in abuses against women in Pakistan. Argentina: Arrest of Army Chief Hailed (Washington, July 11, 2002) The arrest Thursday of former Argentine military leader Leopoldo Galtieri for grave human rights abuses during Argentina’s military dictatorship is a significant victory for accountability, Human Rights Watch said today. Yugoslavia: Integration into Europe Irreconcilable with Poor Rights Record (New York, July 11, 2002) The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should demonstrate greater respect for human rights as it seeks integration into European structures, Human Rights Watch said today. Sierra Leone: New Government Must Address War Legacies (New York, July 11, 2002) The new government of Sierra Leone must act decisively to address the issues that gave rise to the bloody decade-long war, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. African Union Should Spotlight Human Rights (New York, July 10, 2002) The African Union must strengthen the region’s human rights institutions if its promise is to become reality, Human Rights Watch said today. The new regional grouping is being launched this week in Durban. Security Council Needs a "United Front" On the ICC (New York, July 10, 2002) -- United Nations Security Council members should hold their ground in support of the International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said today. Police Abuse of AIDS Workers Worsens Epidemic in India (Barcelona, July 9, 2002) Widespread police abuse of front-line AIDS prevention workers in India is undermining efforts to contain one of the worst epidemics in the world, Human Rights Watch said today. Spain: Immigration Laws Applied Unfairly (New York, July 5, 2002) The Spanish government has failed to ensure the uniform and coherent implementation of its immigration law, resulting in arbitrary and discriminatory treatment of migrants, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Leading Liberian Journalist Re-Arrested (New York, July 4, 2002) A prominent Liberian newspaper editor and three other Liberians have been detained without charge for more than a week, Human Rights Watch said today. The four are being held in incommunicado detention by the Liberian government, and may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment. U.S. Attack on War Crimes Court Rejected at U.N. (New York, July 3, 2002) - U.S. attacks on the new war crimes court were rejected again today at the United Nations, but the principle of universal justice is still under serious threat from Washington, Human Rights Watch said today. Angola: Internally Displaced Need More Protection (New York, July 3, 2002) The United Nations and the Angolan government are not providing sufficient protection for hundreds of thousands of people displaced during Angola’s civil war, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Rights Safeguards Key to Sri Lanka Peace (New York, July 3, 2002) Human Rights abuses by both the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have fueled the conflict and must be directly addressed in the peace process, Human Rights Watch said today. Slovakia: Proposed Weapons Reforms Fall Short (New York, July 2, 2002) Pending legislation in Slovakia does not go far enough to prevent illicit arms trafficking, Human Rights Watch said today. The Slovak parliament is expected to vote this week on amendments to tighten legal controls on the foreign trade in weapons. Chile: Pinochet Escapes Justice (New York, July 1, 2002) The Chilean Supreme Court's decision to terminate the prosecution of Gen. Augusto Pinochet was regrettable even though widely expected, Human Rights Watch said today. In a ruling made public this afternoon, the court held that the former dictator was too ill to undergo trial for grave human rights crimes, upholding an appeals court ruling issued a year ago. Peru: Montesinos Verdict Hailed (New York, July 1, 2002) The criminal conviction of Peru's former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos on charges of usurping power (usurpación de funciones) is a milestone, Human Rights Watch said today. Montesino was sentenced to nine years and four months of imprisonment, a landmark ruling in a country accustomed to years of impunity. U.S. Veto Betrays the Bosnian People (New York, July 1, 2002) -- The U.S. veto of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bosnia is an outrageous but futile attempt to undermine the new International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch said today. The veto was followed by an agreement on Sunday night to extend the mission until July 3, so that the United Nations Security Council could continue seeking a solution. Afghanistan: Escalating Attacks on Aid Workers and Civilians (New York, June 27, 2002) Factional rivalry in northern Afghanistan is leading to a rise in attacks on humanitarian aid workers and Afghan civilians, Human Rights Watch said in a new briefing paper released today. The growing insecurity threatens the continued delivery of humanitarian aid and resettlement assistance. More...