The Latest News Last updated Friday, January 31, 2003 News Archive   |   Latest Reports from Human Rights Watch Contribute to HRW   |   Join the HRW Mailing List Current Events Focus on Human Rights Russian Federation / Chechnya: Renewed Catastrophe  (December, 2002) Afghanistan: Human Rights Watch Key Documents  (October, 2002) September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity The Aftermath (November, 2002) ICC: Electing Best Judges is Critical (New York, January 31, 2003) When states parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) convene in New York next week to elect the court's first 18 judges, they must put aside politics and vote only for the most highly qualified judges, Human Rights Watch urged today. U.N. Spotlights Child Soldiers (New York, January 30, 2002) Governments and armed groups using child soldiers are under new scrutiny by the U.N. Security Council and must take immediate action to end child recruitment, Human Rights Watch said today. Curbing Torture Top EU-Turkey Priority (Brussels, January 30, 2003) With a one-sentence law the Turkish government can effectively curb torture, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to EU officials and the Turkish foreign minister who are meeting in Ankara on January 31, Human Rights Watch urged the parties to prioritize combating torture by giving all detainees immediate access to a lawyer. Eritrea & Ethiopia: Expulsion Suffering Lingers (New York, January 30, 2003) Citizens and residents expelled by both Ethiopia and Eritrea during their 1998-2000 border war should be offered repatriation and the restoration of citizenship, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. FBI Mosque Counting Questioned (New York, January 29, 2003) The United States should not engage in religious profiling as part of its anti-terrorism efforts, Human Rights Watch said today. Russia: Abuses in Chechnya Continue to Cause Human Suffering (New York, January 29, 2003) Russia’s ongoing record of serious human rights abuse in Chechnya impugns its claim that the war there contributes to the international campaign against terrorism, Human Rights Watch said in a new report published today. Nigeria: Political Violence Increasing Before Elections (New York, January 29, 2003) The Nigerian government is doing far too little to prevent a wave of political violence in the pre-election period, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. China: Tibetan Executed, Others Await Trial (New York, January 28, 2003) -- China's execution of one Tibetan and the suspended death sentence upheld on appeal of another raise serious concerns about due process, particularly in politically sensitive cases, Human Rights Watch said today. Sexual Abuse in Zambia Fuels Girls’ AIDS Epidemic (New York, January 28, 2003) — Sexual abuse of girls in Zambia fuels the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the strikingly higher HIV prevalence among girls than boys, Human Rights Watch said today. Concerted national and international efforts to protect the rights of girls and young women are key to curbing the AIDS epidemic’s destructive course. Iraq: Devastation of Marsh Arabs (New York, January 25, 2003) Iraq’s Marsh Arabs, having barely survived a fifteen-year campaign by the central government to eliminate them, will be at further risk in the event of war, Human Rights Watch warned today. Venezuela: Media Freedom Threatened (New York, January 25, 2003) A government investigation into alleged violations of broadcasting regulations by two Venezuelan television stations threatens media freedoms in Venezuela, Human Rights Watch said today. The stations are being investigated for broadcasts that allegedly discredit the Venezuelan government and President Hugo Chávez. Ethiopia’s Educated Suffer Government Repression (New York, January 24, 2003) — The Ethiopian government is muzzling educators and students with a policy of harsh repression that includes extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and widespread denials of freedom of opinion and association, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. U.S. Military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy Panders to Prejudice (New York, January 23, 2003) The U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of discharging gay and lesbian servicemembers who reveal their sexual orientation violates human rights and deprives the military of skilled personnel, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Child Slaves Abandoned to India's Silk Industry (London, January 23, 2003) The Indian government is failing to protect the rights of hundreds of thousands of children who toil as virtual slaves in the country's silk industry, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Belgium: War-Crimes Move Supported (Brussels, January 22, 2003) Today's vote by the Justice Commission of the Belgian Senate should give an important impetus to the international prosecution of the worst human rights crimes, six leading human rights organizations said today. The Commission approved amendments to preserve Belgium's landmark anti-atrocity law. Human Rights Movement Loses Great Friend (New York, January 22, 2003) The human rights movement has lost one of its greatest supporters and most generous benefactors with the passing of Irene Diamond, Human Rights Watch said today. Vietnam: New Assault on Rights in Central Highlands (New York, January 21, 2003) The Vietnamese government has intensified its suppression of indigenous highlanders in the country's Central Highlands, targeting in particular evangelical Christians, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Prosecute Iraq's "Chemical Ali" (New York, January 17, 2003) Human Rights Watch called today for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Iraqi General Ali Hassan al-Majid, the architect of the 1988 genocidal "Anfal" campaign against the Iraqi Kurds, who is currently traveling through the Middle East. Libya's Human Rights Record in Spotlight (Geneva, January 17, 2002) – The likely election of Libya to a key United Nations post on Monday will put a spotlight on its human rights record and on efforts by abusive governments to undermine the international human rights system, Human Rights Watch said today. New Limits on Female Education in Afghanistan (New York, January 16, 2003) Newly announced rules on female education in the western Afghan province of Herat prohibit men from teaching women or girls in private educational courses and uphold strict gender segregation in all schools, Human Rights Watch said today. Sierra Leone: Sexual Violence Widespread in War (New York, January 16, 2003) The widespread and systematic use of rape and other sexual violence during the ten-year civil war in Sierra Leone is documented in a new Human Rights Watch report released today. Iran: Press Crackdown Intensifies (New York, January 15, 2003) Human Rights Watch today deplored Iran's closure of two leading independent newspapers on Saturday and called on the authorities to permit them to reopen without delay. New Survey Documents Global Repression U.S. Human Rights Leadership Faulted (Washington, D.C., January 14, 2003) - Global support for the war on terrorism is diminishing partly because the United States too often neglects human rights in its conduct of the war, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2003. Illinois Death Row Commutations and Pardons Commended (Washington D.C., January 13, 2003) Human Rights Watch applauded Governor George Ryan of Illinois for commuting the sentences of all 167 inmates on death row in his state. On January 11, the governor commuted 164 sentences from death to life in prison, and in three cases commuted the inmates' death sentences to 40 years. Uzbekistan: Release More Human Rights Defenders (New York, January 10, 2003) Uzbekistan should follow up the recent release of a human rights defender by releasing many others still in prison, Human Rights Watch said today. China: International Action Needed on Workers' Trials (New York, January 10, 2003) The upcoming subversion trials of two labor organizers in Northeast China are a direct threat to the rights of all Chinese workers, Human Rights Watch said today. U.S.: Maryland Urged to Continue Death Penalty Moratorium (Washington, D.C., January 7, 2003) Maryland's moratorium on the death penalty should remain in place, Human Rights Watch said today. A new study released today by the University of Maryland found substantial racial and geographic disparities in the administration of the death penalty in Maryland. Indonesia: Paper Industry Threatens Human Rights (New York, January 7, 2003) Indonesian police and company security forces are responsible for persistent human rights abuses against indigenous communities involved in the massive pulp and paper industry in Sumatra, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. U.S.: Halt Execution of Mississippi Juvenile Offender (New York, January 3, 2003) The state of Mississippi should spare Ronald Chris Foster, scheduled to be executed on January 8 for a murder he committed at age 17. If Foster's death sentence is carried out, he will be the first juvenile offender put to death in Mississippi since 1950. British Territory Must Not Be Used for Torture (December 31, 2002) -- The British government must ensure that the United States does not torture suspected al-Qaeda detainees held on the island of Diego Garcia, part of British Indian Ocean Territory, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Human Rights Watch referred to U.S. press reports that the U.S. was detaining and interrogating al-Qaeda suspects at a U.S. facility on Diego Garcia and that U.S. interrogations reportedly include practices that violate customary and conventional international law prohibitions against torture and mistreatment. Lula da Silva Urged to Promote Human Rights Reforms (December 31, 2002) -- Brazil’s president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva should give priority to the critical human rights issues of forced labor, prison conditions, accountability and HIV/AIDS, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent to the president-elect today. President-elect da Silva takes office on January 1, 2003. Russia: Chechnya Monitoring Mission Closed (December 31, 2002) -- Russia's announcement today that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) must end its mission in Chechnya raises serious human rights concerns, Human Rights Watch said today. The OSCE mission mandate expired December 31 after Russia and the OSCE failed to agree to extend it. The six-person mission had been tasked since mid-2001 with promoting respect for human rights, facilitating humanitarian aid, and promoting peaceful resolution of the crisis in Chechnya. Russian officials reportedly stated that the mission would cease to exist. Russia/Chechnya: Justice Flouted in Military Murder Case (December 31, 2002) -- Today's acquittal of Colonel Yuri Budanov for the murder of a young Chechen woman shows Russia's resolve to shield its military from accountability for atrocities in Chechnya, Human Rights Watch said today. Citing "temporary insanity," a military court today relieved Budanov of criminal responsibility for the murder and sent him to a psychiatric institution for treatment. Turkmenistan: Conviction of Opposition Leader Condemned (December 31, 2002) -- The conviction and sentencing of Turkmen opposition leader and former foreign minister Boris Shikhmuradov showed no regard for fundamental due process rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Shikhmuradov was charged with the November 25 assassination attempt against President Saparmurat Niazov. The verdict was handed down four days after Shikhmuradov's arrest on December 25. Chechen Rebels Must Stop Targeting Civilians (New York, December 27, 2002) Today's bombing of the headquarters of the pro-Moscow government of Chechnya in Grozny is an egregious violation of basic principles of humanitarian law, Human Rights Watch said today. United States: Reports of Torture of Al-Qaeda Suspects (New York, December 27, 2002) The Bush administration must promptly investigate and address allegations of torture of suspected al-Qaeda detainees or risk criminal prosecution, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to President George W. Bush, Human Rights Watch said it was “deeply concerned” by allegations made in the Washington Post that detainees had been subjected to torture or other forms of mistreatment while in U.S. custody in Afghanistan or while held by U.S. allies. Turkmen Authorities Arrest Civic Activist (New York, December 26, 2002) Turkmen authorities should release Farid Tukhbatullin, an environmental activist arrested Monday, Human Rights Watch said today. Russia: Clock Running Out for Displaced Chechens in Ingushetia (Moscow, December 26, 2002) — Russian authorities must not close tent camps housing tens of thousands of displaced Chechens because there is still nowhere safe for them to relocate, Human Rights Watch said today. Hong Kong Subversion Proposals Threaten Liberties (New York, December 24, 2002) The Hong Kong government's proposals to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law do not conform to international human rights standards, and risk undermining Hong Kong's free society, Human Rights Watch said today in an open letter sent to Hong Kong Chief Executive C.H. Tung. More...