About: human rights abuses
EU to complete Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions regime
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who survived a poisoning conducted by Russia in August, has called upon the EU to target oligarchs close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the EU is preparing to use a Magnitsky-style law to impose sanctions on human rights abusers.
Council of Europe flags concern over Poland’s treatment of detainees
The Council of Europe's anti-torture committee on Wednesday (28 October) expressed "serious concern" about conditions in police custody in Poland, urging "urgent and decisive action" by the authorities.
Nigeria president warns protesters as unrest flares
Nigeria's president has urged an end to unrest sweeping the country but avoided mentioning the police shooting of unarmed demonstrators that sparked international condemnation and unleashed chaos in Africa's biggest city.
European Commission proposes new Magnitsky-style sanctions regime
The European Commission on Monday (19 October) proposed a bill on travel-bans and asset-freezes that punishes individuals responsible for human rights violations worldwide, informally known as the 'European Magnitsky Act'.
‘Put aid on the table’ to halt Nigerian killing
With the biggest economy in Africa, Nigeria should be a key partner for Brussels as the EU seeks to overhaul its political and trade ties with Africa. But terrorism and insecurity that plague the country continue to be a concern.
EU ministers break ground on European ‘Magnitsky Act’
EU foreign ministers on Monday (9 December) cleared the way to start work on a European ‘Magnitsky Act’, modelled along the lines of a similar-named US sanctions framework targeting individuals involved in human rights abuses worldwide who could face EU asset freezes and travel bans.
EU-wide approach to due diligence needed to regulate cacao sector, manufacturers and NGOs say
Some of the world’s biggest chocolate manufacturers have called on the EU to “strengthen human rights and environmental due diligence requirements of companies in global cocoa supply chains”
EU slams Turkey over re-arrest of journalist
The European Union on Wednesday (13 November) criticised Turkey over the re-arrest of the journalist and novelist Ahmet Altan, saying the move damaged the credibility of the judiciary.
30 years after Berlin Wall fell, Stasi archive move sparks controversy
Almost 30 years after the Berlin Wall fell, Germany's parliament voted Thursday to transfer the vast secret police files of the former East German communist regime into the Federal Archives -- despite concerns voiced by some historians and ex-dissidents.
The case for corruption criteria in EU global human rights sanctions
The EU must join the US and include corruption in its own sanctions regime on human rights, argue Sarah Gardiner and Rachel Owens.
UN head ‘shocked’ by suffering at migrant camp in Libya
UN Secretary General António Guterres said Thursday (4 April) he was "shocked" by the level of suffering of migrants at a detention centre in Tripoli which he visited during a visit to the Libyan capital.
Five arrested after Maltese military seizes tanker hijacked by migrants
Five men were arrested Thursday (28 March) after Maltese armed forces took control of a tanker that was hijacked by migrants off Libya and the ship docked in Malta.
Rights groups lambast Operation Sophia – the EU naval mission without ships
International rights advocates criticised the European Union on Wednesday (27 March) for abdicating its humanitarian responsibilities after the bloc agreed to withdraw ships patrolling the Mediterranean for migrants attempting the perilous voyage. After much wrangling, the EU agreed this week...
In rare coordinated move, Western envoys seek meeting on Xinjiang concerns
A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, are seeking a meeting with the top official in China’s restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs.
Human rights in Thailand: No improvement, no trade deal
For years a trade agreement with Thailand has been hanging in the air, but has been held back by inhumane conditions in the fishing industry. Now, the EU wants to reopen the dialogue. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Hahn: Turkey taking ‘huge strides’ away from EU
Turkey is moving rapidly away from the path of European Union membership, the top EU official in charge of negotiations said on Tuesday (17 April), as Brussels delivered its harshest criticism yet of what it sees as Ankara's shift towards authoritarianism.
Ethiopia’s prime minister resigns to smooth path for political reform
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn suddenly resigned yesterday (15 February) in what he described as a bid to smooth reforms, following years of violent unrest that threatened the ruling party’s hold on Africa’s second most populous nation.
Lawyer: 147 activists face death penalty in Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea's public prosecutor is seeking the death penalty in the trial of 147 opposition activists accused of "rebellion," their lawyer said yesterday (14 February).
MEPs call on Turkey to lift state of emergency, stop civil society crackdown
The European parliament yesterday (8 February) called on Turkey to scrap the emergency powers which members said were being used to stifle "legitimate and peaceful opposition" and a free press.
UN wants Libya to agree to shut down migrant camps
The United Nations wants Libya's internationally-backed government to agree to shut down 30 detention centers holding 15,000 migrants, most of whom will be sent back to their countries, the head of the IOM said on Tuesday (28 November).
Libya human bondage risks overshadowing Africa-EU summit
African leaders are expected to warn Europeans that their way of outsourcing the migration crisis to Libya, in apparent disregard for human rights, risks opening old wounds in the heavy history of the two continents.
EU working without ‘letup’ to help migrants in Libya
The EU said on Thursday (23 November) it is working without "letup" for a durable solution to the plight of migrants in Libya, adding it shared French President Emmanuel Macron's anger over slave markets there.
France calls urgent UN meeting over Libya slavery
France on Wednesday (22 November) called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over slave-trading in Libya as President Emmanuel Macron blasted the auctioning of Africans as a crime against humanity.