About: human rights
LGBTI discrimination still going strong in Europe, warns EU rights body
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexual people's organisations have denounced a lack of progress in the recognition of sexual minorities rights in the EU ahead of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on Sunday (17 May).
Hungary accused of holding migrants in ‘unlawful detention’
Hungary was accused on Thursday (23 April) of holding asylum seekers in a camp on the border with Serbia in "unlawful detention" by the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
UN chief warns against repressive measures amid coronavirus crisis
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday (23 April) the coronavirus could give some countries an excuse to adopt repressive measures for reasons unrelated to the pandemic as he warned that the outbreak risks becoming a human rights crisis.
Commission charts end to execution and torture in human rights plans
The European Commission is calling on member states to work together on the world stage to put an end to capital punishment and torture.
Greece denies report of secret ‘black site’ for migrants near Turkish border
The Greek government dismissed on Wednesday (11 March) a report in The New York Times that it was holding illegal migrants who cross the border from Turkey at a secret "black site" where they are denied access to lawyers and cannot file asylum claims.
Activists warn over slavery as Mauritania joins UN human rights council
Mauritania is backsliding in efforts to eliminate descent-based slavery, an activist and opposition member has warned, as the West African country joined the UN Human Rights Council for the first time this week.
EU voices concern about China’s jailing of bookseller
The EU criticised China on Tuesday (25 February) over the jailing of a Swedish book publisher, saying his rights were not respected.
The EU must stop importing human rights violations
The EU needs to adopt a mandatory due diligence approach to supply chain management to ensure that it stops importing human rights violations, argue Anna Cavazzini and Heidi Hautala.
Turkish rights defender Kavala re-arrested after acquittal
Turkey's civil society swung from hope to despair Tuesday (18 February) after counter-terror police detained leading rights defender Osman Kavala just hours after a court ordered his release from jail.
Cambodia stages PR stunt with passengers of ‘coronavirus’ cruise ship
Passengers on a cruise ship that was turned away from ports around Asia over fears they could be carrying the new coronavirus finally began disembarking in Cambodia on Friday (14 February). Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen welcomed around 100 tourists...
Five empty chairs remind of Cuba’s regime true nature
The EU needs to change strategy if it wishes to stand for democracy in Cuba, by opening up to independent civil society, write Anders L. Petersson and Erik Jennische.
EU should stop ‘subsidising undermining democracy,’ warns NGO boss
The EU should "stop subsidizing undermining democracy within the EU," Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch told EURACTIV in an interview, arguing that the negotiations over the next 7-year budget will not just be about money but about fundamental rights.
Uzbekistan is open for ‘conscientious foreign investors’, seeks ‘honesty vaccine’
The president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, addressed the newly formed parliament on Friday (24 January), laying out his plans for the next five years. The banking sector, fighting corruption, foreign direct investment, poverty reduction and international trade were at the...
Kazakhstan-EU relations entering a new stage
This New Year marks the start of a fresh chapter in the relationship between the European Union and Kazakhstan and on 20 January, the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council will discuss the state of play, writes Mukhtar Tileuberdi.
Jailed Uighur’s daughter receives EU rights prize
The daughter of jailed Uighur intellectual Ilham Tohti received the EU's top rights prize on his behalf Wednesday (18 December), saying she did not even know if he was still alive.
Bosnia closes ‘jungle’ migrant camp
Bosnia on Wednesday (11 December) dismantled tents at the makeshift migrant camp known as the "jungle" for its harsh conditions, after transferring hundreds of people who were living at the site to Sarajevo.
More secrets of China’s Xinjiang camps leaked to foreign media
Classified Chinese government documents made public by an international group of journalists describe the repressive inner workings of detention camps in Xinjiang, in a second rare leak in days of secret files concerning the troubled western region.
Belarus leader defends rights record during Austria visit
Belarus's leader Alexander Lukashenko defended his isolated country's human rights during a visit to Austria Tuesday (12 November), as he seeks closer ties with the European Union amid tensions with Russia.
Russia shuts down second rights group, drawing EU concern
A Moscow court has ruled to dissolve an indigenous peoples' rights group, the second decision of its kind in less than a week that was criticized by European authorities on Thursday (7 November).
Macron to raise ‘taboo’ topics in China
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in China on Monday (4 November) to drum up new business deals, but under warning from his hosts to keep off thorny issues such as the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
Jailed Uighur Tohti wins European Parliament Sakharov Prize
The European Parliament on Thursday (24 October) awarded the Sakharov Prize for human rights to Uighur intellectual Ilham Tohti, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in China for "separatism".
Bulgaria PM will ask EU leaders to stop criticising Erdogan
European Council President Donald Tusk strongly opposed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday (11 October), warning him to stop blackmailing Europe. That has prompted Bulgaria’s prime minister to reveal he will ask EU chiefs to tone down their stance against Erdoğan.
The EU must fully support civil society at home
Human rights defenders are essential to democracy. Yet, the intimidation of human rights defenders in the European Union has become a serious problem and the implications for democracy are profound. Decision-makers at all levels have a responsibility to protect civic space in the European Union, writes Birgit Van Hout.