About: human rights
G20 throws weight behind global Covid-19 vaccine access at Saudi-hosted summit
G20 nations emphasised the need for global access to coronavirus vaccines at a Saudi-hosted virtual summit Saturday (21 November) dominated by efforts to tackle the pandemic and the worst global recession in decades. World leaders, including US President Donald Trump...
EU, Central Asia touch base virtually in turbulent times
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen held a teleconference on Tuesday (17 November) with ministers from the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, with which the EU is trying to forge closer relations.
War crimes feared in Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict
Fighting between Ethiopian government forces and rebellious northern leaders could spiral out of control and war crimes may have been committed, the United Nations said on Friday (13 November), as repercussions spread around the volatile Horn of Africa.
Brussels presses Frontex guards on refugee push-back
The European Commission said Tuesday (10 November) it expects answers this month from the Frontex border agency after allegations that migrants crossing from Turkey towards Greece were pushed back.
EU criticised over surveillance aid in nations where privacy at risk
European Union aid has been used to pay for surveillance equipment and training in countries with inadequate safeguards against excessive state snooping, rights groups said on Wednesday (11 November), calling for an end to the "unacceptable" practice.
EU launches sanctions against Belarus leader Lukashenko
The EU on Wednesday (4 November) launched a procedure to sanction Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, his son Viktor and 13 others held responsible for a post-election crackdown in the former Soviet state, diplomatic sources in Brussels said.
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.
US Christian right-wing groups financed anti-rights campaigns in Europe
US Christian rights groups linked to US President Donald Trump’s administration have spent millions pushing ultra-conservative anti-rights agendas in Europe, a new investigation by openDemocracy, an independent UK-based global media platform, revealed on Tuesday (27 October).
45 lawmakers urge US to boycott Saudi-hosted G20
Forty-five American lawmakers have urged the US government to boycott next month's G20 summit in Riyadh unless Saudi authorities address key human rights concerns, according to correspondence released Wednesday (21 October).
EU slammed for funding ‘discriminatory’ Myanmar voting application
An EU-funded voting application in Myanmar has come under heavy criticism for inciting "racial and religious vilification" in the country by profiling candidates' ethnicity and beliefs, using derogatory terminology to designate those of Rohingya descent.
Amnesty urges EU to rethink Libya support over migrant abuse
Amnesty International on Thursday (24 September) urged the EU to reconsider cooperation with Libya over "horrific abuses" of refugees and migrants in the North African country.
Make or break for the ‘pro-Belarusian revolution’
In these difficult times for liberal democracy, the EU has to ensure its credibility more decisively than ever, writes Darya Mustafayeva.
Free the ‘prisoners’ of Moria now!
Europeans frightened by migration must be shown concretely that their security will not be at risk if reasonable programmes are implemented with the direct help of organised civil society, writes Marco Impagliazzo.
EU calls for UN monitoring of Belarus rights abuses
The European Union is calling for close monitoring of the human rights situation in Belarus by the UN human rights chief, adding to pressure on Minsk following what it calls a "fraudulent election", a draft document showed.
Pakistani Prime Minister suggests chemical castration for rapists
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday (14 September) he would like convicted rapists to be publicly executed or chemically castrated.
DR Congo struggles to wipe out armed groups
DR Congo's army launched an offensive last October to root out the armed groups that infest the east of the vast country. Today, the much-trumpeted campaign seems to have made only meagre gains
Thai PM appeals for unity amid almost daily protests
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha appealed for unity in a televised address to the nation on Thursday (13 August) amid almost daily student-led anti-government protests since mid-July.
Ice cream maker Ben and Jerry’s turns fire on UK migration rhetoric
The British government has become embroiled in an unlikely row with ice cream maker Ben and Jerry's over its approach to migrants arriving by boat from France, after the brand criticised ministers' increasingly bellicose rhetoric.
EU trade sanctions on Cambodia come into force
The European Union reimposed customs duties on many of Cambodia's exports on Wednesday (12 August), suspending its trade arrangement over concerns about human rights.
Trump asked China to help him win in 2020, offered ‘favours to dictators,’ Bolton says
In a withering behind-the-scenes portrayal, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton accused him of sweeping misdeeds that included explicitly seeking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help to win re-election.
Orbán urges end to EU sanctions on Belarus
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán urged the European Union to drop sanctions against Belarus as he met the ex-Soviet state's strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Friday (5 June).
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).