About: human rights
EU spearheads multilateralism at ASEM summit
European leaders sought to build support from Asia on Thursday (18 October) in defence of free trade and the fight against climate change, to counter the growing protectionism of President Donald Trump's America.
Nine UN Security Council members ask to discuss Myanmar inquiry
The chair of a United Nations inquiry that accused Myanmar's military of genocide is likely to brief the Security Council this month after Britain, France, the United States and six other members requested the meeting, diplomats said on Tuesday (16 October).
Hungary takes fight against NGOs to EU level
At a Luxembourg meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday (15 October), Hungary called on the EU to stop funding for NGOs that undermine the sovereignty of neighbouring countries such as Israel and Egypt or states that contribute to illegal migration.
Kazakh families torn apart in China’s Xinjiang crackdown
When he looks back on his youth in China's far-west Xinjiang region, Akikat Kaliolla, an ethnic Kazakh, recalls the place's natural beauty and the big, colourful weddings typical of his majority-Muslim community.
Sakharov Prize nominees include NGOs in the Mediterranean
The nominees for the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought have been announced on Thursday (27 September), including Oleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian film director imprisoned in Russia and NGOs saving lives of migrants in the Mediterranean. Since 1988, THE...
Russia is undermining Europe’s key democratic institution
Russia’s possible return to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe would mean that even institutions created to defend European values are no longer able to do so, writes Volodymyr Yermolenko.
Salvini hits out after UN migrant criticism, threatens to cut funding
Italy’s far-right leader Matteo Salvini lashed out at the UN’s new human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet on Monday (10 September) after she criticised the country’s treatment of migrants. “Italy has over the last few years accepted 700,000 immigrants, including many...
EU demands freedom for two Reuters journalists jailed in Myanmar
The European Union called today (3 September) for the immediate and unconditional release of two Reuters journalists handed jail sentences in Myanmar for their reporting of the Rohingya crisis.
MEPs call for EU to stand with Canada amid Saudi rights row
The foreign minister of Canada, which is embroiled in a diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia, called for German support on Monday in Ottawa’s campaign to promote human rights around the world.
Merkel holds ‘intensive’ discussions in Azerbaijan
German Chancellor Angela Merkel held what she called "intensive" discussions with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in talks that addressed energy cooperation, human rights, and the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Lithuania says it will not appeal European court ruling over CIA torture jail
Lithuania on Wednesday (22 August) said it would not appeal a European court ruling that the Baltic state had been complicit in a clandestine CIA programme by holding terror suspects at a secret detention site on its territory.
Russia used lessons from Georgia war in Ukraine conflict
Ten years ago, in August 2008, Russia and Georgia went to war over South Ossetia, a small separatist Georgian region which Moscow would later controversially recognise as independent, in the face of international criticism.
UN says migrants’ return to Libya by Italian boat could be illegal
A rescue operation in which an Italian towboat rescued more than 100 migrants and returned them to Libya earlier this week may have been in breach of international law, the United Nations said on Tuesday (31 July).
EU’s soft power to improve human rights in Morocco
Morocco has made significant progress on a number of human rights issues since the revision of its Constitution in 2011 and the creation of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) in 2012, but the EU must continue using its soft power to help Rabat take up other sensitive issues, writes Willy Fautré.
France adds its voice to stop NGO ships from acting as ‘taxis’
How to save lives without becoming "taxi services" for people smugglers? Charity-run rescue boats operating in the Mediterranean face a dilemma and their activity is being increasingly criticised by politicians in Europe.
NGO ship docks in Malta after seven countries pledge to take migrants
A humanitarian ship that has had about 230 rescued migrants on board for almost a week docked in Malta yesterday (27 June), ending a stand-off with Italy which refused to let the ship into one of its ports.
Time to adopt the Equal Treatment Directive
According to a 2015 Eurobarometer survey, around 12% of people in Europe consider themselves at risk of discrimination. In fact, any person in Europe could potentially fall victim to this injustice, write Birgit Van Hout and Tena Šimonović Einwalter.
Nine countries unite against EU export controls on surveillance software
EXCLUSIVE / An EU proposal to impose export controls on technology products that can be used as spyware is at risk of being delayed as a group of nine countries have pushed back against the overhaul.
At Paris talks, Libyan factions agree to 10 December elections
Rival Libyan factions agreed on Tuesday (29 May) on a declaration that would create a political framework to pave the way for UN-backed elections in December to end the country's seven-year-old conflict.
Azeri Ambassador: We count on EU to uphold international law
Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Belgium, Fuad Isgandarov, talks about the current geopolitical tensions with Iran, recent political changes in Armenia, attacks against his country in the international media, the human rights situation and future EU relations.
Putin welcomes European efforts to save Iran nuclear deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (24 May) that his country appreciated efforts by Europe to save the Iran nuclear deal despite the withdrawal of the United States and warned of “lamentable consequences” if it was not preserved.
MEP tells NGOs in Astana to be careful who they receive money from
Back from the Kazakhstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee held in Astana on 14 May, Latvian MEP Iveta Grigule-Pēterse debriefed of the event, with some telling messages about the work of certain NGOs.
EU, Cuba build ties in face of US pressure
The EU and Cuba signed a renewable energy deal on Tuesday (15 May), a step towards normalising relations in defiance of Washington's continuing hardline stance on Havana.