About: human rights
Council of Europe turns 70 amid Russia crisis
The Council of Europe, a pan-continental rights watchdog, on Sunday (5 May) marked its 70th anniversary at a time of mounting populism and a standoff with Russia as well as doubts over its own role in the modern world.
Brunei accused of ‘abusive lobbying’ before critical EU vote
EU officials on Wednesday (17 April) accused Brunei of "rude" and "abusive" lobbying against a resolution condemning the Muslim-majority sultanate for imposing the death penalty for gay sex and adultery.
Setback for Macron as court vetoes key plank of anti-protest law
French President Emmanuel Macron's crackdown on anti-government protests with tougher police tactics hit a fresh snag on Thursday (4 April) as France's Constitutional Court canned one of the central elements of the new rules.
Table human rights due diligence law, MEPs tell Commission
MEPs have launched ambitious plans for an EU law requiring companies to carry out human rights due diligence in their supply chains.
Lukashenko seeks better ties with West despite Russian ‘hysteric’ reactions
Belarus will seek better ties with the West even though this provokes “hysterics” from its traditional ally Russia, long-serving President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday (5 March), a day after lifting a cap of five US diplomats in his country....
France’s ‘Rana Plaza’ law delivers few results
France wants to be at the forefront of efforts to regulate multinationals’ responsibility towards workers in developing countries, but is having difficulty enforcing its own law on duty of care, according to a report published on 21 February. EURACTIV France reports.
Trans-Europe Express – Songs about land and ice
Northern Europe's indigenous Arctic people battle to maintain traditions as their culture and age-old way of life is increasingly threatened by climate change and globalisation.
MEPs scold Nicaragua over ‘democratic crisis’
A European Parliament delegation on Saturday (26 January) urged Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to release political prisoners, permit the return of banned human rights groups and to restart dialogue with the opposition to end a months-long political crisis.
Austria’s far-right puts into question international rights conventions
Austria’s far-right Interior Minister Herbert Kickl was accused by the opposition of threatening the rule of law Wednesday (23 January) after he appeared to call into question Austria’s commitment to international rights conventions. In comments on Austrian public television on Tuesday evening Kickl,...
Azerbaijan drops assault charges against jailed blogger
Azerbaijan has dropped fresh charges against a jailed anti-corruption blogger who has denounced his prosecution as politically motivated, prosecutors said Tuesday (22 January).
Russian MPs prolong payments freeze to Council of Europe
Russia's parliament voted Thursday (17 January) against sending delegates or paying contributions to the Council of Europe, increasing the risk of ultimate exclusion from the rights body and the European Court of Human Rights.
EU slams ‘disproportionate’ use of force in Zimbabwe
The EU on Thursday (17 January) decried the disproportionate use of force by Zimbabwe authorities during protests in which doctors say 68 people suffered gunshot wounds.
Cambodian PM blackmails EU, threatens to exterminate the opposition
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday (14 January) threatened to retaliate against the opposition if the European Union withdraws duty-free trading access over human rights concerns.
A US-Russia-China-EU summit? EU is interested
The EU is taking seriously the idea expressed recently by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for holding a four-way summit to defuse global tensions, an EU diplomat told an audience on Tuesday (4 December).
Commission to determine EU tariffs on Myanmar, Cambodia rice
EU countries failed on Tuesday (4 December) to determine whether to impose tariffs on rice coming from Cambodia and Myanmar from the start of next year to curb a surge in imports, leaving the European Commission to take the final decision.
Cambodia eases pressure on opposition, media after EU sanctions threat
Cambodia’s parliament is reviewing a five-year ban on more than 100 members of the main opposition party, which could allow them to return to politics, following threats by the European Union to deny duty-free trading access to the Southeast Asian...
Brussels ministerial paves the way to launching EU Central Asia strategy
The European Union is expected to define its strategy for Central Asia in early 2019. A preparatory meeting between the EU and the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) took place in Brussels on Friday (23 November).
At tense Ankara news conference, EU rebukes Turkey over detentions
Top EU officials rebuked Turkey on Thursday (22 November) over its arrests of journalists and academics and the long pre-trial detention of a Kurdish politician, holding a forthright press conference with Turkey’s foreign minister in Ankara that quickly turned tense.
Spain’s premier breaks ice in Cuba after three decades
Spanish premier Pedro Sánchez has embarked on the first official bilateral visit by a Spanish leader to Cuba in 32 years on 22-23 November, at a time when the Communist-run island is looking towards Europe as its ties with the United States fester.
Commission: Only ‘economic considerations’ could lead to tariffs on rice imports
An alliance of EU rice producers has called for restoring tariffs on rice imports from Myanmar and Cambodia, in part due to human rights concerns, but Commission sources clarified that the EU executive's ongoing safeguard investigation is linked to purely economic considerations.
European court says Navalny was a political prisoner
The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday (15 November) that Russia’s repeated arrests and detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were politically-motivated and breached his human rights, a decision certain to displease the Kremlin.
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.
Opposition chief Navalny barred from leaving Russia, departs on second try
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Tuesday (13 November) he was prevented from flying out of Moscow for a European court ruling on whether his recent detentions have been politically motivated.