domenica 30 marzo 2014

Afghanistan - Presidential election: local media on the front line.


Presidential election in Afghanistan: local media on the front line

Reporters Without Borders is publishing a report on Afghanistan ahead of the presidential election scheduled for 5 April. The fruit of a fact-finding visit to the northern provinces of Parwan, Kapisa and Panjshir in September 2013, it is entitled “Presidential election in Afghanistan: local media on the front line.”
The report evaluates the current state of freedom of information in Afghanistan on the eve of the election, in which the media will have a key role to play in providing news coverage despite the uncertainties and dangers to which they are constantly exposed as the withdrawal of foreign troops approaches.

MORE INFORMATION:  

Pakistan, cristiano condannato a morte per blasfemia.


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Sawan Masih è un cristiano condannato a morte in Pakistan con l’accusa di blasfemia.  La vicenda risale al 7 marzo del 2013, quando un giovane musulmano accusò Sawan Masih,  abitante della baraccopoli cristiana di Joseph Colony di Lahore, di avere diffamato il profeta Maometto. Il ragazzo si è difeso in tribunale sostenendo che l’ “amico” islamico con cui ha avuto il litigio l’avrebbe messo nei guai per prevalere in una disputa su questioni personali e materiali .
La notizia dell’insulto blasfemo nel marzo del 2013 scatenò la furia di circa 3.000 musulmani, che attaccarono Joseph Kolony, dove bruciarono un centinaio di abitazioni, per lo più poverissime baracche. Nessuno degli assalitori è stato condannato o rinviato a giudizio.
Ieri la sentenza dell’Alta Corte di Lahore che ha condannato il giovane alla pena capitale. L’avvocato difensore ha promesso che presenterà appello.
Amnesty International ha invitato immediatamente le autorità pakistane a rilasciare Masih: “Questa è una parodia di giustizia – ha detto David Griffiths, vice direttore di Amnesty International per l’Asia ed il Pacifico -.  Ci sono serie preoccupazioni per l’imparzialità di questo processo e di certo non basta una lite tra amici per condannare a more qualcuno. Savan Masih va rilasciato subito e senza condizioni”.
Il Pakistan ha 180 milioni di abitanti, il 97% dei quali musulmani con una piccola minoranza cristiana del 2% circa. La legge sulla blasfemia permette di condannare  indistintamente, con pene che arrivano a quella capitale, le offese a qualunque religione riconosciuta. Una legge, difesa strenuamente dai fondamentalisti, dal clero e da molti islamici, e che punisce anche una semplice offesa verbale o un’opinione espressa in una qualsiasi conversazione. Una legge accusata dai detrattori di essere strumento in mano a chiunque per ricattare qualcun altro o per farsi valere in una disputa.
Un recente rapporto del governo statunitense afferma che il Pakistan usa la propria legislazione anti-blasfemia più che in qualsiasi altro Paese del mondo. Il risultato è di 14 persone nel braccio della morte – anche se vige ancora dal 2008 una moratoria sulle impiccagioni – e altre 19 condannate all’ergastolo.
Per Amnesty International la vaghezza della legga insieme ad indagini poco accurate ha promosso un clima da vigilantes nel Paese, specialmente nel Punjab.
 

lunedì 24 marzo 2014

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS ‘14FOR2014’ CAMPAIGN.

India’s next government will face a range of challenges that will test its commitment to promoting human rights. Political parties seeking a mandate from the public have sworn to uphold constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality and dignity. But will their actions reflect this pledge? Amnesty International India is asking political parties contesting the 2014 parliamentary elections to commit to and adopt as part of their manifestoes 14 key goals to improve India’s human rights record. These issues are by no means exhaustive, and effective action will need collaboration with other relevant authorities, including state governments. But India’s political parties need to show their commitment to respect, protect and fulfill fundamental human rights.

14 FOR 2014HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER: http://www.14for2014.com/#carousel-example-generic

Pakistan: Further Information: Fears for the health of elderly detainee: Masud Ahmad.

URGENT ACTION
fears for the health of elderly detainee
Masud Ahmad has returned to the UK after being released on bail in Pakistan. Mohammad Asghar remains in detention. His lawyers fear for his health.
In November 2012, 72-year-old Masud Ahmad, a member of the Ahmaddiya religious community, was imprisoned in City District Jail in Lahore for reciting a passage from the Qu’ran, a prohibited act for Ahmadis under the country’s blasphemy laws. He recently returned to the UK after being released on bail in Pakistan.
Mohammad Asghar, 69, was arrested under the blasphemy laws in 2010 and sentenced to death in January 2014, after allegedly writing letters claiming he was a prophet. Mohammad Asghar’s lawyers maintain it was never established that he posted or even intended to post the letters. Mohammad Asghar remains in Adiala jail, Rawalpindi, and is not receiving adequate medical care. He is physically and mentally frail and his lawyers are seeking permission from the authorities to have a psychiatrist examine and evaluate him in the prison so he can receive appropriate treatment. Mohammad Asghar suffered a stroke in 2000 and was later diagnosed by an expert in Scotland as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia; he attempted suicide in 2010. His appeal has been filed in the Lahore High Court but his lawyers fear that it could take up to five years to be heard.
Some forms of blasphemy are punishable by death under Pakistani law, even though as a general rule international human rights law does not permit punishing blasphemy as a crime. It therefore cannot meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes” for which the death penalty can be imposed under international law. International standards also state that the death penalty should not be imposed against people with mental illness.
Please write immediately in English or your own language calling on the Pakistani authorities to:
Immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Mohammad Asghar and Masud Ahmad;
Ensure Mohammad Asghar has immediate access to adequate and appropriate medical and/or psychiatric treatment and to provide his lawyers with all medical records made during his detention;
Guarantee the safety of Mohammad Asghar and his family, expressing concern that several individuals have been attacked and some have even been killed following charges of blasphemy;
Express concern that the blasphemy laws violate the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, are used maliciously to settle personal disputes, and target Muslims and religious minorities alike, and urging the government to amend or abolish the blasphemy laws to prevent this;
Respect international law and standards on the use of the death penalty, including the prohibition on the execution of persons with mental illness, and to commute all death sentences.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 30 APRIL 2014 TO:
Minister for Interior
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan
Room 404, 4th Floor, R Block
Pakistan Secretariat,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 920 2624
Email: ministry.interior@gmail.com
Salutation: Dear Minister Khan
Chief Minister, Punjab
Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif
Chief Minister’s Office
7, Club Road, GOR I
Lahore, Pakistan
Fax: +92 42 9920 3310
Salutation: Dear Chief Minister Sharif
And copies to:
Minister of Law, Justice and Human
Rights
Pervaiz Rashid
Room 305, S Block, Pakistan Secretariat
Islamabad, Pakistan
Fax: +92 51 921 0062
Email: contact@molaw.gov.pk�
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:
Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the first update of 23/14. Further information: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA33/002/2014/en

martedì 11 marzo 2014

AFGHANISTAN - Un'agenda in sette punti per i diritti umani.



In vista delle elezioni del 5 aprile, Amnesty International ha inviato a tutti i candidati alla presidenza dell'Afghanistan un'agenda sui diritti umani in cui chiede che questi non siano messi in un angolo bensì siano al centro dei programmi e della loro attuazione.

"È indubbio che negli ultimi decenni siano stati fatti passi avanti in materia di diritti umani, ma per milioni di persone in Afghanistan le prospettive sono ancora cupe. Le violazioni collegate a conflitto e un agghiacciante livello di violenza contro le donne e le bambine sono solo due delle questioni che dovranno essere affrontate dalla prossima presidenza" - ha dichiarato Horia Mosadiq, ricercatrice di Amnesty International sull'Afghanistan.

"I candidati non possono permettersi di trattare quella dei diritti umani come una questione di secondo piano. Continuare a barattarli per conseguire obiettivi di breve periodo non farà altro, dopo il 2014, che portare indietro anziché avanti il paese" - ha proseguito Mosadiq.

In Afghanistan persiste una pressoché totale impunità per le violazioni dei diritti umani e i crimini di guerra del passato. Molti di coloro che si candidano alla presidenza o alla vicepresidenza del paese sono seriamente indiziati di complicità in quei crimini.
"Le perdite civili sono ancora elevate e degli omicidi illegali quasi nessuno viene chiamato a rispondere. Temiamo fortemente che questo periodo di campagna elettorale sarà particolarmente sanguinoso, con vendette contro chi criticherà i candidati e coloro che li votano. Il governo afgano e i suoi alleati internazionali devono fare il massimo sforzo per proteggere i cittadini che intenderanno esprimere le loro opinioni politiche" - ha sottolineato Mosadiq.

L'agenda di Amnesty International presenta raccomandazioni pratiche su come migliorare la situazione dei diritti umani in sette aree cruciali:
  • adempiere agli obblighi internazionali sui diritti umani;
  • garantire che i presunti autori di crimini di guerra, appartenenti alle forze afgane e a quelle internazionali, siano chiamati a risponderne;
  • proteggere i diritti delle donne e delle bambine;prevenire gli sfollamenti interni e reagire a quelli in atto;
  • porre fine all'impunità per le violazioni dei diritti umani e i crimini di guerra del passato;
  • garantire la libertà d'espressione;abolire la pena di morte.

martedì 4 marzo 2014

BANGLADESH - Human Rights report on Indigenous people 2013.

The 2013 Human Rights Report on Indigenous people of Bangladesh has been published by the Kapaeeng Foundation, with the support of Oxfam and the European Union. 
The report shows that, in 2013, the number of incidents of human rights against indigenous peoples have again increased. There has been a significant increase in the destruction, burning and looting of indigenous property and in the number forced to escape across the border (2,000).
“Human rights of indigenous peoples in the Chittagong Hills Tract and plain lands are still being violated in an alarming manner. In most cases, the state authority fail to investigate the alleged human rights violations properly, which were committed directly by state-machineries as well as by third parties such as Bengali settlers, illegal land grabbers, private companies and local administrations. The indigenous victims of human rights violations are often neither provided with essential protection nor co-operated in filing charges against the perpetrators. As a result, the offenders usually do not face any prosecution and punishments. “
There have recently been more attacks on indigenous people, particularly women in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Over the last month a Chakma woman was raped and killed, a Chakma girl was raped, a temple ransacked and settlers have attacked villages.

MALDIVES - Voice of Women fears further discrimination for IGMH scandal victims.

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Maldivian NGO Voice of Women has expressed concern that the victims of the recent HIV scandal at Indira Ghandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) will suffer from further discrimination.
“Our foremost concern is that the mother and child will be subject to unfair and unfounded discrimination based on societal myths and misinformation about the disease,” said the women’s rights NGO.
Despite acknowledgements that the Maldives as a society exhibits a number of high risk behaviors for transmission of HIV, the number of people reported to be living with the illness is less than 100.
The incident, in which HIV positive blood was given to a female patient – whom local media has reported to be pregnant – became public last week.
Following similar calls from the Human Rights Commission, Voice of Women has called for the protection of the patient’s identity as well as urging concerned parties to initiate public awareness campaigns.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused the government of hiding the news – first discovered 8 days prior to the public announcement – until the conclusion of celebrations marking its policy achievements since assuming power.
Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela has rejected calls for her resignation, arguing that the incident was  a one off. She did, however, inform a Majlis committee last week that the health sector was severely underfunded.
An Indian expatriate – allegedly responsible for incorrectly marking the blood test – is currently being held in police custody. IGMH Deputy CEO Dr Mohamed Habeeb told MPs on the government oversight committee that the Indian national had admitted his culpability in the incident.
Voice of Women have been critical of the tone taken by Dr Shakeela in the aftermath of the incident, suggesting she had failed to take responsibility for the systemic failures that led to the incident – instead blaming a single individual.
“We are concerned by repeated calls by the Minister for harsh and criminal punishment for an individual. The punishments should be relevant and take into consideration the failure of the system (if that is the case) rather than laying responsibility solely on an individual,” read the group’s press release.
The NGO also questioned the police’s ability to conduct what it suggests ought to be a medical inquiry.