Rights watch
A round-up of human rights stories from around the world.
A leading United Nations human rights expert claims the Myanmar military is carrying out “war crimes” against ethnic minorities, emboldened by special extended powers intended to help control the spread of the coronavirus.
Turkey: Criminal case for opposing homophobic speech | Human Rights Watch
The Ankara Prosecutor’s office in Turkey has opened a criminal investigation into the Ankara Bar Association after it filed a complaint against the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate for a homophobic speech, Human Rights Watch said today.
Jersey: Government urged to strengthen human rights checks of emergency legislation | ITV News
Human rights professionals are urging Jersey’s government not to rush through emergency legislation to deal with Covid-19, to avoid potential breaches of human rights law.
Ivory Coast: Government withdraws from African Human Rights Court | Anadolu Agency
Ivory Coast has withdrawn from the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Right, saying the court has undermined its sovereignty, local media reported.
China: Human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang reunites with family | Al Jazeera
Wang was among more than 200 lawyers and legal activists swept up in 2015 signaling President Xi’s tougher approach.
Sudan: Female genital cutting made a crime in ‘new era’ for women’s rights | SBS News
Female genital mutilation, which affects nine out of 10 women and girls in Sudan, has been made illegal in what has been heralded a new era for the predominantly Muslim country and a huge win for human rights campaigners.
COVID-19 poses an existential threat to human rights activists worldwide | openDemocracy
Authorities are using the pandemic as an excuse to increase repression, revoke rights and attack gender justice. It’s time to fight back.
France: Why StopCovid app is too risky | The Connexion
A leading French human rights organisation says it is ‘totally against’ the government’s plan to use a ‘contact tracing’ phone application called StopCovid as part of its deconfinement strategy.