Page 5 - Human Rights

UN warns hundreds of thousands in Southeast Asia roped into online scams

The UN human rights office says criminal gangs have forced hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia into participating in unlawful online scam operations, including false romantic ploys, bogus investment pitches, and illegal gambling schemes. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a new report, cites credible sources that at least 120,000 people in strife-torn Myanmar and roughly 100,000 in Cambodia may be held in situations where they are forced to carry out online scams. The report sheds new light on cybercrime scams that have become a major issue in Asia, with many of the workers trapped in virtual slavery and forced to participate in scams targeting people over the internet. Laos, the Philippines and Thailand were also cited among the main countries of destination or transit for tens of thousands of people. Criminal gangs have increasingly targeted migrants, and lure some victims by false recruitment suggesting they are destined for real jobs. The

Saudi Aramco targeted in UN human rights probe tied to climate change

The probe follows a 2021 request to the UN Special Procedures human rights system by the environmental advocacy group ClientEarth to investigate Aramco

Google chucks away bad reviews of tracker exposing Uyghur forced labor

The Human Rights Foundation's Uyghur Forced Labor Checker had been experiencing a spate of unusual activity in recent months

N Korea denounces US plans for open UNSC meet on its human rights record

North Korea on Tuesday denounced US-led plans for an open Security Council meeting on its human rights record as despicable and only aimed at achieving Washington's geopolitical ambitions. Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong called the United States a declining power and said if the council dealt with any country's human rights, the US should be the first as it is the anti-people empire of evils, totally depraved due to all sorts of social evils. The United States, which holds the Security Council presidency this month, scheduled the meeting on human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name, for Thursday. It will be the first open council meeting on the DPRK rights issue since 2017. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters last week that UN human rights chief Volker Trk and Elizabeth Salmon, the UN's independent investigator on human rights in the reclusive northeast Asia country, would brief council members. The Security Council

MEA terms Europe's resolution on human rights in India 'unacceptable'

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India, with particular reference to the recent clashes in Manipur, a move rejected by India as "unacceptable" and a reflection of "colonial mindset". The Parliament in Strasbourg, France, called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence and to "protect all religious minorities". Responding to media queries on the development, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that "such interference in India's internal affairs is unacceptable, and reflects a colonial mindset". "We have seen that the European parliament held a discussion on developments in Manipur and adopted a so-called Urgency resolution," he said. He said that the Indian authorities at all levels, including the judiciary, are seized of the situation in Manipur and are taking steps to maintain peace and harmony and law and order. "The European parliament would be well

Europe adopts resolution on human rights in India, referring to Manipur

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution on the human rights situation in India, with particular reference to the recent clashes in Manipur. The Parliament in Strasbourg, France, called on Indian authorities to put in place measures to halt the ethnic and religious violence and to "protect all religious minorities". On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said EU parliamentarians concerned are being reached out and it has been made clear to them that it is a matter "absolutely" internal to India. Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes, especially between Kuki and Meitei communities for close to two months. "This is a matter totally internal to India," Kwatra said, replying to a question on the matter at a press conference in New Delhi. "We made a reach-out to the concerned EU parliamentarians. But we made it very clear that this is a matter absolutely internal to India," he added. The resolution entitled 'India, the situation in Manipur' was initiated by

US diplomat in charge of democracy to visit India, Bangladesh from Jul 8-14

A senior US diplomat in charge of democracy and human rights will visit India and Bangladesh from July 8 to 14 to engage with civil society organisations on freedom of expression and association, and inclusion of women and girls and vulnerable groups, the State Department has said. In India, she will also meet with senior government officials to discuss the deepening US-India partnership, the State Department said in a release on Friday. Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights and US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Uzra Zeya will travel to India and Bangladesh from July 8 to 14 to engage with civil society organisations on freedom of expression and association, and inclusion of women and girls, persons with disabilities and vulnerable groups, including marginalised religious and ethnic minorities, it said. "In India, she will meet with senior government officials to discuss the deepening and enduring US-India partnership, including advancing shared .

Nobel peace laureate transferred to brutal prison in Belarus, says his wife

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski has been transferred to a notoriously brutal prison in Belarus and hasn't been heard from in a month, his wife said Wednesday. Natalia Pinchuk told The Associated Press that Bialiatski, who is serving a 10-year sentence, has been kept in an information blackout since his transfer to the N9 colony for repeat offenders in the city of Gorki, where inmates are beaten and subject to hard labor. The authorities create unbearable conditions for Ales and keep him in strict informational isolation. There is not a single letter from him for a month, nor does he receive my letters, Pinchuk said by telephone. In March, a court convicted 60-year-old Bialiatski Belarus' top human rights advocate and one of the winners of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize and three of his colleagues on charges of financing actions violating public order and smuggling. It was the latest move in a years-long crackdown on dissent that has engulfed the country since 2020. Bialia

Pak used excessive force against Imran's supporters: Human Rights Watch

"The Pakistani government should uphold the right to peaceful protest while responding to violence with the minimum force needed," it added

UNHRC passes resolution on human rights abuses in Sudan, amid conflict

The United Nation's top human rights body adopted a resolution on Thursday that drew attention to mounting civilian deaths and rights abuses in Sudan since a bloody conflict erupted between the African country's two top generals last month. The violence in Sudan has so far killed more than 600 people, including civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands. The fighting has also spread to other regions, namely the restive Darfur province. The Human Rights Council - made up of 47 UN member states - narrowly passed the resolution with 18 states voting for the resolution, 15 against and 14 other nations abstaining. The resolution aims to further scrutinise human rights violations taking place in Sudan since April 15. The fighting in Sudan started as a result of a power struggle between the chief of Sudan's military, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and rival Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Arab and African nations - including Sudan -

Violence against minorities rising, says Pak Human Rights Commission

In its flagship annual report State of Human Rights in 2022, released earlier this week, the HRCP expressed concern over the political and economic turmoil of last year

Russia questions US's code of conduct on export control, human rights

Russia on Saturday questioned America's code of conduct on export control regimes and human rights issues.At the recent 2nd summit for democracy, to which the US decided who to invite to, it pushed for the "Code of conduct for enhancing export control of goods and technology that could be misused and lead to serious violations or abuses of human rights," tweeted Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador to India.On March 30, 2023, the United States and over twenty international partners adopted a nonbinding Code of Conduct outlining its commitment to using export control tools to address serious human rights concerns."In clear contradiction with the existing universal export control regimes and mechanisms of regulation. Would the Code be applicable to the US? Cannot shrug off the feeling it won't. A fresh lively touch to the "rules-based order" vs international order," tweeted Alipov.Although a non-binding document, the Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative (ECHRI) Code of Conduct ...

India must end crackdown on Kashmiri human rights defenders: UN expert

A top UN expert on Friday asked India to immediately end the crackdown on Kashmiri human rights defenders and urged New Delhi to release and close all investigations initiated against them. Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders made this comment days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally arrested jailed Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society programme coordinator Khurram Parvez in connection with its NGO terror funding case. The NIA said the case relates to the terror funding of proscribed terrorist organisations, such as LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, by certain NGOs, trusts and societies based in the Valley. Indian authorities appear to be intensifying the long-standing repression of Kashmiri civil society, Lawlor said. The State must respect its human rights obligations and be held accountable where it violates them," she said in a statement. Parvez has been in prison since his arrest by the NIA in November 2021 for anti-national ...

Significant human rights issues like arbitrary killings in India: US report

India experienced significant human rights issues in 2022, including unlawful and arbitrary killings, freedom of press and violence targeting religious and ethnic minorities, a US report claimed on Monday. Released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the annual human rights reports of the State Department is a mandatory requirement of the US Congress giving details of human rights status in countries across the world. The latest edition of the annual report slams Russia and China for the massive violation of human rights in these two countries along with some other nations like Iran, North Korea and Myanmar. Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine beginning in February 2022 has resulted in massive death and destruction, with reports of members of Russia's forces committing war crimes and other atrocities, including summary executions of civilians and horrific accounts of gender-based violence, including sexual violence against women and children, Blinken said in the report. In ..

Necessary to include human rights issues in climate policies: NHRC

It is necessary to include human rights issues in climate policies and programmes along with proper funding of social protection schemes to promote local knowledge and assist community-led adaptation to the effects of climate change, the head of India's human rights commission has said. Addressing an international conference on climate change in the Qatari capital Doha, Justice Arun Mishra, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India, said that the human-induced build-up of Green House Gases is causing climate change and raising serious concerns about human rights. He said that climate change causes displacement, loss of property, income and access to essential services like healthcare and education due to which the vulnerable groups suffer the most. "Therefore, it is necessary to include human rights issues into climate policies and programmes along with proper funding of social protection schemes to promote local knowledge and assist community-led adaptatio

NHRC chairperson lauds constructive role of human rights defenders

Human rights defenders play a very constructive role in promoting and protecting human rights, NHRC chairperson justice (retd) Arun Kumar Mishra said on Thursday. He said this while chairing the first meeting of the National Human Rights Commission's re-constituted Core Group of Human Rights Defenders. NHRC Member D M Mulay and senior officers of the Commission were present on the occasion. Human rights defenders (HRDs) play a very constructive role in promoting and protecting human rights in the country, justice Mishra was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the NHRC. He said the role of the NHRC and the HRDs is complementary to each other. "The HRDs through their work on the ground can see and raise concerns, if any, on the status of the implementation of welfare schemes and human rights situation and help the Commission in the discharge of its mandate," the NHRC chief said. Justice (retd) Mishra said that with technological advancement and internet-aided connectivity, ne

NHRC notice to Maha govt over plight of women engaged in sugarcane cutting

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Maharahshtra government over reported plight of women labourers engaged in sugarcane cutting for many factories in Ahmed Nagar district, officials said on Tuesday

Bangladesh doesn't want foreign interference in internal affairs: FM Momen

"The current government is committed to holding free, fair, transparent and inclusive elections under the Independent Election Commission"

NHRC notice to Bihar govt, state police chief over Saran hooch tragedy

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Bihar government and the state's police chief over the Saran hooch tragedy in which at least 30 people have died, officials said on Friday. The sale and consumption of alcohol was completely banned in Bihar in April 2016, though its "implementation has been patchy," the NHRC observed in a statement. The Saran hooch tragedy toll rose to 30 on Friday, the biggest since Bihar went dry more than six years ago, and it continued to cast a shadow on the state legislature where BJP members disrupted proceedings in both Houses before staging a Raj Bhavan march. However, unconfirmed reports claimed up to 50 people died by drinking illicitly brewed country liquor. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has "taken suo motu cognisance of the media reports that several people have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in Saran district of Bihar," it said. The commission has observed that the contents of the media repor

Elon Musk's Twitter disbands its 100-member Trust and Safety advisory group

Elon Musk's Twitter has dissolved its Trust and Safety Council, the advisory group of around 100 independent civil, human rights and other organisations that the company formed in 2016 to address hate speech, child exploitation, suicide, self-harm and other problems on the platform. The council had been scheduled to meet with Twitter representatives Monday night. But Twitter informed the group via email that it was disbanding it shortly before the meeting was to take place, according to multiple members. The council members, who provided images of the email from Twitter to The Associated Press, spoke on the condition of anonymity due to fears of retaliation. Our work to make Twitter a safe, informative place will be moving faster and more aggressively than ever before and we will continue to welcome your ideas going forward about how to achieve this goal, said the email, which was signed Twitter. The volunteer group provided expertise and guidance on how Twitter could better combat