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IPS Human Rights
One world, one humanity, now one court to defend its rights. Another step towards universal human rights, but not remotely a step far enough. The United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than half a century ago, but that has done little to stop violations the world over, just as the Geneva Convention has not protected prisoners of war enough. Democracy itself and the freedom it presupposes has not been protective enough. This is the century to move from politicisation of human rights towards humanising political ways. IPS keeps an eye on that difficult path.
Updated: 11 hours 6 min ago
DEVELOPMENT-NIGER: Three Million Children Threatened by Hunger
Women have been left in charge of many of the households in the village of
Zamkoye-Koïra, in western Niger, as food shortages have driven male family
members to leave in search of work elsewhere. A national survey of vulnerable
households shows that 5.4 million people face food insecurity across Niger.
Categories: Human Rights
UNICEF Funding Falls Short Leaving Millions of Children at Risk
If the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) had 1.28 billion dollars it could
help 97 million people around the world.
Categories: Human Rights
Photos of Armed Children Ignite Scandal in Venezuela
A radical political group based in a working class
neighbourhood of the Venezuelan capital has sparked a furore
by publishing photographs of children from the community, with
their faces partially hidden, brandishing AR-15 assault
rifles.
Categories: Human Rights
Social Media Saved Africa's Oldest Community Station
When a financial crisis threatened the existence of Africa's oldest community
station, Bush Radio, an outpouring of sympathy and appeals went viral on social
networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. In the end, it was this outspoken
support that showed financial backers that the station was worth saving.
Categories: Human Rights
Political and Economic Turmoil Threaten Women's Progress
As UN Women celebrated its first birthday, its executive
director Michelle Bachelet stressed that political upheveal
and shrinking budgets are no excuse to push back the hard-won
gains made by the women's movement globally.
Categories: Human Rights
Russia Sticks to Its Guns Against Heavy Hitters Backing Syria
The political heavy hitters were all there at a key Security
Council meeting early this week to decide on the future of
beleaguered Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Categories: Human Rights
BANGLADESH: Coup Bid Reveals Extremism Within Army
Bangladesh's army has won paludits as leading United Nations peacekeepers, but the January coup attempt against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government has exposed lurking religious extremism within its ranks.
Categories: Human Rights
POLITICS-SENEGAL: Violence After Validation of Wade Candidacy
It was stones against tear gas in the Senegalese capital this morning as students
protested the killing of one of their own on Tuesday evening. At least four
people have died since Jan. 27, in wider demonstrations against the
controversial validation of President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy for re-election
for a third term.
Categories: Human Rights
CUBA: Party Aims for Efficient, Inclusive Socialism
Cuba's communist leaders have mapped out a strategy to
modernise their country's one-party socialist model and make
it more efficient, which implies making it more inclusive and
representative of a society that is increasingly diverse.
Categories: Human Rights
UGANDA: Using Community Radio to Heal After Kony's War
Radio Mega FM's transmission tower rises from the centre of
Gulu town,
transmitting talk shows and the latest Ugandan radio hits to
listeners across the
district. But it also serves as something of an informal
memorial to community
radio-driven peace efforts during the Lord's Resistance Army's
destruction of
northern Uganda.
Categories: Human Rights
Guatemala Heeds the Cries of Femicide Victims
The relentless wave of femicides in Guatemala, which has one
of the highest female murder rates in the world, has prompted
actions by the government, civil society groups, and two Nobel
Peace laureates to try to put a stop to this brutal violence
against women, which has reached horrific proportions.
Categories: Human Rights
Rights Groups Denounce Duvalier Ruling, U.S. Urges Appeal
International and local human rights groups Tuesday strongly
denounced the ruling by an investigating judge in Haiti that
former dictator Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier should not
face charges for massive human rights abuses committed during
his 15-year reign, from 1971 to 1986.
Categories: Human Rights
BALKANS-SOCIETY: First Abused, Then Imprisoned
The women languishing in Serbia's Pozarevac Penal Correctional Institution are
victims twice over: survivors of decades of domestic violence, they have been
imprisoned for killing their partners and often spend up to 15 years in jail.
Categories: Human Rights
ZAMBIA: Chinese Underage Sex Scandal Sparks Emotive Debate
Zhang Daliu, 46, a carpenter from China never imagined himself in the dreadful
confines of a stinking and overcrowded Zambian jail where conditions are so
terrible that they lead to gastronomic disorders and skin diseases within days of
confinement.
Categories: Human Rights
MIDEAST: And At Last There Was Water
Only days ago, turning on the tap was cause for concern. Would there be
running water? Now, it's reason for celebration.
Categories: Human Rights
Occupy DC Protesters Stay Put Amid Eviction Threats
Two days after some 400 people were arrested during a protest
organised by Occupy Oakland on the U.S. west coast, members of
Occupy DC say they have no plans to leave despite the threat
of police action.
Categories: Human Rights
US-BAHRAIN: Rights Groups Oppose Smaller Arms Transfer
The decision by the administration of President Barack Obama
to approve limited transfers of military equipment to Bahrain
is coming under renewed fire by human rights and pro-democracy
groups here.
Categories: Human Rights
HONDURAS: Support for President Lobo Hits All-Time Low
Last Friday marked two years since the inauguration of
Porfirio Lobo as president of Honduras, amidst accusations of
corruption, an unprecedented crime wave, and his lowest
approval rating yet.
Categories: Human Rights
Chileans Disillusioned with Pinochet-Era Political System
Chile's political system is "exhausted" and urgently needs
reform to truly represent its citizens, consolidate democracy
and ensure governability, say experts consulted by IPS.
Categories: Human Rights
U.N. Arms Embargoes Busted by Ships from the West
When the Security Council penalises governments with economic
sanctions and arms embargoes, the world body's 193 member
states are mandated to help implement the wide-ranging
punitive measures imposed on these countries.
Categories: Human Rights