Showing posts with label Human Rights. Show all posts

Dec 10, 2015

10 December: Human Rights Day

12/10/2015
Human Rights Day is observed on December 10 every year.  It commemorates the day on which, in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 1950, the Assembly passed resolution 423 (V), inviting all States and interested organizations to observe 10 December of each year as Human Rights Day.
The theme chosen for the year 2015 HRD is ‘Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always’. It marks the launch of a 1 year campaign commemorating two international human rights treaties International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Both of the treaties were adopted in 1966.
 
Human rights facts and figures
 
In 2014, Amnesty International recorded and investigated human rights abuses in 160 countries and territories around the world. Here are some of the most shocking statistics uncovered:
  • War crimes or other violations of the “laws of war” were carried out in at least 18 countries.
  • Refugees and migrants were – and still are – at particular risk.
  • More than 3,400 people drowned in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014. Armed groups committed abuses in 35 countries.
  • Nearly three-quarters of governments, around 119 countries out of 160, arbitrarily restricted freedoms. 82% (131 out of 160) of countries tortured or otherwise ill-treated people.

Oct 30, 2015

Raif Badawi wins EU’s Sakharov Prize 2015

10/30/2015

Raif Badawi
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has been selected for European Union’s prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights for year 2015.
European Parliament assembly in Strasbourg, France has honoured Mr. Bidawi with this award considering him as a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech.
Raif Badawi, author of the website Free Saudi Liberals received an international fame in 2012 after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia for insulting Muslim clerics.
He was one of 3 nominees for this year’s edition prize along with the Assassinated Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and Venezuelan opposition movement Mesa de la Unidad Democratica.

About Sakharov Prize

  • The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is annual award given by the European Parliament.
  • Bestowed on individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.
  • Established in December 1988 and named after Soviet scientist (physicist) and dissident Andrei Sakharov.
  • The first prize was jointly awarded to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian human rights campaigner Anatoly Marchenko.
  • It is awarded annually on or around December 10, the day on which the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, also celebrated as Human Rights Day.

Oct 2, 2015

UNHRC unanimously adopts resolution on Sri Lanka

10/02/2015
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has unanimously adopted US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka on the report submitted by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka.
The resolution follows up on the report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka and was co-sponsored by 25 countries besides the US and Sri Lanka.
It has called for the Office of Human Rights Commissioner to continue the monitoring of Sri Lanka’s progress in the implementation of its recommendations.
India has welcomed the consensus resolution saying that Sri Lanka has rejected extremist voices and is moving towards genuine reconciliation with the minority community.
 
Background
Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )