On International Women’s Day and one year after the murder – still unpunished – of the Honduran defender Berta Cáceres, the European network of NGOs ‘Grupo Sur’, based in Brussels, called on the #EU to consider as a priority, a guarantee for the safety, life and work of Latin American human rights defenders within the framework […]
Parliament Mobilises for Guatemala Human Rights Defenders
The European Parliament in Strasbourg has approved an urgent resolution on the situation of human rights defenders in Guatemala. Deputies expressed their concerns and acknowledged the work carried out by human rights defenders, urging the Guatemalan government to adopt measures aimed at protecting HRDs from assaults and dangers they are confronting regularly. The figures are […]
Europe Must Step Up To Ensure Colombian Peace
OIDHACO – the ‘International Office on Human Rights – Action Colombia’ has welcomed progress made towards peace in Colombia, but expressed its deep concern at the risks faced by Colombian civil society in this new phase of peace-building. Over the past four years, the negotiating teams of the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces […]
MEPs Tighten EU Export Ban on “Torture Goods”
Revised EU rules to prevent trade in goods and services that may contribute to torture or execution were approved by MEPs on Tuesday. In negotiations with member states on previous drafts, the European Parliament inserted a ban on the marketing and transit of equipment used for cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of people in third […]
“Bulgaria Must Investigate Hate Crimes,” Says Amnesty
Bulgaria’s failure to adequately investigate and prosecute hate crimes is fuelling fear, discrimination and ultimately violence, says Amnesty International in a new report published today. Missing the point: Lack of adequate investigation of hate crimes in Bulgaria documents the severe impact of hate crimes on victims and highlights how the authorities’ failure to tackle entrenched prejudice […]
Consistent EU Foreign Policy Demanded On International Day of Human Rights
On International Human Rights’ Day, civil society networks Alop, Cifca, Grupo Sur, Oidhaco and Protection International urged the European Union to make respect for human rights the guiding principle in its trade relations with Latin America. The European Parliament ratified trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Central America in December 2012. This caused deep […]
Lady In Waiting. Aung San Suu Kyi Receives The Sakharov Prize
Myanmar/Burma militant and parliamentary opposition leader finally received the Sakharov Prize, awarded to her in 1990, at a ceremony in Strasbourg on 22 October. Ms Suu Kyi was released from house arrest three years ago. The prize was presented at a special ceremony during the plenary session, chaired by European Parliament President, Martin Schulz. “You […]
U.S.-Ukraine Rule of Law Working Group Meets in Kyiv
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Thomas O. Melia, will lead an interagency delegation to Kyiv, Ukraine for the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Political Dialogue/Rule of Law Working Group, October 21-25. The delegation will include Paige Alexander, Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Catherine Newcombe, Regional Director […]