Working to Protect Human Rights worldwide
Massive street demonstrations were met with waves of arrests, reported killings and, it is now becoming clear that human rights activists are now also being targeted.
On 16 June lawyer human rights defender Abdolfattah Soltani was arrested at his office. His case has been taken up by Amnesty International and its global membership is campaigning for his release (see http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE13/059/2009).
Official entrance of the UN in Geneva
On 12 June, Amnesty International launched a report called ‘Twenty years of make-believe: Sri Lanka’s Commissions of Inquiry.’ The report highlights decades of the Sri Lankan governments failure to pursue accountability and justice in the face of widespread human rights abuses. In conjunction with the launch of the report, Amnesty travelled to the UN Human Rights Council and hosted a panel discussion on impunity and rule of law in Sri Lanka.
Continue reading ‘Seeking Justice at the UN Human Rights Council’
A video posted on Youtube this week graphically brings home the often degrading nature of forced expulsions of irregular migrants. The footage of a man lying on his stomach on the airport tarmac, his arms and legs tied together behind his back and apparently being gagged was shot by a passenger waiting for flight IB3722 to Dakar at Madrid airport on 15 June. Finally, he is picked up off the ground by two police officers, still tied up, and put in the back of the police van, more like a piece of luggage than a human being. It appears that the pilot of the plane refused to transport a man in such conditions, and other passengers refused to travel with him.
Irene Khan - Secretary General - Amnesty International
I have been told dozens of stories about violent protests since I arrived in Kenya. Today’s rally was not violent. Residents of informal settlements and NGO’s took off to the streets to demand their rights in a remarkable, non-confrontational march. Their energy and organisational skills are impressive; it felt great to be part in this.
The Black Marimba theatre troupe set the tone for the day. A mix of traditional dancers and acrobats performed a spectacular show at the central park, very energetic. Immediately after the performance, people assembled behind their respective banners and marched along one of the main streets of Nairobi, singing and chanting. The banners were incredibly effective in portraying the plurality of representation and in articulating people’s demands.
Today’s march was about people power and people’s voices. It was an opportunity for all those community organisations and ngo’s who have been working together so hard, to celebrate their achievements and leave their footprint on the streets of Nairobi.
The march finished at the Ufungamano House, where we launched the Demand Dignity action on Nairobi’s slums.
On Sunday, we began our door-to-door campaign in Kibera to raise awareness of the free SMS 3221 number individuals can text to have their Voice automatically added to the Demand Dignity campaign. Although my Kiswahili is limited, between help from volunteers in our partner community-based organizations and a smile, we tried to encourage people to take action, claim their rights and demand adequate housing.
Alongside the free SMS 3221, we also invited residents of the informal settlements to add their Voice through video as we had brought along a camera crew. As many residents of informal settlements do not have access to internet on a regular basis, but do have mobile phones, the SMS and video camera was one of the ways their Voices could be heard by the world of the conditions and basic necessities that they live without.
Continue reading ‘Launch of SMS and Web action in Nairobi, Kenya’
Irene Khan on Twitter