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Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations on Thursday, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in the country, after warnings from police and judiciary that anti-government protests will not be tolerated.

The call comes amid a wave of arrests, unfair trials and executions of those involved in earlier protests against the government concerning the disputed presidential election of June 2009 and the authorities’ violent response.

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two of the unsuccessful presidential candidates in June’s poll, have called on people to take to the streets and peacefully voice their opinions.

"It is the Iranian authorities’ responsibility to safeguard the public and maintain order," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director. "However, this does not justify the suppression of peaceful protests, as has happened repeatedly over recent months, nor violence by state forces against peaceful demonstrators."

Amnesty International also urged the Iranian authorities to ensure that all policing is conducted in accordance with international standards by appropriately-trained personnel.

"Policing should not be conducted by the politically-partisan volunteer Basij militia, which has a record of committing serious human rights violations and is neither trained nor equipped for proper police work," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Mass demonstrations against the government are expected to go ahead on Thursday, despite recent "show trials" of people accused of links to various opposition groups and of organizing protests. These trials have resulted in two executions in January, other death sentences and long prison terms.

Amnesty International expressed concern that the Iranian authorities appear to be coercing detainees to falsely "confess" to links to particular political groups or organizations alleged to be fomenting the demonstrations, in order to scapegoat them for the continuing anti-government protests and ongoing human rights abuses.

The two men executed in January, while arrested before last June’s disputed presidential elections, were convicted of having links to the opposition group Anjoman-e Padshahi Iran (API – Kingdom Assembly of Iran) and of attempting to make explosives.

Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani were represented by court appointed lawyers and their own lawyers were denied access to their trials. They are said to have made coerced "confessions" dictated to them by their interrogators.

"These trials and executions have been used by Iranian authorities to support their contention that the mass protests of recent months have not been an expression of popular discontent about the disputed outcome of the presidential election and the authorities’ brutal repression of protestors but, rather, were fomented by foreign powers and exiled opposition groups intent on achieving regime change in Iran," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Demonstrations against the government since the disputed presidential election of June 2009 have been met with harsh repression.

According to Iranian officials, over 40 people have died in demonstrations since the election, which were violently repressed by the security forces. Amnesty International said it believes the number to be at least 80 and possibly many more. More than 5,000 people have been arrested, many of whom were tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

More than 100 people are believed to have been sentenced to prison terms, flogging or to be executed after unfair "show trials". At least nine people are believed to be at risk of execution.

Several others among a group of 16 defendants whose "show trial" is currently underway and who face the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God), which can carry the death penalty, may also be at risk.

The most recent mass protests took place at the time of the Tasoa and Ashoura religious festivals on 26 and 27 December 2009, when more than a thousand people were detained. Since then more than 200 others are said to have been arrested at their homes or workplaces and detained.

Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations on Thursday, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in the country, after warnings from police and judiciary that anti-government protests will not be tolerated.

The call comes amid a wave of arrests, unfair trials and executions of those involved in earlier protests against the government concerning the disputed presidential election of June 2009 and the authorities’ violent response.

Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, two of the unsuccessful presidential candidates in June’s poll, have called on people to take to the streets and peacefully voice their opinions.

"It is the Iranian authorities’ responsibility to safeguard the public and maintain order," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director. "However, this does not justify the suppression of peaceful protests, as has happened repeatedly over recent months, nor violence by state forces against peaceful demonstrators."

Amnesty International also urged the Iranian authorities to ensure that all policing is conducted in accordance with international standards by appropriately-trained personnel.

"Policing should not be conducted by the politically-partisan volunteer Basij militia, which has a record of committing serious human rights violations and is neither trained nor equipped for proper police work," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Mass demonstrations against the government are expected to go ahead on Thursday, despite recent "show trials" of people accused of links to various opposition groups and of organizing protests. These trials have resulted in two executions in January, other death sentences and long prison terms.

Amnesty International expressed concern that the Iranian authorities appear to be coercing detainees to falsely "confess" to links to particular political groups or organizations alleged to be fomenting the demonstrations, in order to scapegoat them for the continuing anti-government protests and ongoing human rights abuses.

The two men executed in January, while arrested before last June’s disputed presidential elections, were convicted of having links to the opposition group Anjoman-e Padshahi Iran (API – Kingdom Assembly of Iran) and of attempting to make explosives.

Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani were represented by court appointed lawyers and their own lawyers were denied access to their trials. They are said to have made coerced "confessions" dictated to them by their interrogators.

"These trials and executions have been used by Iranian authorities to support their contention that the mass protests of recent months have not been an expression of popular discontent about the disputed outcome of the presidential election and the authorities’ brutal repression of protestors but, rather, were fomented by foreign powers and exiled opposition groups intent on achieving regime change in Iran," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Demonstrations against the government since the disputed presidential election of June 2009 have been met with harsh repression.

According to Iranian officials, over 40 people have died in demonstrations since the election, which were violently repressed by the security forces. Amnesty International said it believes the number to be at least 80 and possibly many more. More than 5,000 people have been arrested, many of whom were tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

More than 100 people are believed to have been sentenced to prison terms, flogging or to be executed after unfair "show trials". At least nine people are believed to be at risk of execution.

Several others among a group of 16 defendants whose "show trial" is currently underway and who face the charge of moharebeh (enmity against God), which can carry the death penalty, may also be at risk.

The most recent mass protests took place at the time of the Tasoa and Ashoura religious festivals on 26 and 27 December 2009, when more than a thousand people were detained. Since then more than 200 others are said to have been arrested at their homes or workplaces and detained.

Amnesty International reiterated its call on the Sudanese authorities to arrest President Omar al Bashir immediately, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague today reversed a ruling that held that there was insufficient evidence to charge the Sudanese President with genocide in Darfur.

The ICC issued an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity and war crimes in March 2009 against President Bashir, but did not include genocide charges because the court’s Pre-Trial Chamber applied too high a standard of proof to the evidence. ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo today won his appeal against  the Pre-Trial Chamber’s ruling.

"The ICC Prosecutor was asked to prove that the only reasonable inference from the evidence he presented was that the President was responsible for genocide," said Christopher Keith Hall, Senior Legal Adviser at Amnesty International. "In effect, this was requiring the Prosecutor to prove him guilty – something that can only be done at trial."

"The Pre-Trial Chamber must now reassess the evidence against President Bashir to decide whether it can charge him  with genocide," said Christopher Keith Hall.

Amnesty International urged President al Bashir to surrender himself to stand trial over the war crimes and crimes against humanity charges he already faces.

"President Bashir is a fugitive from international justice, charged with responsibility for crimes against men, women and children, including murder, rape, torture and forced displacement," said Christopher Keith Hall.

President Bashir has travelled outside Sudan on a number of occasions following the charges brought by the ICC, however, he has not yet been arrested.

"All states who have signed up to the Rome Statue underpinning the ICC which  have an absolute obligation under that treaty to arrest him immediately if he enters their territory and to surrender him promptly to the court," said Christopher Keith Hall

"Sudan is required by Security Council Resolution 1593 to cooperate with the International Criminal Court, which means to arrest and surrender him. In addition, other states which have not yet ratified the Rome Statute must not offer him a safe haven when he visits."

An arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir was issued by the ICC over his role in the Darfur conflict that has seen more than 300,000 killed, thousands raped, and millions forcibly displaced.

The government of Papua New Guinea must investigate the conduct of police who burnt down homes and threatened people with guns while illegally evicting them from land next to one of the biggest gold mines in the country, Amnesty International said today.

Amnesty International’s report, Undermining Rights: Forced evictions and police brutality around the Porgera gold mine, Papua New Guinea, documents police violence and the forced eviction by police of families living alongside the Porgera gold mine.

Amnesty International also has concerns regarding ongoing support to the police by companies involved in the mine after the companies became aware of the police activity in the area.

The mine is 95% owned and operated by subsidiaries of the largest gold mining company in the world, Canadian-based Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick), as part of the Porgera Joint Venture (PJV). PJV supplied accommodation, food and fuel to the police under an agreement that PJV claims was conditional on the police abiding by national laws and international standards, including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

Amnesty International does not allege that either company is responsible for the police violence or the forced evictions, however it believes Barrick and PJV failed to respond adequately when company personnel became aware of the police activity in the area.

“Instead of being able to rely on the police to protect them, people who were living next to the mine’s facilities have been the victims of human rights violations by police who illegally burnt down their houses and destroyed their belongings and gardens,” said Shanta Martin, Amnesty International’s mining and human rights specialist. 

The report documents how between  April and July 2009 police raided villages in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, burning down at least 130 buildings and forcing out families from their homes, including young children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Residents of the area where most of the evictions took place, Wuangima, told Amnesty International that they had no prior warning that their homes would be demolished and in many cases had no opportunity to take their belongings before their houses were burnt. No alternative housing had been provided to them by the government and many families from the area now depend on their relatives for shelter and food.
 
“As soon as PJV became aware that the police were burning down people’s homes right next door to the mine’s facilities, they should have recorded and reported the activity to the Papua New Guinean authorities and urged an investigation, as recommended by the Voluntary Principles,” said Shanta Martin. “Instead, PJV is continuing to support the police, and Barrick has publicly defended the police activity.”

Amnesty International’s report urges the Papua New Guinean government to carry out a full investigation into forced evictions and police violence. The report urges the prosecution of those responsible, and for victims to be provided with remedies. It also calls on Barrick and PJV to provide information regarding the police conduct to the Papua New Guinean authorities and to urge the authorities to investigate.

Amnesty International has called on the Sri Lankan government to end its crackdown on journalists, political activists and human rights defenders following last week’s presidential election.
 
Opposition supporters and journalists have been arrested, several prominent newspaper editors have received death threats and trade unionists and opposition supporters have been harassed since the poll.
 
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported more than 85 post-election incidents, including two murders and several assaults. The CMEV has not released details of these incidents.
 
Pressure on government critics has been mounting since President Mahinda Rajapaksa was re-elected on 26 January, defeating his former Chief of Defence Staff – retired army general Sarath Fonseka.
 
“Victory against the Tamil Tigers followed by an historic election should have ended political repression in Sri Lanka but instead we have seen a serious clampdown on freedom of expression,” said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International’s Asia- Pacific Deputy Director.
 
Sri Lankan journalists have given Amnesty International a list of 56 of their colleagues who face serious threats, including some working for the government-owned Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, as well as Independent Television Network, Lak Hada and the Lake House Group.
 
“Threats, beatings and arrests mean that Sri Lankan human rights activists live in fear of the consequences of expressing their political opinions,” said Madhu Malhotra.
 
Security officials detained 13 former military officials supporting the defeated presidential candidate Gen Sarath Fonseka on 29 January during a raid on the candidate’s campaign office. They are being held incommunicado, according to opposition lawyer Shiral Lakthilaka.
 
The government has accused Fonseka and his supporters of plotting a coup d’etat.  
 
Also on 29 January, police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided the office of newspaper Lanka Irida and arrested chief editor Chandana Sirimalwatte, who remains in detention.

The newspaper had openly campaigned for opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka during the elections. The office was raided again the following day.
 
Offices of the popular internet site, Lanka E News, were sealed off by the authorities and Amnesty International received reports that a number of unidentified gunmen visited the Lanka E News office on at least two occasions during last week.
 
Sri Lankan journalist and political analyst Prageeth Eknaligoda, a contributor to the site, disappeared on his way home from work two days before the election and is still missing.

When his wife reported his disappearance to the Homagama police, she was herself detained for several hours. Eknaligoda had been actively reporting on political events in the run-up to the election and had recently spoken out in favour of Sarath Fonseka.
 
“President Rajapaksa’s government has to show that it will now try to deal with the human rights violations that have plagued Sri Lanka, instead of using the post-election period to launch a new crackdown,” said Madhu Malhotra.
 
Numerous serious assaults by unknown perpetrators against journalists have not been properly investigated or prosecuted. Amnesty International calls on the Sri Lankan authorities to change this pattern and demonstrate their commitment to human rights standards by ensuring the prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation of these recent attacks.

Two weeks after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, its people are confronted with a human rights crisis. Amnesty International has identified some of the country’s biggest human rights challenges and outlined a plan that puts protection of human rights at the core of relief and reconstruction efforts.

Exploitation of children
With families separated and schools destroyed, thousands of children in Haiti have been left without protection. The most vulnerable could become prey to the traffickers.

There is also a risk that children could be caught in irregular adoption processes – a risk increased by the interest of families abroad who would like to adopt Haitian children orphaned by the earthquake. Haitian institutions also have a lack of capacity to determine the status of children and ensure their rights are protected Separated and unaccompanied children might wrongly be considered orphans.

International adoption should be a last resort, used only after domestic alternatives have been exhausted. The Haitian authorities must ensure children are not taken out of the country without the completion of formal legal proceedings for international adoption.

Family tracing should be a priority for the international community, the Haitian authorities and international aid agencies.

Security and law enforcement
The Haitian government’s ability to ensure the rule of law has been severely undermined by the earthquake. Establishing a functional justice system to deal with the most serious crimes should be a top priority.

There is a growing concern that prisoners convicted of violent crimes who escaped from Port-au-Prince’s National Penitentiary are trying to regain control of the most deprived and vulnerable communities.

In response to this threat, community members have organized themselves to prevent gangs from taking over communities. However, this could put community members at risk of spiralling violence. Amnesty International has received reports of lynchings and incidents of mob justice where alleged looters have been killed.

There are also reports of alleged looters being shot by police. Haitian authorities must ensure that firearms are only to be used by police in self-defence and as a last resort. The Haitian authorities must also set up a provisional detention centre, as the country’s main prison has been destroyed and other detention centres are overcrowded.

Rights of the displaced
Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless by the earthquake and many have fled the devastated areas.

Displaced people must be supported to make voluntary and informed decisions about their future. Any relocation of internally displaced persons from camps or disaster areas must be voluntary, unless the safety and health of those affected requires evacuation. They should not be coerced in any way, including through the suspension of assistance. All displaced persons have the right to return to their former homes unless safety issues prevent it.

Violence against women
In post-disaster situations, women and girls are often particularly at risk from sexual violence, exploitation by traffickers and reduced access to sexual, reproductive and maternal health services. Their disadvantage in accessing aid is well documented.  
Those involved in the relief and reconstruction efforts must ensure that the prevention of all gender-based violence, in particular sexual violence, is integrated into their work.

Accountability of international forces
More than 10,000 US troops, 150 military personnel from the Dominican Republic and 800 Canadian soldiers have been deployed in Haiti to provide security for the distribution of aid.

The terms of deployment and rules of engagement must be clarified from the onset and respected by all international forces The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) personnel must also be governed by strict rules of accountability. In the past, leaving accountability for violations solely to the discretion of troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions has lead to impunity for serious human rights abuses.

Haiti’s foreign debt
In 2009, international financial institutions and other creditors cancelled US$ 1.2 billion of Haiti’s foreign debt. Despite this, Haiti still owes hundreds of millions of dollars to its creditors.

The repayment of this debt now represents an unacceptable burden on Haiti’s population and national economy. Amnesty International has called on all creditors to cancel Haiti’s debt. Insistence on repayment would hinder Haiti’s ability to meet its human rights obligations.

All financial resources available to Haiti in the years to come must be channelled to reconstruction programmes that ensure Haitians’ welfare and access to basic services, and equitable and sustainable development.

Image caption: Men fight over a bag of rice during UN food distribution, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, © AP GraphicsBank

Amnesty International has condemned the execution of two men arrested during protests that followed Iran’s disputed presidential election last year.

Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were hanged on Thursday after being convicted in unfair trials of “enmity against God” and being members of Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran (API), a banned group which advocates the restoration of an Iranian monarchy.

They are the first executions known to be related to the post-election violence that erupted across Iran in June and has continued since.

"These shocking executions show that the Iranian authorities will stop at nothing to stamp out the peaceful protests that persist since the election," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director.

"These men were first unfairly convicted and now they have been unjustly killed – it is not even clear they had links to this group as their ‘confessions’ appear to have been made under duress."

According to the Iranian authorities, at least nine other people are currently on death row in Iran after being sentenced to death in similar post-election ’show trials’.  

"Our fear is that these executions are just the beginning of a wave of executions of those tried on similar vaguely worded charges," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour were convicted of “enmity against God” by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court in October. They were also convicted of "propaganda against the system", "insulting the holy sanctities" and "gathering and colluding with intent to harm national internal security".

Mohammad Reza Ali-Zamani was accused of illegally visiting Iraq where he was alleged to have met US military officials.  

Arash Rahmanipour’s lawyer says he played no role in the election protests and was forced to confess in a “show trial” after members of his family were threatened.

The two men’s lawyers were not informed of their clients’ executions, as is required by Iranian law.

"These executions highlight how the justice system is used as an instrument of repression by the authorities. They are sending a warning to those who may wish to exercise their right to peacefully demonstrate against the government, not to go out in the street,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.

Further anti-government demonstrations are widely expected to take place on the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on 11 February.

According to Iranian officials, over 40 people have died in demonstrations since the election, which were violently repressed by the security forces. Amnesty International believes the number to be much higher. More than 5,000 people have been arrested, many of whom were tortured or otherwise ill-treated.

Scores have been sentenced to prison terms, and in some cases flogging, after unfair trials, and at least 11 have been sentenced to death.  One man – Hamed Rouhinejad – has had his death sentence commuted on appeal in January 2010.

Amnesty International has called on Sri Lankan political leaders to investigate attacks on activists during one of the most violent presidential elections in the last 20 years.br /
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The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that more than 600 violent incidents had been reported until Thursday, including five murders and five attempted murders of political activists.nbsp; nbsp;br /
Police are investigating grenade attack on the home of Tiran Alles, a prominent opponent of the ruling party who has been receiving death threats for several months.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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nbsp;ldquo;These attacks highlight the prevalence of political violence in Sri Lanka even after the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers,rdquo; said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s deputy Asia-Pacific director. br /
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ldquo;Attacks by paramilitary groups or thugs attached to politicians jeopardize prospects for a free and fair election.rdquo; br /
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A number of NGO workers have spoken to Amnesty International about their fears over violence and intimidation ahead of the 26 January elections. Transfer of weapons from military sources (particularly army deserters) has led to an increase in armed crime including grenade attacks on political opponents.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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Attacks have taken place in many parts of the country and supporters of various opposition parties. According to CMEV, supporters of the ruling party, the United Peoplersquo;s Freedom Alliance, have suffered 354 attacks, the largest number of incidents.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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In eastern Sri Lanka, an area often receiving less media attention, the TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal), has been accused by local activists and observers of ballot rigging, intimidation and violence in Ampara and Batticaloa districts. br /
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The TMVP, a Tamil political party comprised of ex-rebels, is now engaged in electoral politics. The party has split into two factions led by men facing accusations of serious violations of human rights and the laws of war: Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan (aliasnbsp; Karuna Amman), a member of parliament for the Eastern Province and Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (alias Pillayan), Chief Minister of the Eastern Province.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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rdquo;The government overlooked the atrocities alleged against these two men and brought them into the political mainstream, and now it appears unable to hold them to account,rdquo; Madhu Malhotra said. br /
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ldquo;The unwillingness and inability to investigate and prosecute those responsible for violence gives carte blanche to armed groups or thugs to continue attacksrdquo;. br /
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Abuses by paramilitaries are not the only source of violence. The role of armed groups who operate with the complicity of political candidates is a growing concern. For example, Amnesty International received reports that political organizers liked to the UNFP have been responsible for most of the preelection violence in the eastern district of Ampara

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ECA/UK-police-100.jpg alt= title= /br/The UK government must scrap abusive, discriminatory and unlawful powers that allow the police to stop and search without reasonable suspicion, Amnesty International said on Tuesday after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that their use was illegal.br /
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The European court has been hearing a case involving two protesters, Kevin Gillan and Pennie Quinton, who were stopped near a protest against an arms fair in London in 2003 by police acting under the 2000 Terrorism Act, which allows senior officers to authorize stop and search procedures without reasonable suspicion.br /
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The Court ruled their right to respect for a private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights had been violated.br /
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quot;These police powers to stop and search under the Terrorism Act clearly violate peoplersquo;s right to privacy and family life and the government must act urgently to scrap them,quot; said Halya Gowan of Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Programme.br /
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The Court also said it was quot;struck by the statistical and other evidencequot; showing that these powers disproportionately affected black and Asian people, although the applicants in this case were not from a Black or Asian minority ethnic background. br /
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In the past, Amnesty International expressed serious concern about police powers to stop and search people without suspicion of any wrongdoing.br /
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quot;These powers also contravene the rights to liberty, freedom of expression and assembly, and freedom from arbitrary detention, all of which the UK is bound to uphold,quot; said Halya Gowan.

Amnesty International has urged the Iranian authorities to release a group of women who were beaten and arrested during a peaceful vigil in Tehran at the weekend.br /
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The 33 women, members of a group known as the ‘Mourning Mothers’, were seized during their weekly meeting in Laleh Park, Tehran on Saturday, according to media reports. Several of the women were beaten and 10 were taken to hospital. br /
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The ‘Mourning Mothers’ are women whose children have been killed, disappeared or detained in post-election violence in Iran since last June, and their supporters. All 33 women are now being held in Vozara Detention Centre, Tehran.br /
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quot;Women who are grieving for children killed by security personnel should be able to count on support from the state to uncover the truth about what happened and to ensure redress for them, not face arbitrary detention and beatings,quot; said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. nbsp;br /
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quot;These women should be released immediately and unconditionally and an investigation launched into their treatment.quot;br /
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According to the Internationa Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, on Sunday, protesters gathered and chanted outside the Vozara detention centre in support of the detained women, which led to traffic nearby being blocked.br /
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Security forces reportedly attacked the crowd and violently dispersed it. Two people who were in a passing car taking pictures of the protest were arrested and taken inside the detention centre.br /
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The ‘Mourning Mothers’ meet in silence for an hour each Saturday near the place and time of the killing of protester Neda Agha-Soltan, whose death was shown in footage circulated around the world in July.br /
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Nine of the women are believed to suffer from illnesses, increasing the concern for their well-being.br /
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quot;We are seriously concerned about the health of these detained activistsnbsp; and hold the Iranian authorities responsible for their well-being,quot; said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. br /
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This is not the first time that members of the group have been arrested.nbsp; Up to 29 were arrested on 5 December, although all were released by 7 December.br /

Amnesty International has called for the release of an Iranian student leader whose arrest and detention have inspired men to cover their hair in an online solidarity photo campaign.br /
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Majid Tavakkoli was arrested in student protests on 7 December and was later pictured wearing female clothes in an apparent attempt to humiliate him. br /
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Now many Iranian men inside and outside the country have taken pictures of themselves wearing various forms of hijab, such as headscarves or the chador, in protest and solidarity. Many pictures include the slogan quot;We are all Majidquot;.br /
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As part of the online photo campaign, which has seen hundreds of images uploaded on Facebook, women have also pictured themselves with false moustaches, in a further gesture of solidarity and to rebut the authoritiesrsquo; tactic to ridicule Majid Tavakkoli.br /
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Majid Tavakkoli’s whereabouts are unknown and he is at risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes he is a prisoner of conscience, held solely for his peaceful expression of his right to freedom of expression, association and assembly.br /
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quot;The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Majid Tavakkoli and any other students detained around the 7 December demonstrations solely for the peaceful expression of their rights to freedom of expression, association or assembly,quot; said Amnesty International’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.br /
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Majid Tavakkoli was arrested as he left Amir Kabir University of Technology in Tehran, where he had given a speech at a student demonstration marking Student Day in Iran.br /
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The following day, Fars News Agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian judiciary, published pictures of Majid Tavakkoli wearing womenrsquo;s clothing. br /
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It claimed he had been wearing them at the time of his arrest in order to escape detection. nbsp;br /
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Student and other websites, which have alleged that Majid Tavakkoli was beaten at the time of his arrest, have denied that he was wearing the clothes when arrested, but suggested he was forced to wear them afterwards.br /
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Dozens of students and others were arrested before, during and after the 7 December protests that took place in cities across the country. Many have been released, but an unknown number remain in detention. nbsp;br /
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Amnesty International has also called on the Iranian authorities to promptly and impartially investigate the reports that Majid Tavakolli was beaten during his arrest.br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/ASA/mongolia-riot100.jpg alt= title= /br/The Government of Mongolia has failed to effectively respond to human rights abuses that took place during the July 2008 riot in Sukhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar, and its aftermath, leaving a legacy of impunity and injustice, Amnesty International said in a report released on Friday. br /
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Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s report describes how hundreds of people were taken to police detention centres where they were held in over-crowded cells without food or water for up to 72 hours during the riots. Police beat detainees while they were in custody and during interrogations to extract ldquo;confessionsrdquo;. br /
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Over 700 people were arrested and over 100 more in the weeks following, for suspected offences committed during the riot. br /
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One year on from the riot, the scope of the investigation conducted remains limited. Allegations of torture and other ill-treatment in detention, and excessive and unnecessary use of force by police have largely been ignored. br /
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ldquo;Investigations into allegations of human rights violations have been delayed, ignored or inadequately investigatedrdquo;, said Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific Deputy Programme Director at Amnesty International. br /
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ldquo;A year on from the riot and there is no accountability on the part of authorities and no justice for the victims.rdquo; br /
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Procedures for prosecution of ten police officers and four senior police officials suspected of using and authorizing the use of live ammunition during the riot was stalled by the defendants and their lawyers for over seven months until early November 2009. The case file is now being read by the families of the victims and their lawyers. br /
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ldquo;There has been a failure on the part of the Mongolian government to seriously investigate allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of those held in detention following the riot or to prosecute those suspected of carrying out and ordering the use of live ammunition,rdquo; said Roseann Rife. br /
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Mongolia has failed to comply with its international obligations which require them to take a range of legislative, judicial, administrative and other measures to prevent human rights violations and bring those responsible to justice and ensure victims receive reparations in line with international standards. br /
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The secrecy surrounding the operations of police and other law enforcement agencies is further damaging their reputation leading to mistrust and fear. Such sentiments will persist as long as the authorities fail to take concrete steps to conduct independent investigations and prosecute any alleged perpetrators of offences involving human rights violations, and implement reforms to ensure non-repetition. br /
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strongBackground /strongbr /
Amnesty International calls on the Mongolian government to: br /
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Ensure that the Special Investigation Unit of the State General Prosecutorsrsquo; Office is provided adequate funding and support to enable it to carry out prompt, independent, impartial and thorough investigations into allegations of offences involving human rights violations against officials and that procedures are in place to ensure that parties involved in the investigation are not able to stall or otherwise delay procedures unreasonably and prevent cases being prosecuted. br /
br /
Ensure that any complaints or reports of human rights violations are investigated promptly, independently, impartially and thoroughly, and that those suspected of related offences are prosecuted. Investigations should be conducted by personnel who are competent, impartial and independent of the alleged perpetrators and the agency they serve. br /
br /
Initiate a review of regulations, policy, and training to ensure that the practices of the police, including the use of force, in policing demonstrations are consistent with international human rights standards, including the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms. br /
br /
Establish effective mechanisms to receive complaints, provide timely and accessible information on the progress of cases, and ensure that any person wishing to submit a complaint against law enforcement officials is not in any way obstructed from doing so. Where a complaint is rejected as inadmissible, the complainant should be given clear and detailed reasons for the decision, in writing, and information on appeals mechanisms and alternative avenues of recourse. br /
br /
Ensure that victims of crimes committed by law enforcement officials have access to an effective remedy and receive adequate reparation, including compensation, restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition in accordance with international standards. br /
br /
On 1 July 2008 thousands of people protested at Sukhbaatar Square amid allegations of widespread election fraud. The riot was unexpected and unexpectedly violent. At least nine people were shot by the police, four fatally, and a fifth person died allegedly from smoke inhalation. br /
br /
The Government called the countryrsquo;s first state of emergency since transitioning to a democratic system of government in 1990 for four days from midnight 2 July, 2008.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AFR/nigeria-police-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International exposed the shocking level of unlawful police killings in Nigeria in a new report released on Wednesday.br /
br /
ldquo;The Nigerian police are responsible for hundreds of unlawful killings every year,rdquo; said Erwin van der Borght, Director of Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Africa Programme.br /
br /
ldquo;Police donrsquo;t only kill people by shooting them; they also torture them to death, often while they are in detention.rdquo;br /
br /
ldquo;The majority of the cases go un-investigated and the police officers responsible go unpunished. The families of the victims usually get no justice or redress. Most never even find out what happened to their loved ones.rdquo;br /
br /
Police frequently claim that the victims of shootings were lsquo;armed robbersrsquo; killed in lsquo;shoot-outsrsquo; with the police or while trying to escape custody. These claims are often highly implausible.br /
br /
Fifteen-year-old Emmanuel Egbo was killed by a police officer in Enugu in September 2008. According to witnesses, he was playing with other children in front of his unclersquo;s house when three police officers came up to them. One officer pulled out a gun and shot the boy, claiming he was an armed robber. He was unarmed. br /
br /
In August 2009, his family discovered his body had disappeared from the mortuary. As of November 2009, the body is still missing.br /
br /
Amnesty International said that some police officers see the killings of lsquo;armed robbersrsquo; in detention as acceptable practice. nbsp;br /
br /
In June 2009, the organization visited the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) detention centre in Abuja, which is located in a disused abattoir outside the city. br /
br /
Suspects are held in a vast warehouse previously used for slaughtering cattle. Chains are still hanging from the ceiling. When Amnesty International delegates visited the building, about 15 people were held in cells. Amnesty International delegates counted at least 30 empty bullet cases scattered on the ground.br /
br /
Unofficially, a policeman told Amnesty International that many ldquo;armed robbersrdquo; are taken there and shot. br /
br /
Amnesty International said that one of the main problems is lsquo;Nigeria Police Force Order 237rsquo; under which police officers are allowed to shoot suspects and detainees who attempt to escape or avoid arrest ndash; whether or not they pose a threat to life. br /
br /
ldquo;Force Order 237 is so impermissibly broad. It simply gives police officers permission to shoot people. It is against international standards, and is being abused by police officers to commit, justify and cover up illegal killings,rdquo; said Erwin van der Borght.br /
br /
ldquo;The government must repeal Force Order 237 and publicly announce that the use of lethal force is only allowed when strictly unavoidable to protect life. This simple step could make a big difference to the number of unlawful police killings we are seeing in Nigeria.rdquo;br /
br /
Enforced disappearances in Nigeria are rife. Typically, in the first days or weeks following arrest, families are allowed to visit their relatives in detention. Later on, police tell them their loved ones have been ldquo;transferred to Abujardquo;. Other times, they simply deny any knowledge of their whereabouts.br /
br /
The Nigerian government says that they do not condone extrajudicial killings. But they are not doing enough to stop them and bring the police perpetrators to justice. Even on the rare occasions when police officers implicated in an unlawful killing are prosecuted, they are often released on bail or escape custody. Some are simply transferred to other states. br /
br /
ldquo;Ending unlawful killings and enforced disappearances by the police will require serious legal reform and commitment and support from the Nigerian police force,rdquo; said Erwin van der Borght. ldquo;The Nigerian Police Force must introduce a new code of conduct throughout its chain of command ndash; from the very top to the bottom. If not, the cycle of violence will simply continue.rdquo;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/mexico-report-100.jpg alt= title= /br/New evidence of serious human rights violations carried out during
military operations to combat organized crime and drug cartels in
Mexico has been unveiled in a report published by Amnesty
International. nbsp;br /
br /
ldquo;There is a disturbing pattern of crimes committed by the military in
their security operations, abuse that is being denied and ignored by
both the civilian and the military authorities in Mexico,rdquo; said Kerrie
Howard, deputy director of Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Americas programme.br /
br /
In its report, emMexico: Human rights violations by the military/em, Amnesty
International accuses the authorities of failing to fully probe
allegations of abuses committed by the military, including enforced
disappearances, extrajudicial and unlawful killings, torture, ill
treatment and arbitrary detentions.br /
br /
By the end of June 2009, almost 2,000 complaints of abuse by the
military had been received by the National Human Rights Commission in
Mexico since the start of 2008.nbsp; Only 367 were received in 2007 and 182
in 2006. nbsp;br /
br /
Amnesty International believes that this information does not fully
reflect the extent of abuses being carried out but that it is
indicative of a growing trend of abuses. nbsp;br /
br /
A human rights organization in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, told Amnesty
International they had received 70 complaints involving arbitrary
detention, torture and other ill-treatment by the military between
January 2008 and September 2009.nbsp; But only 21 individuals lodged legal
complaints.nbsp; The rest feared that threats against them would transform
into attacks. br /
br /
ldquo;The cases that we have been able to investigate are truly shocking.nbsp;
But what is more shocking is that we know that this is only the tip of
the iceberg.nbsp; We are able to go into specific detail on a number of
cases whilst the government continues to deny that there are cases of
human rights abuses that need to be investigated,rdquo; said Kerrie Howard.br /
br /
Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s report goes into detail on five cases of
serious human rights violations committed by the military against 35
individuals between October 2008 and August 2009 in the states of
Chihuahua,Tamaulipas and Baja California.br /
br /
On 21 October 2008, witnesses saw 31 year-old Sauacute;l Becerra Reyes and
five other men arrested by soldiers in a car-wash in Ciudad Juaacute;rez,
Chihuahua state. br /
br /
Five days later, the five men arrested with Sauacute;l were transferred from
a military base to the Federal Attorney Generalrsquo;s Office and charged
with drug and firearm offences. Saulrsquo;s detention was never acknowledged
and he was never seen alive again.br /
br /
Several official complaints were made about Sauacute;l lsquo;s disappearance but
none led to an effective investigation by the authorities. Despite a
petition from a federal judge, civilian and military authorities
repeatedly denied knowledge of Saulrsquo;s whereabouts. br /
br /
Sauacute;lrsquo;s body was found in March 2009. His death certificate said he died
one day after his detention of a cerebral hemorrhage from head trauma.
The authorities carried out no further autopsy.br /
The federal judge closed the case and passed it to the Chihuahua state
prosecutorrsquo;s office to be investigated as an ordinary murder with no
reference to evidence of military involvement. br /
br /
ldquo;Mexico is facing a major public security crisis and the government has
a clear responsibility to combat organized crime and drug cartels by
all legal means,rdquo; said Kerrie Howard. br /
br /
ldquo;This is a difficult and dangerous job, but the severity of a crisis
should not be used as a pretext for turning a blind eye when abuses are
committed.rdquo; br /
br /
Amnesty International also complained that the few cases of military
abuse that are taken forward are dealt with in virtually closed
military courts where victims and their relatives have no access to
information or status on which they can challenge judicial or court
proceedings. br /
br /
The lack of independence and impartiality of military prosecutors and
courts has repeatedly resulted in the denial of justice to victims and
impunity for perpetrators. br /
br /
ldquo;The abuses we have seen contribute to the deterioration of the security situation in Mexico,rdquo; said Kerrie Howard. br /
br /
ldquo;By failing to take action to prevent and punish serious human rights
violations the Mexican government could be seen to be complicit in
these crimes.rdquo; br /
br /
Amnesty International urged the Mexican authorities to recognize the
seriousness and scale of the reports of human rights abuses committed
by members of the military as well as the level of complicity of
civilian authorities in covering up these abuses and to make the issue
a government priority. br /
br /
The government must take immediate steps to ensure prompt and impartial
investigations by the civilian authorities so those responsible are
brought before the civilian courts and victims receive reparations.

The Nepali government must immediately pursue the arrest of an army major expelled last week from a UN peacekeeping mission in Chad when it emerged he has been accused of torturing a 15-year-old Nepalese girl to death, Amnesty International said today. br /
br /
Major Niranjan Basnet is charged with murdering Maina Sunuwar on 17 February 2004. She died in military custody after she was subjected to electrocution and drowning during interrogation. Her body was later exhumed from an army barracks where Nepali UN peacekeepers are trained. br /
br /
Instead of ensuring Major Basnetrsquo;s arrest and prosecution, the Nepal Army allowed him to continue performing his duties (contrary to the Army Act) and has so far failed to cooperate with the civilian investigations.nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
Last week it emerged that he was participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Chad. The United Nations has now reportedly instructed the Government of Nepal to repatriate him. br /
In 2008, Major Basnet was one of four soldiers charged by the Kavre District Court with Maina Sunuwarrsquo;s killing.nbsp; All four remain at large. br /
br /
A military court convicted the other three soldiers in 2005, but only on minor charges following a ruling that her death was the result of ldquo;carelessnessrdquo; as opposed to deliberate torture. They received sentences of only six months in prison which they did not serve, as the military court counted the time they spent confined to barracks during the investigation. br /
br /
ldquo;We have serious concerns that these military proceedings were neither independent nor impartial.rdquo; said Jonathan Orsquo;Donohue, of Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s International Justice Program. br /
br /
ldquo;Major Basnet must be prosecuted by a civilian court for his alleged involvement in Maina Sunuwarrsquo;s murder. If he is still in Chad, the Nepal government should request the UN Mission to detain him and to ensure his transfer back to Nepal to face trial. rdquo;nbsp; Jonathan Orsquo;Donohue said. br /
br /
This case represents only one of hundreds of killings, enforced disappearances and torture committed by the Nepal Army, which the government and the military continue to ignore. br /
br /
ldquo;All human rights violations committed by soldiers and others must be investigated and, where there is sufficient evidence, those responsible prosecuted in civilian courts,ldquo; saidnbsp; Jonathan Orsquo;Donohue. br /
br /
ldquo;Victims and their families must receive justice. The truth about what happened to them or their loved ones must be made known and full reparations should be provided.rdquo; br /
br /
Major Basnet had passed internal Nepali military vetting procedures on human rights before he was assigned to the UN peacekeeping mission. br /
br /
ldquo;Disturbingly, given that impunity in Nepal is pervasive, it is likely that – without an effective system of vetting in place – many other perpetrators of such serious human rights violations may now be serving in UN missions to protect civilians,rdquo; said Jonathan Orsquo;Donohue. br /
br /
strongBackground /strongbr /
For years, the Nepali Army tried to conceal the truth about what happened to Maina Sunuwar and the whereabouts of her remains from her family. br /
br /
Following national and international pressure, the Army conducted flawed military investigations and military court proceedings against three of those accused. Though Major Basnetrsquo;s name featured prominently in the report of the armyrsquo;s internal investigation team, he was not charged at that stage. br /
br /
Although the military court recognized that Maina Sunuwar had been subjected to drowning and electrocution during interrogation, it ruled that her killing was not the ldquo;result of intentional severe torture but [that she] died unfortunately and accidentally due to wrongful techniques used out of carelessness, fickleness and irrationality during the interrogation and due to her own physical weaknesses.rdquo; br /
br /
The three soldiers were convicted of only minor offences, such as using improper interrogation techniques and not following procedures. br /
br /
In September 2009, the Kavre court ordered the suspension of Major Basnet from the military.

The Russian authorities must stop persecuting human rights activists and instead channel their efforts into investigating those responsible for their murders, Amnesty International said ahead of Human Rights Day. br /
br /
ldquo;The continuing failure of the Russian authorities to respect and safeguard the work of human rights defenders as an integral part of a functioning society is in breach of their international obligations. Furthermore, it puts defendersrsquo; lives at risk,rdquo; said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and Central Asia Programme Director. br /
br /
Amnesty International calls for the immediate release on bail of Alexei Sokolov, head of a Russian non-governmental organization (NGO) campaigning against torture or other ill-treatment in places of detention. br /
br /
Alexei Sokolov was also investigating cases of possible corruption among regional law enforcement officials but was detained in May 2009 on suspicion that he had taken part in a 2004 robbery. br /
br /
Amnesty International considers that he is a possible prisoner of conscience who may have been prosecuted for his lawful activities and is concerned that he may not receive a fair trial. br /
br /
Oleg Orlov, head of the Russian NGO Human Rights Centre Memorial, could also be named a prisoner of conscience if he is imprisoned on charges of defamation after he made a statement following the murder of fellow activist Natalia Estemirova in which he referred to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov. br /
br /
ldquo;Public officials should be prepared to be under close scrutiny, they have to take responsibility for their actions and statements,rdquo; Nicola Duckworth said. br /
br /
ldquo;While the right to freedom of expression can be limited by law, the persecution of Oleg Orlov is a wholly disproportionate infringement of this right.rdquo; br /
br /
Oleg Orlov has already been fined after being convicted on civil charges of slander arising from the same statement. br /
br /
ldquo;These latest cases characterize the climate in which many human rights defenders in Russia have to work. They illustrate the lengths to which the authorities are prepared to go in order to stifle any criticism from human rights defenders directed at them,rdquo; Nicola Duckworth said. br /
nbsp; br /
ldquo;In the meantime, the murders of human rights defenders such as Natalia Estemirova and Zarema Sadulaieva, who both worked in Chechnya, remain unresolved.rdquo; br /
br /
On 31 October, Zarema Gaisanova, a staff member of a humanitarian organization, was abducted from her home in Grozny at the time of a security operation reportedly overseen in the area by President Kadyrov. She has not been seen since and there are serious concerns for her safety. br /
br /
ldquo;Persecuting human rights defenders or independent journalists for their criticism of the authorities amounts to harassment and contradicts Russiarsquo;s commitments made as a party to international human rights treaties.rdquo; br /
br /
ldquo;We want to see a strong and real commitment from the Russian authorities to end attacks on human rights defenders and humanitarian workers. It depends on their political will to create a climate where those responsible are brought to justice.rdquo;

p
The Philippine authorities should immediately establish a clear and short timetable for an end to martial law in the countryrsquo;s restive Maguindanao province and dismantle armed paramilitary groups throughout the country, Amnesty International said in Manila today. br /
br /
Key human rights, including the right to challenge the legality of detention, must not be violated or restricted under any circumstances. br /
br /
On 5 December President Gloria M. Arroyo declared martial law in Maguindanao and suspended the writ of habeas corpus in the wake of the massacre of 57 people there, including more than 30 journalists. Andal Ampatuan, Jr., of the powerful Ampatuan clan that has dominated politics in Maguindanao for much of the past decade, was recently arrested and charged with the murders. br /
br /
ldquo;The people of Maguindanao are terrified of martial law because they remember the terrible violations that occurred during military control in the 1970s,rdquo; said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Asia-Pacific director, who has just returned from Maguindanao. br /
br /
During its visit Amnesty International did not find indications so far of serious human rights violations by military personnel since the imposition of martial law.nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
However, the military has arrested some 70 people without warrant. Moreover, the military deployment has prompted the displacement of more than 2,000 residents from areas of Maguindano province controlled by the Ampatuan clan. br /
br /
The recent insecurity has also hindered humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of civilians displaced there due to previous clashes between the military and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
ldquo;Every day of heavy military deployment increases the risk of human rights violations or new clashes with the MILF even as peace talks begin anew.rdquo; br /
br /
The Ampatuans reportedly controlled 3,000 to 4,000 armed men operating as part of Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVOs) in conjunction with the militaryrsquo;s counter insurgency operations. Over the last several days army troops and police investigators have uncovered several caches of weapons, including hundreds of machine guns, mortar, and even armoured personnel carriers, supposedly used by the CVOs. br /
br /
ldquo;The CVOs in Maguindanao have engaged in systematic attacks on civilians, arson, and even murder, often with the knowledge and involvement of provincial authorities and the military. Powerful clans have used the CVOs against their political opponents, while the central government has often turned a blind eye.nbsp; In return the clans have helped the government in winning votes and fighting the MILF and the New Peoplersquo;s Army (NPA),rdquo; Zarifi said. br /
br /
Amnesty International called on President Gloria Arroyo to immediately revoke or amend Executive Order 546, implemented in 2006, which allowed the use of paramilitary ldquo;force multipliersrdquo; in counterinsurgency operations. Under the guise of CVOs and Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAFGU SAAs), in practice local strongmen have used these forces as private armies. br /
br /
ldquo;The combination of the vaguely-worded Executive Order 546 and the way the government allowed it to be implemented was a recipe for disaster. Unfortunately but predictably this made the horrific massacre on 23 November possible,rdquo; Zarifi said. br /
br /
ldquo;The commission established last week by President Arroyo to investigate the dismantling of CVOs and CAFGU auxiliaries should act urgently to end the use ofnbsp; groups that are well-armed but poorly disciplined and unaccountable. We hope that the commission follows through with decisive action to disband the armed groups.rdquo; br /
br /
ldquo;International law recognizes that in some circumstances governments may have to resort to emergency regulations and measures. But some rights, such as the right to life, freedom from arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, and the right to habeas corpus, can never be restricted. Any other restrictions must be limited to those absolutely necessary to the situation and must be lifted as soon as possible,rdquo; Zarifi said.
/p

Amnesty International has strongly condemned a violent crackdown by Sudanese security forces on political protests in Khartoum on Monday. nbsp;br /
br /
The organisation also received reports of those arrested being tortured in detention. More than 200 people, including opposition leaders and human rights activists, were arrested as they gathered in front of the parliament building this morning. br /
br /
ldquo;This is yet another example of the culture of violence that the Sudanese government has adopted,rdquo; said Tawanda Hondora, deputy director of the Africa programme at Amnesty International. br /
br /
ldquo;We ask the government to immediately announce the names and whereabouts of those arrested and to charge them with recognized criminal offences or else secure their immediate release.rdquo; br /
br /
ldquo;This widespread use of violence and torture against opposition and human rights activists as well as ordinary civilians must stop nowrsquo;. br /
br /
ldquo;The government should respect their right to peacefully assemble and express their views. This is a crucial time for Sudan and all parties should abstain from using violence, especially in the light of the coming elections and referendum.rdquo; br /
br /
The demonstrators gathered in front of the parliament building in the early morning despite a last minute ban being imposed by the authorities. br /
br /
The protest was aimed against the delays in passing laws that are seen as vital to a forthcoming referendum and elections. br /
br /
Next year’s vote will be the first presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 24 years. br /
br /
A referendum is also scheduled on whether the south should secede in 2011. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended 22 years of war during which 1,5 million people have been killed.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/iran-demonstrators-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International condemned the excessive use of force by Iranian security forces that saw scores of protesters beaten and detained during student-led demonstrations on Monday. br /
nbsp; br /
In a number of instances, security forces – including the volunteer Basij militia – used batons and tear gas to disperse opposition supporters in the wake of threats by officials that all demonstrations would be considered illegal and met by force. br /
br /
By the end of the day, the number of protestors arrested was not known. br /
br /
ldquo;Since the disputed election a pattern has emerged of the authorities preventing peaceful demonstrations, and then hastily resorting to violence against people who nevertheless choose to exercise their right to freedom of expression and assembly.rdquo; said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa. br /
br /
ldquo;All those arrested for simply attending todayrsquo;s demonstrations should be immediately and unconditionally released. The Iranian authorities continue to treat peaceful dissenters as criminals in violation of Iranrsquo;s Constitution.rdquo; br /
br /
Others arrested should be released unless they are to be charged with a recognizably criminal offence and tried promptly and fairly. br /
br /
Thousands of opposition supporters and students had gathered in Tehran and cities across the country to mark the anniversary of the killing of three students by security forces in 1953. In recent years the anniversary has become a focus for demonstrations by students on campuses calling for reform and greater respect for human rights.nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
One eyewitness told Amnesty International that students from Shahid Beheshti University marched alongside the walls of Evin Prison in northern Tehran chanting ldquo;political prisoners should be freerdquo; and ldquo;students will die, we wonrsquo;t accept oppression.rdquo;nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
Another told Amnesty International that central Esfahan, along with the university in the southern part of that city was full of Basij militia and plain clothed security officers to stamp down on any protests. br /
br /
In the course of the day, Amnesty International has been receiving reports of confrontations between plain-clothed security officers believed to be Basij and students at sites throughout the country, such as at Mazandaran and Sari universities, in the north of the country. Since the morning, security forces in Sari are said to have told students not to attend university. br /
nbsp; br /
According to reports, police used plastic bullets at Amir Kabir University in Tehran to stop students inside the campus from joining up with protestors outside.nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
In recent weeks, students suspected of organising the protests had received threats and scores were detained in an attempt to stifle the dissent. br /
br /
Protestors also faced other repressive restrictions as the authorities blocked the use of the internet and mobile phones. br /
br /
In a further crackdown the authorities banned foreign media from covering the protests. br /
br /
On Saturday the security forces arrested up to 29 women taking part in a silent protest in Tehran. The group, Mourning Mothers, which is made up of mothers whose children died in the post election violence and other women who gather every week to call for an end to the human rights violation which have taken place since the election, including justice for their dead children.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-dina-100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
As Honduras’ president elect Porfirio Lobo prepares to take power, new questions arise about events that have taken place since the coup drsquo;etat last June. br /
br /
An Amnesty International delegation in the country talked to human rights activists about the hidden crisis affecting the Central American nation.
/p
p
strongRead interviews with activists/strong:br /
a href=#DinaDina Meza/a – ldquo;We have gone back 30 yearsrdquo; br /
a href=#DonnyDonny Reyes/a – ldquo;Most crimes against LGBT people are lost in limbordquo;br /
a href=#AlexisAlexis Quiroz/a – ldquo;The population needs to be informed to make objective decisionsrdquo;br /
br /
/p
strongGilda Rivera/strongstrong: ldquo;Women are at higher risk because they are considered second class citizensrdquo;/strongbr /
br /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-hilda-300.jpg title=Hilda alt=Hilda height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/Gilda
Rivera works in an apparent oasis of calm on a hill in Tegucigalpa.
When you are there, among the plants and paintings which decorate the
building, itrsquo;s hard to imagine the stories she and her organization
hear. But some days, an unknown car appears and parks suspiciously in
the close vicinity of the offices for no apparent reason and waits,
then it leaves.br /
br /
Gilda is the director of the Centre for Womenrsquo;s Rights (Centro para
Derechos las Mujeres), a group that works to document and combat
violence against women in Honduras. nbsp;br /
br /
In a report published recently, the group painted a dark picture of
what it is like to be a woman in Honduras, where hundreds have been
victims of sexual abuse, domestic violence and murder. br /
br /
Gilda says the situation for Honduran women has always been worrying
but since the coup drsquo;etat of June 2009, things have deteriorated
rapidly. br /
br /
ldquo;When the whole population is facing human rights violations, women are
at even greater risk because we are considered second class citizens,rdquo;
said Gilda. br /
br /
The Centre for Womenrsquo;s Rights has documented a number of cases of
sexual violence against women reportedly committed by members of the
security forces since de coup drsquo;etat, particularly in the north of the
country. br /
br /
ldquo;A woman was detained by police officers after a demonstration, taken
to a piece of wasteland and raped by four police officers. She
recognized some of them from the names she could see on their uniforms.
br /
br /
quot;They left her there. She was forced to move away from her home because
of the fear she feels. This is the punishment women experience for
daring to speak out – to participate, to be citizens.rdquo;br /
nbsp;br /
Gilda is convinced that the historical lack of investigations and
justice for women who have suffered violence is contributing to more
cases of abuse. br /
br /
ldquo;The coup drsquo;etat ruined much of what we had gained and achievedhellip; all women have received is more violence.rdquo;br /
br /
hr /
br /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-dina-300.jpg title=Dina alt=Dina height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/strongDina Meza/stronga title=Dina name=Dina/astrong: ldquo;We have gone back 30 yearsrdquo; /strongbr /
Dina Meza lives and talks human rights at every opportunity she is given. As a journalist, an activist and a member of COFADEH (Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras), one of Honduras’ oldest human rights organizations, she knows all too well what it means to work on an issue that is not always popular with the authorities.br /
br /
The past five months have been particularly challenging for Dina and her colleagues at COFADEH. Its members have spent countless days and nights collecting testimonies of threats, harassment, police beatings, arbitrary arrests, ill treatment and killings across the country. br /
They then file habeas corpus and other legal remedies on behalf of those affected by the repression.br /
br /
In one of the most serious incidents, on 23 September, police threw tear gas canisters inside their office in Tegucigalpa, while Dina and other colleagues were inside the building. The message was clear from those who had taken power: defending human rights was part of the problem, not the solution.br /
br /
Dina believes the underlying problem in Honduras is a lack of justice prevailing since the 1980s, when hundreds of people were killed or disappeared at the hands of the countryrsquo;s security forces. br /
br /
ldquo;The generations who were repressed in the 80s ndash; the men and women killed, disappeared, and whose relatives still havenrsquo;t received justice ndash; all this accumulated impunity and the human rights abusers who are calmly walking the streets of Honduras, this all has to do with whatrsquo;s happening now. It teaches us that when repression goes unpunished, it happens again,rdquo; Dina said.br /
br /
ldquo;We have legal repression, police repression, military repression – so what does this mean? We have to reform and reconstitute all these institutions and start again, with a new procedure.rdquo;br /
br /
hr /
br /
strongDonny Reyes/stronga title=Donny name=Donny/astrong: ldquo;Most crimes against LGBT people are lost in limbordquo;/strongbr /
img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-donny-300.jpg title=donny alt=donny height=300 width=250 class=asset-align-right/Before the political crisis blew up in Honduras, Donny Reyes was trying to put his country on the map internationally, working to raise awareness of the abuses and discrimination suffered by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender people. br /
br /
But as the Central American nation slid into political turmoil, human rights were sidelined. br /
br /
ldquo;We had started talks with the Public Prosecutorrsquo;s Office, with members of the police and some members of the government for the investigation [of crimes against the LGBT community] and access to some public services. This stopped after the coup drsquo;etat,rdquo; Donny explained. br /
br /
According to information published by the organization Donny works for, the Rainbow Association, killings of transsexual people have also increased sharply since the coup drsquo;etat. br /
br /
Research conducted by Rainbow found that there were 12 killings of gay, lesbian, trans sexual and transgender people in Honduras in the whole of 2008. In the four months since the coup drsquo;etat, that figure reached 14. br /
br /
ldquo;These are the violent deaths and crimes that we have documented. It doesn’t include the many others we donrsquo;t know of – the ones that are left in impunity, lost in limbo,rdquo; said Donny.br /
br /
The activist ndash; who was himself a victim of abuse at the hands of the security forces in 2007 ndash; said the most worrying point of the crisis was during the state of emergency in the first week after the coup drsquo;etat, when curfews were implemented in different areas of the country.br /
br /
During that time, at least three members of the LGBT community were killed. Fabio Zamora was shot in the head while he was working in a market. Marion Cardenas was shot in the forehead on 29 June. Vicky Hernandez died the same way in San Pedro Sula, during the curfew on 28 June. br /
br /
ldquo;During the state of emergency you could feel a climate of fear, collective panic. Nothing could move here if it hadnrsquo;t been authorized by the armed forces, particularly the army. When the state of emergency was declared that day, everybody just ran home to hide and find refuge. What the authorities would do that night was nobodyrsquo;s responsibility.rdquo; br /
br /
hr /
br /
strongAlexis Quiroz/stronga title=Alexis name=Alexis/astrong: ldquo;The population needs to be informed to make objective decisionsrdquo;/strongbr /
In Alexisrsquo;s office, an old house in Tegucigalpa, the TV is stuck on one channel, Canal 36, one of the main news stations in the country. But there are no images on the screen. Instead, a multi-coloured test card reads: ldquo;They interfere with Canal 36rsquo;s signal to prevent us from informing you.rdquo;br /
br /
This very sentence is reflective of the situation faced by journalists across Honduras and the changes in the way the media operates in the context of Hondurasrsquo; political crisis.br /
br /
ldquo;Before the coup drsquo;etat we had some differences of opinion with the government but we didnrsquo;t have censorship; we didnrsquo;t have violence against journalists or other people who spoke out against the government,rdquo; said Alexis br /
br /
ldquo;Now we even have decrees which say that nobody can say anything against a public official, you canrsquo;t express any kind of unfavourable opinion against a public official.rdquo;br /
br /
C-Libre, the organization where Alexis works, has recorded 130 incidents of threats, dismissals and attacks against journalists since the coup drsquo;etat on 28 June. br /
br /
ldquo;Military occupation of media outlets is high, the level of physical attacks against journalists is very high, and there are threats ndash; these are the three most pressing issues. We have at least 130 cases, including closures of media outlets.rdquo;nbsp;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/honduras-demo-100.jpg alt= title= /br/At the end of a 10-day visit to Honduras during the country’s presidential elections, Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation to ensure all those responsible for human rights abuses are brought to justice and the victims given reparations. nbsp;br /
nbsp; br /
quot;The crisis in Honduras does not end with the election results, the authorities cannot return to business as usual without ensuring human rights safeguards,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga, head of the Amnesty International delegation in Honduras. br /
nbsp;br /
quot;There are dozens of people in Honduras still suffering the effects of the abuses carried out in the past five months. Failure to punish those responsible and to fix the malfunctioning system would open the door for more abuses in the future.quot; br /
nbsp;br /
During its visit to Honduras, Amnesty International’s delegation documented numerous cases of human rights abuses carried out since last June, when President Manuel Zelaya was forced into exile. br /
br /
These included killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests of demonstrators by police and military, indiscriminate and unnecessary use of tear gas, ill treatment of detainees in custody, violence against women, harassment of activists, journalists, lawyers and judges.nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
The organization found that members of the military assigned to law enforcement duties were involved in committing serious human rights violations such as killings following excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests and illegal raids. br /
nbsp; br /
Amnesty International also found that the civilian de facto authorities failed to do anything to prevent the indiscriminate use of tear gas against protesters. In some cases gas canisters were thrown inside offices. nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
Most people interviewed said that after being injured or made ill by the gas, they were too scared to seek medical assistance as police and military entered hospitals in order to intimidate them. br /
nbsp; br /
On 23 September, Marta (not her real name) was attacked by police while she was taking part in a demonstration. She was hit with a tear gas can, which burned her leg and caused her to have breathing problems. While she was hiding from the gases in a church, police caught up with her and hit her so badly they broke her arm. She didnrsquo;t go to the hospital until several days later because she was scared the police would harass her there. Her arm still hasnrsquo;t recovered and the burn to her leg is still visible. br /
nbsp; br /
quot;We spoke to people who still had eye irritation and burns to the skin several weeks after having been affected by tear gas,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;Not only did police use gas against peaceful protesters and in enclosed buildings, doctors were not given information about the chemical substances used in the cans to enable them to treat victims properly.quot;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
quot;The security forces’ use of tear gas raises questions about the level of training received that could have minimized the risks of serious injury or death,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;br /
nbsp;br /
Representatives of human rights organizations, journalists, lawyers and judges told Amnesty International about the threats and harassment they received for being seen as opposed to the de facto authorities. br /
nbsp; br /
Members of a national judges association were called to a hearing to account for their participation in peaceful demonstrations. br /
nbsp; br /
quot;During the crisis, institutions in Honduras have blatantly failed to protect basic human rights,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga. quot;It is particularly worrying that in Honduras the conditions which enable human rights abusers to go unpunished exist.quot; br /
nbsp; br /
Amnesty International urged the future Honduran government to:br /
ul
liRepeal all legislation, decrees and executive orders issued by the de facto authorities;/li
liEnsure the military return to their barracks and that their law enforcement function is withdrawn;/li
liEnsure that all members of the security forces are held accountable for human rights abuses committed between 28th June and end of November;/li
liDevelop a National Plan for the protection of human rights./li
/ul
p
quot;It is essential that the international community does not forget people in Honduras by giving a blank cheque to the new authorities over-looking the abuses of the past five months,quot; said Javier Zuacute;ntilde;iga.
br /
br /
/p
ul
linbsp;Call on Honduras to hold security forces accountable for human rights a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-honduras-hold-security-forces-accountable-human-rights-abusesimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//aabusesnbsp;/li
/ul

Amnesty International has called on the Jordanian authorities to launch without delay full and independent investigations into the deaths of two men in one week after they were allegedly beaten by police officers.br /
br /
Fakhri ‘Anani, a 48-year-old, died in hospital on Saturday, two days after reportedly being attacked by police officers outside his home in the southern city of Ma’an. br /
br /
Sadem Abdul Mutelib al-Saoud, a street vendor in his 20s, died on 8 November after spending around three weeks in a coma; he had allegedly been beaten with batons on the head while held at the al-Hussein Security Centre in Amman. br /
br /
Fakhri ‘Anani was reportedly standing outside his home when police officers,nbsp; wanting to question his son about an allegation that he had aided a person suspected of fraud, drew up in a police vehicle. br /
br /
Two officers got out of the vehicle and assaulted him, one spraying gas in his face, while the other beat him with a baton before dragging him down some steps, according to reports. br /
br /
He died in hospital in Amman. The autopsy noted that the main cause of death was due to an injury to the head with a hard object. nbsp;br /
br /
A police officer was charged on Tuesday with the murder of Fakhri ‘Anani and is expected to stand trial in a police court.br /
br /
Sadem al-Saoud was detained in October after arguing with a municipal worker about his street stall. The worker called the police to arrest him, which subsequently lead to his alleged beating in detention. br /
br /
At least four police officers in the case of Sadem al-Saoud have apparently been referred to a police court. The evidence against them will be investigated before the court decides whether the officers should stand trial. br /
br /
quot;The reported deaths at the hands of the police of two men within one week of each other is a very worrying development,quot; said Philip Luther, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. br /
br /
quot;While the prompt referral of a number of police officers to police courts indicates that the authorities have acknowledged the seriousness of these incidents, a full and independent investigation is essential to ensure that justice is done.br /
br /
quot;Jordan’s police courts are neither sufficiently independent nor transparent in their conduct. The court decisions are not made public and the sessions are closed.quot; nbsp;br /
br /
In March 2005, ten police officers were sentenced to prison terms of up to 30 months following the death in Jweideh prison in 2004 of Abdallah al-Mashaqbeh, 40 per cent of whose body was found covered in bruises. Little information has been made available about who was tried, sentenced or dismissed for involvement in his death. However, reports indicate that none of the sentenced officers spent any time in prison.br /
br /
Amnesty International has called for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into both recent deaths. The organization said that they must be carried out by investigators independent of the prosecuting authorities and agencies involved in the arrest and interrogation of the victims. br /
br /
The authorities must guarantee full co-operation with the investigation. br /
br /
Furthermore, all suspects should be suspended immediately from active police duty and prosecuted and brought to justice if evidence of excessive force or unlawful action emerges. br /
br /
This is the only way to ensure a clear message is sent to all Jordanian law enforcement officers that those who commit human rights violations will be held fully to account.

Amnesty International has called on the Jordanian authorities to launch without delay full and independent investigations into the deaths of two men in one week after they were allegedly beaten by police officers.br /
br /
Fakhri ‘Anani, a 48-year-old, died in hospital on Saturday, two days after reportedly being attacked by police officers outside his home in the southern city of Ma’an. br /
br /
Sadem Abdul Mutelib al-Saoud, a street vendor in his 20s, died on 8 November after spending around three weeks in a coma; he had allegedly been beaten with batons on the head while held at the al-Hussein Security Centre in Amman. br /
br /
Fakhri ‘Anani was reportedly standing outside his home when police officers,nbsp; wanting to question his son about an allegation that he had aided a person suspected of fraud, drew up in a police vehicle. br /
br /
Two officers got out of the vehicle and assaulted him, one spraying gas in his face, while the other beat him with a baton before dragging him down some steps, according to reports. br /
br /
He died in hospital in Amman. The autopsy noted that the main cause of death was due to an injury to the head with a hard object. nbsp;br /
br /
A police officer was charged on Tuesday with the murder of Fakhri ‘Anani and is expected to stand trial in a police court.br /
br /
Sadem al-Saoud was detained in October after arguing with a municipal worker about his street stall. The worker called the police to arrest him, which subsequently lead to his alleged beating in detention. br /
br /
At least four police officers in the case of Sadem al-Saoud have apparently been referred to a police court. The evidence against them will be investigated before the court decides whether the officers should stand trial. br /
br /
quot;The reported deaths at the hands of the police of two men within one week of each other is a very worrying development,quot; said Philip Luther, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. br /
br /
quot;While the prompt referral of a number of police officers to police courts indicates that the authorities have acknowledged the seriousness of these incidents, a full and independent investigation is essential to ensure that justice is done.br /
br /
quot;Jordan’s police courts are neither sufficiently independent nor transparent in their conduct. The court decisions are not made public and the sessions are closed.quot; nbsp;br /
br /
In March 2005, ten police officers were sentenced to prison terms of up to 30 months following the death in Jweideh prison in 2004 of Abdallah al-Mashaqbeh, 40 per cent of whose body was found covered in bruises. Little information has been made available about who was tried, sentenced or dismissed for involvement in his death. However, reports indicate that none of the sentenced officers spent any time in prison.br /
br /
Amnesty International has called for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into both recent deaths. The organization said that they must be carried out by investigators independent of the prosecuting authorities and agencies involved in the arrest and interrogation of the victims. br /
br /
The authorities must guarantee full co-operation with the investigation. br /
br /
Furthermore, all suspects should be suspended immediately from active police duty and prosecuted and brought to justice if evidence of excessive force or unlawful action emerges. br /
br /
This is the only way to ensure a clear message is sent to all Jordanian law enforcement officers that those who commit human rights violations will be held fully to account.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/iran-demonstrators-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Reports that the Iranian government plans to establish quot;cyber policequot; to fight quot;crimesquot; on the internet indicate that they are intensifying their attack on freedom of expression, Amnesty International said on Monday.br /
br /
According to the Iranian media, a special unit reporting to the chief prosecutor is being set up to scour the web in search of people quot;spreading liesquot; and quot;insultsquot; against the system. br /
br /
Amnesty International has described it as an attempt to stifle dissent, intimidate political opposition and extend the climate of repression online.br /
br /
quot;This new unit will further undermine freedom of expression, which is already severely limited in Iran,quot; said Malcolm Smart, Director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Amnesty International. quot;The authoritiesrsquo; aim seems to be to deter people from criticizing the government or circulating information ndash; such as information on human rights violations ndash; that they wish to suppress.quot;br /
br /
quot;Instead of permitting this, Iranrsquo;s judicial and security forces should end the mounting attack on Iranrsquo;s bloggers and online activists.quot;br /
br /
Repression of political dissent using vaguely worded legislation has long been common in Iran, with journalists and bloggers given prison sentences simply for criticizing the government. br /
br /
Internet filtering has already been implemented to ensure the public does not see views that differ from those acceptable to the government. br /
br /
This has created a palpable climate of repression following Junersquo;s disputed presidential election, forcing Iranrsquo;s otherwise active community of online journalists to self-censor or face arrest and possibly torture. br /
br /
quot;Iran will be applying to cyber activists the same flawed legal standards that have resulted in the imprisonment of scores of journalists who did nothing other than report the facts, peacefully and objectively,quot; said Malcolm Smart.br /
br /
quot;In the midst of acute political tension throughout Iran, policing the internet is yet one more way in which the authorities are seeking to stifle political dissent.quot;br /
br /
Days after June’s disputed presidential election, an arm of the Revolutionary Guard accused bloggers and websites of promoting ldquo;rebellionrdquo; and threatening to crack down on them. nbsp;br /
br /
The creation of the cybercrimes unit is the latest repressive measure implemented by Iranrsquo;s security services. br /

Amnesty International has welcomed the commitment by the Macedonian authorities to ensure that the International Day for Tolerance march in Skopje goes ahead on 16 November without hindrance. br /
br /
The organisation also urged the Macedonian authorities to properly protect participants in the march from any threats or violence. br /
br /
ldquo;The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are guaranteed in law and it is essential that Macedonian authorities uphold these rights,rdquo; said Sian Jones, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s Balkans expert. br /
br /
The organizers of the march are appealing for tolerance and non-discrimination on basis of gender, ethnic or racial background, religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation or any other ground. br /
br /
Earlier this year, participants in a peaceful student demonstration were physically attacked and racist, homophobic and other discriminatory and abusive insults were hurled at them by a large ldquo;spontaneousrdquo; counter-demonstration. br /
br /
ldquo;Civil society activists must be allowed to voice peacefully their concerns and act against discrimination of any kind, and to stand up in defence of human rights and freedoms,rdquo; said Sian Jones. br /
br /
The Tolerance march on 16 November is one of a number of activities being organized by a coalition of non-governmental organizations, including Civil, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in the Republic of Macedonia, and the Center for Freedom, to celebrate the UN International Day of Tolerance. br /
br /
The coalition is encouraging citizens and civil society organizations to organize similar events in other parts of the country. br /
br /
The coalition will urge the government to adopt a draft Law on the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination. The adoption of a law on non-discrimination is part of the process of legislative reform demanded by the European Union (EU) accession process. br /
br /
In their November Progress Report, the European Commission highlighted continued discrimination in Macedonia against minorities, including on the basis of sex, ethnic origin (in particular Roma), disability and sexual orientation. br /
br /
strongBackground /strongbr /
Amnesty International notes that the draft Law on the Prevention and Protection from Discrimination, as seen in October 2009, was not yet compatible with EU legislation, nor did it provide against discrimination by both public and private actors. br /
br /
Further, the law failed to make provision for independent institutions to ensure the promotion, prevention and protection of rights, or the means to ensure that a person suffering discrimination would have access to an effective remedy.nbsp; nbsp;br /
br /
In April 2009 a demonstration by a group of 150 people (predominantly students from the Facility of Architecture), against the proposed building of a church in the main square in Skopje, was attacked by a ldquo;spontaneousrdquo; demonstration of an estimated 3-4,000 people. br /
br /
The student protestors claim that the police on that occasion were unable to protect them from attack. br /
br /
However, several students are currently being prosecuted on charges of failing to maintain public order. br /
br /
The failure of the authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly was criticized by EU representatives and other members of the international community in Skopje, and the subject of a parliamentary inquiry. br /