Global

UN Secretary General's Statement: End Criminalization based on Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity

Publication Date: 
December 10, 2010
Source: 
UN.org


Thank you, Ambassador Jim McLay of New Zealand, Ambassador Ranko Vilovi of Croatia, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, and particularly representatives of civil society, it is a great pleasure.

Thank you all for coming to this important event.

Today is Human Rights Day - a day we dedicate to defending freedoms and protections for all people.

We know how controversial the issues surrounding sexual orientation can be.

Interview: Human rights, Fundamentalisms, Power and Prejudice

Publication Date: 
November 27, 2010
Source: 
Open Democracy


International human rights law is not a sufficient basis for responding to religious fundamentalism. Fundamentalisms are about power as well as prejudice, Vijay Nagaraj tells Cassandra Balchin. Vijay Nagaraj is Research Director at the International Council on Human Rights Policy.

Towards a Future without Fundamentalisms

Publication Date: 
November, 2010
Towards a Future without Fundamentalism


In the experience of women’s rights activists around the world, religious fundamentalists strategically use physical and psychological violence to undermine those who oppose their policies. Fundamentalist violence can range from highly visible attacks against abortion doctors or LGBT people to the support of military actions to excusing domestic violence.

Pakistan: Please support - Online Petition on the Bill on Domestic Violence in Pakistan by Baidarie

Publication Date: 
December 2, 2010
Source: 
Baidarie Sialkot
Baidarie Sialkot


Sign the petition on the Domestic Violence Bill in Pakistan!

 The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign symbolically links November 25th (International Day against Violence against Women) and December 10th (International Human Rights Day).“International Day against Violence against Women” was first declared in 1981 to commemorate the violent assassination of the Mirabel sisters on that date in 1960 by the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic.

Positive Women Human Rights Defenders

What does a positive women human rights defender look like? (Photo: IPPF; Simon Raynor, LRPS, CollageMedia Ltd)


On the occasion of World AIDS Day (01 December) and the 16 Days of Activism, the VNC Campaign pays tribute to the courage and perseverance of women human rights defenders living with HIV. This article by Alice Welbourn published presents another dimension of 'culture' that need challenging – one that stigmatizes and causes further injustice to women with HIV . The stories of HIV-positive women human rights defenders presented by the author show how they are reclaiming their dignity and those of others similarly affected by this world-wide epidemic through their perseverance and dedication.

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UN General Assembly: UN Member States Should Vote Against Proposed Resolution On “Vilification Of Religions”

Publication Date: 
November 19, 2010
Source: 
Article 19
Article 19 Press Release


London 19.11.10: ARTICLE 19 and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) urge UN Member States to vote against the draft resolution proposed at the current session of the UN General Assembly on “combating religious hatred and vilification of religions”.

Iran: Women's Rights Lawyer Shadi Sadr Legal Award + Speech

Publication Date: 
November 11, 2010
Source: 
WLUML
Shadi Sadr awarded the Katharine & George Alexander Law Prize (November 2010)


The Katharine & George Alexander brings recognition to lawyers who have used their legal careers to help alleviate injustice and inequity. The 2010 Award winner is Shadi Sadr, Iranian Human Rights and Women's Rights lawyer, and WLUML Council Member. The Committee selected Shadi Sadr because of her ceaseless dedication to championing the cause of Iranian women and risking her freedom to defend those who are wrongfully accused and imprisoned.

Below is the text of Sadr's acceptance speech at Santa Clara University in California.

Iran: Don't ignore human rights abuse

Publication Date: 
November 9, 2010
Source: 
The Guardian
The EU's Catherine Ashton has been called upon to include the issue of human rights in future exchanges with Iran.

 


The international community must not use Iran's participation in 5+1 talks to deflect attention from its human rights violations.

Iranian human rights activists are calling on the international community not to ignore human rights violations in Iran during their later this week. Iran has agreed to 5+1 talks (UN permanent members and Germany) as proposed by the European Union's high representative on foreign affairs, .

One Day One Struggle: International Campaign to Promote Sexual and Bodily Rights across Muslim Societies

Publication Date: 
November 9, 2010
Source: 
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) / Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR)
One Day One Struggle Campaign


On November 9, 2010, the 2nd international “One Day One Struggle” Campaign to promote sexual and bodily rights in Muslim societies will take place in 12 countries across Middle East, North Africa, South and Southeast Asia. With diverse, groundbreaking actions and events, almost 50 participating Human Rights organizations, Universities and Municipalities will simultaneously call for public attention to issues like Right to Information, Sexuality Education, Sexual Health, Bodily Autonomy and Sexual Rights of Individuals, LGBTTQ Rights, Sexual Diversity and Islam, Sexuality and Shari’a as well as the struggle to stop sexual rights violations ranging from Polygamy to killings of women, gay people and transsexuals.