Weekly Human Rights Update
Sponsored by Amnesty International
May 15th, 2011
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-Uganda: Parliament Committee Backs Anti-Homosexuality Bill-
The Ugandan parliament has recommended passage of the proposed Anti-Homosexuality
Bill. The bill retains the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality" and adds
criminal penalties for "conducting a marriage ceremony between persons of the
same sex."
Read More: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/05/12/uganda-parliament-committee-backs-anti-homosexuality-bill
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-China: Chinese Government Rejects US Criticism of Human Rights Record-
China has rejected US criticism over deteriorating human rights saying that China's
progress in human rights "is an objective fact." Meanwhile, hundreds of pro-democracy
activists have been detained, arrested, put under surveillance, and even sent
to labor camps as China has attempted to ensure that a revolution, similar to
those in the Arab world, does not occur.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13358081
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-Palestine: Palestinian Writer Detained Without Charge by Isreali Authorities-
Amnesty International has demanded that Isreali authorities release or charge
Palestinian writer, Ahmad Qatamesh, who has been held in detention on and off
for over 18 years in the occupied West Bank. "We fear that Ahmad Qatamesh may
be behind bars for no reason other than the peaceful expression of his political
views," said Amnesty.
Read More:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/palestinian-writer-detained-without-charge-israeli-authorities-2011-05-10
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-Syria: Targeted Arrests of Activists Across the Country-
Syrian human rights groups have declared that over 8,000 people have been reported
to be in custody or missing since pro-democracy protests erupted across the country.
This number is markedly rising, as Syrian security forces continue their nationwide
campaign of arbitrary arrests of activists--holding them incommunicado, forcing
them to sign undertakings to stop protesting, and in some cases torturing them.
Read More:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/05/15/syria-targeted-arrests-activists-across-country
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-Amnesty: Arab Freedom Struggle 'On Knife Edge'-
In its annual report, Amnesty International has declared that a historic struggle
for freedom and justice in the Arab world has been put at risk by repressive governments.
The report criticizes Libya, Syria, Bahrain, and Yemen for targeting peaceful
protestors to stay in power-while simultaneously summarizing the major global
human rights issues of the year.
Read More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13377200
See Amnesty International's 2011 Annual Report: http://www.amnesty.org/en/annual-report/2011
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About This Blitz:
Care about human rights? Every week, Amnesty International releases a recap of
some of the week's top human rights issues to the student body. With all the activities
Dartmouth students are involved in, Amnesty International knows it is difficult
for the average student to get their hands on a newspaper every day. Here Amnesty
international presents the week's top human rights issues-made easy!
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****For more information, see the "Amnesty @ Dartmouth Daily" newspaper at http://paper.li/DartmouthAi
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