A Human Rights Blog » africa

ICC Hearing on Darfuri Rebel Leader

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:40:04 +0000

(The Hague) – On October 19, 2009, the International Criminal Court (ICC) will begin a hearing to assess whether charges of war crimes against Bahar Idriss Abu Garda, a rebel leader in Darfur, Sudan, should be confirmed.

US: New Sudan Policy Should Measure Progress on Rights

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:10:04 +0000

Uganda: End Media Clampdown

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:30:03 +0000

(Kampala) – The Ugandan government should immediately allow radio stations and programming that it closed down after protests in Kampala last week to return to the air and should investigate the arrest and abuse of a prominent journalist, Robert Kalundi Sserumaga, Human Rights Watch said today.

Uganda: Police Restraint Needed in Response to Protests

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:35:03 +0000

(Kampala) – The Ugandan police should stop using unnecessary lethal force against protesters in Kampala, where scores of people were injured and at least four died on September 10, 2009, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch called for a prompt and impartial investigation into the incident, and urged the police to use restraint during future protests.

Rwanda: Tribunal’s Work Incomplete

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:17:16 +0000

(New York) – The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda may lose its credibility unless it indicts and tries Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) officers suspected of having committed war crimes in Rwanda in 1994, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to the tribunal’s chief prosecutor made public today.

US: Clinton Should Stress Human Rights on Africa Trip

admin — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:50:01 +0000

(New York) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton should emphasize human rights on her seven-nation trip to Africa, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to Clinton.

Africa: Reaffirm Support for International Criminal Court

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:50:05 +0000

(Pretoria) – More than 130 civil society and human rights groups from across Africa issued a statement today calling upon African states that are parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reaffirm their commitment and their obligation to cooperate with the court.

Kenya must provide shelter for 3,000 forcibly evicted in winter

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:35:04 +0000

Three thousand people in Nairobi are now exposed to the cold and rain of Kenya’s winter after they were forcibly evicted from their homes last week.

Amnesty International said on Tuesday that Kenya’s government should provide emergency shelter and other humanitarian aid to those evicted.

Police told residents of Githogoro Village, Nairobi, they had 72 hours to dismantle their homes before the bulldozers, which were lined up at the edge of the settlement, moved in. The evictions appear to have been carried out as part of the government of Kenya’s plans to build a new road, the Northern Bypass.

“It’s a disgrace that thousands of men, women and children were evicted without adequate notice or consultation and during the season in which the Kenyan weather is at its worst,” said Irene Khan, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. “Many families have been living in the settlement for almost fifty years and now have no option but to sleep in the rubble of their homes.”

Communal toilets were also reported destroyed as part of the forcible evictions, increasing the risk of the spread of disease among the remaining residents who have inadequate access to clean water and other essential services.

“The Kenyan authorities have a duty of care towards their citizens and should ensure the victims of these forced evictions have access to shelter, clean water and other essential services,” said Irene Khan. “Kenya’s government is failing to deliver on its promise to comply with international human rights law regarding evictions and until it does, there should be an immediate end to all forced evictions.”

Since the establishment of the very first informal settlements in Kenya, large-scale forced evictions have regularly occurred in a manner that contravenes international human rights standards. In a report released in June 2009 Amnesty International identified up to 127,000 people in Nairobi at immediate risk of having their makeshift homes and informal businesses demolished under a government-led plan to clean up the river basin.

Through its Demand Dignity campaign, launched in May 2009, Amnesty International is calling on governments globally to take all necessary measures, including the adoption of laws and policies that comply with international human rights law, to prohibit and prevent forced evictions.