Home Tags Human Rights Defenders

Tag: Human Rights Defenders

Myanmar: Suu Kyi to collect EU human rights prize

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is to finally receive the EU Sakharov human rights prize she won in 1990 at the height of the Myanmar military crackdown, the European Parliament has revealed. Suu Kyi, now leader of the opposition in Myanmar and aiming to run in presidential polls in...

Lao PDR: Where is Sombath Somphone?

Oct 10, — Today, Thursday, 10 Oct 2013, marks 300 days of the disappearance of Sombath Somphone, one of Lao PDR’s most prominent activists. Sombath is a long-time and good friend. In the late 1970s, he and I were part of a small group of human rights activists and...

Burma’s Suu Kyi Finally Collects 1990 Human Rights Prize

STRASBOURG, France— Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and long-time political prisoner, has finally collected the European Union’s 1990 Sakharov Prize for human rights. (Burma is officially called “Myanmar.”) In Tuesday’s stirring ceremony, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that “23 years later, we welcome you here...

Myanmar: 56 Political Prisoners Freed, but Section 18 Law Stays in Place

In a move praised by local and international rights groups, Burma’s government, led by ex-general Thein Sein, has released 56 political prisoners. However, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) noted in a statement to the media that 133 political prisoners were still languishing in the country’s prisons. “Their release does...

Thailand: Human rights activist ready to face jail on return to Thailand

Consumers in Spalding have the power to change the plight of migrant workers in Thailand who “work at gunpoint” to bring cheap food to our tables. That is the message from human rights activist Andy Hall, who is visiting his home town while renewing his visa. Speaking to the Free Press...

The Philippines: Group urges CA to junk AFP appeal on Panesa

MANILA, Philippines—A group of human rights lawyers asked the Court of Appeals to dismiss the appeal of the military to re-arrest security guard Rolly Panesa who was ordered released after almost a year in detention. The appeals court ordered Panesa’s release last Aug. 27 saying he was a victim of...

Philippine Wartime Sexual Abuse Victim Promoting Human Rights

A Philippine survivor of wartime rape and human trafficking is in Winnipeg to share her story with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Lola Fidencia David, 86, was accompanied Thursday by Cristina Lope Rosello, a Filipina therapist who helps former comfort women deal with the trauma of their past. David was...

Malaysia: As peer review nears, NGOs hopeful Putrajaya will meet rights pledges

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Putrajaya will be under the spotlight tonight, when its human rights track record will be scrutinised by the United Nations (UN) in the country’s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR). As one of the parties that submitted a stakeholders’ report on Malaysia to the UN Human...

UK supports Suu Kyi’s call for democratic reform in Myanmar

London: Britain has assured democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi that it will help to build international pressure on Myanmar for further reforms to ensure that the 2015 elections are fully democratic. British Prime Minister David Cameron, Foreign Minister William Hague and the Development Secretary met with Suu Kyi in...

Lao PDR: Wife’s plea: free my abducted husband

The wife of prominent social activist Sombath Somphone has made a desperate plea to Lao authorities, declaring he will leave the country and retire quietly with her if returned safely after being abducted in the Lao capital, Vientiane, 10 months ago. Ng Shui Meng, who has been married to Mr...