LGBTI rights groups build alliances to counter climate of fear

Daily Mail

LGBTI rights activists are joining with refugees, ethnic minorities and other groups to beat back forces that are exploiting a climate of fear created by terror concerns, an official with an international gay rights advocacy group said on Thursday.

On this page

• Protect children before Calais closes says HRW
• Secrecy over UK drone strike deaths in Syria faces legal challenge
• UK policy to deport refugees for ‘extremist behaviour’ criticised
• Opinion: May’s Great Repeal Bill will leave workers’ rights hanging by a thread says MP
• UK to pardon thousands convicted under past anti-gay laws

Protect children before Calais closes says HRW

Human Rights Watch

France and the United Kingdom should ensure that all unaccompanied children in informal migrant camps in Calais receive adequate accommodation and care before the camps are demolished, Human Rights Watch said today.

Secrecy over UK drone strike deaths in Syria faces legal challenge

The Guardian

The government’s refusal to release secret advice about the legality of British drone strikes in Syria is to be challenged by a human rights group. Rights Watch UK is appealing against a decision by the information commissioner that the Cabinet Office and the attorney general’s office should not be obliged to publish the document.

UK policy to deport refugees for ‘extremist behaviour’ criticised

The Guardian

UK immigration laws permitting refugees to be deported if they exhibit “extremist behaviour” may breach a United Nations convention, the organisation’s general assembly is to be told.

Opinion: May’s Great Repeal Bill will leave workers’ rights hanging by a thread says MP

Labour List

Theresa May announced last month that the Government will look to pass a Great Repeal Bill, which will replace the European Communities Act once Britain has left the EU.

UK to pardon thousands convicted under past anti-gay laws

The San Diego Union Tribune

Thousands of men who were convicted under now-abolished British laws against homosexuality are to receive posthumous pardons, the government announced on Thursday.

On this page

• Australia’s anti-terror laws criticised by HRW
• Euthanasia advocate’s new push
• Walk for human rights and refugees

Australia’s anti-terror laws criticised by HRW

Huffington Post

Proposed laws which would allow judges to keep convicted terrorists in jail long after their sentence ends have been slammed by a leading human rights organisation, with fears that such legislation could further radicalise potential terrorists.

Euthanasia advocate’s new push

9News

A Melbourne doctor has warned terminally ill Australians could resort to violent and dangerous methods to end their lives if euthanasia remains illegal.

Walk for human rights and refugees

The Northern Star

In the wake of Monday night’s damning Four Corners program about the state of children in detention on Nauru there will be a Walk for Human Rights and Asylum Seekers in Lismore tomorrow.

Opinion: Poverty and Lombard Street

Stabroek News

Recent media coverage highlighting the bleak conditions under which some residents of Lombard Street are living has triggered, yet again, discussions on the social deprivation endured by these residents while living in the capital city, and the challenges associated with achieving the goal of poverty alleviation generally.

Singapore says foreigners need permit for public assemblies

Daily Mail

Singapore posted new public speaking rules, clarifying that foreign companies and individuals need a permit to sponsor or take part in certain events, in an amendment that will restrict foreign support for an annual gay-rights gathering.

On this Page:

• CHRI: Right to Information activists from India and Afghanistan exchange ideas
• India uses public safety act for its crackdown on dissent
• Human rights education gaining ground in Mumbai
• India has seen a dramatic improvement in opportunities for girls
• 52% of gay men in India without peer support suffer violence

CHRI: Right to Information activists from India and Afghanistan exchange ideas

CHRI

Afghanistan’s Right to Information activists visited Delhi recently with the RTI team at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) on October 18th.

India uses public safety act for its crackdown on dissent

The Diplomat

The controversial Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, which permits administrative detention without judicial intervention for up to two years, has been condemned by the international community about concerns over the law being arbitrarily applied to human rights defenders. According to Human Rights Watch the law contains vague and overly broad terms.

Human rights education gaining ground in Mumbai

India New England News

In the world’s largest democracy, an English teacher in Mumbai is working to educate the youth in a Human Rights program. She saw a transformation of children. The program is called Youth for Human Rights and is an international non-profit supported by the Church of Scientology.

India has seen a dramatic improvement in opportunities for girls

Times of India

India has seen ‘dramatic’ improvements in the opportunities available to children girls, a UN report said while using the country as an example of improving the condition of their youthful populations.

52% of gay men in India without peer support suffer violence

Hindustan Times

A recent survey conducted across 5 Indian states by Swasti Health Resource Centre for 12 such CO’s has shown that gay men who seek support were far safer than those living with close members of the family. More than half of all men who face physical violence (52.4%) were still living with their parents and mostly not out yet.

On this Page:

• Kashmir dispute spills over into the entertainment industry

• Pakistan rules schizophrenia not a mental disorder

Kashmir dispute spills over into the entertainment industry

The Independent

Pakistan is banning Bollywood films and all Indian programmes and music across the country’s television and radio networks amid heightened tensions with its neighbour in the disputed Kashmir region.

Pakistan rules schizophrenia not a mental disorder

The Independent

Pakistan’s highest court has ruled that schizophrenia does not qualify as a mental ‘disorder’ under the country’s legal definition paving the way for a mentally ill man’s execution. The UN said it would be against international law to hand Imdad Ali, who was sentenced to death over the murder of a religious scholar in 2012.

Opinion: Enforced disappearances rising

Benar News

Bangladesh is notorious for so-called enforced disappearances, where people allegedly vanish in the hands of the police or members of security forces. A leading Bangladesh rights organisation, Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK) said the number of enforced disappearances has grown nationwide this year.

Concerns raised over new Bangladesh NGO law

Aljazeera

New legislation in Bangladesh allows the suspension or termination of an NGO if it makes derogatory remarks about ‘constitutional bodies.’ The law is intended to intimidate groups critical of the government. The Foreign Donations Regulation Act 2016 was enacted in parliament earlier this month without debate or contest.