News Clips- August 5, 2016

Civil Society & Human Rights Defenders

• After a video revealed the harassment of aboriginal boys in detention in an Australian jail, Australians protested, demanding an investigation. [Al Jazeera]

• A human rights lawyer in China, Wang Yu, who was in detention for over a year, made a public confession this week that appeared scripted. [Washington Post]

• A court in Bahrain postponed the trial of a Bahraini human rights defender, Nabeel Rajab, who faces charges for spreading “false or malicious news, statements, or rumors.” [BCHR]

• Three human rights defenders in China received sentences this week that ranged from three to seven years in prison all for subverting state power. [Amnesty International]

• Several United Nations independent experts called on China to provide Guo Feixiong, a human rights defender currently in detention, with medical care and to stop subjecting him to cruel and inhumane treatment. [OHCHR Press Release]

• The Ugandan police arrested several people at an LGBT pride event on Thursday evening. [Guardian]

Journalism & Media Freedom

• Officials in Tajikistan announced this week that authorities will begin fining journalists who use “incomprehensible” words in their work, targeting commonly used languages other than Tajik, the sole official language in the country. [Guardian]

• Both the Inter-American Special Rapporteur and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression made statements showing concern over the recent harassment of journalists in Venezuela. [OHCHR Press Release]

• Police in Zimbabwe violently broke up an anti-government protest, resulting in the beatings of reporters. [IOL]

International Criminal Law

• Jean-Pierre Bemba filed an appeal to contest his sentence of 18 years for the murder, rape, and pillaging of civilians in the Central African Republic. [International Justice Monitor]

• The United States Department of State said this past week that individuals responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in South Sudan will be held accountable. [U.S. Department of State Press Release]

• Nikola Ceranic, who is wanted for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, was arrested in Brazil following an extradition request issued in June. [Jurist]

Armed Conflict & Threats of Violence

• After the United Nations Security Council voted to send 228 UN police to Burundi in light of the ongoing violence in the State, Burundi announced that it would not allow the police force onto its territory. [Reuters]

• North Korea tested a ballistic missile on Wednesday that landed within Japanese territory. [BBC]

• The Islamic State captured thousands of Iraqi civilians and killed 12 of those captured on Thursday. [Reuters]

International Bodies’ Activities

• The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights named Paulo Abrão as the incoming Executive Secretary of the Commission. [IJRC]

• The United Nations Secretary General issued a report on the improved strength of the UN treaty bodies. [OHCHR Press Release]

Killings

• Iran executed 10 Sunni Muslim detainees on Tuesday following trials that human rights groups suspect were unfair. [Guardian]

• The Canadian government announced this week that an independent commission will start investigating the past deaths of indigenous women and girls. [Al Jazeera]

The Environment

• Indonesian seaweed farmers filed a class action lawsuit in Australia against PTTEP Australasia, the company operating the Montara oil rig at the time of the 2009 oil spill in the Timor Sea. [Sydney Morning Hearld]

• Kazakhstan signed the Paris Agreement on climate change this week, bringing the total signatories to 180. [UN News Centre]

• The Australian government this week promised to dedicate more resources to climate research. [NYTimes]