In Canada, the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group – a group of First Nations communities in British Columbia – has requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, seeking to stop the sale of their historic land to the provincial and Canadian governments by a logging corporation. [Canada.com; Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group] The request alleges that the Canadian government has failed
Read moreCategory: economic, social & cultural rights
UN Rapporteur on Housing Concerned by World Cup and Olympics Preparations in Brazil
Raquel Rolnik, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, expressed concern about Brazil’s ongoing and planned displacement of many thousands of families and individual residents to make way for beautification and development projects for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. [UN News Centre] In particular, she signaled that the hasty evictions and “very limited compensation
Read moreU.S. and Brazil Reaffirm Commitment to Combating Discrimination
According to a fact sheet released by the U.S. Department of State earlier this month, President Obama and Brazilian President Rousseff “reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation on the U.S.-Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality” during Obama’s recent visit to Brazil. The Joint Action Plan, launched in 2008, commits both governments to sharing
Read moreVenezuelan Students End Hunger Strike As Government Agrees to Fund Universities
Venezuelan students have apparently ended their month-long hunger strike, which drew attention to imminent funding shortages at public universities, following the government’s promise to increase university budgets. [Yahoo] Just last week, four students sewed their mouths partially shut in protest. [Impunity Watch] Over two dozen public universities were reportedly on the verge of running out of money to run cafeterias
Read moreIACHR to Begin Hearings Today – Rights of Women, Indigenous Communities, Sexual Minorities and Human Rights Defenders on Today's Agenda
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights begins holding hearings today in its 141st Period of Sessions. The forty-four scheduled hearings will be held on March 25 (today), 28 and 29 at the OAS General Secretariat Building at 1889 F Street, N.W. in Washington, D.C. and are open to the public (with the exception of two closed hearings on Venezuela). No
Read moreLoss of Indigenous Rights, Peace Activist Samuel Ruiz García Is Mourned
The death on January 24 of Mexican peace and human rights activist, Bishop Samuel Ruiz García at age 86 leads many to reflect on his work in support of the rights of the poor and indigenous communities in Mexico, and as a mediator between the Mexican government and Zapatistas. Bishop Ruiz founded prominent non-governmental organizations Servicios y Asesoría para la
Read moreRemembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today in the United States, the life and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are commemorated. Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929 and in the years prior to his assassination in 1968, Dr. King was a leading figure in the non-violent struggle to gain respect for the civil rights of African Americans across the United
Read moreU.S. Court Rules Corporations Cannot be Held Civilly Liable for Torture and Other Violations of International Law under ATCA
Last Friday’s Second Circuit ruling in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, if upheld, could be the death knell for litigation seeking to hold corporations accountable for torture and other violations of customary international law under the Alien Tort Claims Act. The plaintiffs, Nigerian nationals, brought suit against Royal Dutch and Shell Petroleum for aiding and abetting the Nigerian government in
Read moreNews Clips – September 20, 2010
In a heartbreaking blow to Afghan hopes for peace, several U.S. soldiers are under investigation for murdering at least three Afghan civilians last year as part of a rogue “kill team” that was allegedly formed when a staff sergeant who had served in Iraq in 2004 joined the platoon stationed in Kandahar province. [Washington Post] The French Senate has approved
Read moreNews Clips – through Sept. 14, 2010
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Syria welcomes its first visit from a UN special rapporteur, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, in a showing of increased participation with the UN Human Rights Council’s monitoring mechanisms, including its upcoming Universal Periodic Review. [The National; OHCHR] The Special Rapporteur estimates that 2 to 3 million people face food insecurity in
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