The Best & Worst Human Rights Developments of 2012 -By Mary McGuire | Freedom House

Today is the first day of the new year, 1 January 2013. Before embarking on the new year, I wanted to share a list compiled by Freedom House that reflects back on some of last year’s human rights developments. How did the world do following an eventful 2011?

Unfortunately, the bad seemed to outweigh the good this year, as many authoritarians held on to power and continued upheaval in the Middle East threatened to derail any democratic progress. Internal conflicts in a number of African countries boiled over, and the bulk of the former Soviet Union appeared to be moving in the wrong direction. Meanwhile, widely hailed political achievements in countries like Burma, Egypt and Georgia were complicated by negative twists.

Ongoing ethnic conflicts in Burma have undercut a recent democratic opening that was significant enough to allow the first visit by a U.S. president. Relatively free and competitive elections in Egypt have been overshadowed by continued unrest and authoritarian maneuvers by President Mohamed Morsi. In Georgia, what was considered a historic democratic transfer of power has been potentially jeopardized by what some regard as politically motivated prosecutions of former ruling party officials.

Though this list is far from exhaustive, the following were some of the best and worst human rights developments in 2012.

BEST 

LGBTI Victories in the Western Hemisphere:

There were several important victories in the battle for LGBTI rights in 2012, particularly in the United States and Latin America. A U.S. president voiced public support for gay marriage for the first time, and three states — Washington, Maryland and Maine — passed laws allowing same-sex marriage, bringing the total number of states with such rules to nine. In addition, the first openly gay woman was elected to the U.S. Senate. In Argentina, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2010, the Senate passed legislation that allows gender to be legally changed without medical or judicial approval, and includes sex-change surgery and hormone treatment in government health insurance plans. The same month, Chile passed an anti-discrimination law that penalizes all forms of discrimination. Although not specifically written to protect LGTBI rights, the measure was spurred by the brutal killing an openly gay man. Even Cuba has jumped on the bandwagon, electing its first transgender person to municipal office. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Canada and some parts of Mexico. Sadly, for all of the progress seen in this hemisphere, the situation for LGBTI people has actually worsened in much of Eurasia and Africa.

Passage of the Magnitsky Act:

Russia’s human rights decline made it an easy choice for this year’s “worst” list, but one development is worthy of celebration — the passage by the U.S. Congress of the Magnitsky Act. The legislation is named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in jail after exposing a multi-million dollar fraud by Russian officials. It will place visa bans and asset freezes on Russian officials involved in human rights abuses. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support as part of a larger measure that normalizes trade relations with Russia and Moldova. President Obama signed the legislation on December 14 despite harsh objections from the Kremlin. This law could set a precedent for how the United States and other free societies address gross human rights violations around the world. The European Parliament has endorsed the adoption of similar legislation.

Conviction of Charles Taylor:

In April, former Liberian president Charles Taylor became the first former head of state to be convicted of war crimes since World War II. He was sentenced in May by a UN-backed special tribunal to 50 years in prison for his role in a decade-long civil war in Sierra Leone. He was specifically found guilty of aiding and abetting the “commission of serious crimes including rape, murder, and destruction of civilian property” by rebel forces in that country. Taylor stepped down as Liberian president in 2003 amid serious domestic challenges to his rule and international calls for his resignation. His departure ended 14 years of intermittent civil war that had killed some 200,000 Liberians. He sought asylum in Nigeria, but was eventually handed over to the special tribunal.

Survival of the Tunisian Revolution:

While the freely elected transitional authorities in Tunisia have been buffeted by public frustration with high unemployment and pressure from conservative Islamists, the country has not yet suffered the fate of many of its neighbors in the aftermath of the 2011 Arab Spring. Varying degrees of instability and repression persist in Libya, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and particularly Syria, but Tunisia has made slow if uneven gains in its democratic transition. The constitutional drafting process is creeping forward without the bitter conflicts seen in Egypt, and the ruling Ennahda party, which was at one time a radical Islamist faction, has largely followed through on its commitment to govern moderately and work peacefully with secular parties. As the country approaches the two-year anniversary of the revolution, however, economic struggles have led to anti-government protests, one of which left nearly 200 people wounded, and support for the ruling coalition has definitively waned. The constitution is two months overdue, and there have been some concerning violations of press freedom. Despite these challenges, Tunisia continues to provide a positive example to the wider region.

WORST

Civil War in Syria:

The civil war in Syria is the worst human rights and humanitarian catastrophe in the world today. The latest estimates put the death toll at 42,000, with no end in sight. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, an alarming number of reporters — 28 — have been killed while covering the conflict in 2012. President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been on the verge of collapse for months, with many of his top advisers defecting or fleeing the country, yet he has vowed to remain in Syria, dead or alive. It is not even clear that his removal alone would end the fighting. Meanwhile, attacks by government forces on civilians in rebel-held areas are unceasing, and there are now concerns that the military is arming missiles with chemical weapons. Some rebel groups in the fragmented opposition have resorted to kidnapping and retribution killings, raising serious questions about postwar governance. No amount of diplomacy or international pressure has succeeded in convincing Russia to stop providing arms to government forces, or China to back broad-based demands for al-Assad to step down. And there is simply no political will within the United States or the rest of NATO to hasten the end of the conflict through direct intervention.

Devastation in Congo:

Over the past century, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the most resource-rich countries on the African continent, has been gutted by a combination of colonialism, corrupt and ineffective government, ethnic conflict and a succession of armed militias and rebel groups that have raped and pillaged their way through the countryside, often using conscripted child soldiers. As many as five million people have died since the late 1990s. The fraudulent 2011 reelection of feckless president Joseph Kabila was followed by the mutiny of hundreds of ethnic Tutsi soldiers, who then formed the March 23 (M23) rebel movement, widely believed to be funded by neighboring Rwanda. In November, M23 invaded and took control of Goma, a provincial capital with a population of 1 million, leading nearly 140,000 people to flee their homes. The international community has largely turned a blind eye to the country’s seemingly endless crisis, perhaps because there does not appear to be an easy solution. On a positive note, international pressure forced M23 to vacate Goma after just a few weeks, and the United States and Britain, which had long tolerated Rwanda’s denials that it was contributing to the unrest, cut military aid to the country as a result of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But these steps on their own appear unlikely end the fighting.

Coup and Extremism in Mali:

As in Congo, the horrific human rights situation in Mali was not caused by any single event. Rather it was a cascade of disasters that included a military coup, a reinvigorated Tuareg separatist movement, an influx of hard-line Islamist militants and the combined effects of long-term drought, poverty and corruption. This perfect storm has created a humanitarian crisis that demands international action. Northern Mali is now controlled by militant groups that blend radical Islam with transnational crime. These militants have quickly introduced a crude imitation of Sharia, banning music, destroying historic sites deemed “un-Islamic,” and summarily punishing alleged crimes like alcohol use and adultery. There are widespread reports of rape and forced marriage, as well as the recruitment of child soldiers. According to the latest UN report, over 200,000 people are currently displaced. The international community, deeply concerned by these violations as well as the broader security threat posed by such a sizeable haven for terrorists, has pressured what remains of the Malian government to overcome its internal divisions and prepare for an international invasion to reclaim the rebel-held north.

Russia’s Precipitous Decline:

Since Vladimir Putin’s tightly controlled reelection as president in March, the political situation in Russia has become increasingly dismal, with some experts comparing it to the Soviet era. As part of an escalating clampdown on anti-corruption activists and political opponents, the government has enacted numerous pieces of legislation that will have a harmful impact on human rights and the functioning of civil society. Most disturbingly, one new law requires civil society organizations that receive foreign funds to register as “foreign agents” or face possible criminal charges. In a related development, USAID was forced by the Russian government to withdraw from the country. Expanded definitions of “treason” and “espionage” in the penal code have opened the door for authorities to round up government critics as well as citizens who consult with foreign firms or simply monitor human rights abuses. Other repressive measures have recriminalized libel, curbed Internet freedom, outlawed “homosexual propaganda,” and imposed additional restrictions on public gatherings. Independent voices, some within the government, who have tried to speak out against this wave of legislation have been expelled, arrested or otherwise muzzled.

Repression in Bahrain, Other Gulf States:

After an independent report commissioned by Bahrain’s King Hamad uncovered widespread human rights abuses committed during the violent suppression of a protest movement in February 2011, the government promised to implement the recommended reforms. That was a year ago. Not only has the regime failed to enact anything other than minor cosmetic changes, seemingly designed to mollify the international community, it has also continued on a path of repression. Impunity for the security forces and censorship persist, and dozens of human rights activists remain imprisoned, including 2012 Freedom Award winners Abdulhadi al-Khawaja and his daughter Zainab. In recent weeks, the government has stepped up the pressure, banning “unlicensed” demonstrations and stripping 31 opposition members of their citizenship. Journalists and human rights groups, including Freedom House, have been repeatedly denied entry to the country to report on these abuses. Sadly, Bahrain is not the only Gulf state in decline. Several neighboring governments have begun to make some alarming moves to silence their critics. Deportations, travel bans and unexplained detentions, as well as disturbing new legal restrictions freedom of expression, have been seen in the United Arab Emirates. A ban on “unlicensed” peaceful demonstrations was passed in Kuwait. And Oman has jailed dozens of people for making critical comments about the regime.

The Menace of Blasphemy Laws:

The online dissemination of an offensive film that mocked Islam and sparked violent anti-American riots and protests in more than two dozen countries served as a reminder of the pernicious nature of laws that prohibit blasphemy in many parts of the world. These laws, which ban insults to religions and religious figures, not only have a chilling effect on free expression but are often used to justify violence, repress religious minorities, and settle personal grudges rather than combat intolerance. According to a Freedom House special report, there is no evidence that restricting speech reduces religious intolerance. In fact, the evidence shows that prohibitions on blasphemy actually lead to a wide range of human rights abuses. This does not prevent some Islamic leaders from using global bodies like the United Nations to push for international norms that prohibit blasphemy. In 2011, after enormous advocacy efforts by human rights groups and a number of countries including the United States, Canada and much of Europe, the push for this kind of legislation was replaced by a more circumspect call for the promotion of religious tolerance and dialogue. Sadly, these moderating efforts were endangered this year by yet another flare-up of religious outrage.

Reprint: The Best & Worst Human Rights Developments of 2012 -By Mary McGuire | Freedom House.

*This piece originally appeared on Freedom House’s blog, Freedom at Issue. To read the original, click here .

Related: Most Popular Human Rights Topics on Twitter in 2012 | HRW

 

Rutgers CWGL’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign (Nov. 25 – Dec.10)

Thousands of organizations across the globe are demanding an end to violence in their communities as part of the 2012 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign. On November 25, 2012 the Center for Women’s Global Leadership (CWGL) at Rutgers University will launch the 16 Days Campaign to call for an end to gender-based violence and appeal to governments to respond, protect, and prevent violence against women. Hundreds of events by diverse organizations are planned, including by African Women’s Development Fund, UN Women, Women for a Change Buea, and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

The 16 Days Campaign begins on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25) and ends on International Human Rights Day (December 10), to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. This year’s Campaign theme, From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!, highlights the role that militarism plays in perpetuating violence against women and girls.

Against the backdrop of several recent mass shootings in the United States, the Campaign will seek in part to illuminate the relationship between domestic violence and small arms. With nearly 700 million small arms in the hands of private actors today, research shows that having a small arm in the home increases the overall risk of someone being murdered by 41%; for women in particular this risk nearly triples. In addition, a 2005 study by the World Health Organization estimates that at least one in every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Violence kills and disables as many women between the ages of 15 and 44 as cancer, and its toll on women’s health surpasses that of traffic accidents and malaria combined.

“The pervasiveness of small arms and the violence militarism perpetuates in our communities the world over, challenges all of us to think critically about militarism in our everyday lives, governments’ actions undertaken in the name of security, and how we can promote a truly peaceful world,” says Dr. Radhika Balakrishnan, Executive Director of CWGL, global coordinator of the 16 Days Campaign.

Many events are planned worldwide to shed light on the impacts of the global arms trade and militarism on communities across the globe and to call for an end to gender-based violence, including:

• Across Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia, Gender Links will engage in dialogue with government councils to monitor national action plans and gender-based violence prevention efforts;
• At Tbilisi State University (Georgia), University of Verona (Italy), and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom), conferences will be held on war and peace, the politics of sexuality, and violence against women, respectively;
• In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a training seminar for over 1,000 women is planned, along with cultural festivals, murals, and student programs on gender-based violence and reproductive health; and
• A blog series on the intersections of gender-based violence and militarism, hosted by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, Rutgers University, USA will be launched.

The 16 Days Campaign, in its 22nd year, is a testament to the commitment and struggle of women and men worldwide to cast the spotlight on gender-based violence in all its forms and demand that all of society and government bring an end to this human rights violation. Since 1991, the annual 16 Days Campaign has mobilized more than 4,100 organizations in 172 countries to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of the multiple forms of violence women face. From Angola to Japan, the 16 Days Campaign has grown into a powerful platform to educate the public and governments about violence against women and human rights.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign from the Center for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University. For more information, visit 16 Days Campaign.

Source: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence (Press Release) – Rutgers University, Center for Women’s Global Leadership Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 160 Ryders Lane New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8555

 

Four More Years: America Re-elects President Obama! -By David Corn | Mother Jones

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President Barack Obama made history again, with a victory that defied a decades-long trend: Incumbents don’t triumph when the economy remains in the doldrums and the public sentiment is one of unease. In an archly ideological race that pitted a progressive case for government against a conservative assault on government, the president, burdened by a slow recovery but bolstered by a brilliant ground game based on hard-and-fast demographic realities, beat back Mitt Romney, who embraced the tea-partyization of the Republican Party and campaigned (often in an ugly fashion) for the chance to be CEO of the United States.

The election, a close call for Obama, signaled that division is still rampant within the political culture. Yet in his victory speech before thousands in a Chicago convention hall, Obama spoke of the “difficult compromises needed to move this country forward.” He insisted, “We are an American family, and we rise and fall together.” Moments later, he strode across a confetti-drenched stage, as the PA played Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising.” He had mounted something of a political resurrection.

 
This election was always going to be arduous for the president. Not since FDR had an incumbent commander in chief won reelection with unemployment so high. But after Obama’s party took a drubbing in the 2010 congressional elections, the president concocted a strategy for retaining the White House. In the weeks after that election, he told his aides and advisers that they needed to turn the 2012 contest into a battle of values and visions—no matter whom the Republicans would nominate. The reelection fight, he and his aides believed, had to be transformed from a conventional referendum on the guy in office and his handling of the economy to a stark choice between Obama’s aims and those of the GOP standard bearer.

So as the president racked up legislative victories (a tax cut compromise, ending the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, ratifying the New START arms control treaty) and then jousted with tea-party-driven congressional Republicans over the budget, the deficit, and the debt ceiling, Obama—displaying strategic patience—constantly endeavored to tether the tussle of the moment to a values-based message that emphasized the fundamental difference between him and the Rs: He wanted to preserve and use government as a communal force to fund investments in infrastructure, innovation, and education that would bolster the nation’s economic prospects, raise taxes on the well-to-do to underwrite such efforts and ease the task of deficit reduction, and protect (if modify) the social safety; the other side believed in affording more power to the the markets, downsizing government, and handing greater tax breaks to the wealthy to juice up the economy.

These were two conflicting approaches. And congressional Republicans assisted Obama’s efforts by embracing Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposed budget that included draconian cuts in domestic programs, the abolition of the Medicare guarantee, and tax cuts for high-income Americans that went far beyond the George W. Bush trickle-down tax reductions.

There was indeed a choice. And Romney, once he became the de facto GOP nominee, reinforced Obama’s narrative. He repeatedly described the election as a face-off between two alternative paths—claiming that Obama was intent on leading the nation into the wasteland of a European socialist, secular, government-centric society, and insisting that he, a lover of freedom, would guide the country into an age of dynamism, self-reliance, and economic growth spurred by freedom-loving entrepreneurs operating within free markets in a business environment without burdensome taxes and annoying regulations. Ideologues of the right and the left often huff that there is little that separates the major political parties. But in this campaign, each candidate found it in their interest to tie his core arguments to ideological stakes.

Romney did not ignore the it’s-a-referendum line of attack. He repeatedly asserted that Obama had failed to revive the economy sufficiently and claimed he could do better, inflating his job-creating cred as a past CEO of Bain Capital. Still, Obama got the vision-and-values face-off he wanted. When Romney selected Ryan as his campaign soulmate, it sealed the deal. At the GOP convention in Tampa, Ryan delivered one of the most ideological addresses given by a nominee in recent years. He contended that Obama had turned the nation into Ayn Rand’s worst nightmare—”the best this administration offers [is] a dull, adventureless journey from one entitlement to the next, a government-planned life, a country where everything is free but us”—and essentially called for a right-wing revolution.  

 
Following the convention, Romney did pivot to the center. Actually, it was closer to a reckless U-turn on a crowded highway at 60 miles per hour. After the release of his 47 percent rant reinforced the criticism he was an out-of-touch plutocrat who cared little for those who cannot afford dressage horses or health care, Romney quickly moved to sand down the rough edges of the hard-right stances on immigration, abortion, and gay rights he had peddled vigorously to win the nomination during the wild and wacky GOP primary contest. (On Election Day, an Obama adviser told me that in the weeks after the video was released, focus group participants who were undecided raised Romney’s 47 percent remark on their own: “That’s what they wanted to talk about.”) And during the debates, Romney refused to fess up to key proposals, including his call for gargantuan tax cuts and his support for severe cuts in government programs. This undermined Obama’s effort to present the election as a choice between two conflicting courses. But for months—most of the campaign—the president had succeeded in crafting the contest as a choice election.

Excerpt, read more Obama Beats Back the Right-Wing Tide -By David Corn | Mother Jones

 

 

 

Married But Not Equal | In The Life Media (Video)

There are 1,138 benefits, rights and protections that married heterosexual couples get from the Federal Government. But because of the Defense of Marriage Act, gays and lesbians are denied every single one of them—even if they are legally married in the state they live in.

IN THE LIFE sits down with five married, same-sex couples for a look at the real-life impact of the Defense of Marriage Act.

While “Married But Not Equal” focuses primarily on the inequalities in legal rights offered to married gay and straight couples, it is important to remember that marriage is about loving, committed couples who make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other, in good times and bad. DOMA denies LGBT couples the chance to have that loving commitment acknowledged and protected by their country because same-sex marriages are not recognized on a federal level, even if the couple is legally married in the state they live in.

Related Source: GLAAD

 

REPORTERO | POV Documentary

REPORTERO follows a veteran reporter and his colleagues at Zeta, a Tijuana-based independent newsweekly, as they stubbornly ply their trade in one of the deadliest places in the world for members of the media. In Mexico, more than 40 journalists have been slain or have vanished since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderón came to power and launched a government offensive against the country’s powerful drug cartels and organized crime. As the drug war intensifies and the risks to journalists become greater, will the free press be silenced? An Official Selection of the 2012 Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. A co-production of Quiet Pictures, ITVS, and Latino Public Broadcasting with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. A co-presentation with Latino Public Broadcasting.

REPORTERO | POV Documentary

 

Missed in May 2012 | Human Rights News

Human Rights News from May 6 – May 31, 2012. Click the image above to be redirected to the slideshow.

 

Prominent LGBT Activist & Journalist Murdered in Nova Scotia -By Brady Levesque | LGBTQ Nation

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — A prominent Canadian LGBT activist and journalist was found beaten to death outside a popular gay bar in Halifax early Tuesday morning.

Raymond Taavel, 49, the former editor of the LGBT magazine “Wayves” and former co-chair of PrideWeek Halifax, was found bleeding and unconscious outside the Menz & Mollyz bar in Halifax at about 2:30 a.m. by a passerby who called authorities.

Constable Brian Palmeter, a spokesperson for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Halifax, told LGBTQ Nation that according to witnesses, Taavel and another man were accosted by an individual outside the bar.

One witness told police that he saw a large man attack two smaller men, one of whom fled as the attacker slammed the other man’s head into the street. Two other witnesses told police the attacker used homophobic slurs during the beating.

Palmeter said Taavel died at the scene as a result of his injuries.

A police K-9 unit was used to track the assailant to a nearby alley where he was hiding behind some trash cans. Andre Noel Denny, 32, is scheduled to appear in Halifax Provincial Court Wednesday on a charge of murder according to Palmeter.

Denny is a psychiatric patient from the nearby East Coast Forensic Hospital who failed to return to the facility after a one-hour leave. He is one of three patients who did not return to the hospital Monday. One of those patients is still at large.

Capital Health, the private organization that runs the hospital, told LGBTQ Nation that it has launched an internal review into the matter and will not make further comment pending the outcome of that inquiry.

The CBC reported that Denny was sent to the facility after being found not criminally responsible on a charge of assault causing bodily harm in Sydney.

In court documents, the man is described as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. He is also described as being grossly psychotic with a history of aggressive impulsivity and unpredictability.

Tributes to Taavel have been expressed by scores of Halifax citizens and fellow activists shocked by his murder. “I think I have the same sense of shock as everyone else who is connected to the community,” says Kevin Kindred, of the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project.

“It’s incalculable, he was such a beautiful spirit,” says Halifax activist Hugo Dann.

“Anyone who got involved in gay rights in Halifax, knew Raymond. Raymond took his knocks, but he never stopped smiling and he never failed in kindness. That’s the loss that will stick with me because he was unfailingly kind … I think people will want to go out, to be together. I don’t think our community ever hides,” Dann said.

Reprint: Prominent Canadian LGBT Activist, Journalist Murdered in Nova Scotia -By Brady Levesque| LGBTQ Nation

 

Top 25 Human Rights Victories of 2011

My apologies to everyone. This slideshow was created back in January, but I have been extremely busy and haven’t had a chance to post anything for a while. For those of you who may have trouble reading the slide, I have included a transcript below.

TOP 25 HUMAN RIGHTS VICTORIES OF 2011 – TRANSCRIPT

1. Water Justice for India’s Victims – February 24: India’s state legislature in the southern state of Kerala passed a law allowing people who had been affected by Coca-Cola operations, which had polluted the Plachimada District’s natural water supply, to seek compensation. The action was welcome by communities throughout India and was celebrated at the international level as an important step toward holding multinational corporations accountable for their actions. (Photo: Jason Alden/OneRedEye)

2. Laurent Gbagbo Arrested for Crimes Against Humanity – April 12: Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo was arrested in April and flown to The Hague on November 30th to face charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Gbagbo was first former head of state to be tried by the ICC. (Photo: AFP/ Getty Images)

3. Bolivia Passes Law of Mother Earth – April 22: The country passed the Law of Mother Earth, the world’s first piece of legislation that gives the natural world rights that are equal to those of humans. Bolivia has long suffered from serious environmental problems from the mining of tin, silver, gold and other raw materials.The law promotes “harmony” and “peace” and “the elimination of all nuclear, chemical, biological” weapons.

4. Nepal is Landmine Free – June 14: The United Nations announced that Nepal is landmine-free. Thousands of the anti-personnel devices had been planted by the Nepalese military to battle Maoist rebels during a10-year insurgency that began in 1996. (Photo: Tim Wimborne/Reuters)

5. UN Passes Gay Rights Resolution, Hailed as Historic Moment – June 22: The United Nations endorsed the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender people for the first time ever, passing a resolution hailed as historic by the U.S. and other backers and decried by some African and Muslim countries. (Photo: AP)

6. New York Legalizes Gay Marriage – June 24: New York Legalizes Gay Marriage. NY became the sixth and largest state to legalize gay marriage. The bill, which passed 33-29, was the culmination of weeks of contentious debate and negotiations between Governor Cuomo and the GOP-controlled Senate. It is considered an important prize for advocates, given the states size and New York City’s international stature and its role as the birthplace of the gay rights movement, which is considered to have started with the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969.

7. South Sudan Becomes Worlds Newest Nation – July 9: After two decades of civil war, South Sudan seceded from the north to became its own country. While this is a victory and hope remain high, there is still much unrest between the two countries. (Photo: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters)

8. International Tribunal Landmark Decision in Jessica Lenahan (Gonzales) v. United States – July 21: Jessica Lenahan (Gonzales) v. United States is the first case brought by a domestic violence survivor against the U.S. before an international human rights body, the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights. After 12 years of fighting, Lenahan received a measure of justice. In a landmark decision, an international tribunal has found the U.S. government responsible for violating the human rights of a Colorado woman and her three daughters, who had been victims of domestic violence. (Photo: Jessica Lenahan Gonzales)

9. Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Freed – July 22: After two and a half months of detention and an international outcry, famed artist Ai Weiwei was released on bail from a Chinese prison. Weiwei has been an outspoken critic of the Chinese governments repression and human rights record, and his family has long claimed that his arrest was an attempt by the authorities to silence his activism. Although Weiwei is out of prison, he is in the midst of battling a 2.4 million dollar fine for tax evasion that many believe to be just another form of harassment. (Photo: Shannon Stapleton/ Reuters)

10. Chile Recognizes 9,800 More Pinochet Victims – August 18: Chile officially recognized 9,800 more victims of its dictatorship, increasing the total number of people killed, tortured or imprisoned for political reasons to 40,018. Survivors of rights violations will get get lifetime pensions of about $260 a month. Relatives of those killed receive more than three times that amount. In all, the government will need to increase its compensation to about $123 million a year. Victims also are entitled to health, education and housing benefits. (Photo: European Pressphoto Agency)

11. Peru Recognizes the Rights of Indigenous People – September 6: Peruvian President Humala traveled to Bagua, in the Peruvian Amazon region, to sign the Consultation with Indigenous Peoples Law, that requires government to consult with indigenous peoples before companies can begin projects like digging mines,drilling for oil or building dams. Indigenous peoples must also be consulted before Congress can approve any proposed law that could affect their rights.

12. California Passes First Ever Bill on Congo Conflict Minerals – September 12: California state assembly passed a bill that prohibits state agencies from signing contracts with companies that fail to comply with federal regulations aimed at deterring business with armed groups in eastern Congo. The California bill builds off the momentum of the Dodd-Frank bill passed by the U.S. Congress last year, by further encouraging companies to help build a legitimate mining industry in Congo.

13. Occupy Wall Street Movement – September 17: The first tent was pitched in New York City’s Zuccotti Park. Since then, the Occupy Wall Street movement has spread like wildfire, igniting a national conversation about unemployment, greed, income and economic inequality. (Photo: Craig Ruttle)

14. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Officially Ends – September 20: Americans finally said goodbye to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell—the law that banned gay service members from serving openly in the military. The repeal has been a long time coming and was a major milestone for gay rights advocates. (Photo: Getty Images)

15. Iran Releases American Hikers – September 21: After spending more than two years imprisoned in Iran, American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer were released on September 21, 2011. Josh and Shane, along with Sarah Shroud—released from prison in 2010—were hiking in Iraq and charged with espionage and illegal entry into Iran. Supporters across the country banned together with the hikers families and fought tirelessly for their release. (Photo: Jumana El-Heloueh/Reuters)

16. Flavia Kyomukama Appointed to Head Uganda AIDS Commission – September 21: Amidst the uproar over Uganda’s proposed anti-homosexuality bill (whose fate in parliament remains unclear), an important sign of progress was largely overlooked. In September, the Uganda AIDS Commission announced the appointment of Flavia Kyomukama to its main decision-making committee. Ms. Kyomukama is a well-known HIV-positive activist and vocal advocate for the human rights of LGBTI people. In the Ugandan capital, she spoke of the need to “remind leaders that gays are human beings with a right to health.”

17. Palestine Makes UN Bid for Statehood Recognition – September 23: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has submitted his request to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state. To rapturous applause in the General Assembly, he urged the Security Council to back a state with pre-1967 borders. (Photo: Getty Images)

18. Saudi Women Granted Right to Vote Without Male Approval – September 25: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, the biggest change in a decade for women in a puritanical kingdom that practices strict separation of the sexes.Saudi women, who are legally subject to male chaperones for almost any public activity, hailed the royal decree as an important, if limited, step toward making them equal to their male counterparts. They said the uprisings sweeping the Arab world for the past nine months —along with sustained domestic pressure for women’s rights and a more representative form of government — prompted the change. (Photo: Handout)

19. Arab Spring, Tunisia & Egypt Vote – October 23: Over the last year, a string of democratic uprisings has erupted across the Middle East and in North Africa. The revolution began in Tunisia in December 2010 when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in act of protest. Nearly a year later,on 23 October 2011, Tunisians turned out in huge numbers for the country’s first free election. Mohamed Bouazizi’s mother is pictured after casting her ballot at a polling station. Protest spread across the Arab world to Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and several other countries. On 28 November 2011, Egyptians went to the polls for the first time in decades after ousting President Hosni Mubarak. (Photo: Jamal Saidi/Reuter)

20. Palestine Becomes a Full Member of UNESCO – October 31: The United Nations cultural agency admitted Palestine as a full member in a highly divisive bid that opponents say could harm renewed peace efforts. One hundred and seven (107) votes turned up in favor of Palestinians, while 14 were against the membership bid of Palestine. (Photo: AP)

21. World Population Reaches 7 Billion – October 31: Danica May Camacho came into the world at two minutes before midnight, a tiny, wrinkled girl born into a struggling Manila family in a crowded public hospital. She became a symbol of the world’s population reaching 7 billion people and all the worries that entails for the planet’s future. Amid the millions of births and deaths around the world each day, it is impossible to pinpoint the arrival of the globe’s 7 billionth occupant. But the U.N. chose Oct. 31st to mark the day with a string of festivities worldwide, and a series of symbolic 7 billionth babies being born. (Photo: Erik DeCastro/Pool)

22. Aung San Suu Kyi Returns to Politics – December 2: During Hillary Clinton’s historical visit to Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi spoke about political reform and freedom. She stated: “If we move forward together I am confident there will be no turning back on the road to democracy.” Suu Kyi has spent most of the last two decades under house arrest and was released last year. On December 13, 2011, with support from the people of Myanmar and the international community, Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party was given the go ahead to formally return to politics. The National League for Democracy (NLD) will register for a by-election this year. (Photo: POOL New/Reuters)

23. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Declares “Gay Rights Are Human Rights!” – December 6: Secretary Clinton delivered her Human Rights Day speech in Geneva, making a powerful, timely and truly historic argument for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. (Photos: Getty Images)

24. Three Women Win Nobel Peace Prize – December 11: In 2011, Nobel Peace Prizes were awarded to three brave and influential women for their fight against injustice, dictatorship and sexual violence. The women are Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee (C), Yemeni human rights activist Tawakul Karman (R) and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. When they accepted their award on December 11, 2011, in Oslo, they called on all women to stand up and fight for their rights. “My sisters, my daughters, my friends—find your voice, “Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said. Before this year, the Nobel Peace Prize had only been given to 12 women in the last 112 years. (Photo: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)

25. Pakistan Passes Landmark Women’s Rights Bills – December 12: Senate unanimously passed two landmark women’s rights bills. The Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Bill 2010 and The Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Bill 2008 aim to empower and protect women and increase penalties for perpetrators of gender-based violence. Dozens of Pakistani women every year suffer serious injury and physical deformity as a result of having acid or other corrosive substances thrown on them, often as a result of family disputes. (Photo: Muhammed Muheisen/ AP)

27 -28. Sources: Click the URL to be redirected related article.

 

Deportation of Gay Man to Uganda Deferred…For Now | HuffPost

Robert Segwanyi

A Ugandan man in Britain who says he is gay and a victim of torture has had his deportation from the UK deferred at the last minute after fears that he could face persecution on his arrival back.

A human rights organization had petitioned Kenya Airways to stop the deportation which was due to take place at 20:00 on Thursday at Heathrow airport, after the Home Office said he had no right to remain in the country.

“Robert’s removal was deferred by the Home Office in a message to his lawyer less than a hour before he was due to be flown to Kampala. An earlier request to a judge for an injunction to stop the removal was refused,” his campaigners said on Thursday.

“This is a battle victory – but we have not won the war. The Home Office can still refuse to accept the fresh evidence and his asylum claim and issue new removal instructions. However his supporters will fight this and will argue that Robert’s mental state and his post-traumatic stress means he should be released from detention, as well as that his claim must be given a proper hearing.”

Campaigners and lawyers had argued that Segwanyi would face harsh measures, including ‘mob justice’ if he is sent back to his homeland.

Excerpt, read: Britain Defers Deportation of ‘Gay Man’ To Uganda After Petition | HuffPost UK

 

New York Becomes Largest State to Allow Gay Marriage –By Confessore & Barbaro | NYT

“It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repressions.”

~Harvey Milk

ALBANY — Lawmakers voted late last Friday (June 24th) to legalize same-sex marriage, making New York the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed and giving the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born.

The marriage bill, whose fate was uncertain until moments before the vote, was approved 33 to 29 in a packed but hushed Senate chamber. Four members of the Republican majority joined all but one Democrat in the Senate in supporting the measure after an intense and emotional campaign aimed at the handful of lawmakers wrestling with a decision that divided their friends, their constituents and sometimes their own homes.

With his position still undeclared, Senator Mark J. Grisanti, a Republican from Buffalo who had sought office promising to oppose same-sex marriage, told his colleagues he had agonized for months before concluding he had been wrong.

“I apologize for those who feel offended,” Mr. Grisanti said, adding, “I cannot deny a person, a human being, a taxpayer, a worker, the people of my district and across this state, the State of New York, and those people who make this the great state that it is the same rights that I have with my wife.”

Senate approval was the final hurdle for the same-sex marriage legislation, which was approved last week by the Assembly. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the measure at 11:55 p.m., and the law will go into effect in 30 days, meaning that same-sex couples could begin marrying in New York by late July.

Excerpt, read: New York Becomes Largest State to Allow Gay Marriage –By Nicholas Confessore & Michael Barbaro | NYT