Human Rights Watch: Afghans Deserve Change | Iran: Juveniles Sentenced to Death

Human Rights Angst Lingers in Afghanistan >> Published in National Public Radio "I did not vote. The warlords win whoever I vote for," said a young Afghan man who saw his entire family gunned down when he was 11, during the civil war of the early 1990s. One woman decried Karzai's electoral pacts with warlords - in particular the notorious Gen. Dostum, whose men murdered her brother decades ago. "My brother has been eating dust in his grave for 30 years, and here's Dostum still acting like a king." Afghanistan's elections are drawing to a shambolic finale, and the change Afghans desperately want remains out of reach, writes Rachel Reid, Afghanistan specialist. "It is time for President Obama to end his policy review and breathe hope into Afghanistan's bleak landscape." Read more about recommended US policy changes for Afghanistan Iran: Revoke Death Sentences for Juvenile Offenders >> Three Men Await Execution for Alleged Homosexual Conduct When Children Three men accused in separate cases of committing homosexual acts when they were under age 18, have been sentenced to death by Iranian courts. The courts sentenced all three to death despite lacking the evidence required to convict under Iran's shari'a-based criminal code. For example, in at least two cases there were no confessions, nor witnesses against the men. However, the code also allows judges to use their "knowledge" in determining guilt where no such evidence is available, a dangerously broad provision. Putting minors – including those who committed their offence while they were a minor - to death violates international law. No date has been set for their execution, but the lawyer representing two of the men fears it could happen any day. Iran leads the world in executing juvenile offenders. Read more.... More Headlines US: Obama Announces End to HIV Travel Ban President Barack Obama's announcement that national travel and immigration restrictions on people living with HIV will be removed should have positive consequences for public health. Other countries with similar restrictions should follow suit, as restrictions encourage bias and impede effective responses to HIV. Read more Beijing's Abuses Affect Many Issues the United States Holds Dear Published in the Wall Street Journal Since taking office, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-both of whom mustered some criticism of China's rights record while they were candidates-have said that human rights shouldn't "interfere" with other issues in the U.S.-China relationship, knuckled preemptively under Chinese pressure not to meet the Dalai Lama, and generally behaved as if the United States has no power in the bilateral relationship. Read more Eastern DR Congo: Surge in Army Atrocities UN Peacekeeping Force Knowingly Supports Abusive Military Operations Congolese armed forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have brutally killed hundreds of civilians and committed widespread rape in the past three months in a military operation backed by the United Nations. Read more Italy/US: Italian Court Rebukes CIA Rendition Practice Historic Verdict Sentences US Agents in Absentia An Italian court's conviction of 23 agents of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for kidnapping is an historic repudiation of the CIA's crimes. Read more On Israel, Congress Tolerates Abuse Published in The Huffington Post The US Congress gravely insulted hundreds of civilians who were wounded or killed in the most recent war in the Middle East by condemning the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. Those who voted yea are helping to shield those responsible on both sides. Read more India: Reveal Truth about Childbirth Deaths India is falling behind other countries in meeting international commitments to improve obstetric care because it does not adequately monitor deaths and injuries in the critical period following childbirth and fix gaps in its health system and programs. Read more Bahrain: Migrant Workers Denied Pay, Right to Travel Bahrain's Labor Ministry should hold employers who withhold wages and passports from migrant employees accountable. Both practices are illegal under Bahraini law, but authorities do little to enforce compliance. Read more   Follow us on:                 Home | Take Action| Donate