Urgent Actions

Google still hasn't removed a damaging "gay cure” app from their online store, even though Apple has.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), calls on the Federal Council of Russia (Upper House) to reject the law that prohibits “propaganda on non-traditional sexual relations”, which was adopted by the Russian Duma on June 11, 2013.

The horrific catastrophes in Bangladesh of unparalleled scale exposed the systemic failures of the garment industry to ensure safety. With over 1,250 garment workers killed in the last eight months, the impact that corporate greed can have on human lives is astoundingly clear. 

Fourteen women held in El Obeid Prison, in Sudan’s Northern Kordofan State, were released on 26 April, but have been told that they may be charged in the future. 

The Observatory has been informed by Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) about the arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment of 13 women human rights defenders, all members of Maitree, a Kolkata based women’s network, in West Bengal.

On 15 June 2013, human rights defenders Ms Wajeha Al-Huwaider and Ms Fawzia Al-Oyouni were sentenced to ten months imprisonment to be followed by a two year travel ban by the District Court in Al-Khobar. 

What began as a demonstration to save in Istanbul has turned into a violent wave of repression against protestors throughout Turkey.

Yesterday the police has attacked ten thousands of demonstrators in various Turkish cities after a very provocative speech of Prime Minister Erdogan at a rally of his party, JDP. The police uses tear gas, water with chemicals and plastic bullets.

The National Women Human Rights Defenders Network of Honduras has accompanied the community of Río Blanco as they defend their community’s right to decide not to dam the Gualcarque River and against the violent tactics of transnational corporations DESA and SINOHYDRO, and the FICOHSA Group.

On 5 June 2013, the appeal trial in Phnom Penh of human rights defender Ms Yorm Bopha was suspended until 14 June.