Human Rights Watch

Break down stereotypes – that’s what a group of people with intellectual disabilities in Mexico and a former political candidate from Peru are trying to do.

Several groups are protesting the decision of the Korea Communication Standards Commission to block South Korea’s access to womenonweb.kr, the Women on Web’s website, that provides information on women’s health, sexual and reproductive rights, and medical abortion.

HRW says this proposal could effectively prevent Mexican human rights defenders from participating in debates about public policy, challenging abusive laws in the courts, or discussing how to improve rights protections with lawmakers.

New draft law to regulate civil society constitutes another blow to human rights safeguards, say 13 rights groups.

“According to OVD-Info, the leading human rights project working to protect freedom of assembly in Russia, 13,500 people have been arbitrarily arrested since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February”.

The report deplored the actions of Sri Lanka authorities for continuing to target civil society groups, including human rights defenders and the families of victims of past violations who are campaigning for justice.

As of 1 February 2022, well over 1,000 prisoners are recognised as “political prisoners” by the human rights organisation Viasna. The government has liquidated at least 275 civil society groups and 31 journalists remain in prison.

Nicaragua’s human rights record continues to worsen with trials completely lacking in due process. In a joint trial of seven government critics and opposition leaders, the charges are mostly based on the defendants’ exercise of their right to free expression.