Every Human Has Rights

The following report to CHOGM 2011 focuses on national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society engagement, and was written by the Human Rights Initiative. ‘A Partnership for Human Rights: Civil Society and National Human Rights Institutions’ focuses on the relationship between civil society and NHRIs. It finds that, with over 30 NHRIs and countless civil society actors working to further human rights in the Commonwealth, there is an urgent need for effective engagement between the two. CHRI produces a biennial human rights report to coincide with the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Previously we have written reports on police reforms, right to information and human rights defenders.

Download the very useful report here.

For brief reading: The executive summary to the report can be found here.

HELP SAVE EGYPTIAN POLITICAL PRISONER

Off the plane from Silicon Valley and straight into Egyptian military prison. This is the fate of Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of the keynote speakers at RightsCon. Alaa, a high-profile activist, blogger and software developer, is now languishing in prison for refusing to answer questions from an illegitimate military tribunal on questionable charges of “incitement.” His crime? Demanding that civilians be tried by judges, not soldiers.

Alaa's case represents a far greater injustice - at least 12,000 Egyptian citizens have stood before a tribunal since the overthrow of Mubarak. This is a gross violation of international law and a far cry from the democracy Egyptians called for earlier this year.

Just last week, President Obama called for an end to the Egyptian state of emergency and to cease trying civilians in military tribunals. As Egypt's largest aid donor, the US has the power to demand that Egypt’s military rulers change course, release Alaa, and the other citizens detained or sentenced though such extraordinary courts.

Please sign the petition here: Access Now

For further information: Alaa Abdel Fattah: Portrait of a revolutionary

By Rowena McNaughton

 In a city of manicured lawns, double garages and neat houses all proudly flaunting an American flag, a man slows his glistening 4WD Toyota pick-up, winds down a tinted window, extends an arm and then raises his middle finger, aiming it towards a group of people clinging to a banner that reads: “climate change is not in our national interest”. A few obscenities are verbalised before the truck exits the protest area in a haze of exhaust fumes.

 Over a two-week civil disobedience campaign against TransCanadas proposed Keystone XL pipeline, this overt display of condemnation towards the thousands who stood patiently outside Washington’s White House, demanding president Obama block the pipeline, was a rare event. Inside the white walls, however, the big question still waiting for an answer is will the powers that be side with the pick up driver or the beneficiaries of his abuse?

Before the CIVICUS World Assembly, join us all by making a wish here on how you want the world to be.

We want to have as many of your wishes up at the actual Assembly event, so please submit yours, so that we can stand together!