May 26, 2013
News in 'Human Rights' section
Senegalese Rebels Free 7 Gov't Soldiers, 1 Civilian
December 10, 2012A rebel movement in southern Senegal has released eight detainees and handed them over to the government of President Yayah Jammeh of The Gambia.
The rebel Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), which hasbeen waging a low-intensity guerrilla war in Casamance for several decades, had been keeping the seven soldiers and one civilian hostage for one year.
Nigerian CSOs brace for democracy, justice
December 6, 2012Civil society organizations in Nigeria have been holding talks on the need to strengthen democracy and reinforce the country’s justice system.
One of such meetings was a workshop for Civil Society on Legal Advocacy for Justice and Anti-Corruption held in Abuja, the Federal capital of Nigeria.
Cote d’Ivoire: Gov’t indicted again on human rights issues
December 3, 2012Cote d’Ivoire is once more under the spotlight for alleged human rights violations, with fingers being pointed at the government of President Alassane Ouattara for doing too little to curb abuses, improve the justice system and end impunity.
Of late, concerns over rights abuses have been raised by Amnesty International, International Crisis Group and independent expert of the UN on human rights issues in Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Doudou Diene.
Some 65,000 Ivorian refugees still in Liberia
December 3, 2012The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, says close to 65,000 Ivorian refugees are still in Liberia residing in five camps about two years after they fled post-election fighting in their country.
The Ivorians are being hosted in camps in Saclepea, Bahn, Solo, Dougee and Little Wlebbo, UNHCR Liberia Office spokesman Sulaiman Momodu told WADR in Monrovia at the weekend.
AI wants Gbagbo’s wife handed to ICC ‘urgently’
November 27, 2012Amnesty International has called for the ‘immediate’ transfer of Mrs. Simone Gbagbo, wife of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, by Côte d’Ivoire to The Hague for an investigation into her alleged role in crimes against humanity.
The rights advocacy group made the call after the International Criminal Court (ICC) revealed it had an outstanding warrant for her arrest.
Embassy on plight of Liberians jailed in Senegal
November 26, 2012Two Liberians have died in Senegalese jails in 2012 due to harsh prison conditions, and close to 40 others are lingering in jail awaiting trial, a Liberian embassy in Dakar has said.
The embassy is therefore urging Senegalese authorities to speed up the trial of Liberian citizens, complaining that many are being held in custody in parts of Senegal with no court dates announced.
Gbagbo supporters enraged, not surprised at Simone’s warrant
November 23, 2012Supporters of indicted ex-Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo are enraged, but not surprised at the arrest warrant issued against his wife Simone Gbagbo by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC said the former Ivorian First Lady was wanted for alleged crimes against humanity committed in the wake of violence after the disputed presidential elections in 2010.
African journalist among 4 CPJ 2012 Award winners
November 22, 2012A Liberian female journalist is among four international journalists who have received the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2012 awards for courageous reporting in defiance of violence and repression.
The three other journalists honoured are Mauri Konig of Brazil, jailed journalist Dhondup Wangehen of China and Azimjon Askarovof Kyrgyzstan.
Senegal: Female lawyer renews call to end child street begging
November 21, 2012In Dakar, the Senegalese capital, the streets are literally littered with children as young as seven years old carrying tin cans to beg for food and money from early morning to midnight reportedly for their Koranic tutors.
These children, locally called 'Talibes' (meaning disciples), are given by their parents to the tutors who send them out to beg for alms to supposedly sustain them while undergoing study of the Koran, the holy book of Islam.
Liberians target 1mn signatures for anti-gay petition
November 13, 2012A campaign has been mounted to collect one million signatures to stop the lower house of parliament from approving a bill strengthening gay rights in Liberia. The bill was recently approved by the Senate.
As part of the campaign, hundreds of people opposed to same sex marriage took to the streets of the Liberian capital, Monrovia, at the weekend to demonstrate their discontent.
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