Human rights activists cheer Guatemala’s sentencing in forced disappearances

September 27th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Two activists of a Dalit organisation in Kerala were arrested Sunday for the murder of an elderly man last week, police said. The two Dalit Human Rights Movement (DHRM) members were identified as Ashokan, an advocate, and Das.

September 21st, 2009 Rights groups want UN Iran envoyNEW YORK — Human rights groups are urging the United Nations to appoint a special envoy to investigate continuing abuses in Iran following the disputed presidential elections there. Human Rights Watch and the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran say that at least 72 people have died in the crackdown that followed opposition protests against the ballot, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won re-election.

September 10th, 2009 European envoy asks Russia about NGO killingMOSCOW — The Council of Europe's commissioner on human rights says Russia must prosecute the killers of a human rights activist in Chechnya this year, if it is to break a cycle of violence in the region. Thomas Hammarberg said Thursday that bringing the killers of Natalya Estemirova to justice will help dissipate the atmosphere of impunity that pervades Russia's violent southern fringe.

August 18th, 2009 Mexican rights report sent to CongressWASHINGTON — The Obama administration has sent to Congress a favorable report on Mexico's human rights record that could allow the release of $100 million in U.S. aid to help the country fight drug traffickers.

August 14th, 2009 Uruguay Senate OKs millions for dirty war victimsMONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Uruguay's ruling party wants to pay $17.4 million in reparations to victims of state oppression during its dictatorship. A reparations bill passed the Senate on Wednesday and now goes to the lower house of the legislature, where the ruling party has a comfortable majority, and leftist President Tabare Vazquez is expected to sign it.

August 12th, 2009 US ambassador cites Mexico's progress on rightsMEXICO CITY — The new U.S. ambassador to Mexico said Tuesday that a report to be finished next week and submitted to the Senate will stress that Mexico is making progress on respecting human rights in its fight against drug cartels.

August 10th, 2009 Obama says drug cartels violate human rightsGUADALAJARA, Mexico —President Barack Obama says drug cartels are the largest violators of human rights in Mexico and he has confidence Mexican President Felipe Calderon is cracking down without violating human rights. Obama on Monday, however, did not say whether his State Department would certify that Mexico is protecting human rights in its efforts to fight the drug traders.

August 6th, 2009 5 bodies, 1 headless, found in Ciudad JuarezMEXICO CITY — Five bodies, one of them headless, were found in a van in the border city of Ciudad Juarez on Wednesday, a day when a prominent U.S. senator blocked some aid to Mexico over alleged human rights violations by soldiers and police fighting violent drug cartels.

August 5th, 2009 Report: Leahy blocks report on Mexico human rightsWASHINGTON — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., blocked the release of a favorable State Department report on Mexico's human rights record, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

July 28th, 2009 LONDON - Despite the end of hostilities, children in Sri Lanka continue to be at risk of forced recruitment, arbitrary detention and other human rights abuses, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers said Tuesday. In a new briefing to the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, the Coalition urged the Sri Lankan authorities to act immediately to protect conflict-affected children.

July 25th, 2009 Vietnam deports American democracy activistHANOI, Vietnam — Police have deported an American citizen of Vietnamese origin who had allegedly come to Vietnam to investigate recent arrests of local democracy activists, a state newspaper reported Saturday. Vo Tan Huan, 25, was deported via the international airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday in the presence of U.S.

July 23rd, 2009 Rights group urges Sri Lanka aid rethinkCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka's government should be forced to rectify serious human rights abuses before it receives an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund, a human rights group said Thursday. The IMF has given initial approval for a $2.5 billion loan to help Sri Lanka with reconstruction after the end of its 25-year civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels.

June 29th, 2009 Obama reassures gay rights activistsWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is reiterating his support for gay rights causes, telling activists that he's a friend who will fight for them and with them while in the White House. The president and first lady Michelle Obama are holding an East Room reception Monday afternoon to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the birth of the modern gay rights movement.

May 9th, 2009 Amnesty says rights in Russia remain weakMOSCOW — Rising attacks against rights activists and journalists in Russia as well as ongoing violence in southern regions show little has been done to improve human rights since President Dmitry Medvedev came to power a year ago, Amnesty International said Thursday. The advocacy group said in a statement timed to coincide with the first anniversary of Medvedev's inauguration that human rights have deteriorated in some areas despite initial positive signals.

May 5th, 2009 Report slams Vietnam's labor rights recordHANOI, Vietnam — A human rights group slammed Vietnam's record on workers' rights Monday, accusing the communist government of trying to eliminate independent labor unions and calling for the release of labor activists. New York-based Human Rights Watch said at least eight activists have been arrested since 2006 in Vietnam's crackdown on independent trade unions, and urged the government to release five who are still detained.