DRC: “State of siege” must not further undermine human rights
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The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo must ensure that the “state of siege” due to begin today in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces does not further undermine human rights guaranteed under international human rights law, said Amnesty International.
The “state of siege” was declared by President Felix Tshisekedi on 3 May, citing the need to restore peace and security in the two eastern provinces where decades of armed conflicts and violence have left thousands of people dead and or forced to flee their homes.
“Whereas the DRC authorities have the responsibility to protect people from violent attacks, ‘state of siege’ emergency powers can lead to more human rights violations if abused. They must be exercised in a manner that does not lead to human rights violations, in the least restrictive way and for the shortest time possible, in line with international human rights standards,
Ethiopia: Tepid international response to Tigray conflict fuels horrific violations over past six months
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3 May 2021
African and other world leaders must urgently speak out and do more to stem the ferocious tide of human rights and international humanitarian law violations in the armed conflict that has now raged for six months in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Amnesty International said today.
Since the fighting broke out on 4 November 2020, thousands of civilians have been killed, hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced within Tigray, and 63,000 refugees have fled to Sudan. Amnesty International and other organizations have documented a string of serious human rights violations that include war crimes and likely crimes against humanity. There are also numerous credible reports of women and girls being subjected to sexual violence, including gang rape by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers.
4 May 2021, 00:26 UTC
African and other world leaders must urgently speak out and do more to stem the ferocious tide of human rights and international humanitarian law violations in the armed conflict that has now raged for six months in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Amnesty International said today. Since the fighting broke out on 4 November 2020, thousands of civilians have been killed, hundreds of thousands of people have been internally displaced within Tigray, and 63,000 refugees have fled to Sudan. Amnesty International and other organizations have documented a string of serious human rights violations that include war crimes and likely crimes against humanity. There are also numerous credible reports of women and girls being subjected to sexual violence, including gang rape by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers.
Threats to journalists increase, media practitioners say
Monday May 03 2021
Journalists in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya s Rift Valley during a procession to mark the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2021. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NMG
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Journalists and media operations in the eastern African region continue to face threats from state and non-state actors as those with power seek gag the free press.
Threats and general harassment, jailing and sometimes the killing of journalists have increased in the recent past, especially as governments in the region try to enforce Covid-19 protocols.
Since March 2020 when the pandemic broke out, too many journalists in the region have been facing censorship, intimidation, or violence.
29 April 2021, 14:36 UTC
Responding to the news that the Supreme Court of Appeal in Malawi has ruled the death penalty unconstitutional, Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said:
“We welcome the judgement of the Supreme Court of Appeal declaring the death penalty unconstitutional in Malawi. This is a vital victory against the death penalty and strengthens the right to life in the country.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and it has no place in this world. The death penalty is a violation of the right to life and an assault on human rights.