Human rights | GlobalPost

UN-NK human rights

Yonhap News AgencyMay 20, 2013 03:32

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- An independent U.N. body's investigation into North Korea's human rights abuses will provide the first look into problems in a country during peacetime, rather than during conflict, a senior South Korean diplomat said Sunday. Choi Seok-young, South Korean ambassador to Geneva, said the Commission of Inquiry (COI) by the U.N. Human Rights Council will investigate "grave, organized and systematic human rights violations" and will hold the leadership in the violating country accountable for such abuses.

Alberta says child protection bill will continue despite privacy concerns

The Canadian PressMay 11, 2013 04:15

EDMONTON - Alberta's human services minister says it's full speed ahead with proposed legislation to help protect children despite concerns from the privacy commissioner. Dave Hancock said Thursday he still hopes to pass the bill in the current legislature sitting. "We'll have to have a respectful disagreement on some of these points," Hancock said.

U.N. team won't be deterred if North Korea rebuffs inquiry into abuses

Thomson ReutersMay 9, 2013 05:00

By Lincoln Feast SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.N. investigators will seek the cooperation of North Korea as part of an inquiry into allegations of widespread human rights abuses in the country but won't be deterred if Pyongyang refuses, the head of the investigating panel said on Thursday. Michael Kirby, an outspoken former justice of Australia's top court, was named this week as head of a three member team that will look into allegations of torture, food deprivation and labor camps that are believed to hold at least 200,000 people.

U.N. names team to investigate torture, camps in North Korea

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 11:08

By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations on Tuesday named a team of three human rights investigators who will look into allegations of torture and labor camps in North Korea that are believed to hold at least 200,000 people. Pyongyang denies the existence of such camps and is not expected to cooperate with the investigation, having denounced it during a U.N. Human Rights Council debate, activists said.

Writers press China on media freedom

Agence France-PresseMay 3, 2013 18:17

Some 200 leading writers appealed Friday to China to respect freedom of expression and free jailed authors, describing the country's strict censorship as a stain on a vibrant culture. In an open letter issued on International Press Freedom Day, the writers celebrated the growing recognition of China's artists, pointing to the Nobel Prize for Literature won last year by Mo Yan. "We cannot, however, listen to China's great and emerging creative voices without hearing the silence of those whose voices are forcibly restrained," they wrote.

Auditor general takes aim at residential schools, diabetes prevention

The Canadian PressApril 30, 2013 10:31

OTTAWA - The federal auditor general says two of the government's key pillars meant to improve the lives of aboriginal peoples have gone awry because of infighting, poor co-ordination and lack of planning. Auditor general Michael Ferguson says attempts to deal with the fallout of the residential school system are a mess as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission bickers with the federal government over what historical documents need to be provided and how they should be preserved.

U.N. chief scolds envoy for implying U.S. policy sparked Boston attack

Thomson ReutersApril 24, 2013 15:30

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon rejected on Wednesday remarks by a U.N. rights investigator, who suggested the Boston bombings were a response to U.S. foreign policy, and warned U.N. envoys that their public comments could undermine the world body's credibility. Richard Falk, U.N. special rapporteur for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, wrote on his blog on Sunday that "the American global domination project is bound to generate all kinds of resistance in the post-colonial world."

U.N. chief scolds envoy for implying U.S. policy sparked Boston attack

Thomson ReutersApril 24, 2013 15:16

CORRECTED: Cuban dissident women pick up EU prize eight years later

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 13:46

Cuba's "Ladies in White", who fought for the release of jailed Cuban dissidents, on Tuesday picked up the EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize -- eight years after winning the award. Five members of the group -- known in Spanish as "The Damas de Blanco" -- were finally able to travel to Brussels to accept the 2005 Sakharov award from the hands of European Parliament president Martin Schulz. "You are the symbol of resistance against the Cuban government, and thousands and thousands of Cubans support you inside and outside the country," Schulz said.

Cuban dissident women pick up EU prize eight years later

Agence France-PresseApril 23, 2013 13:05

Cuba's "Ladies in White," who fought for the release of jailed Cuban dissidents, on Tuesday picked up the EU's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize -- eight years after winning the award. Five members of the group -- known in Spanish as "The Damas de Blanco" -- were finally able to travel to Brussels to accept the 2005 Sakharov award from the hands of European Parliament president Martin Schulz. "You are the symbol of resistance against the Cuban government, and thousands and thousands of |Cubans support you inside and outside the country," Schulz said.