News

Amnesty International has published a damning new report on the abuse of migrant workers in Qatar. The issue that has already been subject to intense scrutiny by the international human rights community for years and has now once again been brought to the fore. The report shows that despite Qatar’s promises to embark on a series of ‘landmark reforms’ to improve their poor record on workers’ rights ahead of the … Read more →

The UN General Assembly’s 73rd session in New York opened on 18 September, marking the world’s most important meeting, that incudes high profile sessions on topics including urgent human rights issues such as, the ongoing Syria crisis, the Rohingya genocide, North Korea and Iran. The opening event kicks off two weeks of events and discussions on some of the most contentious human rights issues of the year. The annual general … Read more →

The UNHCR, the UN’s Refugee Agency is facing an urgent shortfall of US$270 million for their work with Syrian refugees and internally displaced people. The money is needed to provide cash assistance, protection, education, health and shelter services for the 5.6 million Syrian refugees in the Levant region for the rest of 2018. UNHCR are concerned that the lack of funding will cause a shortfall of essential winter supplies and … Read more →

‘UK – The most extreme surveillance powers in a democracy’ The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that the UK government’s mass surveillance programme is a violation of human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights The court ruled that the surveillance by British intelligence agencies is intrusive in nature and an invasion on the right to private and family life and as has “no real safeguards” … Read more →

Growing ‘state clampdown on civil society’ Greek police have detained Sarah Mardini, a 23-year-old Syrian refugee, who saved 18 refugees from drowning in 2015. The Greek authorities accuse her and two other charity workers, Nassos Karakitsos and Seán Binde of ‘people smuggling, espionage and membership of a criminal organisation’. Background Sarah was arrested at the airport on her way back to Germany from a volunteering stint in Greece. Her lawyer … Read more →

Protest Details WHAT: Protest against the unjust sentencing of Reuters Journalists in Myanmar. WHEN: 11:00 am, Thursday, 27th September WHERE: Myanmar Embassy, 19a Charles St, Mayfair, London W1J 5DX The International Observatory of Human Rights is organising a peaceful protest in front of the Myanmar Embassy to petition for the release of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. These journalists are just the latest in a long line … Read more →