Racism, abuses still exist for Blacks at U.S.-Mexico border
Jean came to the United States like many immigrants that are making the news. He crossed the Mexican border. His story however starts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the poorest countries in Africa, a Central African country with a population of around 80 million. He left with his wife and children in 2016 to find...
UN rights chief urges Libya, EU, to protect migrants crossing the central Mediterranean
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged Libya’s unity government and European Union (EU) countries to act to protect migrants making the dangerous crossing in the central Mediterranean Sea. Calling for urgent reform of current policies and practices on search and rescue “that too often rob migrants of their lives, dignity and fundamental human rights,” she said “the real tragedy”...
UK police risk ‘eroding public confidence,’ watchdog warns af-ter report finds Black people more likely to be tasered for longer
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has warned that the use of tasers by UK police risks “eroding public confidence” after a review revealed Black people are more likely to be tasered longer than White individuals. In a report released on Aug. 25, the IOPC highlighted a racial disparity in the use of tasers by British police officers on suspects, calling...
UN rights experts condemn U.S. expulsion of Haitian migrants and refugees
A group of UN human rights experts have condemned the United States of America’s recent and ongoing systematic mass deportation of Haitian migrants and refugees, declaring them a violation of international law. According to their analysis, U.S. policies have also deterred Haitians from pursuing protection including asylum claims and forced them to return to other countries, “where they face an...
‘Let Us Eat’: Kabul protesters demand release of frozen Afghan assets
As the people of Afghanistan face increasing impoverishment and hardship exacerbated by a U.S.-led block on billions of dollars in Afghan assets, hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Kabul in late December to demand that foreign governments and financial institutions release the frozen funds. Carrying banners reading, “Let us eat” and “Give us our money,” protesters...
New round of cultural festivals planned in West Africa despite sanctions
(GIN)—Festival season is around the corner in West Africa despite ongoing insurgencies that have hurt tourism. The region has long been known for its music, dance and cultural shows, among them the Amani festival in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which opened on Feb. 4. Congolese rumba took the place of honor after its recognition from UNESCO as the...
Jamaican protesters demand reparations and spurn royals during an official visit
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—Protesters in Jamaica raised their fists as they donned T-shirts emblazoned with a pair of shackled Black wrists surrounded by the phrases “Seh Yuh Sorry!” and “Apologize now!” as they demonstrated just hours before Prince William and Kate arrived. The protest in front of the British High Commission in Kingston came a couple of days after dozens...
Renowned Iranian media figure Talebzadeh laid to rest in Tehran
Veteran Iranian movie producer, director and researcher Nader Talebzadeh has been laid to rest at a cemetery in southern Tehran. The burial ceremony held at Behesht-e Zahra on the morning of May 1 was attended by hundreds of mourners, including senior officials, luminaries, family members, friends, colleagues, journalists, among others. Among the participants were Peyman Jebelli, head of the Islamic Republic...
‘Militarized approach’ to policing peaceful protests, only increases risk of violence: UN human rights expert
Civic space is shrinking, together with a rise in human rights violations during peaceful protests worldwide, while governments adopt an increasingly militarized approach to policing demonstrations, said an independent UN human rights expert on June 20. “Rather than seeing peaceful protest as a democratic means of participation, too often governments resort to repression to suppress protests and silence people’s voices,” said Clément Voule,...
U.S.-China powerplays for global influence increase hostilities
The manifest loss of America as a dominant global power was apparent during a visit to Africa by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken that ended a multicontinental tour where he also went to Southeast Asia. The Africa portion was seen as another strategic move in the China-U.S. competition for inroads and dominance on the continent and the vying...