Kenya’s constitutional court has dismissed a petition to strike down the Female Genital Mutilation Act, which outlaws the traditional practice of female circumcision.Women’s rights groups welcomed the ruling and said the judges’ pronouncement would pro…
Human Rights
Facebook Shuts Down Ugandan Government-Linked Accounts Ahead of General Election
Facebook has taken down several accounts linked to the government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, saying they were being used to manipulate public opinion ahead of this week’s presidential election. The U.S.-based social media giant said Monday it linked the network of accounts to the Uganda’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology. Facebook said the […]
UN Rights Office Alarmed at Uptick in Violence Ahead of Central African Republic Elections
GENEVA – The United Nations human rights office warns the increase in violence ahead of Sunday’s elections in the Central African Republic presents serious risks to the civilian population and threatens to disrupt the electoral process. U.N. officials say escalating violence is creating mayhem in the Central African Republic and could scare people away from […]
Opposition MPs Worldwide Subjected to Election-Related Rights Violations, Abuse, Report Finds
GENEVA – A survey of some 300 members of parliament in 19 countries finds cases of human rights violations, including physical abuse, sexual violence, torture and arbitrary arrest of opposition MPs that are on the rise. In a new report, the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva expresses concern about alleged human rights violations against parliamentarians in […]
UN Calls On Tanzania to Avoid Violence as Citizens Vote
GENEVA – The United Nations is calling on all governmental and civil society actors in Tanzania to refrain from violence, and ensure people can safely cast their votes in Wednesday’s general election. Following weeks of bitter political strife, U.N. monitor groups and human rights organizations fear Tanzania’s election Wednesday is likely not to be free […]
UN Rights Office Condemns ‘Merciless’ Attack on Cameroon School
GENEVA – The U.N. human rights office has joined a chorus of voices in strongly condemning what it calls the vile, merciless attack on a private school Saturday in southwestern Cameroon. The attack killed at least six children and injured another 13. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack on Mother Francisca International Bilingual […]