The Blog — Human Rights
From Flickr user Ramy Raoof
Ways to Follow What’s Happening in Egypt
We've rounded up some of the best sources for following the events in Egypt.
Human Rights Watch Annual Report Highlights Conditions Worldwide
Today, Human Rights Watch released their annual report exploring human rights conditions in more than ninety countries and territories around the world. The 2011 World Report, titled “A Facade of Actions," highlights the grave need for increased public pressure on abusive governments.
From Flickr user Youssef Hanna
Reactions to Saudi Arabia’s New Restrictive Laws for Bloggers
Despite a rising Internet penetration rate, Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the most repressive countries when it comes to net freedom. The most recent actions taken by the government do nothing to change that opinion. On January 1, 2011, the Saudi Ministry of Information and Culture issued new laws--formally known as the Executive Regulation for Electronic Publishing Activity--for web publishing, redefining how online content is controlled. How have Saudi bloggers and international rights organizations reacted to the new law?
From Flickr user mb7art
Freedom on the Decline: Annual Report Released by Freedom House
Today, independent watchdog Freedom House released its annual Freedom in the World report for 2011. The report assesses political rights and civil liberties as experienced by citizens on the ground. Using key performance indicators, researchers from Freedom House assigned a freedom status--Free, Partly Free, or Not Free--to 194 countries and 14 territories. 2010 marked the fifth consecutive year that global freedom has been on the decline. Find out more about what countries changed status over the past year, how the economic downturn has impacted democracies, and predictions for the new year.
Assassination in Pakistan: Activists Weigh In
The new year in Pakistan could have brought renewed energy to activists pushing for the repeal of the country's strict blasphemy laws. Unfortunately, a politician who has criticized them most vociferously, even visiting a Christian woman who was given the death penalty under the law, holding a press conference with her to call for their repeal, was murdered yesterday by his own security guard.
What repercussions will this assassination have for the work of Pakistani activists?
Year in Review by Region at Global Voices
International blogging community Global Voices has had a great series of blog posts reviewing citizen media, human rights issues, and current events from different regions of the world in 2010. Check out the links after the jump to revisit some of the most popular stories from the past year.
Protest Swells in Tunisia
The Twittersphere is clamoring for more coverage of unrest in Tunisia, and the side-effect is their making heavy strides towards creating their own coverage. The protests were sparked by anger over unemployment and by one man's reaction to it: Mohammed Bouazizi, a young university graduate, set himself on fire after police confiscated the fruits and vegetables he was selling illegally in an effort to earn a living.
Unrest has only continued to swell since Saturday.
From Flickr user kevinv033
What’s Next for Digital Activism in 2011?
As 2010 winds down, critics and bloggers are clamoring to publish year-end reviews and reflections and to offer predictions about what will come in 2011. We’ve rounded up some of the top predictions for the coming year and how they could impact the realm of digital activism. What does 2011 hold in store for users' privacy, web censorship, mobile phone use, and cybersecurity?
Belarusians Out On the Street After Rigged Elections, from Twitter user @ljoksa
Can a YouTube Clip Get Under a Dictator’s Skin?
With just under two weeks until citizens vote on whether the South will split off from the North and form its own nation, tensions are rising in Sudan. Adding to this is a video of state security forces publicly beating a Burqa-clad woman. But, considering the low level of connectivity in Sudan, how much influence could a YouTube clip really have?
Take Back the Tech!
Can technology be used to help eliminate violence against women? The organizers behind Take Back the Tech! believe so. This collaborative campaign focuses on addressing access and affordability issues and breaking down gender stereotypes through the strategic use of online communication platforms for activism. Learn how you can Take Back the Tech and what actions local campaign organizers have taken to raise awareness.
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