Amnesty International Maastricht Students
The Use of Sexual Violence against Protestors in Iran AUTHOR: Annika Kannen Summary: In response to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, Iranian authorities used extensive force, including sexual violence to intimidate protestors and extract confessions. The article outlines the systematic use of sexual violence against protestors by telling the story of Fatemeh, who survived sexual abuse following her detention at …
Bulldozer (In)Justice—A look at systemic discrimination in India AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar During the period from April to June 2022, Amnesty International recorded the deliberate demolition of a minimum of 128 properties, encompassing residences, businesses, and places of worship, with the vast majority owned by Muslims. These incidents took place in various states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), namely …
Criminalizing homelessness: A short history of vagrancy laws AUTHOR: Annika Kannen Summary: This article is about the historical roots and discriminatory impact of vagrancy laws targeting people living in homelessness and poverty. It talks about ongoing struggles for reform and delves into why these vague, outdated laws undermine justice and perpetuate harm. Photo by hdabed on Freeimages.com First of all, …
Human Rights of Women in Afghanistan AUTHOR: Thirsa Rzepka The Alliance for Human Rights in Afghanistan made a joint statement on August 15, 2023. Hereby they condemned the ongoing and increasing human rights violations by the Taliban that particularly affect women and girls since the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. Over the past two years, …
Pakistan’s Afghan Refugee Exodus: A humanitarian crisis unfolding AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar Afghans preparing to leave a holding centre in Pakistan. The harassment, detention, and mass deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan is currently a heated topic of debate. Pakistan’s recent actions have triggered widespread debate and concern. Pakistan is effectively sending these refugees into a region marred by an “ongoing …
Libya’s Derna Dam Collapses: Human Rights Concerns in the Crisis Response AUTHOR: Antía Kornführer Romay Six months ago, the city of Derna in eastern Libya experienced catastrophic flooding after Storm Daniel, triggering the collapses of two dams upstream of Derna.Six months since the devastating floods killed at least 4,352 people and left thousands of others missing. Six months of human rights concerns during Libya’s …
Climate Change and Human Rights AUTHOR: Thirsa Rzepka Currently, millions of people are suffering the effects of extreme disasters due to climate change. Examples include prolonged droughts in countries in Africa and tropical storms in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Climate change is inextricably linked to human rights, because climate change has a devastating effect on people’s environment and …
An overview of Sudan’s Humanitarian Crisis: A Call for International Action AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar Sudan is a country steeped in a complex history, fraught with tensions and is currently grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis that demands global attention. From political instability to severe human rights violations, the Sudanese people are facing unprecedented challenges. Historical and Geopolitical background Sudan’s history …
Pakistan’s Afghan Refugee Exodus: A humanitarian crisis unfolding AUTHOR: Tanaaz Shahariyar Afghans preparing to leave a holding centre in Pakistan. The harassment, detention, and mass deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan is currently a heated topic of debate. Pakistan’s recent actions have triggered widespread debate and concern. Pakistan is effectively sending these refugees into a region marred by an “ongoing …
Cobalt Mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo AUTHOR: Thirsa Rzepka The expansion of industrial cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) has led to the forced evictions of communities and serious human rights violations such as sexual violence arson and abuses. According to the recent report ‘Powering Change or Business as Usual’ from Amnesty International …