The Gambia: Charges against journalists over executions demo must be dropped

Gambia executions protest in Senegal

© SEYLLOU/AFP/GettyImages

(AMNESTY) - Charges against two journalists detained after they applied for permission to hold a peaceful protest over the executions of nine death row inmates must be dropped by the Gambian authorities, Amnesty International said.

Baboucarr Ceesay, the First Vice President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) and Abubacarr Saidykhan, an independent freelance journalist, were charged on 10 September with conspiracy to commit a felony.

Phelps Stokes withdrew from summit hosted by ‘dictator’ Obiang

Equatorial Guinea’s president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

Amnesty wants world leaders to support ICC

For a decade now, the ICC has been pursuing justice for people who have suffered some of the most serious crimes imaginable.

© Amnesty International

The multinational human rights agency, Amnesty International on July 1, 2012 says it istime for governments the world over to show proper support for theInternational Criminal Court (ICC).

On Sunday, the ICC celebrated a decade of pursuing justice for people who have fallen prey to some of the most serious crimes imaginable.

Amnesty urges Senegal to end impunity for rights abuses

A Senegalese police officer aims his tear gas rifle during clashes with protestors in Dakar (AFP/File, Issouf Sanogo)

(AFP) – Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Senegal's new government to deal with rights violations which have gone unpunished for years in the West African nation.

"After years of impunity, the population has great expectations regarding justice," Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty International's West Africa researcher, said in a statement on a new report entitled 'Senegal: An agenda for human rights'.

Amnesty warn of possible violations in ‘Operation Buldozer’

One of the world’s leading human rights agency, Amnesty International said it is deeply concerned about President Yahya Jammeh’s recent instructions to the security forces to “shoot first and ask questions later” in an attempt to rid the country of “armed robbers”.

Gambian Security Forces Must Respect Human Rights in Addressing ‘Crime’

Document - Gambia: Gambian security forces must respect Human Rights in addressing ‘Crime’

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

 

PUBLIC STATEMENT

AI index: AFR 27/003/2012

31 May 2012

 

Gambian Security Forces Must Respect Human Rights in Addressing ‘Crime’

Amnesty International is deeply concerned about President Yahya Jammeh’s recent instructions to the security forces, including the Inspector General of Police, staff from the Ministry of Defense and other security forces to “shoot first and ask questions later” in an attempt to rid the country of “armed robbers”.

Growing concern over precarious state of sub-Saharan migrants

A temporary shelter set up by migrants recently expelled from Morocco, PIX: MSF

Growing concerns over the precarious state of migrants in sub-Saharan Africa have been raised once again by the multinational network against violation of migrants’ rights, Justice Without Borders for Migrants/Justice sans frontiers pour les migrants et migrantes (JWBM/JSFM).

This followed recent mass-expulsion of migrants from Mauritania to Senegal and Mali, and from Morocco to Algeria, coupled with recent massive displacement fueled by the Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali.

Working Group On Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Migrants And Displaced Persons

PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO THE NGO FORUM FOR ADOPTION ON THE RIGHTS OF REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS, MIGRANTS AND DISPLACED PERSONS

A temporary shelter set up by migrants recently expelled from Morocco, PIX: MSF

Belhassen laments ‘pitiable’ ratification of African Charter on Democracy…

….Highlight precarious human rights situation in Africa

Ms. Souhayr Belhasse, FIDH President

The President of the International Federation ofHuman Rights, FIDH, Ms. Souhayr Belhassen on Saturday lament the pitiable pace at which governments are ratifying the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.

Only 15 countries ratified the Charter which was adopted by the 8^th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2007.

Ms. Belhassen was presenting a paper on an overview of the situation of human rights and democracy in Africa at the opening of the NGOsForum (April 14-16, 2012), preceding the 51^st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR in Banjul.

Hannah Foster bemoans Africa’s enormous human rights challenges

Hannah Foster, ACDHRS

The Executive Director of the African Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies, ACDHRS, Mrs. Hannah Foster described the human rights situation in Africa as precarious. 

She said the recent coup in Mali and the continuing unrest perpetrated by the Tuareg rebels, the unrest inflicted by the Boko Haram sect in Nigeria, and the continuing repression of peaceful protests in Tunisia demonstrates a lack of respect for human rights.

Non-governmentalorganisations (NGO) from within and outside Africa converged in Banjul, The Gambia from April 14-16, 2012 to discuss the precarious human rights situation in the continent.

While remembering victims of human rights violations in Africa, Mrs. Foster implored on the Governments to practice what they preach in order to consolidate the gains registered against impunity. 

China must arrest Sudanese President - Demands Amnesty

Bashir

The Chinese government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Beijing, Amnesty International said on June 17.
Omar Al-Bashir is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and other high-ranking officials as part of a visit from 27-30 June
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.

Amnesty's Report Condemns 'Politicisation of Justice'

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on May 31, 2010 at 10:36pm
• View Modou S. Joof's blog

Banjul, The Gambia (TNBES) Amnesty International has criticised the "politicisation of international justice" in its annual report, which documents torture in 111 countries.