Human Rights Alerts

“For women human rights defenders, standing up for human rights and the victims of human rights abuses - be they migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers or political activists, or simply people unwillingly relegated to the margins of society, such as ex-offenders and members of sexual minorities - can result in intimidation, harassment, unfair dismissal, death threats, torture and ill-treatment, and even death”
- Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders

WLP uses Human Rights Alerts to focus urgent attention on the arrests of women’s human rights defenders and rally timely support for landmark campaigns on women’s rights.  

In particular, we highlight challenges faced by our partner organizations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, many of whom are subject to surveillance, harassment, arrest, and organizational closure because of their work to advance women’s rights.

Alert History 

Campaign Activist Khadijeh Moghaddam Released

April 16, 2008

SUPPORT IRANIAN WOMEN
Sign the petition and help them reach their goal of one million signatures to end discriminatory laws against women.
  • English petition
  • Persian petition
  • Change for Equality: Khadijeh Moghaddam member of the Mother’s Committee of the One Million Signatures Campaign, and a member of Mothers for Peace, was released on the afternoon of Wednesday April 16, after spending nine days in detention. She was greeted by her family and friends, as well as her colleagues in the One Million Signatures Campaign.

    Zanan, Iran’s Leading Women’s Magazine, Shut Down by Government

    February 8, 2008

    In a significant setback for the women’s movement in Iran, the Press Supervisory Board of Iran backed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, revoked the license of Zanan, the country’s most prominent and important women’s magazine. Zanan, which means “women” in Persian, is a monthly magazine dedicated to the reporting and analysis of women’s issues, problems, and achievements.

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    Kyrgyzstan: Democracy Activists Arrested While Peacefully Protesting Parliamentary Elections

    February 2008 Update: Read an interview with Tolekan Ismailova on the human rights situation in Kyrgyzstan.

    December 26, 2007

    WLP's partner Tolekan Ismailova sent the following information after her second night of incarceration following her arrest last week while peacefully protesting irregularities in the Kyrgyzstan elections. Tolekan along with several other arrested activists are being denied access to lawyers and relatives and to proper medical care. They have received verbal threats and intimidation by the police, and are being held in cells with unhygienic conditions. The court hearings have been delayed three times since their arrest on December 21st and are now scheduled to be held after the new year.

    Scroll below to read the alert issued on December 21st.

    "During the two days I had high blood pressure. Previously I had been diagnosed and registered in rayon polyclinic as a hypertensive patient.

    When I asked that [the prison] doctor provide me with assistance, I was told that there was no doctor... Then I asked to call emergency, and it showed up an hour later. My blood pressure was 150 over 90 by then, so they had to give me an injection of magnesium.

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    Support Iranian Women: Join the “One Million Signatures” Campaign

    Iranian parliament submits new legislation attempting to push back current family laws; in response Iranian women's rights activists take action

    September 20, 2007

    SUPPORT IRANIAN WOMEN
    Sign the "One Million Signatures" campaign petition calling for an end to discriminatory laws against women such as men's uncontested right to divorce, polygamy, and child custody.

    The Iranian parliament has submitted legislation attempting to push back current family laws, reversing the few rights that exist for women. We are very concerned about this new development. Please see the article below for information on how Iranian women's activists are taking action to prevent this bill from becoming law.

    In addition, the "One Million Signatures" campaign Persian website was filtered for the seventh time. The new address of the site is:

    Persian: www.we4change.info
    English: www.weforchange.info/english

    Over 2000 Equal Rights Defenders Object to Proposed "Family Support" Legislation: In a statement issued today, 2000 equal rights defenders have objected to the Family Support Legislation submitted to parliament by the executive branch, earlier this month. The statement asserts that while lawmakers have claimed that the Family Support Legislation intends to address shortcomings in the law and bring it up to date in accordance with the needs and realities of today’s family, it has in fact pushed back family legislation and the status of women by 42 years.

    Humanitarian Emergency in Lebanon

    August 9, 2006 Update

    Dear Friends and Colleagues,

    In the two weeks since our last update, thanks to your very generous support and contributions, WLP partner, Collective for Research and Training on Development-Action (CRTD-A), made its goal of $62,500! We cannot thank you enough for your support at a time of great need.

    Your donations are being delivered in the form of relief kits by an extensive network of local women’s groups and volunteers to women housed in 105 public schools and IDP (internally displaced people) centers in Beirut, Saida, Metn, Jbail, Kesrwan, and Tripoli. CRTD-A has been able to purchase all the needed supplies. Each woman headed-household is visited before and after distribution, first to identify specific needs of her family and then for follow up.

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    Morocco Adopts Landmark Family Law Supporting Women’s Equality

    February 24, 2004 

    Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) and our partner organization l’Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM) are pleased to report that on January 25, 2004, the government of Morocco adopted a new landmark Family Law supporting women’s equality and granting them new rights in marriage and divorce, among others.

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