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 Charged By Revolutionary Court

September 8, 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
  • One Million Signatures campaign activist and editor of the website “Women in Iran,” Jila Baniyagoob, was summoned before the investigative branch of the Revolutionary Court on September 6, where she was charged with disruption of public order and refusal to obey police orders. Mina Jafari, Ms. Baniyagoob’s attorney, was prevented from attending the hearing, on the grounds that the case against Ms. Baniyagoob is a security case. Ms. Jafari argues that the charges are not of a security nature, and fall under the jurisdiction of lower courts. Ms. Baniyagoob denies the charges.

    Facing strong opposition, Iranian government backs down on discriminatory "Family Protection Bill"

    September 1, 2008

    A new proposed Family Protection Bill has been returned to the judiciary commission of the Iranian parliament as a result of backlash against the bill’s most discriminatory provisions. The bill was on the verge of consideration by the full parliament, and if ratified would further erode women’s rights in Iran.

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    WLP Partner in Mauritania, AFCF, Condemns the Coup d’état and Calls for Restoration of Constitutional Government in Mauritania

    August 7, 2008

    WLP Partner in Mauritania, L'Association des Femmes Chefs de Famille (AFCF) strongly condemns the coup d’état that took place in Mauritania on Wednesday August 6, 2008 in contempt of the democratic choices expressed by the people of Mauritania after a long period of dictatorship and instability.

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    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 on their National Day of Solidarity

    June 2, 2008

    Iranian women's rights activists are calling for international support in observance of the June 12, 2006 demonstrations. Two years ago on this day, activists organized a peaceful protest demanding the revision of discriminatory laws against women in Iran. Seventy people were arrested during the gathering and continue to this day to be summoned, charged, arrested and sentenced for peaceful activism. June 12th has since been chosen by Iranian women’s rights activists as their national day of solidarity to object harmful actions which attempt to silence Iranian women.

    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.

    Please read the following "Statement in Support of Iranian Women" and send your personal or organizational support for the women’s rights activists who are fighting for their basic human rights against all odds. Please send emails to wlp@learningpartnership.org and hadighaemi@iranhumanrights.org. For more information about the campaign efforts, please read below or visit the One Million Signatures website.

    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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