Protests continue in Sudan, with rights workers and diplomats claiming that over 100 demonstrators have been killed due to excessive force from authorities. The situation is of great concern. The UN Special Rapporteur on assembly and association has addressed this issue before with the government of Sudan. In August 2012, Maina Kiai and six other UN experts an official communication to the government of Sudan regarding a series of protests in July 2012. At one event – where people were protesting fuel prices – authorities reportedly fired live… Continue reading →
UN Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai told a UN panel on civil society yesterday that governments must give as much attention to human rights and civil society issues as they do “issues of trade, security, and other strategic interests.” The remarks, which came at a high-level event on the the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, were part of a speech titled “Sounding the Alarm: emerging threats to civil society and the need for a coordinated international response.” The event was hosted by US President Barack Obama. Kiai said that the… Continue reading →
United Nations Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai will address a high-level UN panel hosted by US President Barack Obama on Sept. 23, 2013. The panel, which will be held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, is focused on supporting civil society in the face of shrinking space globally. Kiai is the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, a position he has held since May 2011. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and several heads of state are expected to be in attendance. Presentations will… Continue reading →
The human rights situation in Bahrain continues to be of serious concern. Demonstrators and members of civil society today face severe restrictions to their rights of free assembly and association. Violence against them remains a real threat. Human rights defenders – and indeed anyone who exercises their expressive rights – is at serious risk of harassment or imprisonment. Impunity for those who have committed human rights violations remains all to common. During the 24th session of the Human Rights Council on September 9, 2013, a group of more than… Continue reading →
A group of United Nations independent human rights experts, including Maina Kiai, expressed deep concern at the alleged ongoing judicial harassment, intimidation and abusive treatment directed against Issa Amro, a prominent Palestinian human rights defender. Mr. Amro was arrested and detained 20 times in 2012, and six times so far in 2013, although he has never engaged in violence nor been charged with a crime. He is a founder of non-governmental organizations Youth Against Settlements and Hebron Defenders. “Mr. Amro appears to be the victim of… Continue reading →
