The U.S. has agreed to a broad review of its prison policies in response to more than 225 proposals from U.N. member nations.  Among the issues raised before the U.N. Human Rights Council were detainee treatment at Guantanamo Bay and discrimination in U.S. law enforcement. U.S. delegates also affirmed the country’s stance against the use of torture.

Communities Threatened in Canada’s North
Source: The Globe and Mail

Communities in Canada’s north are being overshadowed by the government’s focus on military and diplomatic strategies for national security, according to a report from the Conference Board of Canada’s Centre for the North.  The organization is calling for renewed emphasis on the needs of Arctic communities, including economic development, housing and social services.
 

The Chinese government continues to wrongfully confine Chinese citizens in mental wards as a way to silence complaints against the government.   Once confined in the mental wards, the dissidents have almost no legal recourse to challenge their confinement.  The government meanwhile maintains that the petitioners are mentally ill and are rightfully detained.

Burma Frees Opposition Leader
Source: The Asian Tribune

The ruling military junta in Burma, following an election victory in early November, granted an unconditional amnesty to the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been under house arrest for more than seven years.  Both the regime and the Nobel laureate expressed their hopes for peace and stability in the country.
 

After the January 12 earthquake, Haiti’s advocates for education reform saw an opportunity.   Though the Inter-American Development Bank approved a $500 million project to reconstruct the education sector, the larger $4.2 billion five-year education reform plan remains largely unfinanced. This is worrisome in light of Haiti’s poor record for turning strategic planning into reality.

Colombia Urges Massacre Investigation
Source: Colombia Reports

In response to the eight massacres that took place across the country in early November, Colombia's Ombudsman Volmar Perez expressed concern.  He urged Colombia’s prosecutor general to urgently move forward on investigations to clarify the sources of the massacres and punish those responsible for the violence.

The plan to close internally displaced persons (“I.D.P.”) camps in northern Uganda has H.I.V.-positive residents worried they may lose access to vital health services.   Many argue there are no health or distribution centers in the villages to which they will return despite government plans to build additional health centers and improve existing ones.

Sudan Referendum Increases Violence
Source: B.B.C. News

A referendum proposing independence for Southern Sudan has caused violence to escalate between the Sudanese army and Darfuri rebel groups.  A vote on the referendum is scheduled for January and there are accusations that the Sudanese government wishes to eliminate the Darfuri rebels in the meantime.

After budgetary cuts, civil legal aid funding in England and Wales will only remain available where life or liberty is at stake.   Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke introduced a means-test for contributions in legal aid cases.  Critics voiced concerns over the protection of the poor in the judicial system after the cuts in legal aid.

Czech Dissident Quits Council Post
Source: Prague Post

Anna Šabatová, a key anti-communist, quit her post on the Czech Republic's human rights council over the government's lack of prioritizing human rights.  The council has not met since the chairperson, Michal Kocáb, was controversially dismissed by Prime Minister Neĉas.  Neĉas has received increased criticism over his track record on human rights issues.

The death sentence of a Lebanese man convicted of witchcraft has been overturned by the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia.  The man was arrested for telling fortunes and giving advice on a television talk-show, which Saudi authorities consider polytheistic.  Witchcraft is not clearly defined in the Saudi legal system, which is based on Islamic law.

U.A.E. Sanctions Domestic Violence
Source: Human Rights Watch

Following  a provision of the penal code, the Federal Supreme Court of the United Arab Emirates recently authorized men to “chastise” their wives and children, as long as their acts of physical violence did not leave any marks. Human Rights Watch urged the U.A.E. to repeal this provision because of discrimination and the dangers of domestic violence.

German human rights official Markus Löning issued a statement criticizing Uzbekistan’s child-labor practices.  Human rights monitors have reported that Uzbekistan continues to rely on forced child labor to harvest cotton.  Many large retailers are boycotting Uzbek cotton due to the country’s use of child labor.

Azerbaijan Court Continues Wrongful Imprisonment
Source: Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch reported that the Azerbaijan Supreme Court ignored an order by the European Court of Human Rights to immediately release a wrongfully imprisoned journalist.  The Supreme Court’s act of defiance is one of numerous instances where the country has limited freedom of expression.