Haiti Convicts Eight Police Officers
Source:  The New York Times

A Haitian judge recently convicted eight police officers for their role in a January 2010 prison riot that resulted in the shooting death of at least ten prisoners. The officers were accused of murder and other crimes, and their sentences ranged from 2 to 13 years. Twenty-one other officers fled before the trial.   
 

U.S. Pushes U.N. Council Reform
Source: The Jerusalem Post

The U.S. is leading efforts to reform the election process for the U.N. Human Rights Council to prevent violators of international law from securing seats on the top U.N. human rights’ body. The call for reform came after 2010 saw countries like Libya, Angola, and Malaysia win seats on the Council in uncontested elections.

Reparations for Victims in Thailand
Source: Bangkok Post

The Thai cabinet approved a fund that will provide reparations to victims of political violence and their families following a proposal from the country’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The reparations will be provided to persons injured or killed in violent political incidents between 2005 and 2010.


Workers’ Rights Violated in Vietnam
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Veteran Chinese activist Chen Xi was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail for the crime of subverting state power. He has been jailed several times over the years for criticizing the Communist party. The holiday season is a convenient time for a crackdown since political activity ceases during Christmas, Human Rights Watch noted.

Argentinean Laboratory Trials Killed Babies
Source: MercoPress

Argentina has fined the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, headquartered in the United Kingdom, for illegally using babies in vaccine-trials. The tests resulted in the deaths of 14 babies predominantly from poor families with illiterate parents. Many parents signed consent forms under the pressure of the doctors. Laboratory testing on humans is not legal in Argentina.


Land Restitution in Colombia
Source: Colombia Reports

Under Colombia’s Victims and Land Restitution Law, 11,000 acres of land that drug lord Pablo Escobar controlled will be returned to hundreds of displaced families. The Law offers relief to victims of human rights violations and abuses that resulted from drug trafficking. However, families must establish purposeful use of the land, like farming, to qualify.

Abuses Continues Near Somali Border
Source: Human Rights Watch

Kenya’s security forces have continued to abuse civilians near the Somali border, despite repeatedly pledging to stop, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports. Soldiers have raped, beaten, looted, and arbitrarily arrested civilians, accusing some of being members of the al-Shabaab militant group. HRW is encouraging the Kenyan government to investigate and prosecute those responsible.


Youth Activists Beaten and Arrested
Source: allAfrica.com

Police in Zimbabwe assaulted and arrested youth members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who were planning to protest the imprisonment of their national chairman. The police reportedly ransacked the party’s office, confiscating fliers, t-shirts, and minutes from the group’s meetings. MDC members say the crackdown was an intimidation tactic by Zimbabwe’s ruling party.

Russian Jails Ordered to Reform
Source: Ria Novosti

The European Court of Human Rights issued a decision decrying the inhumane and degrading treatment of Russian prisoners as the result of overcrowding. The decision called for Russia to reduce the number of detainees and improve prison conditions. Russia will have six months to establish a schedule for reforms once the ruling is finalized. 
 

New Hungary Constitution Threatens Rights
Source:  Amnesty International

Amnesty International is urging the European Commission to ensure that Hungary’s new constitution will conform to European human rights standards. Recent constitutional changes limit the ability of Hungarian citizens to appear before the country’s Constitutional Court, restrict access to media, and discriminate against sexual minorities, Amnesty says.

Bahrain Denies Entry to Activist
Source:  Gulf News

Bahrain authorities denied entry to Richard Sollom, the deputy president of U.S.-based Physicians for Human Rights. He intended to monitor the trial of medical personnel who treated injured protesters last year. The 21 medics were convicted of anti-state crimes and were accused of participating in an effort to overthrow the ruling family.


Stateless Kuwaitis Demand Citizenship Rights
Source: Kuwaiti Times

Kuwaiti police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrations by hundreds of bedoons, a stateless group, who are demanding Kuwaiti citizenship. Kuwait alleges bedoons destroyed their own passports, which would have granted their citizenship, and has refused to issue important papers such as birth and death certificates, thereby denying bedoons any citizenship rights.

Crimes Against Humanity in Bangladesh
Source: The Daily Star

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed is charged with 34 counts of crimes against humanity by the prosecutor for the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh. He is charged with killing intellectuals and freedom fighters during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. The Court said it has enough evidence for a trial against Mojaheed. 
 

LGBT Community Harassed in Tajikistan
Source: Eurasianet

Though decriminalized in 1998, homosexuality is still not accepted in mainstream Tajikistan culture. A rights report released in 2011 details the various discrimination and intimidation, usually targeted towards gay men, the LGBT community faces in Tajikistan. Physical violence and blackmail rank high among the rights abuses detailed in the report.