The US Justice Department announced that officials in Mississippi are denying students due process and have created a “school to prison pipeline” by incarcerating students in juvenile detention for minor infractions, such as dress code violations, if they have previously been arrested and put on probation. The policy disproportionately affects black and disabled children.

Civilian Court Trial for Mexican Colonel
Source: The New York Times

The Mexican Supreme Court ruled that an army Colonel, charged with ordering soldiers to hide a civilian’s body, will be tried in a civilian court instead of a military court. Human Rights activists hope this ruling will pave the way for successful human rights abuse prosecution against military officials.

Burma Ends Pre-Censorship
Source: The Irrawaddy

The Burmese government recently decided to abolish pre-censoring articles in the national media. This will grant the press more freedom, but it will still face censorship. Journalists will no longer have to submit articles to the censorship board but the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division will remain in place to monitor the news.

South Korean Court Grants Asylum
Source: The Korea Herald

A Korean-Chinese woman was granted asylum in South Korea after fleeing China to avoid persecution for helping North Koreans escape to China. The Seoul Administrative Court reversed an earlier ruling in a controversial decision. The court’s decision was based on the high possibility of severe punishment if she were sent back to China.

Brazilian Judge Halts Railway Construction
Source: LatinAmerica Press

A judge in Brazil ordered the mining firm Vale to halt the construction of a railway. The judge found that the railway would threaten the livelihood of the indigenous and Afro-Brazilian communities residing in the area. He further ordered that an environmental impact study be conducted and presented to these groups.
 

Abortion in the Dominican Republic
Source: CNN.com

The mother of a pregnant sixteen-year-old in the Dominican Republic attributed her daughter’s death to the country’s constitutional ban on abortion, which Dominican courts have interpreted strictly. The girl’s doctors would not treat her leukemia with chemotherapy because they feared it would terminate her pregnancy. The girl miscarried and died shortly after treatment began.

Malian Children Recruited for Conflict
Source: Allafrica.com

Credible sources have informed UNICEF that armed groups in Northern Mali are recruiting children to advance their military goals. UNICEF stated that approximately 175 boys, ranging in age from 12 to 18, were involved with the militias. UNICEF encouraged all parties in the conflict to protect the children from armed conflict, rather than recruit them.

Striking South African Miners Killed
Source: The New York Times

South African police shot and killed striking miners who were armed with machetes. The miners were protesting their low wages and unsafe working conditions. The police have been criticized for using excessive force to suppress unrest in the past, and shooting the miners sparked widespread condemnation. South African President, Jacob Zuma, denounced the shootings.

France Deports Hundreds of Romas
Source: France 24

French authorities have deported over 200 Romas, living in illegal camps in France, to Bulgaria and Romania. Individuals who voluntarily left the country were given a stipend, which some critics believe could be used by the Romas to reenter France. The deportation policy has received condemnation since its introduction in 2010.
 
 

UK’s Right-to-Die Case
Source: BBC News

The United Kingdom’s High Court denied the request of Tony Nicklinson, who suffers from locked-in syndrome, to receive medical help to end his life. Mr. Nicklinson would be unable to take lethal drugs independently. The Court reasoned that any changes to law concerning assisted dying must come from Parliament, not the Court.

Rebels Governing Syria Limit Torture
Source: The Wall Street Journal

As forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad retreat from the countryside, rebel commanders have taken up the task of governing. These commanders have instituted Islamic courts that ban torture; however, this ban does not include the whipping of the soles of prisoners’ feet, signaling that while change is arriving in Syria, remnants of torture remain.

Israel to Reexamine ID Regulations
Source: Haaretz

Israel’s Justice Ministry is planning to review controversial regulations that would require persons filing court claims to provide their passport or Israeli ID number. Rights activists worry that these new measures could deprive tens of thousands of Palestinians and others access to the courts because they lack either of these documents.

Human Rights Violations in Blasphemy Laws
Source: BBC News

A young, mentally handicapped Christian girl in Pakistan was arrested for allegedly desecrating pages of the Koran. Blasphemy laws are commonly enforced outside of the courts in Pakistan. In this case, an Islamic cleric requested that the police turn over the girl so she could be burned alive.

 

Armenian Teachers Trained in Human Rights
Source: Hetq Online

Twenty-two high school social science teachers in Armenia concluded a year long course aimed at increasing their human rights knowledge. The course was launched by an Armenian NGO, the Armenian Constitutional Right-Protective Center. Various local and international human rights experts taught the classes, which primarily focused on children’s rights.