June 2008 Issue

• Domestic Workers Unite

  Selected Source: The Washington Times
  Domestic workers across the nation are uniting to fight for employment rights. There are 1.5 million documented domestic laborers working in the United States. Until recently, this demographic had lacked a political voice. Today, they are supported by a number of lobby groups who are pushing lawmakers to guarantee basic labor rights.

• No Death for Child Rapists

  Selected Source: New York Times
  The death penalty as punishment for child rape is found unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. The decision was a 5-4 split, with Anthony M. Kennedy writing for the majority. The Court made a distinction between intended first-degree murder, for which death penalty is constitutional, and the non-homicide crimes, such as child rape.

• Korean Trucker Union on Strike

  Selected Source: XinhuaNet
  The Korea Cargo Workers Union went on strike on June 13, to protest rising fuel costs against the government's reluctance to offer assistance. In a meeting with representatives from the ruling party, union leaders demanded legislation of higher subsidies, a guaranteed minimum wage, and recognition of trucker's labor rights.

• New Zealand for Human Rights Council

  Selected Source: New Zealand Herald
  New Zealand is seeking a place on the 47-seat United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2009-2012 term. The island nation is emphasizing its pioneering history of human rights advances on a new website, www.votenz4hrc.org. New Zealand was the first nation to grant women suffrage.

• Brazilian Militia Contaminates Elections

  Selected Source: IPS News
  Rio de Janerio's municipal elections were determined to be invalid given the controlling presence of paramilitary groups in certain districts. The government stated that the presence of these groups effectively eliminated voter freedom. Control is so extensive that in some villages the groups have formed political fiefdoms to achieve their political aims.

• Pinochet's Soldiers Held Responsible

  Selected Source: BBC
  A Chilean Court detains 98 suspects accused of human rights violations committed under military rule of General Pinochet. Proponents view this act as justice for crimes committed. However, others see the move as politically motivated retribution against those involved in Pinochet's regime. Many of the lower-rung soldiers had little choice in their actions.

• Ethiopia Seeks Aid

  Selected Source: BBC
  Ethiopia seeks an urgent appeal to international donors. The country needs more than $300 million of emergency aid in order to address the famine that has engulfed the country. Approximately 4.6 million people are in need of food and aid caused by the drought which struck the country at the start of 2008.

• Mugabe Proceeds with Vote

  Selected Source: Mail & Guardian Online
  Mugabe, Zimbabwe's incumbent President, proceeded with a one-candidate election after his adversary withdrew his ballot. Opposing candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, backed out of the election after his supporters were faced with state-backed violence and intimidation. The vote has faced international criticism and scrutiny as a result of Mugabe's many human rights violations.

• French-Rwandans Sue Over Genocide Comments

  Selected Source: News 24
  The Association of Rwandans in Toulouse have filed a lawsuit against French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner for a misleading statement he made in October 2007 that majority Hutus killed the minority Tutsis in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The statement, arguably, falsely labels all Hutu-origin Rwandans as genocidal murderers.

• Russian President Ensures Human Rights

  Selected Source: International Herald Tribune
  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin's recent successor, assures the media that his administration will advance media freedom and respect for human rights in an effort to build a free and responsible society. Currently, the Kremlin controls or influences all major Russian television channels, limiting the communication of opposition political views.

• Juvenile Execution in Iran

  Selected Source: BBC
  Iran enforces capital punishment on juveniles, executing a 17-year old boy who was convicted of murder. The execution violates several international agreements and U.N. charters for the protection of children. A human rights group alleges that Iran is responsible for two-thirds of all juvenile executions in the world.

• Sunni-Shiite Divide Grows in Egypt

  Selected Source: Middle East Times
  With an influx of 150,000 Iraqi refugees, Egypt faces increased sectarian tensions between Sunni-Shiite groups within its borders, in some cases the tensions have already spilled over to violence. In addition, Egypt's relationship with the Shiite minority has become strained after Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak publicly questioned Shiite loyalty.