Human Rights in the News: January 2022
/Welcome to the January 2022 edition of Human Rights in the News, Woven Teaching’s monthly collection of important human rights stories from around the world.
A person wearing a headscarf holds framed photos of victims of the Syrian regime (Credit: Bernd Lauter/Agence France-Presse via The New York Times)
A Historic Verdict, and a New Front in the Global Fight for Human Rights
Alia Malek | The New York Times Magazine | January 25, 2022
Earlier this month in a landmark case, a German court found a former Syrian intelligence officer guilty of crimes against humanity. “The court stated that the evidence had clearly shown that the Syrian regime is engaged in widespread and systematic use of torture against its people, a finding that is of strategic importance to those hoping eventually to hold higher echelons of the regime accountable.”
A 3D printed Facebook logo on a laptop keyboard (Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)
Facebook owner to 'assess feasibility' of human rights review on Ethiopia practices
Elizabeth Culliford | Reuters | January 14, 2022
Facebook owner Meta Platforms has said it would “assess feasibility” of reviewing its practices related to human rights in Ethiopia. The government of Ethiopia and rebel forces in the Tigray region have been engaged in violent conflict for over a year. The social media platform has admitted that it played a role in escalating tensions and violence in past conflicts/atrocities.
A young person walks through the refugee camp in Calais, France (Credit: UNICEF/Geai)
UK Borders Bill increases risks of discrimination, human rights violations
UN News | January 14, 2022
The UK’s proposed Nationality and Borders Bill “fails to acknowledge the Government’s obligation to ensure protection for migrant and asylum-seeking children, and greatly increases risks of Statelessness, in violation of international law”, according to a UN human rights expert. The bill would strengthen the government’s ability to strip people of citizenship, leaving millions vulnerable.
A person wearing a black jacket and white pants, photographed from behind, stands in a building filled with rubble (Credit: UN OCHA/Giles Clarke)
January will ‘almost certainly’ shatter records for civilian casualties in Yemen
UN News | January 25, 2022
According to the United Nations, “over the past few weeks, air strikes and missile attacks have hit hospitals, telecommunication infrastructure, airports, a water facility and a school” in Yemen. In addition to increasing casualties, the people of Yemen may soon lose humanitarian support from the World Food Programme, which is running short on program funds.
A person holding a megaphone protests against rape and femicide in Costa Rica (Credit: Jeffrey Arguedas/EPA)
Kill the Bill and period protests: human rights this fortnight – in pictures
The Guardian | January 22, 2022
Check out this incredible collection of photos from around the world.
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