China defended its treatment of its civilians before the UN Human Rights Council, answering questions on a number of grounds pertaining to Tibet, torture, labor camps and other topics. Human rights organizations say China’s answers to the questions whitewashed the reality and that China has not committed itself to advocacy despite its testimony progress on human rights is linked to economic growth. One human rights lawyer noted that 20 years ago, China didn’t recognize “human rights” as a concern at all.
Iran still suffering human rights abuses, says Amnesty
Amnesty International used the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution to note that human-rights abuses in the Islamic nation still proliferate, including arbitrary arrest, torture and a broad application of capital punishment. Iran is one of a handful of countries that forbids Amnesty International and other human rights organizations to perform research within its borders. Recently, Iran closed the Center for Human Rights Defenders, founded by Nobel peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi.
A New Tongue to Win Hearts and Minds
Although it was never pushed as an aspect of efforts by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to spread democracy through the Middle East, Access – a program that teaches English in a Western-style environment to poor teens in Egypt – has had a tremendous, moderating impact on the students who completed it. Access, which has a very small budget but has taught 32,000 students in 50 countries, seeks to reverse misconceptions about America and teach democratic values such as tolerance and pluralism.
WEST AFRICA: When there is no village doctor
An international financial recession threatens to worsen the “severe medical workforce crisis” faced by almost 60 African and Asian countries, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO). The fewer health workers there are, the less chance a woman has to survive childbirth and a child his or her infancy, according to WHO.
A 10-Year-Old Divorcée Takes Paris
A young Yemeni girl’s unprecedented divorce has raised public concern over child brides, led to changes in Yemeni marriage laws and made the 10-year-old a celebrity. As a result of her harrowing ordeal, Nujood Ali hopes to someday become a lawyer and promote women’s rights.
2009 List of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World Unveiled at Davos
U.S. court reinstates Nigerian lawsuits vs Pfizer
A Nigerian court adjourned last month, and will reconvien (WHEN) the multi-billion-dollar suit against U.S. drug firm Pfizer Inc. (PFE) by the Kano state government to allow for more time for an out-of-court settlement… Kano state is demanding $2.75 billion in compensation from Pfizer for the 1996 trial of a meningitis vaccine, Trovan, on 200 children in Kano. Pfizer and Kano state, which have been engaged in settlement talks since November 2007, are due to report to the court on details of their out-of-court deal… Some 11 children are alleged to have died from the drug test which also caused deformities in 189 others.
