Human Rights – C4D Network

Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2019 (New York, USA)

June 13, 2019

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival bears witness to human rights violations and create a forum for courageous individuals on both sides of the lens to empower audiences with the knowledge that personal commitment can make a difference. The film festival brings to life human rights abuses through storytelling in a way that challenges each individual to empathize and demand justice for all people.

This year films focus on issues such as citizen journalism, the #MeToo movement, movement building, and social justice.

Full details to follow at: https://ff.hrw.org/new-york

Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2019 (London, UK)

March 13, 2019

This year films focus on issues such as citizen journalism, the #MeToo movement, movement building, and social justice.

Click here for full details.

Inclusive urbanization: Can the 2030 Agenda be delivered without it? (Environment and Urbanization [28:1]), 2016

May 4, 2018

This paper, published in the Environment and Urbanization journal, reflects on the tension in ‘exclusionary’ cities created through strategies that privilege economic growth and result in many people being left behind. It explores three levels of inclusive urbanization: eliminating discriminatory exclusion, giving the disadvantaged a bigger voice in existing institutions, and guaranteeing human rights.

It then examines how more inclusive urbanization can be achieved and how this relates to the Sustainable Development Goals (part of the 2030 Agenda). The world’s governments have committed themselves to balanced development that integrates economic, social and environmental goals, and have pledged that “no one will be left behind”. Inclusive urbanization is needed to achieve this balance, and to move the world towards the progressive realization of human rights for all.

Click here for full paper.

Repression in Paradise: Rule of Law and Fundamental Freedoms Under Attack in The Maldives (CIVICUS & VOW, 2018)

April 30, 2018

The Republic of Maldives is a nation made up of 26 coral atolls and 1,192 individual islands. The report marks exactly three months since the country’s Supreme Court ordered the release of scores of arrested opposition politicians and activists. Over the last two months, the authorities have repressed all forms of dissent including violently breaking up peaceful demonstrations, arbitrarily arresting and detaining protesters, attacking journalists and threatening news organisations with closure.

During this crackdown, police have used unnecessary force to disperse peaceful demonstrations, in some case indiscriminately, using pepper spray and tear gas. At least a dozen journalists have been injured while covering protests, with reporters being arrested and ill-treated. The police also used unnecessary force to disperse peaceful demonstrations, in some case indiscriminately using pepper spray and tear gas.

Despite the hostile environment, human rights defenders and civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Maldives have bravely spoken out against these restrictions. CSOs have documented human rights violations and sought to expose them nationally and internationally. However, many Maldivians are seriously concerned that repression will prevent elections, due to be held later this year, from being free, fair and inclusive.

Click here for further details and full report.