Central African Republic

• Adopción del Examen Periódico Universal de los Derechos Humanos por parte de Paraguay

  Aprobación del Informe EPU de Paraguay

  Leída por Inés M. Pousadela

  Gracias, Señor presidente.

  Semillas para la Democracia y CIVICUS celebran que el gobierno de Paraguay haya aceptado las recomendaciones del EPU relativas al espacio para la sociedad civil. Sin embargo, nuestra presentación conjunta documenta que Paraguay no implementó 13 de las 19 recomendaciones sobre este tema recibidas durante su examen anterior, y apenas implementó parcialmente seis.

  Como lo detalla nuestra presentación, actores tanto estatales como no estatales frecuentemente atacan, intimidan y acosan judicialmente a personas defensoras de derechos humanos y periodistas – a estos últimos, especialmente cuando informan sobre protestas, crimen organizado, corrupción y violaciones de derechos humanos. El ambiente hostil para el periodismo es alimentado desde las más altas esferas políticas. Las personas defensoras indígenas y campesinas y quienes se movilizan por el derecho a la tierra son objeto de ataques a menudo procedentes de empresas de agronegocios; las personas defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres y de las personas LGBTQI+ enfrentan ataques mayormente perpetrados por grupos fundamentalistas y anti-derechos. Abundan los ejemplos de personas defensoras del derecho a la tierra que han sufrido atentados contra sus vidas, y algunas han sido asesinadas. La mayoría de las agresiones permanece impune.

  Los y las trabajadoras enfrentan fuertes obstáculos legales para ejercer su libertad de asociación, así como obstáculos de hecho bajo la forma de ataques de actores no estatales, y especialmente de empresas privadas que amenazan con despedirles si intentan organizarse. La ley no protege adecuadamente esta libertad.

  Nuestra presentación también indica que la libertad de expresión se ve amenazada por el uso sistemático de leyes de difamación penal por parte de figuras públicas para intimidar y silenciar al periodismo crítico, especialmente cuando investiga denuncias de corrupción. La deficiente aplicación de la Ley de Acceso a la Información ha restringido la disponibilidad de información que debería ser pública, y se han registrado casos de censura y autocensura.

  El ejercicio de la libertad de reunión pacífica continúa obstruido. Las manifestaciones pacíficas, especialmente las del movimiento campesino e indígena y las de las comunidades movilizadas por el derecho a la tierra, son frecuentemente disueltas con fuerza excesiva y suelen arrojar numerosas detenciones y manifestantes heridos, y ocasionalmente víctimas fatales.

  Pedimos al gobierno de Paraguay que adopte medidas proactivas para abordar estos problemas y que implemente las recomendaciones recibidas para crear y mantener, en la ley y en la práctica, un entorno propicio para la sociedad civil.

  Muchas gracias.

  El espacio cívico en Paraguay es calificado como “obstruido” por el CIVICUS Monitor

• Nicaragua: Urgent call to stop judicial persecution of HRD Medardo Mairena Sequeira

  Medardo Mairena Sequeira, who appeared in court yesterday to face trumped charges, was found guilty of conspiracy to undermine National integrity.

• Nigeria: Post 2015, 10 Manifestos and Maternal Health

  The atmosphere was pensive and highly emotional at the Professor Mahmoud F. Fathalla, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and chair of the WHO Advisory Committee on Health Research was reciting the proposed 10 manifestos for maternal health post-2015.

  Some couldn't control it, as tears dropped and the entire hall gave him a standing ovation at the end of the citation. It wasn't an ovation for the respected professor only but an ovation that depicts people's resolve to support the implementation of the manifestos.

  
  It was the closing ceremony of the 2nd Maternal Global Health Conference which took place from January 15 to 17, 2013, with over 800 experts in maternal health that came together in Arusha, Tanzania, to present the latest evidence on improving the quality of care for women during pregnancy and childbirth.

  
  Read more at allAfrica

• Widespread arrests, attacks and legal restrictions facing LGBTQI+ activists across Africa finds new report

  

  Widespread arrests, attacks and legal restrictions facing LGBTQI+ activists across Africa finds new report

  Johannesburg | 4 July, 2023

  • Same-sex relations criminalised in at least 27 countries south of the Sahara
  • Organisations shut down and offices raided for their work on LGBTQI+ rights
  • Widespread bans on the publication of information on gay rights
  • Anti-LGBTQI+ laws and practices disproportionately impact other excluded groups including women, children and victims of abuse 

  From Uganda to Cameroon, LGBTQI+ activists face significant restrictions due to the prevailing social, cultural and legal attitudes towards homosexuality and gender identity. A new report by CIVICUS, Challenging Barriers: Investigating Civic Space Limitations on LGBTQI+ Rights in Africa, looks at some common challenges faced by activists and civil society groups in countries south of the Sahara.

  Many African countries have laws that criminalise same sex activity. The laws, often remnants of colonial era legislation, can be used to target and prosecute LGBTQI+ individuals, including activists. Penalties range from fines, imprisonment to even the death penalty in some countries. 

  Limited legal protection in many African countries offers little or no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. This lack of protection makes it difficult for activists and civil society groups to advocate for equal rights or seek justice when they face human rights abuses. The offices and activities of civil society organisations advocating for LGBTQI+ rights have been either raided or shutdown in Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Cameroon.

  Attacks against people who identify as LGBTQI+ are common in countries such as Benin, Cameroon and Kenya. In Cameroon since 2022 there have been over 30 recorded cases of violence and abuse against LGBTQI+ people, while in Kenya sexual minority groups face escalating homophobic attacks. In January 2023, following a series of killings in 2022, unknown assailants murdered and dumped the body of LGBTQI+ activist Edwin Chiloba. Chiloba’s death, which many linked to his sexual orientation sparked public outrage, with civil society groups and members of the public denouncing the murder and calling on the authorities to bring those involved to justice.

  “With the escalating hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community in Africa, this report sheds light on the grave reality faced by many, and compels us to challenge prejudice, and advocate for equality - especially for the most marginalised. Governments must ensure equal protection for all people in accordance with their obligations on non-discrimination under international human rights law. We implore governments to take robust measures to safeguard the rights and well-being of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Sylvia Mbataru, CIVICUS’ Civic Space Researcher for Eastern & Southern Africa.

  Censorship and restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly have contributed to a deteriorating environment for activists. In several countries, the publication and dissemination of material on LGBTQI+ issues face strict editorial controls and bans. CIVICUS also documents how protests are being suppressed, including the use of various laws to deny permits for public demonstrations, specifically targeting LGBTQI gatherings.

  Despite the hostile environment in many countries, civil society groups continue to advocate for LGBTQI+ rights and score important victories. The report also documents  a number of positive developments including the decriminalization of same sex relations in Botswana and Gabon, as well as a recent Supreme Court decision in Namibia to recognise same-sex marriages concluded abroad between citizens and foreign spouses.

  The report concludes by demonstrating the impact of civic space restrictions against LGBTQI+ groups, and shows how the ramifications of these restrictions also affect other excluded groups including women and children.

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