Enough religion in the world to make humanity hate each other, but not enough to make them love one another
Worst State Violators of Religious Freedom 2013
Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan
Not far behind: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent federal advisory body created by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to monitor religious freedom abuses abroad, has released its 2013 Annual Report. The Report highlights the status of religious freedom globally and identifies those governments that are the most egregious violators.
ÒThe state of international religious freedom is increasingly dire due to the presence of forces that fuel instability. These forces include the rise of violent religious extremism coupled with the actions and inactions of governments. Extremists target religious minorities and dissenters from majority religious communities for violence, including physical assaults and even murder. Authoritarian governments also repress religious freedom through intricate webs of discriminatory rules, arbitrary requirements and draconian edicts,Ó said Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, USCIRFÕs Chair.
For the individual country reports go <> here . . . .
Primark Complicit in Murder of 622 Bangladeshi Garment Workers
The recent Savar tragedy in Bangladesh could have been prevented. Despite cracks appearing on walls and warnings from local engineers on the day before Rana Plaza building collapse, the owner of the factory forced workers to occupy the building.
Organize a Protest outside Your Local Primark
Give Primark CEO a piece of your mind
Email/fax/Phone Primark Chief Executive Officer Paul Marchant
Paul.Marchant@primark.co.uk
Primark Stores Ltd (Head Office)
41 West Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 1TT
Tel: 0118 960 6300 / Fax: 0118 960 6301
Freedom of Information request - Longest lengths of Detention
As at 31 December 2012, National Statistics show that of the 2,685 people currently detained solely under Immigration Act powers in immigration removal centres, short term holding facilities and pre departure accommodation the 12 longest recorded lengths of detention are:
4.4 years 1,620 days 1 Male / 4.1 years 1,522 days 1 Male
3.6 years 1,348 days 1 Male / 3.6 years 1,117 days 1 Female
3 years 1,096 days 1 Male / 2.9 years 1,063 days 1 Male
2.8 years 1,033 days 1 Male / 2.7 years 1,019 days 1 Male
2.7 years 1,018 days 1 Male / 2.6 years 980 days 1 Male
2.6 years 935 days 1 Male / 2.4 years 893 days 1 Female
Garden Court Chambers - Immigration Law Bulletin - Issue 322
37 Children Entertered Detention January/February/March 2013
| |
January |
February |
March |
| Cedars |
6 |
6 |
16 |
| Tinsley House |
2 |
0 |
4 |
| Other IRCs |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Source: UKBA Statistical data set
Judicial Review: What Does "Totally Without Merit" Mean?
What is the test the Court should apply in deciding whether an application is 'totally without merit'? The question is prompted by the Lord Chancellor's announcement on 23 April 2013 that he will press ahead with plans to reform judicial review procedure to target 'weak, frivolous and unmeritorious cases'. A key change will be to give judges of the Administrative Court, when refusing permission to apply for judicial review on the papers, the power to certify a claim as 'totally without merit' (TWM), thus depriving the claimant of the right to renew the application before the court at an oral hearing.
Read more: <> Paul Bowen QC, UK Human Rights Blog
|
Europe's Pariah State? Future of Human Right in Britain
Since taking office in September 2012, Grayling has made no secret of his desire to get rid of the Human Rights Act and to 'dramatically curtail' the role of the European Court of Human Rights in the UK.2 In October he refused to rule out an exit from the European Convention, despite the concerns of senior Tories such as Grieve and Kenneth Clarke (Grayling's predecessor in the ministry). Grayling's front-bench colleague, home secretary Theresa May, was said to be drawing up a manifesto promise to repeal the Human Rights Act. And in April, the prime minister was reportedly considering temporary withdrawal from the Court in order that Abu Qatada can be deported
Frances Webber, a retired human rights barrister and author of Borderline Justice: the fight for refugee and migrant rights, examines Britain's difficult relationship with the European Human Rights Convention.
Download the article <> here . . . .
7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in April 2013, according to CrisisWatch.
Deteriorated Situations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Venezuela
Download the full report: <> CrisisWatch N°117
ILPA Latest Service Update and Information Sheets
Update 53: Topics Covered include
Legal Aid including Changes from 1 April 2013 and New Legal Aid Consultation / The Agency formerly known as the UK Border Agency
Asylum Operating Model / Visit Visa Appeals
Information Sheets:
Legal Aid: New proposals
Exceptional Case Determinations
Asylum Operating Model
Kind Regards. Sarah Myerscough
Legal Officer / Immigration Law Practitioners' Association
ILPA website
28.8 Million Internally Displaced People Worldwide In 2012
he number of people internally displaced by armed conflict, violence and human rights violations at the end of 2012 was 28.8 million, an increase of 2.4 million people on the previous year and the highest global figure ever reported by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
Over 6.5 million people were newly displaced inside their home countries in 2012, almost twice as many as the year before. Because these people have not crossed a border, they are not refugees and do not benefit from international protection.
''Much of the spike in the number of internally displaced people worldwide was due to the 2.4 million people displaced by the crisis within Syria by the end of 2012,'' said Kate Halff, Director of IDMC. ''Here, the acceleration of internal displacement is closely linked to the conflict, where one feeds the other, creating a 'snowball effect'. In this context, internal displacement becomes a 'moving target' for those tasked with the response."
Read more; <> Reliefweb, 29/04/13
UNHCR Recommends States Suspend Forced Returns to CAR
As the situation in CAR is fluid and remains uncertain, UNHCR recommends that States suspend forcible returns of nationals or habitual residents of Central African Republic (CAR) to the country. Furthermore, UNHCR considers that it is likely that persons fleeing CAR and those who were already in the country of asylum before the recent events are in need of international refugee protection in accordance with Article 1(2) of the 1969 OAU Convention.9 In addition, many persons fleeing CAR are likely to meet the 1951 Convention10 criteria for refugee status. Depending on the profile of the individual case, exclusion considerations may need to be looked into.11 In addition, to preserve the civilian character of asylum, States would need to exert caution so as to identify combatants and separate them from the refugee population.12 The bar on forcible return serves as a minimum standard and needs to remain in place until such time as the security and human rights situation in CAR has improved sufficiently to permit a safe and dignified return of those determined not to be in need of international protection.
<> Source Refworld: 26/04/13
Serbia: "Cleaning" of Roma Settlement Violates International Law
Amnesty International condemns the forced eviction of Roma families from an informal settlement at Vidikovac in Cukarica municipality in Belgrade. The forced eviction, which began on 22 April and continued the following day, was carried out by the Belgrade city authorities and Cukarica municipal authorities, with complete disregard for Serbia's international and regional human rights obligations. The organisation is also deeply worried that the authorities have described the forced eviction as a "cleaning operation", showing a callous lack of respect for the human rights of the affected Roma.
Amnesty International , 25 April 2012, AI Index: EUR 701008/2013
|