Norway has strengthened efforts to prevent torture, by ratifying the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture
Oslo, June 30 (DP.net).─ "Torture is unacceptable and nothing can justify its use. It is therefore vital that we support efforts to strengthen international rules relating to the prevention of torture," said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (photo).
The objective of the Optional Protocol is to prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by establishing a system of regular visits by independent bodies to places of detention, including prisons, police detention cells, psychiatric institutions and other places where people are deprived of their liberty.
See "Notes on the US Law" at the foot of this report
June. 27 (DP.net).─ The Catholic Church, other Christian denominations and some other religions campaign to ban abortion on moral grounds or to limit the conditions required for it to be allowed. Their moral and political position on this issue is known as "Pro Life".
Among the most firm opponents to the leniency of present abortion laws in the United States is the non-for-profit organization known as Priests for Life, who openly oppose abortion and euthanasia. They work in tandem with several other organizations, such as Deacons for Life, Silent No More Awareness Campaign, African-American Outreach, Life on the Line, etc.
One of the most recent actions was to send a letter dated June 18, 2013, to Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker and present Minority Leader. This letter was prompted by a question asked to Ms. Pelosi during a press briefing on June 13. They asked her: "What is the moral difference between what Dr. Gosnell did to a baby born alive at 23 weeks and aborting her moments before birth?"
Priests for Life argue in this letter that she did not answer the question but «resorted to judgmental ad hominem attacks on the reporter who asked it, saying, "You obviously have an agenda. You're not interested in having an answer."»
Madrid, Jun.21.─ Ayer fue presentado en Madrid el informe anual de ACNUR Tendencias Globales, que describe la situación de los refugiados en el mundo. El estudio incluye datos alarmantes, como que a finales de 2012 más de 45 millones de personas se encontraban desplazadas forzosamente de sus lugares de origen, tres millones más que el año anterior. La mitad de los refugiados proceden de cinco naciones afectadas por la guerra: Afganistán, Somalia, Irak, Sudán y Siria, un país cuyo conflicto se ha convertido en solo dos años en el factor más importante de desplazamiento global. En contra de lo que podríamos pensar, son los países pobres, y no los desarrollados, quienes cargan con la parte del león en la protección de quienes huyen de una persecución de cualquier tipo: 8 de cada 10 refugiados residen en países en desarrollo.
España y sus gobiernos siguen siendo parte del problema y no de la solución. Como recordaba ayer CEAR con motivo del Día Mundial del Refugiado, "las solicitudes de asilo en nuestro país alcanzaron el año pasado un mínimo histórico: la cifra más baja en 25 años, desde que se realizan estos registros". Este récord infame es el resultado de un sistema concebido para evitar en primer lugar las solicitudes y restringir después las que son aceptadas.
Para un individuo que huye solo o con su familia de una persecución violenta en su país de origen, el reconocimiento de asilo en España se ha convertido en una verdadera carrera de obstáculos: la imposibilidad de acceder al territorio nacional o de solicitar asilo en las embajadas; la imposición de visados de tránsito para acceder a países más garantistas, como los nórdicos; la restricción de la movilidad de los solicitantes (como ocurre con aquellos atrapados en Ceuta y Melilla); y los períodos interminables de resolución del expediente (muy por encima de los seis meses que establece la ley) son solo algunos de los problemas a los que deben hacer frente.
En algunos casos, la situación se vuelve sencillamente kafkiana: los ciudadanos de Costa de Marfil tienen sus expedientes 'congelados' a la espera de la resolución del conflicto de intensidad variable que azota su país desde hace más de una década. Como si la declaración formal de un alto el fuego reconstruyese por arte de magia los entornos destruidos y borrase las hostilidades gangrenadas ...
Chinese diplomats have been overtly threatening a FRANCE 24 reporter who spent a week in Tibet filming under cover, while their demands that his report "Seven Days in Tibet"be removed or altered continue to be refused [look forVIDEOat the bottom of this report]
June 12 (France 24).─ Reporter Cyril Payen has been subjected to "mafia"-style intimidation from Chinese diplomats angered by an under-cover report he filmed in Tibet.
Following the first broadcast of his "Seven days in Tibet" report on May 30, personnel from the Chinese embassy in Paris visited FRANCE 24's offices to demand that it be taken off the channel's website.
Chen Guangcheng and ChinaAid president Bob Fu just wrapped up a four-country tour of Europe, aiming to promote a "Europe and America Trans-Atlantic Human Rights Alliance." They pushed for a complete unity of all governments and NGO's, European and American, to fight for and speak up against the human rights violations currently taking place every day in China
Strasbourg, May 28.─ European Parliament's President Schulz met on May 20th at the EP's plenary session at their headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Upon Vice President Scott McMillan's request, Schulz released a statement about Chen Kegui and Chen Guangcheng's family's continued harassment and receiving of threats from the Chinese government. President Schulz urged the Chinese Communist Party to correct their actions regarding this matter.
Madrid, Jun.21.─ Ayer fue presentado en Madrid el informe anual de ACNUR 