Dispatches: Uganda's Missing Opposition Activist
Where is Sam Mugumya? This question is plaguing his family and Uganda's opposition leadership. Sam, an ardent opposition party activist, disappeared from his home district of Rukungiri, on Uganda's western border with Congo, in early November. His friends…
Statement at the Human Rights Council on the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review report of Uganda
Oral statement under Item 6
Human Rights Watch welcomes the Human Rights Council's review of Uganda in October 2011 and its March 2012 adoption of the Universal Periodic Review report. The Uganda delegation committed to adopt a National Action Plan on human rights, establish a human…
Letter to Ugandan Minister of Interior on Arrest and Detention of Kenyan Human Rights Defenders
Hon. Ali Kirunda Kivejinja Minister of Internal Affairs Ministry of Internal Affairs Kampala Uganda Dear Hon. Minister: We are writing on behalf of Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to express concern regarding the arrest and detention of…
Uganda: Appoint Special Coroner Into Detainee Death
Government Must Prosecute Abuses by Counterterrorism Forces
(Kampala) - The Ugandan government should demonstrate its commitment to prosecuting security force abuses by appointing a court-ordered coroner to look into the death of a detainee, Human Rights Watch said today. No one has been held accountable for the…
April 28, 2009 News
Uganda: Brutality in the name of security
"I kindly beg you to ensure that you keep our children. I don't think I will be coming back." Those were the last words of Saidi Lutaaya, spoken over the phone to his wife. He had been picked up from Old Taxi Park in Kampala in November 2007 by men…
Uganda: End Torture by Anti-Terror Unit
Prosecutions and Civilian Oversight Needed to Deter Abuses
(Kampala) - The Ugandan government should take prompt action to end unlawful arrest and torture by its anti-terrorism unit, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 89-page report, "Open Secret: Illegal Detention and Torture by the Joint…
NGO support letter to the Swedish Migration Board on the Adel Akim case
Mr. Dan Eliasson Director General Migrationsverket 601 70 NORRKÖPING Sweden by facsimile and post: +46.11.108.155 Re: Application of Adel Abdul Hakim Dear Mr. Eliasson, We, the undersigned nongovernmental organizations, are writing in support of…
European Parliament: Condemn Complicity in Illegal CIA Activity
The European Parliament should condemn European complicity in the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) program of "extraordinary renditions" and secret detention of prisoners, Human Rights Watch said today. The report of the European Parliament's…
No Guidelines on Empty 'No Torture' Promises
Council of Europe Rejects Minimum Standards for Diplomatic Assurances
A Council of Europe expert group has rightly decided not to develop guidelines for the acceptable use of diplomatic assurances to justify sending people to places where they are at risk of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. "We welcome this decision…
Europe: Pending Questions on CIA Activities in Europe
Council of Europe Deadline Is Today; European Parliament to Begin Hearings
European governments must provide detailed information about their participation in or knowledge of the Central Intelligence Agency's unlawful detention and transfer of terrorist suspects. Two European bodies are investigating the CIA's activities in…
Not Worth the Paper They're Written On
Despite what the Prime Minister says, the rules of the game have not changed
In the days after the bombings of 7 July, there were many reasons to feel proud to be a Londoner. Politicians responded with dignity to the terrible events. People of all faiths stood together in the knowledge that those who had commissioned these crimes…
Sweden: United Nations Confirms Sweden Violated Torture Ban
In two recent reports, Human Rights Watch has exposed the increasing reliance by Western governments on a practice called "diplomatic assurances," which enable those governments to return terror suspects to their home countries, many of which are known to…
Sweden Violated Torture Ban with U.S. Help
U.N. Committee Rebukes Sweden for Sending Terror Suspect to Torture
Sweden violated the absolute ban on torture by expelling a terrorism suspect to Egypt, the United Nations Committee Against Torture ruled today. Sweden justified the transfer saying it secured assurances from Egypt that the suspect would not be tortured…
Call for Action against the Use of Diplomatic Assurances in Transfers to Risk of Torture and Ill-Treatment
Governments in Europe and North America are increasingly sending alleged terrorism suspects and others to abusive states based on so-called "diplomatic assurances" of humane treatment that expose these individuals to serious risk of torture or cruel,…
Uganda: Key Opposition MPs Arrested
The Ugandan authorities have arrested two key opposition members of parliament on what appear to be politically motivated charges, chilling the political climate ahead of next year's elections, Human Rights Watch said today. Two MPs from the…
'Diplomatic Assurances' Allowing Torture
Growing Trend Defies International Law
Governments in Europe and North America are increasingly sending suspects to abusive states on the basis of flimsy "diplomatic assurances" that expose the detainees to serious risk of torture and ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch said in a new report…
U.N. Rights Body Must Fight to Restore Credibility
(Geneva) — With a membership that includes governments responsible for crimes against humanity, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights meeting in Geneva next week must take dramatic steps to restore its sinking credibility, Human Rights Watch said today.…
UK: Promises on Torture Don't Work
"Diplomatic Assurances" will not Protect Deportees
The British government has said it is seeking "diplomatic assurances" that terrorism suspects deported to their home countries will not be tortured there. It argues that, on receipt of such assurances, the men—many of whom have been held without trial for…
May 4, 2004 News
Sweden Implicated in Egypt's Abuse of Suspected Militant
Egypt Violated Diplomatic Promises of Fair Trial and No Torture for Terrorism Suspect
The Egyptian military court conviction of accused terrorism suspect Ahmed Agiza, who was convicted on April 27, violated fair trial standards and failed to address his allegations that he was tortured, Human Rights Watch said today. Sweden expelled Agiza…
Torture and Non-Refoulement
Briefing to the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights
In its annual resolution on torture, the Commission on Human Rights should reaffirm the absolute obligation of states not to return ("refouler") a person to a country where he or she is at risk of being subjected to torture or other cruel or inhuman…
Tanzania and Zanzibar
Charles Taylor
Universal Jurisdiction