Watch this space throughout the week as this post will continue to be updated with recent human rights news and alerts.
- France’s Constitutional Court ruled that the law banning Muslim women from wearing face-coverings in public is not in violation of the constitution. An appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (the rulings of which are binding) is still possible. [BBC]
- Two Israeli soldiers were convicted of “reckless endangerment” and “conduct unbecoming” by an Israeli Military Court for using a Palestinian child as a ‘human shield’ during the 2008-2009 action by Israel in Gaza. The soldiers are reportedly the first convicted of using a human shield, an action which is against the law in Israel. They are to be sentenced at a later date. [BBC]
- Over the past week, the United States has seen a string of high profile homophobic bullying and harassment incidents. 11 year old Tyler Wilson had his arm broken by classmates after joining a community cheerleading team. Tyler Clementi (18) jumped off a bridge after a video of him being intimate with another man was secretly broadcast online by his roommate. Seth Walsh (13) and Billy Lucas (15) hung themselves, unable to endure the homophobic harassment and bullying that they faced at their schools. Asher Brown (13) shot himself after two years of homophobic harassment and only days after he came out to his accepting parents. In response, The Trevor Project has stepped up their efforts to educate youth about homophobia, and sex columnist Dan Savage has launched a YouTube campaign called ‘It Gets Better‘.
- Over one million Haitians remain in United Nations displaced persons camps as a result of January’s earthquake in that country. Refugees International described the standard of living in the camps as “appalling” and has recorded incidents of women being forced to exchange sex for food. [BBC]