Full Coverage: Civil rights

31.08.2007 August 30 marks the International Day of the Disappeared; it an annual commemoration to draw attention for those who have been subjected to forced disappearances. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has shown concern for the rising number of missing people in the country.

30.08.2007 In an attempt to derail indigenous rights activist Rigoberta Menchu’s political party ahead of September 9 elections, a party member and local council candidate was recently assassinated.

30.08.2007 The UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women is accepting applications for its 12th grant cycle (2007) related to the implementation of existing laws, policies and plans of action to address violence against women and reducing the twin pandemics of HIV/AIDS and violence against women.

29.08.2007 In a letter to the Indian states’ chief ministers, the prime minister urged to prepare time-bound action plans for providing reasonable and affordable basic services to the urban poor in all major cities.

28.08.2007 NEW YORK, Aug 28 (OneWorld) - Thousands of protesters are expected to converge on New Orleans Wednesday to raise awareness about what they believe to be the Bush administration's failure to help Americans who lost everything in the wake of a ferocious storm that hit the United States' Gulf Coast some two years ago.

22.08.2007 Despite countless global impediments to women's political participation and representation, activists are working tirelessly to secure unbiased opportunities for election and equal rates of political representation for women and men alike.

22.08.2007 Rural Development Policy Institute and the Practical Action South Asia have hosted a panel discussion on “Disaster Watch” in Pakistan. The speakers stated that the dismal state of governance in Pakistan was largely due to the lack of freedom of information and stressed on the timely access to reliable and authentic information for good governance.

21.08.2007 The Northern India has won an award from the United Nations for outstanding achievement in public relations by conducting a public awareness campaign designed to encourage the use of condoms as part of safe sex practices and family planning.

20.08.2007 The fire at an Indian army ammunitions base in Jammu and Kashmir has made over 30,000 people homeless. According to the officials it could take up to six months to clear the area of unexploded shells.

20.08.2007 Maoist labour union in Nepal has prevented two privately-owned national dailies, "The Himalayan Times" and "Annapurna Post", from being printed and distributed. Reporters Without Borders has voiced concern about a growing threat to press freedom in Nepal.

20.08.2007 The government of Pakistan is condemned by the opposition for withholding the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Amendment Ordinance. The government is accused of having mala fide intentions that the ordinance had been withheld to put pressure on the electronic media to agree to a code of conduct of its interest.

14.08.2007 Indian organisation Kriti Film Club is inviting for the screening of two new documentaries at two different venues in New Delhi on 16 August 2007.

10.08.2007 Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) urges governments around the world to work on strategies that meet the challenges of global water scarcity. The call will be issued through SIWI's new policy brief, On the Verge of a New Water Scarcity, which is released with the opening of the 2007 World Water Week in Stockholm.

07.08.2007 A recent workshop by the Nepal based Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) has helped women in advancing leadership skills to engage in post-conflict efforts and governance.

06.08.2007 In the Indian western state of Rajasthan, a young woman leader is doing her best to ensure that people benefit from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which assures of the right to employment among eligible rural people.

03.08.2007 In the years following the ratification of the extremely controversial USA PATRIOT Act, other countries across the world, including the Philippines and El Salvador, have introduced equally contentious counter-terrorism statutes that have had serious implications on civil rights, say advocates.

01.08.2007 The Papua Legislative Council is deliberating a regulation that would see microchips implanted in people living with HIV/AIDS so authorities could monitor their actions. The regulation has been condemned by activists in the province as a gross violation of rights.

01.08.2007 Delhi based NGO PRIA (Participatory Research In Asia) has done a two year study on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (NREGA) - a welfare scheme that aims to provide employment to all eligible rural Indian - in 24 districts of 16 Indian states and concluded that the scheme is not working well on the ground. The implementation is not encouraging and the proposed beneficiaries are unaware of the scheme.