Human Rights

Human rights activists hold a portrait of Liu Xiaobo (L), jailed in China and considered a 'prisoner of conscience', by human rights groups, along with placards of other jailed activists as they make their way to the US consulate general in Hong Kong on May 13, 2010. Human rights activists held a low key demonstation, asking for the release of various jailed Chinese 'prisoners of conscience', at the US consulate general. The protest was held in conjunction with the US-China human rights dialogue being held in Washington from May 13-14.

Human rights activists hold a portrait of Liu Xiaobo (top), jailed in China and considered a 'prisoner of conscience' by human rights groups along with placards of other jailed activists, in Hong Kong on May 13, 2010. Human rights activists held a low key demonstation, asking for the release of various jailed Chinese 'prisoners of conscience', at the US consulate general. The protest was held in conjunction with the US-China human rights dialogue being held in Washington from May 13-14.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nivai Bali (2R), of South Africa, speaks next to Qatari Ali bin Sumikh al-Marri, Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights (2L), at the opening of the first Gulf Forum for Human Rights Institutions in the GCC, in Doha on April 20, 2010.

Human rights in China activist Harry Wu speaks at a press conference marking the 30th anniversary of China�s one child policy September 24, 2010 at the House Triangle outside of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The veteran human rights campaigner called on US President Barack Obama to take China to task over the issue of human rights.

Human rights in China activist Harry Wu is seen during a press conference marking the 30th anniversary of China�s one child policy September 24, 2010 at the House Triangle outside of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The veteran human rights campaigner called on US President Barack Obama to take China to task over the issue of human rights abuses.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

Human rights activists and peasant groups with mock coffins, rally outside the headquarters of the Philippine military to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2010. Expressing his commitment to human rights, President Benigno Aquino ordered officials to drop charges against 43 health workers arrested by the military and police on earlier this year on suspicion of being communist rebels, in a case that has gained widespread public attention.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nivai Bali (R), of South Africa, speaks next to Qatari Ali bin Sumikh al-Marri, Chairman of the National Commission for Human Rights (L), at the opening of the first Gulf Forum for Human Rights Institutions in the GCC, in Doha on April 20, 2010.

Human rights in China activist Harry Wu speaks at a press conference marking the 30th anniversary of China�s one child policy September 24, 2010 at the House Triangle outside of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The veteran human rights campaigner called on US President Barack Obama to take China to task over the issue of human rights.

Human-rights American activist and director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson, gives a press conferenceon October 21, 2010 in Tunis to present a report, entitled 'The price of independence, silencing labor and student unions in Tunisia'.

Human-rights American activist and director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson, gives a press conferenceon October 21, 2010 in Tunis to present a report, entitled 'The price of independence, silencing labor and student unions in Tunisia'.

Human-rights American activist and director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson, gives a press conferenceon October 21, 2010 in Tunis to present a report, entitled 'The price of independence, silencing labor and student unions in Tunisia'.

Russian human-rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva (R), the head of the Moscow Helsinki Group speaks with Yuri Schmidt, a lawyer of former Yukos oil company chief executive officer Mikhail Khodorkovsky during a meeting devoted to 45th anniversary of the first human rights rally in central Moscow on December 5, 2010.

Human-rights American activist and director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson, gives a press conferenceon October 21, 2010 in Tunis to present a report, entitled 'The price of independence, silencing labor and student unions in Tunisia'.

Human-rights American activist and director of Human Rights Watch Middle East and North Africa, Sarah Leah Whitson (L), shakes hands with Tunisian press union member Lotfi Hajji on October 21, 2010 in Tunis during the presentation of a report, entitled 'The price of independence, silencing labor and student unions in Tunisia'.

Russian human-rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva (R), the head of the Moscow Helsinki Group speaks with Yuri Schmidt, a lawyer of former Yukos oil company chief executive officer Mikhail Khodorkovsky during a meeting devoted to 45th anniversary of the first human rights rally in central Moscow on December 5, 2010.

A Filipino human rights activist in symbolic chains holds a black candle and banner in front of a picture of Burmese human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, 08 August 2006, during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Manila to mark the 18th anniversary of the 08 August, 1988 Myanmar people's uprising. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will be in Myanmar by 10 August and is expected to push for democratic reforms and the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi.

A Filipino human rights activist in symbolic chains holds a black candle and banner in front of a picture of Burmese human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, 08 August 2006, during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Manila to mark the 18th anniversary of the 08 August, 1988 Myanmar people's uprising. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will be in Myanmar by 10 August and is expected to push for democratic reforms and the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

Pakistani human rights activists march toward the US embassy during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on September 23, 2010, against the detention of Pakistani woman Aafia Siddiqui in the US. Siddiqui, a neuroscientist trained at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology who caught the attention of human rights groups after she disappeared for five years, was found guilty earlier this year of trying to kill American servicemen in Afghanistan by a jury in a federal US court.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

A Filipino human rights activist in symbolic chains holds a black candle and banner in front of a picture of Burmese human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, 08 August 2006, during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Manila to mark the 18th anniversary of the 08 August, 1988 Myanmar people's uprising. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will be in Myanmar by 10 August and is expected to push for democratic reforms and the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

Chinese human rights activist Harry Wu makes remarks during a press conference honoring Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo and calling on the Chinese government to improve its human rights record on December 7, 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Human Rights organization Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo president Estela de Carlotto (2-R) kisses a child as she holds the Bicentenary award next to Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner at the presidential palace during the celebration of the International Human Rights Day in Buenos Aires on December 10, 2010.

Pakistani human rights activists scuffle with policemen as they try to march toward the US embassy during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on September 23, 2010, against the detention of Pakistani woman Aafia Siddiqui in the US. Siddiqui, a neuroscientist trained at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology who caught the attention of human rights groups after she disappeared for five years, was found guilty earlier this year of trying to kill American servicemen in Afghanistan by a jury in a federal US court.

Pakistani human rights activists try to remove barbed wire while they march toward the US embassy during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on September 23, 2010, against the detention of Pakistani woman Aafia Siddiqui in the US. Siddiqui, a neuroscientist trained at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology who caught the attention of human rights groups after she disappeared for five years, was found guilty earlier this year of trying to kill American servicemen in Afghanistan by a jury in a federal US court.

A Filipino human rights activist in symbolic chains holds a black candle and banner in front of a picture of Burmese human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, 08 August 2006, during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Manila to mark the 18th anniversary of the 08 August, 1988 Myanmar people's uprising. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will be in Myanmar by 10 August and is expected to push for democratic reforms and the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Chinese human rights activist Harry Wu makes remarks during a press conference honoring Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Liu Xiaobo and calling on the Chinese government to improve its human rights record on December 7, 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Pakistani human rights activists shout slogans as they march toward the US embassy during an anti-US protest in Islamabad on September 23, 2010, against the detention of Pakistani woman Aafia Siddiqui in the US. Siddiqui, a neuroscientist trained at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology who caught the attention of human rights groups after she disappeared for five years, was found guilty earlier this year of trying to kill American servicemen in Afghanistan by a jury in a federal US court.

A Filipino human rights activist in symbolic chains poses in front of a picture of Burmese human rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi, 08 August 2006, during a protest outside the Myanmar embassy in Manila to mark the 18th anniversary of the 08 August, 1988 Myanmar people's uprising. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo will be in Myanmar by 10 August and is expected to push for democratic reforms and the release of political detainees including Aung San Suu Kyi.

James Ross, Human Rights Watch's legal and policy director shows a report at a press briefing in Manila November 16, 2010. A Muslim clan charged over the Philippines' worst political massacre killed dozens of other people during a two-decade reign of terror, Human Rights Watch said in a report published November 16.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

Indonesian workers shout slogans during a rally in Jakarta on December 10, 2010, to mark the International Human Rights day. The Asian Human Rights Commission had reported the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in 2010 despite some reform efforts, as they monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2010.

An Indonesian worker wears a mask during a rally in Jakarta on December 10, 2010, to mark the International Human Rights day. The Asian Human Rights Commission had reported the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in 2010 despite some reform efforts, as they monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2010.

James Ross, Human Rights Watch's legal and policy director shows a report at a press briefing in Manila November 16, 2010. A Muslim clan charged over the Philippines' worst political massacre killed dozens of other people during a two-decade reign of terror, Human Rights Watch said in a report published November 16.

Turkish women and human rights activists attend a rally during the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Ankara on November 25, 2010. The protesters asked government to protect women against violence and discrimination and respect the basic human rights.

Russian head of the human rights monitoring non-governmental organization Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alexeyeva greets Russian opposition leader and former Vice-Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov during a congress devoted to 45th anniversary of the first human rights rally in central Moscow on December 12, 2010.

From right to left: Argentina's Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, former member of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Edmundo Vargas of Chile, Spain judge Baltasar Garzon, former Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba, Sarudzayi Naomi Njere from 'Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights', an unidentified translator, Otilia Lux of Guatemala, Martin Luther King III of US, Chairman of Human Rights Interamerican Institute Roberto Cuellar, and former members of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Marco Monroy of Colombia and Tom Farer of US, attend a meeting with journalist during the celebration fo the International Human Right's day in Buenos Aires on December 10, 2010.

James Ross, Human Rights Watch's legal and policy director shows a report at a press briefing in Manila November 16, 2010. A Muslim clan charged over the Philippines' worst political massacre killed dozens of other people during a two-decade reign of terror, Human Rights Watch said in a report published November 16.

Indonesian workers march during a rally in Jakarta on December 10, 2010, to mark the International Human Rights day. The Asian Human Rights Commission had reported the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in 2010 despite some reform efforts, as they monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2010.

Indonesian workers march during a rally in Jakarta on December 10, 2010, to mark the International Human Rights day. The Asian Human Rights Commission had reported the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in 2010 despite some reform efforts, as they monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2010.

Indonesian workers march during a rally in Jakarta on December 10, 2010, to mark the International Human Rights day. The Asian Human Rights Commission had reported the lack of accountability for serious human rights violations in 2010 despite some reform efforts, as they monitor the human rights situation in Indonesia in 2010.