Articles
- GHRD Team
- 12 December 2024
- GHRD Team
- 12 December 2024
- GHRD Team
- 12 December 2024
- GHRD Team
- 25 November 2024
- Film Screening, Human Rights
The GHRD hosted its fourth human rights film festival on November 21, 2024, in The Hague, focusing on children’s rights and attracting over 160 attendees, including ambassadors and advocates. The festival featured impactful documentaries, such as “Butterfly Butterfly,” highlighting the struggles of child refugees; “Worth of a Girl,” addressing forced marriages; and “Children of War,” which explored the effects of conflict on children. Other films included “Hunger Ward,” depicting the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and “International Adoptions: A Global Scandal,” investigating unethical adoption practices. A panel discussion followed, featuring experts discussing children’s rights, the risks children face online, and the importance of advocacy. The event concluded with a poignant testimony from GHRD’s Youth Ambassador, Putheany Kim, emphasizing the need to protect vulnerable children and amplify their voices.
- GHRD Team
- 25 November 2024
- Minority Rights, Religious Freedom, Religious Minorities
We express grave concern over the November 25, 2024, arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a respected ISKCON leader, by the Bangladesh Police, which poses threats to freedom of speech and religious harmony. As an advocate for the Sanatana Dharma community, his recent activism has involved addressing attacks on Hindu temples. The allegations against him, including sedition, seem like targeted attempts to suppress his calls for justice. We urge the Bangladeshi government to ensure his safety and fair treatment, request international human rights organizations to monitor the situation, and call on media and civil society to advocate for accountability. An impartial investigation is demanded, and if no credible evidence is found, his release is necessary. This arrest threatens democratic values and communal peace, prompting solidarity with Bangladesh’s Hindu community in the call for justice and equality.
- GHRD Team
- 22 November 2024
- Attacks on Minorities, Minority Rights, Protests
The forced removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh has led to increased violence against the Hindu minority, characterized by attacks, looting, and murders, highlighting the government’s failure to protect them. In response, Hindus initiated a peaceful protest on August 9, 2024, demanding rights and recognition, yet faced violent repression, including arrests. A significant protest in Rangpur showcased community resilience. The media’s delayed coverage of these issues exacerbates the vulnerability of this minority. A tragic case involving the death of Hridoy Ravidas after alleged torture by authorities emphasizes systemic discrimination and calls for urgent reforms. Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) advocates for an independent investigation and international pressure for justice and structural changes to protect minority rights in Bangladesh.
- GHRD Team
- 11 November 2024
- GHRD Team
- 11 November 2024
- GHRD Team
- 2 October 2024
- Minority Rights, UNHRC57, United Nations (UN)
On October 2, 2024, GHRD hosted an event at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, chaired by Mariana Mayor Lima, featuring speakers including Professor Nicolas Levrat, Ammarah Balouch, and Jamal Baloch. Professor Levrat discussed the unequal enjoyment of human rights globally, emphasizing state obligations under human rights treaties and the role of NGOs in raising awareness. Ammarah Balouch highlighted the forced conversions and marriages of Sindhi girls in Pakistan, noting significant obstacles to justice for victims. Jamal Baloch shared his testimony on enforced disappearances in Balochistan, affecting young activists and their families. The panel called for urgent cooperation among minorities, adherence to human rights treaty obligations, and accountability for perpetrators, suggesting the establishment of an independent UN fact-finding mission.
- GHRD Team
- 30 September 2024
- Freedom of Expression, Minority Rights, Religious Minorities
On September 29, 2024, a significant demonstration took place in Amsterdam’s Dam Square, where Uyghurs, Tibetans, and South-Mongolians united to demand justice for human rights abuses in China. The event, which attracted over 5,000 participants, called for the end of forced labor, closure of concentration camps, restoration of religious freedom, and preservation of cultural heritage. Organized by various rights groups, the protest garnered international media attention and commitments from Dutch parliamentarians to address human rights issues in China. Future actions include educational workshops and a social media campaign aimed at maintaining pressure on global governments to sanction Chinese officials implicated in human rights violations.
- GHRD Team
- 27 September 2024
- 1971 Bangladesh Genocide, Human Rights, Minority Rights
On September 27, 2024, a symposium titled “Breaking the Bias: Western Media & Human Rights in Bangladesh” was held at Nieuwspoort in The Hague, focusing on the relationship between media representation and human rights, particularly concerning the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh. The event attracted 73 participants including students, professionals, and media workers, and was livestreamed by GHRTV to reach a wider audience. Key components included a keynote speech, a presentation of a report by the Involve team, and a panel discussion featuring experts such as Dr. Anthonie Holslag and Tanbira Hossain. Discussions explored the scientific consensus on the genocide, the influence of historical contexts on media portrayals, and the role of the diaspora in shaping public perceptions. The symposium aimed to deepen the understanding of media bias and its implications for human rights and policy.
- GHRD Team
- 19 September 2024
- GHRD Team
- 19 September 2024
- GHRD Team
- 9 September 2024
- Activism, Diplomacy
- GHRD Team
- 16 August 2024
- Freedom of Speech, Minority Rights, Religious Minorities
On August 15, 2024, an urgent special hearing was held to address escalating human rights violations against minorities in Pakistan, attended by experts, community representatives, and policymakers. The keynote speaker, Professor Nicolas Levrat, emphasized the need for tailored approaches to protect minority rights. A report by the Global Human Rights Defense highlighted personal testimonies and legal analyses of ongoing issues faced by Sindhi, Baloch, Ahmadiyya, and Christian communities, with calls for international intervention. The hearing encouraged attendees to think about their roles in advocating for vulnerable groups and underlined the European Union’s potential influence through trade relations. GHRD’s campaign, “Final Call to Pakistan,” aims to raise awareness of these rights violations.
- GHRD Team
- 11 August 2024
- Freedom of Religion, Minority Rights, Religious Minorities
On National Minorities Day, Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) held an event in Faisalabad, focusing on Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s 1947 speech advocating for religious freedom. Attendees, including political workers and human rights advocates, discussed Jinnah’s ideology and the ongoing targeting of minorities in Pakistan, accentuated by alarming incidents of violence against religious groups. Naveed Walter, president of HRFP, criticized the lack of action from political parties regarding minority rights and called for increased government protection for these communities. The speakers emphasized the need to promote Jinnah’s message actively, incorporate it into the constitution, and address the challenges faced by religious minorities to ensure their fundamental rights and security.