Indonesian Police's Discriminatory Tests

A cadet telling her application tale (x)

Female police cadets in Indonesia must jump through the standard hoops of becoming an official officer, but unlike their male counterparts they must pass a particularly unscrupulous margin. Applicants report having to undergo a painful virginity test in order to be placed on the force. Indonesia's Chief Police Regulation No. 5/2009 requires that all women in training must first fulfill an “obstetrics and gynecology” exam to gauge their physical health. In 2010, the head of police personnel decreed that virginity testing would be abolished but this prerequisite is still mentioned on the official police recruitment site, and policewomen widely report having had to withstand the traumatic test.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by Indonesia, states that “virginity tests" are "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment." The ICCPR  denounces this practice so as “to protect both the dignity and the physical and mental integrity of the individual.” It can also be said of this practice that "Because men are not subjected to virginity testing, the practice constitutes discrimination against women as it has the effect or purpose of denying women on a basis of equality with men the right to work as police officers." These notions resemble those in Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that finds "Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment," and is augmented by the caveat in Article 2 which states that "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as...sex."

Sources

Indonesia: Virginity Tests for Female Police

Tanzania to evict the Masai

Two Masai members herding cattle (x)

It was last spring that Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Pinda was able to dismiss a proposal that limited pasture of the native Masai people. Unfortunately, officials are once again attempting to instate this harmful policy. If the proposal is approved a piece of land bordering the Serengeti national park will be utilized as a “wildlife corridor.” The 1,500 sq km area will be sold to the Ortelo Business Corporation and be used for safaris and commercial hunting. The corridor falls on the Loliondo district and local people estimate it will "directly or indirectly affect the livelihoods of 80,000 people" and surely evict 30,000. These people being the Masai whose pastoral and nomadic life will be compromised if they lose this essential grazing land. Tanzanian government asks the Masai to be out before the year's end and has offered compensation of 1 billion shillings to be funneled into socio-economic development projects. There is no payback for the destruction of ancestral heritage, particularly of a people where 90% rely on cattle for an income that allows them to afford food, clothes, and school fees. Masai members who partake in this anti-corridor activism have reported threats to their life by potential government personnel. 

The Tanzanian government is in clear violation of the rights of it's people. Looking to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it is evident that Article 17 has been overlooked for it states that "Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others" and "No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property." 

Sources

Tanzania accused of backtracking

Will Tanzania sell Masai homelands?

Ensuring Marriage Equality

The World's Worst Places to Be Gay (x)

Takepart has created the above info-graphic outlining the "World's Worst Places to Be Gay." Of 196 nations on the planet, 79 have deemed homosexuality illegal. The scope of how states treat same-gender relations is varied. Some governments posses laws that are discriminatory and limiting whereas other nation's policies can seriously endanger their LGBT citizens. The map depicts four types of treatments by the state and these include: "Red: Countries where homosexuality can lead to imprisonment," "Yellow: Countries where there are some anti-gay laws that don't allow same-sex marriage," "Green: Countries that have a type of legal marriage, union or partnership. In some places it's recognize but not performed" and "Countries where same-sex marriage is legal." A red nation would be Nigeria for in some regions a person who is found to engage in same-sex relations can be stoned to death. A less extreme version of this queerphobic injustice would be in a yellow nation like Chile where civil unions are accepted but same-sex couples cannot adopt children or in the green area of the United States where some states don't recognize same-sex marriages and couples can't receive tax benefits.  Takepart quotes Kaleidoscope Trust's Alistair Stewart who finds “The struggle for even basic human rights for LGBT people—freedom of association, freedom from violence—becomes harder to achieve when the opponents can point to something like gay marriage…and make the argument that ‘if we give these people even the most basic of human rights, next they’ll be asking to get married in our churches."

 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights indirectly addresses queer individuals in Articles 2 and 16 which state "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind" and "Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution."

Sources

The World's Worst Places to Be Gay

Burkina Faso: Power to the People

Burkina Faso residents march through Ouagadouga with spatulas (x)

Blaise Compaore had been President of Burkina Faso for nearly 27 years when the former military leader decided to extend him term. Residents of the African nation took to the streets of Ouagadougou, the capital, to defy this potential parliamentary measure. The unrest was violent and involved protesting at governmental edifices, setting fire to parliament and ransacking local television. Parliament dissolved on Thursday, October 30th and Compaore resigned. Under marital law Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida took power, despite backlash from citizens. Burkina Faso is now facing pressure to return to civilian rule or face sanctions by the African Union and other Western allies. A charter was created that outlines a 90-member parliament, and proposes a special college to elect a transitional president. Talks between Zida and opposition leaders produced this interim government whereas military officials and Compaore's political allies were not permitted to take part. Presidential and legislative elections are expected to take place in 2015.

 This shake up of Burkina Faso governance is demonstrative of Article 21 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 21 outlines the tenets of civilian rule such as "Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives," and "The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."

Sources

Protests force out Burkina president

Burkina Faso talks

Children in Poverty Increases

UNICEF's Report Card Banner (x)

UNICEF, the branch of the United Nations concerned with the welfare of children, released a report October 28th relating to child poverty. The press release, an Innocenti Report entitled "Card 12, Children of the Recession," found that since 2008 more than 2.6 million children entered poverty than left poverty. Researchers looked at levels of child poverty and the population of NEET (not in education, employment or training) children ages 15 to 24. Fourty one countries were ranked and "a majority...pivoted sharply from budget stimulus to budget cuts, with negative impact on children." UNICEF faults a decrease in household income and a lack of social protection policies during the Great Recession for this rise in impoverished youth.

Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights illustrates the necessity to prevent unfortunate trends such as this. The statement attests that "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services" and contends that "Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance."

Sources
Unicef Press Release

Protests in Mexico over a Crime of State

Murillo's comment re-framed to read "I'm tired of fear" painted on a city street (x)

On Friday November 7th, Mexico's Attorney General Jesús Murillo held a press conference on the recent massacre held in the town of Cocula, a province of Iguala. Murillo revealed that authorities have uncovered 38 bodies from a cluster of mass graves and have identified four as disappeared persons last seen at checkpoints set up by Guerreros Unidos, a drug gang that has infiltrated municipal police. The incident unfolded on September 26th when the 43 student-teachers arrived in Iguala to obtain buses for an upcoming protest. The victims were attacked by the gang-led local police, shot, killed, and burned in a rubbish dump. Arrested gang members have admitted to participating in the massacre. Protests in the nation, both peaceful and violent, grew exponentially larger with this recent conference and citizens have taken to the streets with "Ya me cansé" (I’m tired, or I've had enough) as their rallying cry, a reference to Murillo's exasperated parting words. The Guardian reports: "The phrase ["Ya me cansé"] has been turned on its head to express public exhaustion with both the violence that has taken hold in many parts of Mexico, where organised criminal activity is protected by corrupt authorities, as well as the federal government’s failure to act against it, which many believe underpins the events in Iguala."

It is evident that this incident is an abhorrent state crime. Articles 3, 5 and 6 of the Declaration of Human Rights have been grossly violated. Mexican governance has not guaranteed "the right to life, liberty and security of person," that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." and has not ensured "Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law."

Sources

Mexico: Protests at Admission
"I've Had Enough"