Human Rights Weekly Digest

May 9th - 16th, 2008 US: California Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human Rights Final Talks on Cluster Munition Ban Treaty Senegal: UN Decision on Hissène Habré Flouted Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration Saudi Arabia: Investigate Police for Burning Yemenis Kenya: Proposed Truth Commission Bill Seriously Flawed Burma: Donor States Must Monitor Aid Uzbek Human Rights Activist Honored Colombia: Government Mischaracterizes HRW's Position on Paramilitary Extradition Kyrgyzstan: Do Not Return Asylum Seeker to Uzbekistan US/Israel: Bush Should Press for End to Gaza Closure Sudan: Mass Arrests After Rebel Attack Raise Concern Saudi Arabia: Stop Trials for 'Insulting' Islam Colombia: Paramilitary Leaders to Face Prosecution in US Russia: Halt "Incitement" Prosecution of Human Rights Defender Uzbekistan: Repression Linked to 2005 Massacre Rife Burma: China Should Push to Get Aid in Egypt: Investigate Beating of 'Facebook' Activist Saudi Arabia: Medical Workers Stranded Without Pay UK: Missed Chance to Charge Sri Lankan Rights Abuser

US: California Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human Rights Historic Decision Confers Equal Right to Marriage to Same-Sex Couples (New York, May 15, 2008) – The California Supreme Court's ruling today striking down state law that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples is a victory for equality that should set a national and international example, Human Rights Watch said today. Read more

Final Talks on Cluster Munition Ban Treaty

States Should Resist Weakening Treaty in Any Way

(Dublin, May 16, 2008) – The more than 100 countries that will gather in Dublin, Ireland on May 19 to negotiate a new international treaty aimed at banning cluster munitions should reject attempts to weaken the treaty, Human Rights Watch said today. Participating countries are scheduled to adopt the final text of the treaty on May 30.

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Senegal: UN Decision on Hissène Habré Flouted

Two Years After UN Ruling, No Action on Former Chad Dictator

(Geneva, May 16, 2008) – Two years after a United Nations committee requested that Senegal prosecute or extradite the former dictator of Chad, Hissène Habré, no action has been taken, six human rights organizations said today. Habré fled to Senegal after he was deposed in 1990.

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Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration Overseas Integration Test Infringes on Rights of Migrants (The Hague, May 15, 2008) – The Netherlands should abolish the overseas "integration test" that discriminatorily targets only migrants of certain nationalities trying to join their families, while citizens from other, "western" countries are exempt, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Read more