Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Daily Briefs

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This paper aims at considering Daily Briefs posts related to article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), stating, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights). The article primarily concerns the right to hold and express personal opinions freely without the government’s or any other organizations’ interference. This implies the ability and permission to speak views publicly via demonstrations and protests or through television or radio broadcasting, the internet, social media, or published articles, leaflets, and books. The article also protects the freedom to obtain information from mass media or other means of disseminating information and people overall.

Germany Presses China on Abuses in Hong Kong. (Riera, 2020)

On September 1, 2020, Germany appealed to China regarding its security law inflicted on Hong Kong and the treatment of minority Uighurs during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit. The law contains provisions that may have devastating consequences to human rights in Hong Kong, including creating specialized, secret security agencies and strengthening restraints on the media and civil society. This act was followed by many protests in Hong Kong and other countries, as well as actions from the United States and the European Union, such as the export limitation of equipment and sanction imposition.

Libya: Armed Groups Violently Quell Protests (Salah, 2020)

In August 2020, Tripoli’s armed forces associated with Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) utilized lethal weapons, such as machine guns, to disperse predominantly peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations. They also arbitrarily detained and tortured protesters, and people in the capital disappeared. UN experts and ambassadors of foreign countries, including the US and the EU, responded to this violation, calling not to use weapons and allow the people to express their will.

Hungary Renews Attacks on Independent Radio Station (Gall, 2020)

In September 2020, Hungary’s Media Council unexpectedly announced that it would cancel the frequency of Klubradio as of February 2021. Andras Arato, Klubradio’s president, regards this decision as an example of the Hungarian government’s effort to control the independent press and the media landscape overall. The EU institutions still have not responded to this move by the Hungarian government, but they are intensifying their attention to Hungary’s actions concerning the violation of democratic principles.

Myanmar: Stop Prosecuting Peaceful Protesters (Adams, B., 2020)

The incident happened when on September 12, a special police unit conducted a nighttime raid on Paing Min Khant’s home in North Okkala, Yangon. Moreover, twenty students across Myanmar have been charged under different laws after joining the sticker and protest campaigns On September 10, criticizing the government, particularly for the mobile internet shutdown in Chin and Rakhine States. Bangkok’s government officials gave an immediate response, claiming that the Myanmar authorities should stop responding to the government’s criticism in such ways.

Two Years Since Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was Brutally Murdered (Khashoggi, S., 2020)

The post mentions the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, executed by Saudi agents in Washington in 2018. Jamal Khashoggi was a Saudi dissident writer who aimed to found an organization, named DAWN afterward, in Washington, which would advance democracy in the Arab world. This is a direct violation of Article 19 of the UDHR, which protects the right to freedom to hold one’s own opinion without hindrance. Fadoua Massat, DAWN’s Arabic media director, accused the Saudi government, Prince Mohammed, in particular, of committing Khashoggi’s murder

The Closure of NRT Offices (Wille, B., 2020)

The post responds to the unlawful shutdown of two offices of a private media, namely, NRT, in Erbil and Dohuk by Kurdish authorities on August 19, 2020. This was performed to limit covering protests and broadcasts with criticism of the ruling party. One of NRT’s lawyers stated that the action was politically motivated because the authorities had not notified the organization and had not summoned to court.

Protests Still Scare Egypt’s Government (Magdi, A., 2020)

The post points to the protests beginning on September 20, 2020, at the initiative of Mohamed Ali, a self-exiled former army contractor. In response to the mostly peaceful demonstrations, security forces used batons, tear gas, live ammunition, and birdshot to disperse. The independent Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) registered 944 detentions, including 72 children.

Peaceful Protests in Thailand (Human Rights Watch, 2020)

In Bangkok, on October 16, 2020, Thai police used water cannons unnecessarily against demonstrators demanding human rights, democracy, and reform. Human Rights Watch said that this is a clear violation of international human rights standards. The demonstration was organized by the pro-democracy People’s Movement that comprised thousands of people, including many students. Brad Adams said that the Thai government was pursuing broad repression to finish the students’ protests.

India’s Counterterrorism Operations (Roth, K., 2020)

The Indian government conducted several raids on offices and homes in Kashmir, Bangalore, and Delhi to silence peaceful human rights activists, journalists, and other dissenters, on October 28 and 29, 2020. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) frequently initiated politically motivated criminal cases against journalists, students, academics, and other activists. In October, Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern about targeting activists under the counterterrorism law.

The Arrest of Opposition Politician and Crackdown of Protests in Uganda (Reuters Africa, 2020)

Ugandan police applied tear gas, rubber bullets, live rounds to suppress a protest organized by supporters of Bobi Wine, opposition presidential candidate. According to assistants and witnesses, the candidate was detained on November 3 after submitting his documents on the nomination. Wine stated that “our generation is determined to save you (ruling authority) from yourself and stop your 35-year-old dictatorship.”

Work Cited

“Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” United Nations, Web.

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