By
Susannah Sirkin on
February 8, 2010
Attacks on health workers and facilities have become a feature of modern war; they are not simply committed by rogue countries or forces.
It’s time for an organized international system for reporting attacks on hospitals and health workers in armed conflicts and to hold perpetrators of such acts accountable, say PHR’s past President, Leonard Rubenstein, and Melanie Bittle in an important recent article in The Lancet. The authors have conducted a review of reporting by governments, human rights organizations and the International Committee of the Red Cross over the past 20 years, looking for incidents and descriptions of bombing and shelling of hospitals, attacks on ambulances and medical convoys, harassment, arrest, torture and killing of medical workers, and more.
In reviewing the violations of international law that these acts entail, Rubenstein and Bittle find little or no accountability for perpetration of these human rights violations and war crimes, and conclude that reporting by NGOs, UN agencies and governments is also deficient.
Continue reading “Health Workers and Facilities Under Attack: Modern Warfare’s New Targets”
Posted in Colleagues at Risk, Conflict, Health
| Tagged armed conflict, health professionals, health workers, leonard rubenstein, medical neutrality, melanie bittle, the Lancet, World Health Organization (WHO)
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By
John Bradshaw on
January 21, 2010
In today’s New York Times, former Air Force interrogator Matthew Alexander highlights a problem that most Americans have missed: The Obama Administration has not fully outlawed abusive interrogation techniques. Not only must we close Guantanamo Bay, we must close the loopholes that allow torture.
The President’s Executive Order a year ago which established the Army Field Manual as the uniform standard for interrogations by all U.S. agencies was a welcome step forward — but, as Alexander points out, there are still glaring problems with the Manual (PDF). Specifically, Appendix M to the Manual, entitled “Restricted Interrogation Technique – Separation,” allows interrogation methods that PHR believes can amount to torture and abuse. The Appendix M guidance allows isolation for an initial period of 30 days, followed by indefinite renewals. It also allows sleep deprivation and sensory deprivation.
Continue reading “Close Gitmo and Close the Torture Loopholes”
Posted in Custody, Torture
| Tagged appendix m, army field manual, barack obama, break them down, broken laws broken lives, detainees, executive order, international law, interrogation techniques, isolation, leave no marks, loopholes, matthew alexander, new york times, sensory deprivation, us law
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By
Sarah Kalloch on
January 21, 2010
Want to help the people of Haiti? Below are several volunteer and job opportunities for both health workers and for those with logistical/humanitarian aid experience. If you know of more opportunities, please post them in the comment section below.
Partners In Health is looking for both medical supply donations and health professional volunteers. They are currently prioritizing the deployment of full surgical teams. Ideally, team composition would include 2 orthopedic surgeons: 2 anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists: 5 nurses (2-3 OR; 2-3 post-op/critical care). That said, they are also looking for people with significant trauma experience to join teams – especially nurses with perioperative and medsurg experience. Apply here today.
Oxfam America is looking for a Deployable Humanitarian Logistics Coordinator: check out the job description here.
Continue reading “Volunteer to Help Haiti: Health Workers, Logisticians Needed”
Posted in General Human Rights, Health, Take Action
| Tagged anesthesiologists, creole, donations, earthquake, french, haiti, j nadine gracia, job opportunity, logistics coordinator, medical supplies, nurse anesthetists, orthopedic surgeons, oxfam america, partners in health, trauma, us department of health and human services, volunteer
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By
Joe Read on
January 21, 2010
Reuters South Africa reported on Monday that Chadian official General Oky Dagache has asked the UN not to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). While not unexpected, the Chadian government’s reluctance to extend the MINURCAT operation, in particular the military component, is concerning due to the essential role played by the MINURCAT force in enabling humanitarian operations in eastern Chad and in north-eastern Central African Republic (CAR). Without the presence of MINURCAT, all food distribution, water, sanitation, health, and education, would have to cease immediately with the evacuation of International NGO (humanitarian) and UN staff.
The current MINURCAT mandate is due to expire on March 15, 2010, after one year of operation. The security situation in eastern Chad would make humanitarian operations in the region would be impossible without the MINURCAT force. The force was established by the UN Security Council to provide a multidimensional presence of police and military personnel to eastern Chad and north-eastern Central African Republic, responsible for ensuring security for humanitarian actions. The reality of this situation, in which UN security phase IV has been in effect in eastern Chad since November 2006, means that all UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency), World Food Programme (WFP) and other humanitarian staff are dependent on daily convoys to escort them to the twelve Darfuri refugee camps near the Chad/Darfur border.
Continue reading “New Danger Facing Darfuris in Eastern Chad: Chadian Government Opposes MINURCAT Renewal”
Posted in Conflict, Darfur, Women
| Tagged amnesty international, central african republic, chad, detachement integre de securite, goz beida, IDP, internally displaced persons, koku, minurcat, oky dagache, oure cassoni, sexual and gender based violence, sudan, unhcr, united nations mission in the central african republic and chad, wfp, world food programme
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By
Sarah Kalloch on
January 20, 2010
On Thursday January 21, 2010, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) is holding a hearing to discuss the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The hearing will be from 2-3:30pm in Rayburn House Office Building and is open to the media and public. The TLHRC was established in 2008 “to promote and advocate in a non-partisan manner, both within and outside of Congress, internationally recognized Human Rights norms.” Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) , who co-authored a letter to the Secretary of State stating her opposition to the Bill in October 2009, will chair the hearing. For more information on the bill, check out these blog posts from December and January.
Take Action
Call your Congress person to show your opposition to the proposed anti-homosexuality legislation in Uganda and to encourage his/her support to ensure strong US government opposition to this bill, which if passed would be devastating to health and human rights in Uganda.
Continue reading “Take Action NOW: Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill Commission Hearing THURSDAY JAN 21st”
Posted in AIDS, General Human Rights, Health, Take Action
| Tagged anti homosexuality bill, General Human Rights, lgbt, News Coverage, Take Action, tammy baldwin, tlhrc, tom lantos human rights commission, Uganda, us congress
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By
Susannah Sirkin on
January 19, 2010
(The following is statement from all the participating NGOs. — Susannah Sirkin)
Today ten NGOs, including Enough, Humanity United, Human Rights Watch, Save Darfur Coalition, Genocide Intervention Network, Physicians for Human Rights, American Jewish World Service, Investors Against Genocide, and i-Act/Stop Genocide Now, released a major policy paper calling on the Obama administration to apply firm benchmarks to Sudan to prevent much broader conflict. In its Sudan policy review completed in mid-October 2009, the Obama administration indicated it would regularly assess the progress of peace in Sudan—or lack thereof. But the administration has not publicly disclosed precisely what benchmarks it is applying to assess progress in Sudan, even as it begins its official review process this month and as tensions increase across Sudan.
To help bring transparency to the process by which the United States ensures strict adherence to unambiguous benchmarks, and ensure that the appropriate pressures and incentives are applied accordingly, “Clear Benchmarks For Sudan” aims to provide guidance for how officials, concerned citizens, and others in the international community can assess genuine progress toward a lasting peace in Sudan.
Continue reading “Call for Clear Benchmarks for Sudan Policy”
Posted in Conflict, Darfur
| Tagged American Jewish World Service, barack obama, benchmarks, Enough, genocide, Genocide Intervention Network, Human RIghts Watch, Humanity United, i-Act/Stop Genocide Now, Investors Against Genocide, physicians for human rights, save darfur coalition, sudan, sudan now, us congress, us department of state, washington post
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By
Eric Williams on
January 18, 2010
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified 57 countries with severe health worker shortages. These and other nations cannot expect to meet the health and development needs of their people if recruitment practices remain unmonitored and operate without guidelines that are ethical, reflective of local need, and grounded in human rights.
This coming week, January 18 -23, the WHO’s Executive Board will meet in Geneva for the first of its two annual meetings. Among other responsibilities, the Executive Board sets the agenda for each year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) and the resolutions that it will consider by 193 member states.
Continue reading “Health Workforce Advocacy Initiative Makes Recommendations to World Health Organization”
Posted in General Human Rights, Health
| Tagged code of practice, health personnel, health worker shortage, health workforce advocacy initiative, hwai, international recruitment, paul hunt, un special rapporteur, world health assembly, world health organization
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By
Sarah Kalloch on
January 17, 2010
The Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill has sparked heated debate, both locally and internationally, surrounding the future of human rights in Uganda. If imposed, the bill will both violate the human rights of the gay community and potentially impact every citizen in Uganda who relies on international aid. Sweden has already stated their disapproval by threatening to halt their aid to the country, while the United Nations recognizes that it will require Uganda to withdraw from a number of agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. If the bill is passed, it is likely that other countries will take similar steps to hinder their foreign relations with Uganda. The results would be detrimental to the country especially on the issue of aid and health.
Foreign aid is a major source of revenue for Uganda and its citizens. One of the industries that will be most affected by a cut in aid will be healthcare associated with HIV/AIDS. The authorization of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill will thwart current efforts to battle the disease. A number of provisions in the bill directly impact the amount of help organizations and healthcare professionals can offer to patients with HIV/AIDS. Human Rights Watch claims that “the bill would criminalize the legitimate work of national and international activists and organizations working for the defense and promotion of human rights in Uganda.” Also, under the new bill, providing safe-sex information or simply treating someone who’s gay can be seen as promoting or abetting “homosexuality and related practices” and will lead to imprisonment — a shocking violation of medical neutrality and the right to health. This will deter many medical professionals and HIV/AIDS workers from properly and efficiently providing their services to the Ugandan people.
Continue reading “Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill: Impact on AIDS and Public Health”
Posted in AIDS, General Human Rights, Health, Take Action
| Tagged anti homosexuality bill, foreign aid, global post, Human RIghts Watch, Uganda, united nations, usa today, washington post
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By
John Bradshaw on
January 14, 2010
Physicians for Human Rights expresses deep concern for the struggling survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti and profound sympathy for the families of the as yet uncounted victims. Clearly, providing relief and protection for survivors must be the immediate priority for the international community. PHR fully supports these efforts and has encouraged health professionals to be in contact with organizations that are coordinating direct provision of medical assistance.
But it is important even at this early stage in the response to ensure that, as aid is delivered in the coming weeks and months, it is provided in a way that helps to address underlying structural problems and contributes to the long-term reduction in the vulnerabilities which have made this natural disaster even more destructive.
Continue reading “Haiti Earthquake Response Must Protect Health and Human Rights”
Posted in General Human Rights, Health
| Tagged barack obama, earthquake, haiti, Immigrants, NGO, temporary protected status, tps
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By
Ben Greenberg on
January 14, 2010
We’ve received the following message from our colleagues at Partners In Health:
Partners in Health are seeking orthopedic surgeons and other medical personnel to assist with disaster relief in Haiti. I have also heard, but have not personally confirmed, that Jet Blue and American Airlines are offering doctors and nurses free flights to Haiti. Please contact PIH if you would like to help.
Posted in General Human Rights, Health, Take Action
| Tagged earthquake, flights, haiti, partners in health, pih
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