Human Rights

Rights commission looking into Fiji police brutality claim

The commission said a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted and thrown off a bridge by police officers in civilian clothes.

Director Ashwin Raj says investigators from his office visited Naqia and interviewed several villagers who said they had witnessed the alleged incident.

Mr Raj said the team also visited the victim who was recovering in hospital.

He said a report on their findings would be handed over to police.

Mr Raj said no one is above the law and any "use of force by law enforcement agencies must be necessary, proportionate and lawful."

Human Rights Watch calls for Indonesia to investigate Papua killings

At least 10 people have been killed in the worst unrest to hit Papua in years, as thousands have taken part in anti-racism rallies.

Human Rights Watch's Australia Director, Elaine Pearson, says the deaths need to be investigated, including a bloody clash in Deiyai regency.

Indonesian police said at least five people and a soldier were killed in Deiyai when security forces were attacked during a riot on August 28.

A former Deiyai resident, John Pakage, said he and hundreds of others have fled the regency.

$US2m boost for human rights work in Pacific

One of the aims of the Pacific Commonwealth Equality Project is to support MPs and community leaders champion human rights in their communities.

The project will receive about $US2 million in funding over two years from the UK government's Commonwealth Fund.

Senior human rights advisor for the Pacific Community Jayshree Mangubhai said she was confident the work would help create meaningful social change.

Sweden backs Pacific human rights programme

The agreement focuses on the SPC's Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) based in Suva.

The SPC said it was pleased the Swedish government shared its vision for a socially just and equitable Pacific and had matched that commitment with material action.

Anne-Charlotte Malm from Sweeden's Regional Asia and Pacific Embassy in Bangkok said Sweden was excited about the partnership.

How trucker saved a sex slave

Kimmel recalls a quiet scene with few other people around. Yet a "kind of unusual" family recreational vehicle parked nearby caught his eye. "The thing that stuck out was that this was an old RV with black curtains which wasn't very family-ish," Kimmel says.

He watched as a man approached the RV and knocked before entering. Moments later, it began to rock back and forth. Kimmel then saw what he thought was a "minor female" appear from behind the curtain before abruptly disappearing.

Start treating gender violence as human issue: Sinapa

This has been stressed by Esmie Sinapa, Co-founder of Women Arise Movement PNG.

Sinapa aired this view point in a meeting on Thursday with various women groups, NGOs, government representatives, men and youth to address GBV as an epidemic in itself.

She emphasised that this requires a consensuses approach from everyone and called on government officials not to politicise the issue.

Other women leaders also expressed their views on how best to address the high rate of GBV in the country.

UNHCR concerned about Australia's ban

UNHCR's regional representative Thomas Albrecht said Australia should offer protection and respect to people arriving by boat.

He said the basic human right of every person to seek asylum from persecution is not diminished by their mode of arrival.

Mr Albrecht said those forced to flee persecution need and deserve conducive conditions of protection, and a sustainable long-term solution.

Meanwhile, the Australia-based Human Rights Law Centre says Canberra's proposed ban could affect 320 refugees already living there.

Pacific dialogue centres on human rights

The consultation will assist 11 Pacific countries to prepare for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by sharing stories of impact and major gains, including examples of best practice in the region.

It is the latest event organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) to help countries commit to, and observe, international human rights standards.

Pacific dialogue centres on human rights

The consultation will assist 11 Pacific countries to prepare for the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by sharing stories of impact and major gains, including examples of best practice in the region.

It is the latest event organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) through its Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT) to help countries commit to, and observe, international human rights standards.

Jakarta urged to open up on Papua

Several days ago, leaders of a number of Pacific Island countries raised concern at the UN general assembly about alleged human rights abuses against West Papuans.