alert-impact: Positive
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Charges against ‘Gempur Rasuah Sabah’ protest coordinator withdrawn
On 21 February 2025, student activist and Gempur Rasuah Sabah protest coordinator Fadhil Kasim was summoned at Kota Kinabalu District Police Headquarters. He was charged under Section 9(5) of the Peaceful Assembly Act for organising the protest without ‘complying with notification procedures’ and Section 509 of the Penal Code for his protest speech criticising the…
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Legislative momentum for gender equality during 8M protests
In light of recent developments during the 8M (March 8) mobilizations, there is a window of opportunity for gender justice advocacy in Chile. The government, under President Boric, has proposed significant gender equality reforms, including a National Care System, a constitutional reform for gender parity in elections, and a free abortion bill. Despite political uncertainties,…
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Human Right Defenders Bill passes second reading
The Bill on the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights Defenders Bill (HB.1867), sponsored by Rep. Abiola Makinde and Rep. Mudasiru Lukman, passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives. The purpose of the Bill is to: (a) To recognise, respect, protect, promote, and fulfil the right of everyone, individually or in association…
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Citizens exercise their right to protest, calling for greater civic participation and responsiveness in public administration
In the last days of March 2025, massive and peaceful demonstrations took place in Paraguay, mainly in the capital, Asunción. Various sectors of society — workers from public and private entities, university students, retirees, people with disabilities, the elderly, and even the migrant population — exercised their constitutional right to protest. On Tuesday 25 March 2025,…
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Conviction of former members of Hong Kong Alliance in support of patriotic democratic movements of China overturned
On 6 March 2025, in a rare and significant legal victory, three core members of the now-disbanded HK Alliance, including former vice-chairperson Chow Hang-tung, had their convictions overturned by the Court of Final Appeal. The trio had been convicted under the National Security Law for refusing to comply with police orders to submit organizational documents in 2021. This marked…
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President Hichilema’s call for respect of due process and for the promotion of online professionalism
On 5th March 2025, during the swearing-in ceremony of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General Daphne Chabu and Human Rights Commission (HRC) Director General Mbololwa Wamunyima, President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized his commitment to fostering due process and online professionalism. He dismissed claims that he is restricting the operations of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and reaffirmed his…
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Chile advances EITI implementation: strengthening transparency in extractive governance
In early 2025, Chile is advancing its Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) implementation, presenting a key opportunity to institutionalise transparency and strengthen civil society participation in governance. A Multi-Stakeholder Group (GMP), which includes civil society representatives, is finalising its structure and regulatory framework to ensure transparency in the extractive sector in Chile. While civil society…
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Supreme Court rules that it is illegal to try civilians in military courts
On January 31, 2025, the Supreme Court of Uganda decided that military courts lack jurisdiction to try civilians, thereby effectively halting all ongoing military trials of civilians. Despite the Constitutional Court having declared military trials of civilians unconstitutional in 2021, Ugandan authorities have continued to use military courts to prosecute and arbitrarily detain civilians, particularly…
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Civil Society Organisations in Burundi collaborate with CENI for the 2025 legislative elections
On 12 and 13 February 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) hosted a two-day workshop with leaders of civil society organizations involved in elections at the Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura. This event, which included only those organizations that signed collaboration agreements with CENI for the 2025 elections, builds on previous meetings held on…
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Acquittal of community leader who was sued by a mining company for the alleged crime of defamation
On 4 February 2025, the Espinar Single Criminal Court acquitted environmental defender Sergio Huamaní of the defamation complaint filed by Antapaccay Mining Company SA. The complaint stemmed from statements Huamaní made in 2023 regarding the mining company’s impacts in Espinar, in the Cusco region, as well as corruption cases involving the multinational Glencore. Initially, in…