Petition Tag - human rights

The human rights of Haitians are being violated by the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Haiti. Peacekeepers are raping and murdering Haitian citizens, and denying them access to the political processes of their own country.

The United States and President Obama should intervene in Haiti now to restore order and to make certain that Haitians are entitled to their full human rights as dictated by the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

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In spite of laws against mutilation of females, this ill-treatment continues in many parts of Africa. Different organizations working against the practice, stress the need of thorough information on the damage this tradition generates on women. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision, or female genital cutting, has been practiced for several thousand years in almost 30 African and Middle Eastern nations. It is also practiced, to a lesser extent, in parts of Asia. FGM is practiced by Muslims, Christians, Jews and followers of traditional African religions.

Last December the Ugandan parliament passed a law banning female circumcision. President Yoweri Museveni signed it into a law on March 17, 2010 and it took effect on April 9, 2010. Rooted in the Ugandan culture, the Kaptchorwa people do this in the name of sexual satisfaction for the men and preventing women from dishonest sexual acts yet it is to control women's sexuality in society. It is also a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

This community as many others in the country still do not acknowledge that the practice is wrong. Rather than fearing the loss of culture and the disintegration of tradition, society must consider the health of these girls who, while being held in place, would have a most sensitive part of her body cut without a say and without the possibility of ever reversing the damage done.

From a medical standpoint, cutting any healthy part of a body is never the right thing to do. While a cancer could be cut to save the life of a child, there is absolutely no reason to cut a perfectly healthy part of the body just because tradition says so. In addition female genital mutilation has many other health implications, such as failure to heal; abscess formation; cysts; excessive growth of scar tissue; urinary tract infection; painful sexual intercourse; increased susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases; reproductive tract infection; pelvic inflammatory diseases; infertility; painful menstruation; chronic urinary tract obstruction/ bladder stones; urinary incontinence; obstructed labour; increased risk of bleeding and infection during childbirth.

This is a right to health and I think it is very important that as Africans we start thinking about the rights of our people as individuals and as human beings. Female circumcision is a complex issue about gender, belief and power.

Ultimately, the law is a very important tool and I suppose it was endorsed in the interest of public health. It is also a form of empowerment for those who are less powerful in society. These people including women and young girls who are about to be circumcised I strongly believe many of them would rather not be circumcised. There are also families who would rather not circumcise their children, but social pressures dictate the practice. LET THE LAW GIVE THOSE PEOPLE POWER THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE.

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We object to the United States proposal for Afghanistan being presented this week to NATO ministers.

It is not a peace plan. It is a plan for four more years of combat by US and NATO forces.

It is not a plan for US or Western troop withdrawals but for further occupation. It is a proposal to gradually lessen Western casualties and lessen Western visibility while transitioning to Western-financed, Western-armed, and Western-advised Afghan army combat in a civil conflict. It is a plan for long-term Western military bases.

It is not a plan to stop al Qaeda or terrorists from attacking Western targets. There are virtually no al Qaeda left in Afghanistan. The most recent terrorist attacks on America have been inspired by our deepening wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In seeking to save our military reputation, we all but assure future threats against Western targets. CIA officials even describe Yemen’s al Qaeda cell as more dangerous than al Qaeda in Pakistan. [NYT, Oct. 18, 2010]

It pre-empts the Administration’s own proposal for a full “review” of Afghan policy in December. The timing instead is aimed at shoring up a faltering Western alliance.

The central proposal--to increase the scale of the Afghan army and police in order to prop up a corrupt Kabul regime--will never work without a parallel cease-fire, deep institutional reform, enforceable human rights, and peace-keeping arrangements with leadership by neutral countries.

The current expenditure of over $100 billion American dollars per year for Afghanistan could be spent on medical care for 15 million veterans, or 15 million college scholarships, or 1.8 million new teachers, or 72 million installations of renewable energy for American homes.

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We are urgently calling on the Iranian authorities to halt the imminent execution of Mohammad Reza Haddadi, who could face death by hanging any of these following days for a murder he allegedly committed when he was 15 years old.

Mohammad Reza Haddadi was sentenced to death in 2004 for the murder of Mohammad Bagher. He confessed the killing initially but during the trial he retracted it and said he’d made it because his two co-accused would have given his family money if he had done so. Mohammad then denied having taken part in the murder, and there are reports of his co-defendants supporting his claims of innocence and withdrawing their testimony implicating him in murder.

Mohammad Reza Haddadi’s family was told by judicial officials (04-07-2010) that they should arrange a last visit to their son before his execution already organized for the day after at Adelabad prison in the city of Shiraz.

Despite this, his death sentence was confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court in July 2005. Since then, his execution has been scheduled several times.

This repeated threat of imminent execution hanging over Mohammad Reza Haddadi, is no less than a form of torture. The threat of execution must be lifted now, once and for all.

Mohammad Reza Haddadi must not be executed for a murder that he is alleged to have committed when only 15 years old.

The execution of juvenile offenders is prohibited under international law, including Article 6(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iran is a state party.

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We have redesigned the look of the International Accessible Symbols so they include a gender and no longer portray people in wheelchairs as sexless and inferior.

Throughout the world we have standard signs that indicate where bathroom facilities are located. Typically, the shape of a female or male figure mark the entrance of bathroom doors. When there is an accessible bathroom, for those of us who are handicapable, the door and stall are marked with a wheelchair symbol. Although these symbols seem to carry no more importance than letting people know where the facilities are, they actively relay a message to their huge audience. We, as in the human race, absorb so much information that shape our perceptions on a daily basis thanks to the millions of signs and images we view repeatedly.

Although you’ve seen these signs multiple times, take a closer look. Every wheelchair symbol is substantially out of proportion to that of the adult male and female shapes. The head of the wheelchair symbol only reaches as high as the hand of both figures. This is demeaning and unrealistic. In the “Family Restroom Sign” the child depicted is as small as the person in a wheelchair. This definitely plants a seed of inequality and perpetuates stigmas attached to our differently-abled population, and specifically, women who are differently-abled.

It’s somewhat understandable that whoever made this design was trying to say that, wheelchair or not, we are just men and women. On the contrary, when you see the icon representing wheelchair accessibility, it looks like an inferior and sexless body melded into a wheelchair. This symbol reinforces and perpetuates social stigmas placed on men and women in wheelchairs everyday.

I am a woman who rolls on four wheels. I am not a woman who walks on two legs, the female figurine is misrepresentative. Until people see me as a “woman” in a wheelchair, and not only as a sexless wheelchair person, I will forever be disregarded and considered inferior by some. So many stigmas are placed on all walks of life that it can be defeating, at times, to rise above the banter.

Changing our current International Symbol for Accessibility is the most effortless way to plant a seed and begin remedying the blatant disregard some people have toward those who are differently-abled. We’ve designed a gender specific accessibility symbol that depicts a female, or male, icon seated in a wheelchair next to a standing female, or male, icon.

The simple visual message, “Accessible to a woman/man, in a wheelchair”, will painlessly inject some human qualities into our current sexless and inferior accessibility symbol. We can make life a little more effortless for humankind with a few small adjustments in our environment.

Be it a physical, racial or cultural difference, we are all human, we are all women, we are all men. We all share a universal set of emotions. We all smile, laugh, cry, yell, sleep, eat and exist. Some of us walk, and some of us roll.

The human mind is like a sponge, it constantly sucks up and stores information. We are directly influenced by these small bits of information, whether we like it or not. Let’s take this fact as an opportunity to make a difference. Every time someone’s eye glances by our gender specific signage, it plants a seed of equality, empowerment and positivity.

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Petition: Protesting limitations imposed by Iraqi government on Iranian dissidents residing in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. These measures have been preventing the seriously ill patients including some cancer patients in critical conditions to be transported to Europe for treatments. We demand United Nations to take action and pressurize Iraqi government to facilitate this transfer under UN supervision.

According to the statement issued by Ms. Maryam Rajavi, names and files of these seriously ill patients along with the request for their transfer to European countries have been sent to international authorities in November 2009 and April 2010.

These inhumane limitations on these seriously ill patients have been in force since two years ago and increased in recent months and international authorities are well aware of inhumane actions of Iraqi government. Those signing this petition acknowledge their political and ideological differences and solely from a humanitarian point of view demand United Nations and other international organizations interfere and force Iraqi government to put an end to these limitations and allow these patients to be transported to better locations and receive treatments in better conditions.

Committee of supporting patients residing in Camp Ashraf

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Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world;

Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people;

Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law;

Whereas as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana provides for the Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms of every person in Ghana in Articles 12-16 and also invoking the spirit of UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

NOW, THEREFORE We are Calling on the President whom POWER has bestowed upon through the Government of Ghana to Clamp down on all persons operating these secluded villages called "WITCHES CAMPS" and immediately closing all those camps permanently.

Again we are calling on the Government of Ghana to integrate the poor inmates to normal community life thereby restoring their human dignity.

WE ARE TARGETING AT LEAST 1,500,000 SIGNATURES ACROSS THE GLOBE. WE WILL SEND THIS PETITION TO PRESIDENCY, CHRAJ, THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, UNITED NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS, POLITICIANS, RELIGIOUS AND TRADITIONAL COUNCILS, AND THE PRESS.

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Declaration of Human Rights

Article 25 (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

CALL TO ACTION!! TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!! WE NEED YOUR VOICE!!! WE NEED ACTION!!!

Bernard "Go-Go" Pettaway by those who know and LOVE him, is the recipient of this petition and after you read his story it WILL compel you to take action along with us if you have a heart.

The purpose for this petition is to get help for our loved one who was in Harbor UCLA Hospital in The County of Los Angeles fighting for his life and in desperate need of a transplant.

Over 4 months ago Bernard Pettaway was hospitalized for severe abdominal pain and went through extensive surgery where doctors removed both his large and small intestines something we had never heard of before. This condition and surgery the doctors thought left Bernard with 48 hours to live but God heard our prayers and spared Bernard's life because it was only a miracle that he pulled through. Bernard remained in a coma for several days but we did not give up hope and eventually Bernard woke up from his coma and was able to breathe on his own.

Now for the unbelievable part of this whole situation:

Bernard has no means to eat anything by mouth or drink anything without any intestines. But there is a medical transplant that can be done to grant Bernard the opportunity to live where he will be able to eat and drink, and we have donors who are ready to be tested and who have stepped forward in this fight to help save Bernard. However, the doctors, particularly Dr. Kim at Harbor UCLA refuses to do the procedure or recommend the surgery and has since released Bernard from the hospital still without the possibility to eat or drink, this is inhumane treatment to do to anyone.

This is a injustice to Bernard who is so full of life. Dr. Kim says, “He is not a candidate or class "A" patient so the surgery is not available to him.” WHY? This is a travesty of justice and a violation of Bernard's Human Rights to just sit back and do nothing while Bernard is being denied the ability to eat and drink.

So what do the doctors suppose that we do just sit back and watch him suffer and die? Heaven forbid, the fight for justice for Bernard has just begun, will you help us fight? Will you let Bernard's voice be heard through you?

What would anyone else do if it were their loved one, give up? Of course not. We will not give up either until Bernard and millions of others like him who are not rich, socially astute in the eyes of the doctors and administrators at UCLA Harbor General and hospitals around the nation. We will not give up our fight until Bernard is granted the life saving transplant he needs to save his life and many other like him regardless of race, health care or lack thereof, patient status, background or financial status. This is a precious life!

Everyone should be given the opportunity to live with the God given right for the consumption of bread and water!!!!

Now the doctors at UCLA claim he is not medically capable to handle the surgery but for a man, who over 4 months ago was seemly on his death bed, is still alive and improving everyday justifies a reason not to just sit back and do nothing and allow him to starve and die? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

Dr Kim has said directly to Bernard, "I am sorry but I wished that I could do more for you but death is eminent" but oh there is something that can be done but the very doctors who took an oath to save lives and to give as much care as medically possible have now turned Bernard into the streets by releasing him without the possibility to eat or to even drink water, this is pronouncing death on a helpless man who is so full of life.

We know by Bernard defying death was so astounding for the doctors to believe and that they just were not medically prepared to meet this situation head on? or is it that they wish he had not defied death which they thought would happen sooner than later?

The medical team at UCLA are not practicing the very oath they took when becoming a doctor to give care?

We have never heard of such a thing for a doctor to give up on a patient before exhausting every effort to save the patient first.

Doctors are sworn to do everything that they can to save a life not just sit back a watch a person die and do nothing but shake their heads and through their hands up.

We are calling on you.... to help us in the fight to keep Bernard here healthy and vital able to eat and drink like you and I for as long as possible. By doing a lot of praying, circulating this petition, making phone calls, sending emails, knocking on doors, seeking help from those in public office and able to make things happen for people who do not have the resources as some we are making the statement that we are in a strong force of unity standing together to get Bernard's name and those who are in similar situations added to the transplant list for life saving surgery.

In doing so, another doctor will be able to GRANT THE OPPORTUNITY to Bernard to have a normal and productive life just as every one else. Please help us in this fight, maybe you know someone who can take this medical cause to a higher level than us, we have to do something besides allowing a man to live below the means necessary as a human being. WILL YOU HELP!!!!

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Kacem is a Moroccan blogger, theatrical performer, author and high school student. He is interested in issues related to human rights, and what he calls non-religious minorities and the capricious weather. He is founder and executive member of the Association of Moroccan Bloggers.


MARCH 14, 2010

Facebook Removes Moroccan Secularist Group and its Founder Kacem El Ghazzali

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2010/03/14/facebook-removes-moroccan-atheist-group-and-its-founder/



Nawaat.org article about this case and others in the article:

The Risk of Facebook Activism in the New Arab Public Sphere

http://nawaat.org/portail/2010/03/15/the-risk-of-facebook-activism-in-the-new-arab-public-sphere/



Readwriteweb article about how Facebook policy makes harassment possible

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/facebooks_new_policies_make_harrassment_easy.php


SEPTEMBER 3, 2010 - Death threats

"I have received two messages on my Facebook inbox, in the first message, the sender threatened of slaughtering me like sheep being slain! in the second message titled ” an appointment” , the sender says to me : “we shall meet at Elhajeb where murdering you is going to take a place!” Elhajeb, however, 15 km away from my village, is the nearest place which i often go to every now and then! This points out that the terrorist exerted extra efforts to find out my location!"



On September 3, 2010 Kacem El Ghazzali received several very specific death threats in his Facebook inbox as a result of his religious beliefs. Kacem was physically attacked by Islamic fundamentalists in his school because of blog posts and comments he made during an interview with France 24. In the interview, Kacem discussed the struggles he and other atheists in his country face.



Kacem is now unable to attend school, after having been both verbally and physically attacked by his classmates and the school director. On top of this Kacem has been criticized by a local imam at the main mosque in his village and his address is known in broad fundamentalist Islamic circles.



Kacem El Ghazzali now lives in effective isolation, unable to leave his home in fear of his safety. Many of his friends and family members now refrain from speaking to him and he can not ask the authorities for help as Moroccan criminal law article 220 provides for imprisonment of three months to three years for those who attack the faith.



France 24: Moroccan Atheist Blogger Receives death threats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWGF9XNhYiI



The original post from personal blog of Kacem El Ghazzali

http://bahmut.blogspot.com/2010/09/threat-of-murdering.html



Readwriteweb.com

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/moroccan_blogger_receives_death_threats_this_week.php



Cyberdissidents.org

http://www.cyberdissidents.org/bin/content.cgi?ID=474&q=3&s=25

http://www.cyberdissidents.org/bin/content.cgi?ID=491&q=3&s=25

http://cyberdissidents.org/bin/content.cgi?ID=491&q=3



GlobalVoices Advocacy

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2010/09/10/morocco-blogger-receives-death-threats/





SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

Kacem El Ghazzali receives a phone call by Mr. Said Benjebli, President of the Moroccan Bloggers' Association MBA. He is asked to withdraw in silence from the association because of what they considered as an article offensive to the prophet Mohammad published Kacem's blog. Kacem refuses to do so - Read full statement from Kacem here: http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=100001369945957&s=10#!/note.php?note_id=164487233563906





NOVEMBER 26, 2010

Kacem El Ghazzali receives another message in his Facebook inbox. This time from Hicham Bougrine, president of the ''le sionisme musulman fondamentaliste politique'' movement. He say (among other things):



"God willing, our appointment in the Court, and we have a large trust in the Moroccan judiciary, because what you say about us as Muslims and our religion has exceeded the framework of freedom of expression, but is desperate Moroccans Muslims against us but against the desperate belief that the rule established by the ''Emirate of menin'', skepticism is unacceptable and sinful against the Prince of menin our king God save him"



As you can see, we're running out of time here. They are preparing to drag this boy to court.



Read the complete mail here

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001212577586#!/photo.php?fbid=136281746427489&set=a.106427802746217.17873.100001369945957



Le sionisme musulman fondamentaliste politique

http://lesioniste.blogspot.com/



Hicham Bougrine

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001212577586



CURRENT STATUS - November 26, 2010

Kacem still lives isolated in hiding

and his situation have not improved





RELATED INFORMATION & SOURCES



Articles published by Kacem on Talk Morocco

http://www.talkmorocco.net/articles/author/kacem-el-ghazzali/



Non religious Video - Kacem El Ghazzali

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5elXOD2FnE



Personal blog - Kacem El Ghazzali

http://bahmut.blogspot.com/



Kacem El Ghazzali's Facebook profile

http://www.facebook.com/kacem.gerr



CyberDissident Database - In depth interview with Kacem El Ghazzali

http://cyberdissidents.org/bin/dissidents.cgi?id=130&c=MA


Asylum in a secular country for Kacem El Ghazzali

Online petition started by Anti-Sharia4Europe in Belgium

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/40189.html


VIDEOS POSTED BY KACEM EL GHAZZALI



Non religious Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5elXOD2FnE



My message to Muslims - A short video appeal after receiving the threats

http://bahmut.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-message-to-muslims.html

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On May 5th 2010 IRB (Immigration and Refugee Board) of Canada issued a deportation order against Jose Figueroa, a father of 3 canadian born children who has lived in Canada since May 1997.

The deportation order is based on a Section 34.(1) of the IRPA which states a broad definition of terrorism and membership. This definition of terrorism has been arbitrarily applied to FMLN, the current democratically elected goverment of El Salvador with which the Canadian Government mantains diplomatic relationships.

This seems to be a clerical error made by CBSA officers who have not considered important factors from the Salvadoran reality. If this is clerical error then it should be an easy fix tending to minimize the hardship that the Figueroa family has endure for the last 13 years.

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Children have rights. Unfortunately until they are full bodied and mobile, they rely on caretakers to make healthy and full minded decisions for them.

I am asking the world to end newborn circumcision and make peace for children. Circumcision does not create a safety net for not contracting disease or infection.

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We’re constantly warned by security experts not to divulge detailed personal information about ourselves on websites. Well, now we don’t have to, because the recently revamped 192.com is doing it for you. And then selling it on for as little as 35p per record.

192.com collates information from various public records and databases – electoral rolls, phone directories, Companies House – and then packages them altogether in one convenient lump.

Simply type in someone’s name and their rough location and you’re near instantly presented with a staggeringly detailed record of that person. You’ll get their full name and address, their telephone number and age (if they have a record at Companies House). You’ll also get the full name of any other adults who live in their house, as well as details of how long they’ve each lived in the property (gleaned from the electoral roll) and how much the house is worth.

If any of the occupants are registered as directors at Companies House, you can get their director information, including company names, addresses and telephone numbers. So now you’ve got the full set of details for someone’s work and home.

Scroll down a bit and you’ll also find full details of the person’s neighbours, including their full names and addresses and telephone numbers. Why would anyone want such information for legitimate purposes? In case your elderly mother wasn’t answering her phone and you wanted to contact her friend next door, is the best reason 192.com can come up with.

IDENTITY FRAUD

192.com insists none of this information is of any real use to fraudsters. “The sort of data we use here is not the data used to validate transactions of any sort,” Dominic Blackburn, technology director at 192.com.

True, you might not be able to apply for a credit card in someone else’s name using just the information provided by 192.com, but it would certainly give you a pretty good head start. The more information you have on someone, the easier it is to hunt them down on sites such as Facebook, MySpace or personal blogs where you can get more. Combine the person’s birthday from their Facebook profile with their age from 192.com, for example, and you’ve got their date of birth.

The ease of such data harvesting techniques is why organisations such as the Government-backed Get Safe Online warns you not to reveal too much personal data online. “Be wary of publishing any identifying information about yourself. In particular things like: phone numbers, pictures of your home, workplace or school, your address, birthday or full name,” the site advises in its safe social networking section. Too late. 192.com’s done it for you.

Read more: Is 192.com Britain’s most invasive website? | PC Pro blog http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2009/07/07/is-192com-britains-most-invasive-website/#ixzz12iXIicAy

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Please support Nasrin Sotoodeh by demanding International lawyers, judges and prosecutors to take immediate action by signing the following appeal addressed to the competent organizations.

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Burnley College have in place a ban on Muslim women wearing the Niqab. This applies to all staff, students and visitors to the college.

Recently a elderly muslim woman attending the college with her daughter to discuss matters with a teacher was required to remove her veil, or the teacher would not converse with her.

Regardless of what you think of the niqab, this situation is outrageous and a clear infringement of an individual's human rights. Therefore, we all, Muslim's and Non muslims, should stand up and fight this outrageous policy to defend our right to wear what we feel comfortable in and what we believe is in line with our religious beliefs.

Amazingly the college shares the campus, with the University of Central Lancashire, who do not have such a ban. Therefore on half of the campus you are free to wear the niqab, on the other half, you have to remove it!!!

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Political prisoner Majid Dorri- a student activist - was arrested on July 9th 2009 in Qazvin and transferred to Evin Prison. On January 17th 2010, Branch 26 of the revolutionary court sentenced him to 11 years in prison- 1 year on the charge of “act against national security by participating in illegal gatherings.” He received 10 years for “having ties with the MKO” and told he must spend 5 years of this in Exile in the prison of Izeh in south-western Iran. His exile has since been changed to Ahvaz prison but he is still being held in Ward 350 of Evin prison.

He was refused bail during his detention and his physical health deteriorated. He has suffered from severe migraines and has not had access to medication and physicians. After several requests to meet with Tehran’s prosecutor, Majid visited Mr Jafari Dolat-Abadi on June 7th 2010 and the prosecutor promised that he would investigate and fulfil Dorri’s demands. His request for being granted prison leave was submitted in June 2010 and his family were later told that the letter had been lost despite them having previously confirmed they received it! This has now happened to Majid and his family THREE TIMES!

In addition to this cruel treatment by the regime, after 15 months in prison, Majid’s family still cannot get back his belongings form the security forces, even though they belong to the company that he worked for during his arrest.

Majid continues to be very ill in prison, suffering severe headaches and severe dizziness which is now occurring for up to 48 hours. The the internal medicine physician in Evin prison has ordered an MRI scan and a visit to a neurology doctor, but this has not been allowed. There are now grave concerns for his health as a result.

Majid Dorri has been deprived of his education and has been in detention since June 29th 2009. He is being prevented from having access to vital medical treatment to which he has a legal right.

This barbaric violation of human rights cannot be allowed to go on. Majid must be freed on leave and able to receive appropriate medical treatment.

Please sign this petition.

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Hamed Rouhinejad suffering of Multiple Scleroses is denied medical care and dying in an Iranian prison

To Whom It May Concern:

It has come to my attention that there is a political prisoner in Iran suffering from MS, yet the Islamic Republic refuses to allow him to receive treatment or appropriate medical care. His name is Hamed Rouhinejad, and his story is here:

http://persian2english.com/?p=15308

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Death by stoning case: Iran arrests son, lawyer, journalists
'Security forces raided ... office where an interview was taking place,' group says
10/11/2010

MSNBC

TEHRAN, Iran — The son and lawyer for a woman who could face death by stoning, along with two German journalists, were arrested in Iran as an interview was about to begin, the International Committee Against Stoning said Monday.

"The security forces raided the lawyer’s office where an interview was taking place and arrested all four," the committee said in a press release. "Their whereabouts are currently unknown and no news has been received of their situation since their arrests."
Iran's official news agency did not mention the arrests of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's son, Sajjad Ghaderzadeh, and her lawyer Houtan Kian, but did say that two foreigners had been arrested Sunday.
The IRNA news agency quoted judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi as saying the foreigners were arrested while interviewing the son.
Ejehi did not name the two foreigners. The report quoted him as saying the two suspects did not have documents to prove they were journalists and arrived in Iran on tourist visas.
German media reported that the two Germans, a reporter and photographer, were on assignment for the weekly Bild am Sonntag.
The committee said that "at the time of the raid, one of the journalists was on the phone speaking with Mina Ahadi, spokesperson of the International Committee against Stoning and International Committee against Execution. He had to abruptly end the call when the security forces brutally pushed their way in."

"We will make every effort to to secure the release of the four and call for increased pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran," the committee added. "The four and Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani must be immediately released."

Amnesty International via AP
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
Ashtiani, 43 and the mother of two, was convicted of adultery, but Iranian officials last month temporarily suspended her execution by stoning after weeks of condemnation from around the world.
A final decision in her case has yet to be made.
Ashtiani was first convicted in May 2006 of having an "illicit relationship" with two men following the death of her husband — for which a court in Tabriz, in northwestern Iran, sentenced her to 99 lashes. Later that year she was also convicted of adultery, despite having retracted a confession which she claims was made under duress. She was sentenced to death by stoning for the adultery conviction.

Stoning was widely imposed in the years following the 1979 Islamic revolution, and even though Iran's judiciary still regularly hands down such sentences, they are often converted to other punishments. The last known stoning was carried out in 2007, although the government rarely confirms that such punishments have been meted out.
Under Islamic rulings, a man is usually buried up to his waist, while a woman is buried up to her chest with her hands also buried. Those carrying out the verdict then throw stones until the condemned dies.
On the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in September, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused foreign media of fabricating news, saying Ashtiani had not been sentenced to death by stoning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39615002/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

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UPDATE: Winter 2010/ 2011

AIMS Ireland NO LONGER WISHES TO HOLD THE BILL until a further date. AIMS Ireland and many other birth groups have submitted amendments to sections 24 and 40 which enable a woman's and midwife's rights and autonomy. Please see the amendments supported by AIMSI and others here:

Factfile on why sections 24 and 40 need to be amended: http://aimsireland.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1291

14 Reasons to Amend sections 24 and 40: http://aimsireland.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1290

One Midwife, One Woman, One Birth: http://aimsireland.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1322

PLEASE TAKE 5 MINUTES TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TD'S, SENATORS, AND SPOKESPERSONS FOR HEALTH AND TELL THEM TO SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 24 AND 40!!

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UPDATE - November 3rd

Thank you to all the babies, women, men and midwives who came out for the picket at the Dáil this morning to witness this petition being handed over to Minister for Health!

The Bill goes against the Committee tomorrow.

We are expecting this to be a long journey. The ground is always shifting. Things are changing by the minute.

We are keeping the petition open - please continue to support this campaign and share this petition!

Contact AIMS Ireland chair@aimsireland.com for more information or find us on Facebook for updates.

UPDATE: November 5th
The Bill passed Committee stage in full yesterday morning. The meeting only lasted 1hr 45min and only Minister Harney, S O’Fearghail (chair), James Reilly, Margaret Conlon, Rory O’Hanlon, and Kathleen Lynch were present. No amendments relating to our concerns were discussed.

For current updates on the next stage of this campaign please refer to the AIMS Ireland website or facebook page.

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Please join us in signing this petition in order to protect the human rights of women and the professional autonomy of midwives.

This petition expresses the concerns of The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services, Ireland (AIMS Ireland) and co-signing individuals/organisations regarding the consequences the proposed Nurses and Midwives Bill would have on home birth in Ireland and broader aspects of maternity care choices for women giving birth in Ireland.

Background; Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The current situation which has been in place since September 2008 is that Independent Midwives, now known as Self Employed Community Midwives (SECMs), who agree to practice within the terms of the MOU and its schedules will have the care they offer home birth mothers covered by the State's Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS), operated by the State Claims Agency (SCA). This arrangement came about following the withdrawal of individual insurance cover for SECMs by the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO). The proposed new legislation, the Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010, will in effect make it illegal for a SECM to provide antenatal, intra-partum or post partum care if the pregnant woman’s circumstances do not meet criteria set by the MOU. Failure to comply with the new legislation will result in the criminalisation of midwives. Penalties for convictions range from €5,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment to a maximum fine of €160,000 and/or 10 yrs imprisonment.

Many of the women being excluded for home birth under the current MOU and proposed legislation are women who would have previously been able to avail of a home birth. The Home Birth Association of Ireland estimates that some 40% of women who have opted for a homebirth in Ireland in the past have done so because of a previous traumatic experience in a hospital setting. Most of these women will now be excluded.

We the undersigned highlight several key concerns in relation to the new legislation.

1. Human Rights and Autonomy for Women
2. Evidence-Based Recommendations from NICE
3. Professional Rights and Autonomy for Self Employed Community Midwives (SECMs)
4. Adverse Effects to the Current Maternity System

1. Human Rights and Autonomy for Women. The fundamental human right to bodily integrity is enshrined in Article 40.3.1 of Bunreacht na hEireann and in Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights. Under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, free and informed consent is the cornerstone of medical treatment. For consent to be free and informed, it must be based on information and choice, neither of which feature in the proposed legislation.

2. Evidence-Based Recommendations from NICE

The Irish maternity system, the MOU and the proposed Nurses and Midwives Bill 2010 purport to follow internationally recognised best practice and the recommendations of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK. These evidence-based standards state explicitly that women should be offered the choice of planning birth at home, in a midwife-led unit, or in an obstetric-led unit (NCCWCH, 2007). Further, NICE adds "The woman should be fully involved in planning her birth setting so that care is flexible and tailored to meet her needs and those of her baby."

The right to make an informed decision with regard to care and place of birth is central to the concept of “woman-centred care”. The NICE guidelines have been developed with the aim of providing guidance to assist in the decision making process around appropriate treatments for specific conditions. In relation to planning place of birth, a number of tables are provided which outline conditions or situations which either “suggest planned birth at an obstetric unit” or "indicate a woman should be assessed on an individual basis" taking into account her history and current pregnancy.

These guidelines clearly state that while women who fall into these tables are considered at higher risk, and suggest that birth take place at an obstetric unit; this is a recommendation, not a command. Crucially, the NICE guidelines propose that regardless of clinical opinion, the final decision be left with the individual woman so long as she is fully informed of her increased risk at home in these instances.

Yet, the current MOU, raised to statutory footing by the proposed Nurses and Midwives Bill, excludes from home birth all women with conditions or situations listed in the NICE tables. The MOU intends to adopt these tables as un-negotiable exclusion criteria, which flies in the face of the evidence-based NICE recommendations.

Under the proposed legislation, women will be excluded from making an informed choice on place of birth if they fall outside extremely tight criteria. The new legislation, while appearing to only affect the small percentage of women in Ireland who choose to birth at home, will actually set the precedent in Irish legislation for all women’s rights to make informed choices in childbirth.

3. Professional Rights and Autonomy for Self Employed Community Midwives

In order for SECMs to practice in Ireland with insurance, they must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the HSE. Through the Clinical Indemnity Scheme, the midwife’s practice (not the midwife) is insured; so long as (s)he follows the criteria in the MOU. SECM’s who choose to practice outside of the MOU criteria or who fail to transfer women who suddenly fall outside the criteria are subjected to either a fine or prison, or both. For example, if a SECM attends a woman in labour whose waters have been gone for more than 24hrs and the midwife fails to transfer to hospital even though there is no danger to the mother or baby (or if the woman refuses to go in to hospital), the midwife faces financial fines or prison time under the MOU. AIMS Ireland and Co Signatories recognise SECMs and the profession of midwifery as an autonomous and highly skilled profession. We believe that midwives are the experts of normal birth and that midwives must retain their professional autonomy in order to meet the needs of their clients in the community.

4. Adverse Effects to the Current Maternity System

The maternity services face significant challenges in the current context. The number of births registered in 2009 was 74,278 (CSO, 2010), and figures for 2010 reveal similarly high figures. There is widespread fragmentation of the maternity care services, which includes huge variability in the type and standard of care available to women, a lack of continuity of care, poor communication between healthcare professionals and women in their care, and underfunded, overcrowded, understaffed centralized care units. In addition, recent scandals within the maternity services including the scans misdiagnosis scandal, have resulted in the erosion of women’s trust in a system which has let them down repeatedly, through systemic failures on the part of the HSE.

The Irish system gives women very little choice, childbirth in Ireland is highly medicalised, and fails dramatically to be cost efficient and cope well with Ireland’s high birth rate. It is our belief that further impediments on birth choices and care options through the current employment of exclusion criteria in the MOU and proposed legislation in the Midwives Bill will put further stress on an already failing system.

Home Birth and Midwife-Led Care are the recommended care options for the majority of women.

A Home Birth and Midwife-Led Service means:

 Saving money and bed days.

 Preventing over-crowding and securing more time with consultants for women who choose or need consultant led care.

 providing evidence based and safe care.

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諾貝爾和平獎委員會於2010年10月8日，公布頒發諾貝爾和平獎予身在遼寧錦州監獄的劉曉波。劉曉波妻子劉霞在結果公佈後數小時被公安帶走，內地其他異見及維權人士同遭拘留及監視。

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Navid Mohebbi, a young Iranian student and blogger involved in the campaign of One Million Signatures for the Repeal of Discriminatory Laws against women, was arrested on Sep. 18 when eight security forces raided his father's house in the northern city of Amol.

According to the news published on several Persian websites, he was being severely beaten and his family being intimidated by the armed security agents. He had been summoned by security authorities on March 8, 2008 when he was a high school student, questioned, beaten and warned against the consequences of his activities.

His website is blocked by an entity which declares itself "the workgroup for discerning criminal content".

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Execution of any individual regardless of their crimes is unjustified and morally corrupt.

The United States of America cannot claim to be morally superior while it still continues to allow this shameful act of legalised murder.

There has been widespread condemnation of the Iranian government for its intent to stone to death a woman 'found guilty' in Iranian courts of acts of adultery and conspiracy to commit murder. (See the gopetition link below). As this is wrong so is the execution of a woman 'found guilty' in a USA court conspiring to commit the murder of her husband and her stepson. (See link to BBC News Website).

This petition demands that the Governor or Virginia, Robert McDonnell, stops the execution of this woman, a woman who has learning disabilities, however heinous her crimes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11386795

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-sakineh-mohammadi.html

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Honor killings are an embarrassment to humanity.

Fellow human beings are being assassinated in the most inhumane methods. Daughters and wives are being brutally tortured, stoned, and murdered by their own families, all in the name of "honor." This widespread epidemic of such atrocious acts fueled by fundamentalist thinking—dating back to pagan times—is inexcusable. Honor killings are often supported, overlooked, and undermined by authorities and persons of influence.

These murders are committed not just in Muslim countries but around the world, with alarmingly increasing rates on such continents as Europe and North America, which contain some of the most advanced countries of the 21st Century. It is a shame to all humanity that women (and some men) are subject to such barbaric crimes—threatened, tortured in agony, dying the most gruesome deaths.

Statistics Related to Honor Killing:

- 93% of honor killings worldwide are committed against women
- 91% of honor killings are committed by Muslims
- 81% of honor killings committed in Western civilizations are for being “too Western”
- 81% of female victims of honor killing 25 years or younger are murdered by their family of origin
- 68% of women who are victims of honor killing are gruesomely tortured
- Approximately 50% of honor killings are committed by multiple perpetrators

Data Sources:
Worldwide Trends in Honor Killings, 2010. Middle East Quarterly, Spring 2010. http://www.rightsidenews.com.
“Honor Killings on the Rise.” http://corner.nationalreview.com
“Are Honor Killings Simply Domestic Violence?” Middle East Quarterly. www.meforum.org

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I have worked in the general field of mental health for 35 years. As a therapeutic practitioner and as a manager (Psychosocial Therapies). During that time, I have successfully worked with people with serious mental ill health, learning disability, autism, brain damage and dementia.

I have been concerned about the prescriptive treatment of people with these kinds of problems and the tendency to make judgements against their wishes, without adequate sound evidence to support those decisions. Too many assumptions are made that impact upon personal freedom, dignity, informed choice and self-expression.

I have also witnessed many misdiagnoses and very unsound decisions, within Health & Social Care services and in the Law Courts and Child & Family Courts. The health, wellbeing and lives of my clients / families have been seriously affected these poor decisions. Many other cases have been reported to me.

Although I have met increasing numbers of skilful, person centred psychiatrists, therapists and social workers, there is still a tendency for the institutions to rely on outdate, erroneous assumptions about the cause, nature and resolution of these problems. Many practitioner are being constrained by ‘local’ policies & decisions.

My concern is that there are many contraventions of people’s Human Rights every day, on the most spurious interpretation of the use of special powers. It has become evident that the decisions are biased towards social control, rather the therapy. Local Institutions are very risk averse, protecting their position rather than client’s interests.

Most cases I have worked with, where there is psychosis, agitated behaviour and ‘behaviour problems’, there has been clear evidence of childhood & adolescent trauma and abuse. This may be at home, in social care and education institutions. Adults are also distressed in this way by ‘domestic / relationship abuses’.

This can be anything from physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, through ‘culture shock’, to bullying in home, school or work. Although I have been able to demonstrate this in individual cases, aided recovery and have successfully challenged most misdiagnoses, it has been difficult to get general attitudes changed.

I am campaigning for a thorough World Health Organisation review of Psychiatric thinking, theoretical foundations and health and social care practices. The evidence of organic causes are very rare and yet psychiatry largely works of the assumption of ‘mental incompetence’, due to genetic, or organic failings.

The social and clinical treatment have as many negative effects as they have benefits as they do benefits, especially when used indefinitely and on the basis of misdiagnosis and false assumptions.

The influence of psychiatry and forensic psychology, within the Law Courts is very dubious. The ‘expert witnesses’ are often the worst examples of clinical psychiatric practice and the Law is far too reliant upon their unsound assumptions and judgments. There is a very unethical aspect to psychiatric ‘expert witnesses’;

“Who is the patient and what are their rights here?”

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The Thai government which is not elected by the people of Thailand, does not follow any international rules and regulations, including the Geneva Convention. They don't care about human rights or anything else.

This historical event was followed earlier this year on 10th April and 19th May 2010, with two tragic massacres. The Thai military and government shot down a pro-democracy activist movement in the streets of Bangkok. 91 unarmed civilians were killed, 2,000 injured, and also more than a few hundred people were jailed under the executive decree law.

Therefore, I would like you to take some strong action against this dictatorship, for the freedom, democracy, human rights and safety of the Thai people. In order to avoid future tragic losses and to defend democracy, we demand that the Thai government:

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"Who would force major changes in schools where the kids are making major progress? And who would do this without even seeing the schools first-hand?

OUR GOVERNMENT, that's who!

My name is Alison Lynch and I am mother to Sean, a 9 year old boy with autism. For the past number of years Sean has received an ABA education, which has made a huge positive difference to the quality of his life and to mine. ABA stands for Applied Behavioural Analysis, an extensively researched method of education and internationally recognised as the most effective educational intervention for children with autism.

For over a decade now the Irish government has funded 13 'pilot' ABA schools in this country. My hope, and the hope of so many parents and professionals, was that having researched the effectiveness of these schools, the government would see their immense value and would open up others throughout the country.

However with a decision that defies logic, having invested taxpayers’ money in these ABA schools, the Department of Education and Skills is effectively forcing ABA schools out of existence. They are demoting ABA expert staff, diluting ABA principles, and are thereby discounting my son's potential. AND THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING ALL OF THIS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHOOLS!

This move will have a seriously negative impact on the educational provision for children with autism in this country. Where other developed nations are embracing ABA schools our government is abandoning them.

[Follow this link for our Facebook Group "Autism Education - Save Our Schools": http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=115848678471888&ref=ts]

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In 2004, Parliament responded to the urgent need for medicines in many developing countries by creating “Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime” (CAMR), with the goal of getting affordable medicines to people in the developing world. Unfortunately, that laudable initiative was, and is, seriously flawed.

But now there is a chance to fix it! Join us in applying pressure on Canadian parliamentarians. Bill C-393 is under review by the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, and in order be effective its core elements need to be maintained. After the review the bill will pass to the third and final reading and a vote will take place.

The Canadian government has the ability to save lives and get essential medicines to ailing patients in developing countries. Right now, we could help thousands of people in developing countries survive.

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In October 2009 Mrs Mohabbat Mahmoudi, who has endured nine years of prison, was confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court. She then wrote a letter to Iranian citizens asking for help for her and her family.

Mrs Mahmoudi has endured being in Orumieh prison since 2000 for killing a man who attempted to sexually assault her and she is still at risk of being executed at any time.

According to reports, both wives of the victim have expressed their opposition to the execution, but the brother of the victim has not given his consent and is the one who asked for capital punishment.

Mohabbat Mahmoudi, through a letter to the human rights center of Kurdistan, has described what she has gone through in the past nine years: (thanks to Persian2English):

http://persian2english.com/?p=642

Mrs Mahmoudi's case has not been reported since 2009, yet she is still in grave danger of execution. Please sign the petition so we can raise awareness and prevent this gross miscarriage of misjustice.

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In the past few months, the Catholic Church in Cuba has been engaged in a sham "dialogue" with the repressive Castro regime, which resulted in the banishment of scores of prisoners of conscience to Spain.

Denounced by over one hundred dissidents for these actions, Cardinal Jaime Ortega has responded by condemning those who criticize him and by continuing his defense of the brutal status quo in the name of "pastoral care" and "social harmony."

This petition urges Cardinal Ortega to side with the dissidents and to call for real change in Cuba.

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Since the start of Castro's government in Cuba, January of 1959, their regime has committed numerous crimes against the Cuban people. Leading at the beginning under the disguise to be a non-socialist freedom fighter, the Fidel Castro took a stronghold and subsequently proceeded to divide Cuban families, incarcerating, holding public executions as a means to instill fear and control.

In its history of repression, the regime has run concentration camps, separated children and parents, driven thousands to escape the "prison Island" only to find death at sea or on foreign shores, those who dare speak out are imprisoned and tortured in jail and their families become outcasts, Castro's regime also extorts those who reach freedom in exile and leave loved ones behind.

The regime has driven a once thriving country to become the western hemisphere's poorest country, second only to Haiti. The mere act of allowing irreplaceable historic architecture to crumble in neglect is a crime. The environmental threats in polluting and pillaging the island’s natural resources go unchecked.

Exporting their brand of totalitarianism is something all Latin America knows very well and the Castros main objective is perpetuating themselves in power at any cost.

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Desde el inicio del gobierno de Castro en Cuba, enero de 1959, su régimen ha cometido numerosos crímenes contra el pueblo cubano. Líder en el principio bajo el disfraz de ser un luchador por la libertad no socialista, Fidel Castro tomó una fortaleza, y posteriormente procedió a dividir a las familias cubanas, encarcelar, manteniendo las ejecuciones públicas como un medio para inculcar el miedo y el control.

En su historia de represión, el régimen se mantenido campos de concentración, los niños separados y padres de familia, miles obligados a escapar de la "cárcel isla", sólo para encontrar la muerte en el mar o en las costas extranjeras, los que se atreven a hablar son encarcelados y torturados en la cárcel y sus familiares son rechazados en la comunidad, el régimen de Castro también extorsiona a los que alcanzar la libertad en el exilio y dejan atrás a sus seres queridos.

El régimen ha llevado a un país una vez próspero para convertirse en el país más pobre del hemisferio occidental, sólo superado por Haití. El mero hecho de permitir que la arquitectura histórica irremplazable a desmoronarse en el abandono es un delito. Las amenazas ambientales, la contaminación y el saqueo de los recursos naturales de la isla siguen sin control.

Exportación de su marca de totalitarismo es algo que todos los de América Latina conocen muy bien y el objetivo principal de Castro es perpetuarse en el poder a cualquier precio....

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Israelis and Palestinians are again beginning "direct talks" about "Middle East Peace". The "direct talks" are yet another episode in nearly 20 years of talks, plans and negotiations, which include the Madrid Conference, the Oslo Accords, the Camp David Summit, the Taba Summit, the Mitchell Report, the Zinni Plan, the Red Sea Summit, the Roadmap and the Anapolis Conference, among other failed initiatives, frameworks and meetings.

But worse than having failed to achieve peace, as conducted, "negotiations" have often undermined the cause of peace between Israelis and Palestinians by providing a curtain behind which violations of Palestinian rights, including home demolitions, land confiscation and settlement construction, have occurred.

To avoid repeating this outcome, the United States should insist that Israel respect Palestinian rights and begin to free the Palestinian people by ending Israel's occupation, regardless of the existence of "direct talks". Such actions require no talks at all, will advance genuine Israeli-Palestinian peace, and will enhance the image and security of the United States in the Middle East and beyond.

For more information on the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights, please visit http://www.americansforpalestine.org

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