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Algeria Summit States Should Urge End to Murders, Kidnappings

(Dakar) - Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has in recent months stepped up targeting tourists and aid workers for murder and kidnapping in Mali, Niger, and Mauritania, Human Rights Watch said today. AQIM should immediately and unconditionally free hostages in its custody and end attacks on civilians, Human Rights Watch said.

The organization also called on foreign ministers from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, meeting today in Algeria, to categorically denounce AQIM's attacks against civilians, as well as a threat by AQIM made in a March 11 statement to Spanish Daily El Pais, which underscored the group's willingness to attack civilians. The threat suggested Spain would be "paid in kind" in "a war that does not distinguish between civilians and militants."

Complete HRD 2009 report

Human development is about putting people at the centre of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing their choices and enjoying the freedom to lead lives they value. Since 1990, annual Human Development Reports have explored challenges including poverty, gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalization, water scarcity and climate change.

The report entitled "Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" is submitted to the Congress by the Department of State in compliance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), as amended, and section 504 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended. The law provides that the Secretary of State shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, "a full and complete report regarding the status of internationally recognized human rights, within the meaning of subsection (A) in countries that receive assistance under this part, and (B) in all other foreign countries which are members of the United Nations and which are not otherwise the subject of a human rights report under this Act." We have also included reports on several countries that do not fall into the categories established by these statutes and that thus are not covered by the congressional requirement.

The following is part of the report in the Near East and North Africa region:

-03/11/10   Algeria
-03/11/10   Bahrain
-03/11/10   Egypt
-03/11/10   Iran
-03/11/10   Iraq
-03/11/10   Israel and the occupied territories
-03/11/10   Jordan
-03/11/10   Kuwait
-03/11/10   Lebanon
-03/11/10   Libya
-03/11/10   Morocco
-03/11/10   Western Sahara
-03/11/10   Oman
-03/11/10   Qatar
-03/11/10   Saudi Arabia
-03/11/10   Syria
-03/11/10   Tunisia
-03/11/10   United Arab Emirates
-03/11/10   Yemen

Full report for each country, please visit

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/index.htm

At the forum on Social movement for Morocco and the Maghreb/Machrek region held in Bouznika from March 5th– 7th, 2010, the e-joussour team got a chance to interview Mr. Muhammed Hilaluddin from Bangladesh, one of the keynote speakers at the forum. Mr. Muhammed is a professor and researcher, and also plays a key role in the Bangladesh social forum. The following is what Mr. Muhammed shared with us: