Witness: Her Grandson Executed by Congo Police

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here. THE WEEK IN RIGHTS November 20, 2014 Follow us on:   Witness: Her Grandson Executed by Congo Police – Jeanne’s Story Photo © 2013 Private One night in 2013, Jeanne was awakened by pounding on the door of her home in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, she told Human Rights Watch in a soft, sad voice. When she asked who was there, the men outside yelled “Police!” They broke down her door and rounded up all the men in the house and beat them, but let them go once they found Jeanne’s 19-year-old grandson, Joseph, whom Jeanne had helped raise. They dragged her grandson outside the house, shot him three times in the chest, and left him dead in the avenue, covered in blood. Last November, Congo’s government began “Operation Likofi” – “iron fist” or “punch” in Lingala, one of Congo’s languages. The police operation was aimed at ending a surge of armed robberies and other crimes in Kinshasa by members of organized gangs known as kuluna. Kuluna who commit crimes should be arrested and brought to justice. But Operation Likofi did not enforce the law in Kinshasa but instead reinforced a climate of fear. Read Jeanne's story » share on: In Indonesia, ‘Virginity Tests’ for Female Police The Indonesian National Police’s use of "virginity tests" is a discriminatory practice that harms and humiliates women. Police authorities in Jakarta need to immediately and unequivocally abolish the test, and then make certain that all police recruiting stations nationwide stop administering it. See the Latest News in Asia » share on: Dispatches: Greece - No Excuse for Caging Children By Eva Cossé Is it acceptable for children with disabilities in institutions to be kept in caged beds because of a shortage of staff to supervise them? As shocking as it may sound, for the government of Greece the answer appears to be yes. See the Latest News in Europe/Central Asia >> share on: US Summarily Deports Parents of American Children Each year, the US is summarily deporting tens of thousands of migrants who are crossing the border to be with their American children. If President Obama is serious about protecting family members who live in fear of deportation, his executive action should stop summary deportation and punishment of border crossers with families inside the United States. See the Latest News in the United States >> share on: VIDEO     Human rights have declined in Crimea since Russia began its occupation of the peninsula. Watch Now » VIDEO     Want to be a policewoman in Indonesia? You may be subject to a “virginity test.”  View Now » TWEET of the WEEK Thai Junta cracking down on students using the Hunger Games 3 finger salute. My dispatch here: www.hrw.org/node/130700 Follow John Sifton » Thank you for supporting Human Rights Watch Follow us on: Home | Take Action | Donate | Privacy Unsubscribe Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118 USA Tel: 1 (212) 290-4700 | news@hrw.org