"This book is the first collection of original research to explore links between demographics and media coverage of emerging human rights issues. It covers cross-national reporting on human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, water contamination, and child labour; and same-sex marriage, Guantanamo detainee right
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s, immigration reform, and post-traumatic stress disorder in the United States. The research asks questions such as: What are the principal catalysts that propel rights issues into media agendas? Why do some surface more quickly than others? And how do the demographics of cross-national reporting differ from those driving multi-city US nationwide coverage of rights claims? Using community structure theory and innovative Media Vector content analysis, the eight chapters of this book reveal three striking patterns that show how differences in female empowerment, social or economic vulnerability, and Midwestern newspaper geographic location, link powerfully with variations in coverage of rights issues. The patterns connecting demographics and rights claims confirm that coverage of human rights can mirror the concerns of stakeholders and vulnerable groups, contrary to conventional assumptions that media typically serve as "guard dogs" reinforcing the interests of political and economic elites." (Publisher description)
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"Murders of people with albinism are a recently emerging human rights issue in Africa, particularly Tanzania. Thus far, public debates about albino killings in Tanzania and other African countries have been dominated by media reports rather than academic writing. This paper presents the findings of
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a content analysis of Swahili and English Tanzanian media reports published between 2008 and 2011 on albinism and albino murders in Tanzania, and the diverse activities that have unfolded in response to these attacks. Using a human rights framework, the article explores these responses from a social work perspective. It finds that interventions are often framed with reference to African conceptions of humanness. These conceptions are found to be compatible with notions of human rights as relational, in which the various rights and responsibilities of different members of society are seen as interconnected. In practice however, some interventions have resulted in trade-offs between competing rights, causing further harm to victims and their families. To become sustainable therefore, interventions should aim to support all the human rights necessary for the well-being of Africans with albinism, their families and communities. Further research to this effect is recommended." (Abstract)
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"El Manual tiene el propósito de presentar los contenidos principales de las recientes reformas normativas en estos temas con el objetivo de que las y los comunicadores cuenten con una herramienta de apoyo para su labor comunicativa y de difusión [...] La reforma constitucional en materia de derec
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hos humanos, que entró en vigor el 11 de junio del 2011, es un hecho trascendente en tanto reconoce y aporta al sistema de fuentes legales federales y nacionales, un sistema enriquecido con todas los intrumentos internacionales de protección de los derechos humanos, todas las disposiciones y los estándares que México ha firmado. La Ley para la Protección de Personas Defensoras de Derechos Humanos y Periodistas que dio origen al Mecanismo de Protección para Periodistas y Personas Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos, que entró en vigor el 26 de junio de 2012, es de suma relevancia en el contexto nacional actual, dado que crea un dispositivo especializado para que el Estado atienda su responsabilidad fundamental de proteger, promover y garantizar los derechos humanos de periodistas, comunicadores y defensores que se encuentran en situación de riesgo como consecuencia de su labor en la defensa y promoción de los derechos humanos, del ejercicio de la libertad de expresión y el periodismo [...] Los contenidos de este manual están organizados en cinco apartados: el primero se refiere a la Reforma constitucional en materia de derechos Humanos; el segundo a la Ley de protección para Periodistas y Personas Defensoras de los Derechos Humanos y al Mecanismo que originó; el tercero corresponde a la Reforma Constitucional en materia de Telecomunicaciones. El cuarto apartado contiene referencias de utilidad relacionadas con los temas y posteriormente de incluyen las versiones en mixe, zapoteco, mazateco y purépecha, a fin de que comunicadores/as indígenas tengan acceso a la información legislativa." (Presentación, página -6-7)
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"This paper takes four key policy issues for protecting human rights online - net neutrality; an absence of arbitrary online filtering and blocking; an absence of arbitrary surveillance; and protecting intermediaries from liability for user-generated content. For each policy area it summarises the t
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heoretical economic arguments for adopting a human rights-respecting position, and then attempts to collate any empirical data that exists to back up those arguments. In doing so, the paper aims to assist human rights defenders to develop persuasive arguments that they can use with policy-makers, and to highlight areas where more research and evidence is needed." (Summary, page 6)
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"In step with United Nations efforts to further promote universal standards and better protect people against human rights violations, this publication of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights provides practical guidance for the development of quantitative and qualitati
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ve indicators to strengthen the measurement and implementation of human rights, including the right to development. It contains a detailed description of the conceptual and methodological framework for human rights indicators recommended by international and national human rights mechanisms and used by a growing number of governmental and non-governmental actors. Concrete examples of indicators identified for a number of human rights—all stemming from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—and other practical tools and illustrations are provided to support processes and stakeholders that aim to improve the realization of human rights on the ground." (Back cover)
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"Considerable attention has been focused on the opportunities presented by new information and communication technologies for development (“ICT4D”) and for government (“ICT4GOV”). The purpose of this report is to analyze their impact on human rights (“ICT4HR”). As Philip Alston, the form
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er Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, explained in a report to the General Assembly: “New technologies offer a great many potential solutions to some of [the] problems [in human rights fact-inding], and offer signiicant improvements in existing factinding methodologies.” He notes, however, that there has been “[l]ittle sustained work . . . by the human rights community as a whole to apply existing technologies or to study their potential uses and problems.” This report aims to remedy that gap. Using case studies largely from three countries, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Dominican Republic, the report considers both the opportunities and risks presented by new technologies for human rights. The report concludes there are beneits that can be realized through the deployment of new technologies in human rights projects. New technologies offer the potential to reduce the cost of collecting information about human rights issues and to increase participation in human rights advocacy efforts. Each of these possible beneits, however, gives rise to new risks and challenges. Although new technologies can reduce the cost of information gathering, it can be dificult to ensure the accuracy of the information generated, and the associated volume can make it challenging and expensive to identify relevant data. There is also no guarantee that increased participation or information will be translated into action or concrete outcomes for the community." (Executive summary)
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"Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are criticised for being discriminatory against religious minorities and inconsistent with human rights standards. There have been attempts in the past to amend these laws. However, after protests by religious parties, each of these attempts failed. In 2011 the debate to
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amend the blasphemy laws resulted in the killings of governor Salman Taseer and the federal minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. Such incidents have shocked the international community and caused a major blow to the efforts of civil society in Pakistan lobbying for the repeal of these laws. After Pakistan’s ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in June 2010, there is indeed a need to reassess the gamut of human rights violations under the blasphemy laws. This article critically analyses the impact of blasphemy laws on the core human rights enshrined in these treaties, with a view to build a case for repeal of these discriminatory laws." (Abstract)
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"This publication is both a human rights reference guide and a workbook. It draws on a variety of research, training, and experience - especially that of the United Nations (UN) and the International Centre for War and Peace Reporting. Section 1 on "Human rights knowledge" introduces human rights, t
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he UN System, and the international justice system. Section 2 on "Journalism understanding" works through journalism values and some of the specific skills needed to tackle human rights issues. Section 3, "Guide for practical application", provides a step-by-step guide to producing a good human rights story. The final section includes summaries of the nine main human rights conventions and a variety of useful resources for human rights reporters." (CAMECO Update 2-2012)
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"Die politische Bedeutung der Menschenrechte nimmt rasant zu. Zugleich wächst die Nachfrage nach wissenschaftlicher Klärung. Ob über Kriege, innere Sicherheit oder Folter diskutiert wird, ob es um Flüchtlinge, Armut, Umweltzerstörung oder den Kampf von Nicht-Regierungsorganisationen gegen Unrec
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ht und Unterdrückung geht: Was genau versteht man unter Menschenrechten, was bewirken sie und wie sind sie zu schützen? Das Handbuch sorgt für Orientierung in Theorie und Praxis. Es zeigt den aktuellen Stand der Fachdiskussionen vornehmlich aus philosophischer, aber auch aus juristischer, historischer, politologischer und soziologischer Perspektive." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Shaw argues that journalism should focus on deconstructing the underlying structural and cultural causes of political violence such as poverty, famine and human trafficking, and play a proactive (preventative), rather than reactive (prescriptive) role in humanitarian intervention." (Publisher descr
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iption)
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"Whether they are nationals reporting wars occurring within their countries or international news media staff, journalists are facing growing dangers when covering conflict events. As civilians, they are protected to some extent by international humanitarian law (IHL). But what are these rules and h
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ow adequate is such coverage? The article details the core elements of IHL, its relevance for journalists and key issues of implementation and compliance. The news media profession has attempted in the last decade to strengthen normative protections which are discussed. The issue is viewed as one of continuing salience for the Pacific. The article concludes by observing that the issue of protection in combat for journalists is something that the profession has to confront systematically." (Abstract)
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