http://humanrightshouse.orgenHuman Rights House Foundationniels.jacob@humanrightshouse.org (Niels Jacob Harbitz)Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:45:22 GMTWed, 08 Sep 2010 12:30:41 GMTNoop 2.360http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14767&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14767.html&d=1With the referendum on the constitution only a few days away, www.humanrightshouse.org has assessed the security situation for Kenyan human rights defenders. The conclusion is grim: Recent months have seen an upturn in cases of harassment, threats, legal persecution and outright violence. There is reason to ask if Kenyan authorities want to tighten its grip on civil society and warn off human rights defenders in particular from being too vocal? Right, Stephen Musau, one of the human rights defenders considered too vocal.Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:45:22 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14288&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14288.html&d=1Human rights defender Stephen Musau, right, remains at risk following repeated anonymous threats and the arrest of his colleague Mr Keneth Kirimi. Musau is the Executive Coordinator of Release Political Prisoners (RPP), a human rights non-governmental organisation documenting, publicising and doing advocacy on issues related to political prisoners. Read the full appeal below that was issued by Frontline today.Tue, 25 May 2010 13:14:14 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14099&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/14099.html&d=1On 22 April 2010, human rights defender Mr Keneth Kirimi was arrested and detained without charge for over two days, and was reportedly subjected to torture and ill-treatment while in detention. Much of his interrogation reportedly concerned the work of fellow human rights defender Mr Stephen Musau, right.Thu, 29 Apr 2010 10:51:49 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13642&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13642.html&d=1The handing over of list of suspected perpetrators of Kenya's post-election violence of 2008 to the International Criminal Court, right, judges has caused fear, panic and anxiety across the country especially in areas that were hardest hit by the chaos.Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:06:53 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13599&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13599.html&d=1Following a request for additional information from the International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this month, its Prosecutor today named the 20 people he says are most responsible for the deadly post-election ethnic violence which swept Kenya in December 2007 and January 2008. Last November, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, right, sought authorization from the Court’s pre-trial chamber to open an investigation into the ethnic violence that erupted following the disputed polls in which President Mwai Kibaki of the Party of National Unity (PNU) was declared the winner.Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:34:27 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13598&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13598.html&d=1The International Criminal Court (ICC), right, today asked for additional information as it decides whether or not to go forward with an investigation into the deadly post-election violence clashes which rocked Kenya in December 2007 and January 2008.Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:17:02 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13596&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13596.html&d=1The main individuals in charge of orchestrating the massive violence that followed in the immediate wake of the announcement of Mwai Kibaki's alleged victory in the parliamentary and presidential elections in Kenya late September 2007 were named in a recent newscast on Kenyan tv. Watch the news item from Youtube below.Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:02:08 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13446&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13446.html&d=1In the wake of the attack on the gay wedding in Mtwapa, Kilifi, last week, the member organisations of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, GALCK, have issued a joint statement, requesting Kenyan authorities to provide protection of gays. Read the full statement below.Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:06:11 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13392&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13392.html&d=1The small town of Mtwapa in the coastal town of Kilifi may make history if it hosts Kenya’s first gay wedding planned for Friday. Two men are said to have announced the wedding, to be held at a hotel. News of the nuptials is an open secret in the fast-growing town, famous for its vibrant night life. Some gay couples from Western countries are among dozens of guests expected to witness the marriage. News of the wedding has rattled religious leaders — both Muslim and Christian — who have united in their vow to stop it “at all costs”.Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:28:03 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13391&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13391.html&d=1Kenya’s would-be first gay wedding was violently stopped by protesting youths and police on Friday at Mtwapa near Mombasa, hours before it was due to take place.Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:08:01 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13339&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13339.html&d=1While Article 39 of Kenya’s Revised Harmonised Draft Constitution makes giant steps in guaranteeing media freedom, Henry Maina finds it still lacking. Maina explores Article 39’s shortcomings in the areas of licensing, censorship and confidentiality and suggests some fundamental safeguards as solutions.Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:40:59 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13331&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/13331.html&d=1More than two-thirds of African countries have laws criminalizing homosexual acts, and despite accounting for a significant percentage of new infections in many countries, men who have sex with men tend to be left out of the HIV response.Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:55:49 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12938&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12938.html&d=1Police on Saturday released 22 civil society activists, including two elderly women, who were arrested on Christmas eve for alleged illegal assembly. The group led by Okiya Okoiti Omtatah was arrested along Aga Khan Walk as they prepared to march to the Prime Minister’s office at the Treasury and later to the Education ministry headquarters at Jogoo House to protest the theft of money at the ministry.Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:16:18 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12813&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12813.html&d=1Three experts from The Hague are in Kenya to hear the views of victims of post-election violence on how they would like those responsible for the chaos punished. Their arrival signals that the court is firmly focused on Kenya although the judges took a break for the annual Judicial Winter recess last Friday. The recess ends on January 4. Right, post-election violence in Naivasha.Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:47:40 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12702&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12702.html&d=1"FIDH and its member organization, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), welcome the decision announced today by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to address the crimes committed during the 2007/2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The ICC Prosecutor has announced that Kenya will be the first situation where he will exercise its propio motu powers to request the opening of an investigation.Sun, 06 Dec 2009 14:06:52 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12578&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12578.html&d=1Those wishing to marry partners of the same sex still have to seek countries where such marriages are allowed, before they can tie the knot. Same sex marriages will not be allowed if proposals in the harmonised draft constitution become law.Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:57:09 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12535&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12535.html&d=1For the first time in Kenya the media shall have explicit protection in the constitution if a draft unveiled this week is approved by the citizens at a referendum slated sometime next year. Article 51 of the harmonised draft launched on 17 November, aptly titled ‘Freedom of the Media, a subsection says "freedom and independence of electronic, print and other media of all types are guaranteed".Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:26:07 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12352&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12352.html&d=1Today, the Presidency of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a decision assigning the situation in the Republic of Kenya to its so-called Pre-Trial Chamber II. As a state party to the Rome Treaty, establishing the ICC, Kenya has committed itself to cooperate with the court, also in investigations into issues to do with its own country.Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:22:09 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12337&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/12337.html&d=1ARTICLE 19 has raised concerns about the failure of the Government of Kenya to respect and promote freedom of expression and freedom of information. These issues were outlined in comments ARTICLE 19 submitted this week to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), in preparation for its first Universal Periodic Review of Kenya in May 2010.Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:18:54 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11058&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11058.html&d=1Activists working for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in many countries are still under-resourced, unnecessarily isolated, and vulnerable to violent backlash even after four decades of struggle, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:09:42 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11072&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11072.html&d=1The Kenya Government has ten weeks to form a local tribunal to try last year’s post election violence suspects or have their names sent to The International Criminal Court, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has said.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:04:20 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11657&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11657.html&d=1The International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, right, today opened, inspected and resealed the envelope containing names of suspected sponsors of the post-election violence handed over to him by Kofi Annan. “There will be no leaks,” he said to the press. "The contents will remain confidential".Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:03:59 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11659&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11659.html&d=1Leading politicians, senior police officers, provincial administrators, religious leaders and wealthy businessmen feature prominently in a new report on the post-election violence. Ministers and MPs are named as some of those who funded the chaos that claimed the lives of 1,300 people early last year.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:03:45 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11458&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11458.html&d=1The options narrow for the Kenyan government, which now has until the end of September to set up an independent special tribunal on the post-election violence of December 2007. The recent launch of a Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission, no matter how wide the mandate, won't change anything with regards to the ICC process.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:03:26 GMThttp://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11678&d=1http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/page.php?p=Articles/11678.html&d=1The International Criminal Court could decide to take over trials of key poll chaos suspects after meeting a government delegation at the end of September.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:03:04 GMT