HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH : THE WEEK IN RIGHTS

	THE WEEK IN RIGHTS January 24, 2013
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DC Police Mishandle Sexual Assault Cases

Photo © 2013 Human Rights Watch 

Sexual assault is the most underreported violent crime in the US, largely because many victims fear that they won’t be taken seriously and that police won’t believe them. For some Washington, DC victims, those fears were realized.

“To hear [the policeman] tell me he didn’t believe me was a slap in my face,” one rape survivor said. “It just took the air right out of me.” 

Metropolitan Police Department officers treated several victims we interviewed in a callous, traumatizing way. In over 200 sexual assault cases reported to police between September 2008 and 2011, incident reports – required for an investigation – appear not to have been filed or the police otherwise didn’t investigate properly. They misclassified some serious sexual assault reports as lesser crimes. Procedural formalities were sometimes used to close cases after only minimal investigation. 

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Thailand: Editor Convicted for Insulting Monarchy The conviction of a prominent Thai magazine editor and his harsh 11-year sentence for “insulting the monarchy” will further chill freedom of expression in Thailand.  See the Latest News in Asia >> share on:

In Turkey, Nine Human Rights Lawyers Imprisoned Police raids against lawyers at 4 a.m. and their arrest and imprisonment are part of a wider clampdown on those who oppose the government. What makes the latest arrests particularly disturbing is that these lawyers are well-known for acting on behalf of those whose rights have been violated by the state.  See the Latest News in Europe/Central Asia >> share on:

In Syria, Attacks on Religious Sites Raise Tensions The destruction of religious sites is furthering sectarian fears and compounding the tragedies of the country. Syria will lose its rich cultural and religious diversity if armed groups do not respect places of worship.  See the Latest News in the Middle East/North Africa >> share on:

PUBLICATION Turned Away: Summary Returns of Unaccompanied Migrant Children and Adult Asylum Seekers from Italy to Greece, Download Now >>

VIDEO Italy is forcing unaccompanied migrant children and adult asylum seekers to return to Greece. Watch Now >>

PUBLICATION Capitol Offense: Police Mishandling of Sexual Assault Cases in the District of Columbia, Download Now >>

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