Outgoing LTDH president Mokhtar Trifi and interim prime minister Beji Caed Essebsi. (Photo: TunisiaLive)

Sources: Associated Press, TunisiaLive, Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, Leaders, in French

The Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH, one of the focal points of Social Watch) held its annual congress for the first time in 11 years from Friday to Sunday. The group, barred from carrying out all activities under president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s regime, called on the country's next authorities for an independent justice system, respect for women's rights and the end of capital punishment.

Bahraini doctors protesting in the streets. (Photo: Ahlulbayt News Agency)

Sources: Daily Tribune, Al Jazeera, Radio France International, The Washington Post

Bahraini and international human rights’ organization efforts made progress this week when a special court freed on bail 20 doctors jailed because of political reasons, some of which had gone on hunger strikes, with more than 100 other prisoners. The situation of the fasters “is a matter of concern as it involves the lives of people,” said Bahrain Human Rights Society (BHRS, focal point of Social Watch) Secretary General Dr Abdulla Al Durazi.

(Photo: South-South News)

Source: Blog of the Conference, UN News Centre, South-South News

The annual joint meeting of the United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) convened this week in Bonn, Germany, concluded with the presentation of a lengthy declaration that calls heads of state or government to represent their countries in next year’s UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Brazil, and for the adoption of an extensive and politically-binding set of international goals and national commitments.

Press conference of the Commission against Femicide. (Photo: CEM-H)

Sources: CEM-H, Minga Informativa de Movimientos Sociales, El Heraldo

The civil society organizations that make up the Commission against Femicide (the murder of women) in Honduras expressed last week their indignation and concern at the increase in this phenomenon in the country and the fact that the authorities are showing "little or no interest" in it. They warned that “Femicide is an extreme expression of violence against women based on men’s power to control and dominate us, our bodies and our lives".

(Photo: Teb/Creative Commons)

Sources: Agenda Global, Tax Justice Network América Latina, Latindadd

In Latin America in the last ten years the tax yield has increased thanks to relative stability and macroeconomic growth driven by demand from emerging countries and rising prices for prime materials, but this has not been enough to overcome the problem of fiscal sustainability. This is because of obstacles like dependence on the international context, debt service payments, ineffective management of government policies, informality and tax evasion. Another aspect is that the tax systems in the region put a disproportionately heavy burden on the poorest and most vulnerable sectors of the population. This situation will be discussed by government officials, experts and activists in Lima this week at a meeting convoked by the Latin American Network on Debt, Development and Rights (Latindadd).