Human Rights Watch

This 99-page report written by longtime Burma watcher Bertil Lintner, describes the repression Burma's monks experienced after they led demonstrations against the government in September 2007. The report tells the stories of individual monks who were arrested, beaten and detained. Two years after Buddhist monks marched down the street of the detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, hundreds of monks are in prison and thousands remain fearful of military repression. Many have left their show more monasteries and returned to their villages or sought refuge abroad, while those who remained in their monasteries live under constant surveillance--Human Rights Watch web site. show less

This report describes how thousands of people with mental disabilities are forced to live in psychiatric institutions and spiritual healing centers, often against their will and with little possibility of challenging their confinement. In psychiatric hospitals, people with mental disabilities face overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. In some of the spiritual healing centers, popularly known as prayer camps, they are often chained to trees, frequently in the baking sun, and forced to fast show more for weeks as part of a “healing process,” while being denied access to medications.

The report also highlights the challenges of people with mental disabilities who live in the community, who face stigma and discrimination and often lack adequate shelter, food, and healthcare. show less

Probably a 3.5. This is a series of essays about torture around the world and consequently is a rather depressing book. It was not my choice to read, but was required for a course that I am tutoring at the Mount. Some of the essays were actually interesting - like how many techniques of torture were developed by the French after their experiences in Southeast Asia and then exported from France to Africa and South America, with some extensive training of U.S. forces in the mix. There was show more intersting commentary on the Abu Gharab (sp?) prison scandels, the issue of responsibility, and the perceived "necessity" of torture for national security. I can't say I enjoyed the book, but it was informative. show less

This book, Produced by Human Rights Watch, takes a detailed look at the horrifying practices of the Lord's Resistance Army- specifically their abduction and abuse of civillian children.

Often using letters and testimonies from the children, the document illustrates the magnitude and severity of the abuses being carried out by the LRA while examining the war's effects on Uganda (particularly heavily effected areas) and survivors of the abductions and studying the history and religous views of show more the LRA.

The appendex of this book contains a full copy of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child. show less