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COI Update Vol 192 16 April 2019
COI Update Vol 192 16 April 2019
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This document provides an update of UK Country Guidance case law, UK Home Office publications
and developments in refugee producing countries (focusing on those which generate the most
asylum seekers in the UK) between 2 April and 15 April 2019.
Ctrl + click the hyperlinked text to access the documents
UK Home Office Publications Update
Nigeria
UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note, Nigeria: Sexual orientation and gender
identity or expression, 12 April 2019
Uganda
UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note, Uganda: Sexual orientation and gender
identity or expression, 2 April 2019
Zimbabwe
UK Home Office, Country Policy and Information Note, Zimbabwe: Medical and healthcare issues, 12
April 2019
Country News and Publications
Global
Amnesty International news, Death penalty in 2018: Facts and figures, 10 April 2019
Amnesty International news, Death penalty 2018: Dramatic fall in global executions, 10 April 2019
Afghanistan
Radio Free Europe, Gunman Opens Fire At Afghan Wedding, Killing Three People, 15 April 2019
Radio Free Europe, Seven Afghan Children Killed By Mortar Shell, 15 April 2019
Radio Free Europe, Taliban Fighters Attack Kunduz Outskirts, Violence in Kabul, Day After Spring
Offensive Announced, 13 April 2019
Human Rights Watch dispatches, Afghanistan’s Media Self-Censors to Survive, 10 April 2019
The New Humanitarian, As casualties soar, Afghanistan struggles to treat civilians maimed by
conflict, 4 April 2019
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Albania
OHCHR press release, Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers concludes its
thirtieth session, 12 April 2019
Algeria
Human Rights Watch news, Algeria: Bouteflika Resignation an Opening for Rights, 9 April 2019
Amnesty International news, Live from Algiers: The state must lift all restrictions on the right to
freedom of expression, 5 April 2019
Angola
Amnesty International campaigns, Angola: Further Information: Thirteen Protesters Freed, Fifty Held
Arbitrarily, 3 April 2019
Bangladesh
UNICEF press release, Climate change threatens lives and futures of over 19 million children in
Bangladesh, 8 April 2019
Burma/Myanmar
Amnesty International campaigns, Myanmar: Further Information: Anti-Military Peaceful Protester
Released Early: Tin Maung Kyi, 12 April 2019
Radio Free Asia, Prominent Myanmar Filmmaker Held in Jail For Facebook Post Criticizing Military, 12
April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, Myanmar: Guarantee the Right to Free Expression in the Constitution, 11
April 2019
Radio Free Asia, Myanmar’s Rakhine Government Bans Donations to Help War Refugees, as Fighting
Wears On, 11 April 2019
Radio Free Asia, Fearful Villagers in Rakhine State Swell Ranks of Myanmar’s Displaced, 8 April 2019
Cameroon
Human Rights Watch news, Cameroon: Government Forces Attack Village, 10 April 2019
Human Rights Watch dispatches, Cameroon Tightens Screws on Opposition, 8 April 2019
China
Amnesty International campaigns China: Further Information: Disappeared Activist At Risk Of
Torture: Gao Zhisheng, 15 April 2019
Amnesty International campaigns, China: Falun Gong High School Teacher Detained: Chen Yan, 15
April 2019
Radio Free Asia, China Tries Ethnic Mongolian Historian For Genocide Book, in Secret, 12 April 2019
Radio Free Asia, 'We Know That She is in Very Poor Health', 12 April 2019
Radio Free Asia, Chinese Catholics Stage Sit-in at Second Shaanxi Church Threatened by Demolition,
11 April 2019
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Radio Free Asia, Chinese Rights Lawyer’s Travel Ban Linked to Defense of Tortured Colleague, 11 April
2019
Radio Free Asia, Chinese Labor Activist Repeatedly Interrogated in Detention, 9 April 2019
China-Tibet
Radio Free Asia, Tibetan Villagers Forced From Their Homes in Gonjo County, 4 April 2019
China-Xinjiang
Radio Free Asia, As Many as 1,200 Uyghur Detainees Held in Gansu Prison After Secret Transfer From
Xinjiang, 12 April 2019
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
International Federation for Human Rights press release, Tense electoral period in Yumbi risks
another outbreak of violence: survivors bear witness, 12 April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, DR Congo: Make Rights a Priority, 11 April 2019
Egypt
Amnesty International campaigns, Egypt: Transgender Woman Held In All-Male Prison: Malak Al-
Kashef, 9 April 2019
Amnesty International news, Egypt: Crackdown against peaceful critics set to worsen if constitutional
amendments are passed, 8 April 2019
Amnesty International campaigns, Egypt: Further Information: Arbitrarily Detained Egyptian Activist
Released: Islam Khalil, 4 April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, Egypt: Deported Dissidents Missing, 4 April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, Egypt: Reprisal Against Award-Winning Actors Amr Waked and Khaled
Abol Naga for Speaking Out Against Repression, 2 April 2019
Eritrea
Human Rights Watch news, Eritrea: Another Birthday Behind Bars, 3 April 2019
Ethiopia
Human Rights Watch commentary, Ethiopia’s Transition to Democracy Has Hit a Rough Patch. It
Needs Support From Abroad, 8 April 2019
OHCHR press release, Ethiopia: UN experts commend civil society law reforms, but concerns remain,
4 April 2019
Human Rights Watch blog, Blog: Abiy’s First Year as Prime Minister of Ethiopia, 2 April 2019
India
OHCHR press release, India: UN human rights experts condemn Rohingya deportations, 2 April 2019
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Iraq
OHCHR press release, Iraq: UN expert says prosecution of ISIL leadership must be fair and thorough,
4 April 2019
Kenya
Human Rights Watch news, Wounds of Garissa Attack, Four Years On, 8 April 2019
International Crisis Group commentary, The Hidden Cost of Al-Shabaab’s Campaign in North-eastern
Kenya, 4 April 2019
Libya
OHCHR press release, Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers concludes its
thirtieth session, 12 April 2019
International Crisis Group alert, Averting a Full-blown War in Libya, 10 April 2019
The New Humanitarian, First Person: Leaving Libya was easy; coming home is much harder, 9 April
2019
Human Rights Watch news, Libya: Threat of Tripoli Fighting Raises Atrocity Concerns, 6 April 2019
Morocco
Human Rights Watch news, Morocco: Jailed Journalist Stuck in Abusive Solitary, 12 April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, Morocco: Shocking Verdict Against Activists, A Journalist, 10 April 2019
Nigeria
Human Rights Watch news, Nigeria: 5 Years After Chibok, Children Still at Risk, 15 April 2019
UNICEF press release, More than 3,500 children have been recruited and used by non-state armed
groups in northeast Nigeria since 2013, 12 April 2019
The New Humanitarian, Building a market and a future after Boko Haram, 4 April 2019
North Korea
Radio Free Asia, North Korea Offers Rewards for Citizens Reporting on Illegal Activity, 4 April 2019
Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs)
OHCHR press release, Israel must ensure protection for Issa Amro and other human rights defenders,
say UN experts, 10 April 2019
Amnesty International campaigns, Israel/OPT: Jerusalemite Journalist At Risk Of Deportation:
Mustafa Al-Kharouf, 5 April 2019
Pakistan
Amnesty International news, Pakistan: Hazara community must be protected, 12 April 2019
South Africa
Human Rights Watch news, South Africa: Attacks on Foreign Nationals, 15 April 2019
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Amnesty International news, South Africa: Authorities must tackle longstanding impunity to end
xenophobia, 5 April 2019
South Sudan
Human Rights Watch dispatches, South Sudanese Leaders Should Use Vatican Visit to Recommit to
Justice, 10 April 2019
Sri Lanka
OHCHR press release, UN torture prevention body concludes visit to Sri Lanka, 12 April 2019
Amnesty International campaigns, Sri Lanka: 13 Prisoners At Risk Of Imminent Execution, 11 April
2019
Sudan
Amnesty International news, Sudan: Investigate role of intelligence chief in protest killings, 13 April
2019
Amnesty International campaigns, Seven things you should know about the unrest in Sudan, 11 April
2019
Turkey
Human Rights Watch news, Turkey: Mass Prosecution of Lawyers, 10 April 2019
OHCHR press release, UN disability rights experts issue findings on Turkey, 9 April 2019
Amnesty International action, Bring back the rainbow to Ankara, 8 April 2019
Ukraine
Amnesty International research, Ukraine: Amnesty International Welcomes Successful Protection By
Police Of 8 March 2019 Women’s Rights Rallies, 3 April 2019
Human Rights Watch news, Ukraine: Escalating Pressure on Crimean Tatars, 2 April 2019
UNHCR briefing note, UNHCR says Ukraine landmine risk needs urgent action, 2 April 2019
Vietnam
Radio Free Asia, Vietnamese Prison Refuses to Mail Jailed Activist’s Appeal Request, 2 April 2019
Yemen
International Crisis Group report, Ending the Yemen Quagmire: Lessons for Washington from Four
Years of War, 15 April 2019
International Crisis Group commentary, Yemen Cannot Afford to Wait, 10 April 2019
UNICEF press release, Blast in Sana’a kills another 14 children in school and injures 16, most under
the age of nine, 9 April 2019
International Crisis Group briefing note, Crisis Group Yemen Update #8, 5 April 2019
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Zimbabwe
Amnesty International campaigns, Zimbabwe: Further Information: Activist, Opposition Members
Await Trial: Rashid Mahiya, Charlton Hwende And Joanna Mamombe, 11 April 2019
Amnesty International news, Zimbabwe: Attack on 263 Chat website a blatant attempt to muzzle the
media, 4 April 2019
OHCHR press release, Zimbabwe policies hitting poor hardest, say UN rights experts, 4 April 2019
Sources consulted: Amnesty International; Human Rights Watch; Institute for War and Peace
Reporting; Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC); International Crisis Group; International
Federation for Human Rights (FIDH); International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR); IRIN; Radio
Free Asia news, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; UN Agencies, Committees, Special Rapporteurs and
news.
Sources to consult for annual reports: Amnesty International; Freedom House; Human Rights Watch;
U.S. Department of State
Useful COI databases for case-specific country research (non-exhaustive):
o Asylos’s research notes [Subscription only] o COI Forum [Subscription only] o EASO COI Portal [European Asylum Support Office’s portal] o Electronic Immigration Network [Subscription only] o ECOI.net [European Country of Origin Information Network] o Refworld [UNHCR’s portal] o ReliefWeb
