This week citizen reports take us inside conflict zones that often prove difficult for reporters and even human rights investigators to access. From the Papua New Guinean police force, to the heart of Mexico’s cartel territory, to the occupied favelas of Rio de Janeiro, here are highlights from recently featured videos on the channel:

Papua New Guinea:

The police in Papua New Guinea have announced an investigation into a horrific scene documented on video and shared on the internet in mid-March. The short, raw video appears to show police dogs attacking a defenseless man in a field as uniformed officers stand by.

Mexico:

Despite the reported killing this week of a leader of the Knights Templar drug cartel, residents of Michoacán, Mexico, where the cartel is based, say that authorities have been unable to protect them from violence associated with organized crime. The gap has led to the emergence of local self-defense groups. In a short video produced by a local media collective, accounts from Mexican soldiers and members of the self-defense groups reveal the tension and mistrust that exists within the community.

Cambodia:

More than 2,000 Cambodian families have been affected by violent land conflicts in the first few months of 2014, according to the Cambodian human rights organization, LICADHO. In a new video by the organization, a timelapse of state-involved land disputes reveals the expansion of land conflicts in the past 13 years. In March, according to LICADHO, the number of people affected reached the half-million mark.

This week, we’re keeping our eyes on: 

Brazil:

Violent raids into favelas by Brazilian authorities, as the country prepares for the spotlight of the World Cup. The fatal shooting of a 38-year-old mother during a police operation in a Rio de Janeiro neighborhood drew nationwide anger after a video emerged showing her corpse being dragged behind a police vehicle. Today, residents of the Maré complex of favelas are fearing violence and documenting abuses after 4,000 troops were sent in to occupy the neighborhood this past weekend. We are monitoring online reports from the community, which is using the hashtag #dedentrodamare (which translates to, “from within Maré”).

Afganistan:

Where citizens will go to the polls this weekend to vote for a new president. One site we’ll be monitoring is Paiwandgaha citizen reporting platform that local journalists and citizens are using to report on the elections. 

The most recent citizen videos of human rights issues can always be found on our Citizen Watch and Watching Syria video playlists. Both are updated daily.
Catch the latest citizen videos by following the Human Rights Channel on Twitter (@ythumanrights). 

Image taken from YouTube user Los Tejemedios.

2 thoughts on “Human Rights Video Weekly: Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and Mexico

  1. I wanted to thank you for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it.

    I have you bookmarked to look at new things you post…

  2. Extremely sick, inhuman behavior by police officers at the scene, totally without any concern for the welfare of the VICTIM the police officers should be immediately removed from duty and prosecuted. They are not mentally and psychologically fit for such a responsible position

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