- In China, Victims Protest Forced Evictions Through Suicide Urbanization and economic growth are rapidly increasing in China, but often at the cost of people’s right to land. Some citizens are taking the drastic step of attempting suicide.
- Violent Crackdown on Cambodian Activism A new video shows incidents of "the worst state violence against civilians to hit Cambodia in 15 years."
- The Venerable Luon Sovath Wins Prestigious Martin Ennals Award I am incredibly honored to announce that the Venerable Luon Sovath from Cambodia has just been presented the Martin Ennals Award - an award given by 10 major human rights organizations to recognize those working at great risk for human rights.
- Cambodian Monk and Advocate for Human Rights is Detained, May Be Defrocked We have received word that the Venerable has been released and was not defrocked. More information soon. The fastest way to get updates on this developing situation is to follow me on Twitter: @WitnessRyan
- Video Documents Land-Grabbing in Rural Cambodia In an earlier post, I shareda clip from a video advocacy training in Cambodia. The first practical training exercise took place in Siem Reap province, where one of the trainees, the Venerable Luon Sovath, grew up.
- Today is World Habitat Day For the month of October, in conjunction with the Housing and Land Rights Day (World Habitat Day) on 04 October and our global campaign, WITNESS will feature advocacy videos used around the world in campaigns against forced evictions in the name of development.
- Outsourcing our food: “Land grabs” and the food on your plate This week the World Bank is hosting an online consultation with global civil society based on its controversial report released last week: “Rising Global Interest in Farmland: Can It Yield Sustainable and Equitable Results?"
