Human Rights in the News: February 2022

Welcome to the February 2022 edition of Human Rights in the News, Woven Teaching’s monthly collection of important human rights stories from around the world.

Part of the Mexican flag featuring an eagle with a snake in its mouth on a white background

Mexico issues first birth certificate with a non-binary gender marker after historic court ruling
Jordan Robledo | Gay Times | February 16, 2022

Earlier this month, Mexico issued its first birth certificate with a non-binary gender marker to Fausto Martínez, an LGBTQ+ activist. Martínez requested the change in September 2021. Although their request was initially denied, Martínez won the right to change their marker in a subsequent court battle.

Gus Kenworthy wearing a black hoodie (Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Human rights? China won that Winter Olympics battle. Almost.
John Leicester  |  AP  |  February 20, 2022

Skier Gus Kenworthy was the only Olympian to speak out against China’s “human rights atrocities” while in Beijing during the Olympic Games. The nearly 3,000 other athletes stayed silent during their time in Beijing, for fear or arrest or other repercussions.

A tree-lined road in Myanmar featuring a truck, people on a motorbike, and a person walking (Credit: Asian Development Bank)

Stop weapons supply to Myanmar, rights expert urges
UN News  |  February 22, 2022

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews has urged the UN Security Council to ban the sale of weapons to Myanmar. Andrews has identified that China, Russia, and Serbia have all supplied Myanmar with weapons–which have been used against civilians–since a military junta took power in February 2021.

A Credit Suisse sign on the top of a building. A blue sky is visible in the background

Leak shows Credit Suisse held funds for heads of state, human rights abusers
Olafimihan Oshin | The Hill | February 20, 2022

A recent leak of client information shows that Credit Suisse, a bank located in Switzerland, held millions of dollars of human rights abusers and others who had been sanctioned. Credit Suisse denies the allegations.

A person wearing a protective suit stands in oil on the coast of Peru (Credit: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Rifle training in Ukraine and Brazil’s homeless: human rights this fortnight – in pictures
The Guardian | February 5, 2022

Check out this incredible collection of photos from around the world.

Have a topic you’d like to see us include? Leave us a comment and let us know!