Liu Hua, China

This anti-corruption activist exposed huge embezzlement of properties by local senior officials in Shenyang, China. She served 3 prison terms between 2006 and 2011 for her efforts to blow the whistle on corruption.

Sh was again imprisoned on 10th March 2014 by public security bureau officers, charged with 'picking quarrels and making troubles'. After 37 days in the Shenyang No. 1 Detention Centre, she was released on 17th April. State security officials threatened further detention if she continued to talk about her experiences and treatment in the detention facility. She has now vowed to continue her current lawsuit.

Central African Republic

44 children have been released from Korotoro maximum security prison over the border in Chad. AI's Central Africa researcher, Christian Mukosa, considers this a tiny glimmer of hope piercing the darkness.

The children (including 2 girls) are aged between 13 and 17 and are now in the custody of the UN. AI played a key role in raising their case with the Chad authorities, questioning the legality of their detention.

Sawhoyamaya indigenous community, Paraguay

On 24th April, the plenary of the Paraguayan Senate voted on a bill to return 14,404 hectares of traditional land to the Sawhoyamaya indigenous community. This decision is a major step forwards to ensure compliance with the 2006 judgement of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. The state will expropriate and compensate the current landowners for this land, and return it to the community. 146 families have been fighting for over 20 years to return to their land.

Written on behalf of our researcher, Pam Thickett