Former US President Donald Trump credited himself with overturning the landmark reproductive rights case Roe v. Wade and accused Democrats of advocating for the killing of newborn babies before calling for national unity in an abortion position statement released Monday morning. “Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights, [...]
Search Results for: 2013-02-22
Israel investigation concludes Hamas hostage likely killed by IDF
Israel concluded on Friday its weeks-long investigation into the alleged deaths of multiple hostages held by Hamas via friendly fire, asserting that it is likely that at least one hostage was killed by an Israeli helicopter. In its investigation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) found that Efrat Katz, who was kidnapped from her home in [...]
Explainer: The Israel-Hamas War and the International Criminal Court
The current conflict engulfing Israel and Palestine raises significant issues of international law and policy. This is part one in an anticipated two-part series that will discuss some of the relevant legal questions before the International Criminal Court (ICC; Part I) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ; Part II). With both courts located in [...]
How a National Human Rights Act Could Change Rights Protection in Australia
Australia is the only Western democracy not to have a Human Rights Act in its legal system or constitution. Instead, Australia has a patchwork of rights, leaning on individual legislation, such as the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1977, implied rights, common law, and state-by-state legislation. As noted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, “There are five [...]
Former Sri Lanka president Rajapaksa accused of obstructing mass grave investigations
Four Sri Lanka activist organizations accused former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday of obstructing police investigations into mass graves discovered in an area where he served as a military officer during a Marxist rebellion in 1989. Activist groups the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP), the Center for Human Rights and Development, Journalists [...]
State-Controlled Social Media Platforms Raise Global Alarms over Privacy and Free Speech
In February 2022, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism published a report, accusing Facebook of inciting ethnic violence and disseminating misinformation in Ethiopia. A senior government official condemned the tech giant, accusing it of standing idle as the nation descended into chaos. Yet, as previously announced, the Ethiopian government refused to sit by idly and pledged [...]
Explainer: Enforced Disappearances and Torture Finally Criminal Offences in Thailand
Recently, Thailand passed an important human rights law following significant pressure from many parties including NGOs, victims of torture, relatives of the dead and missing, and investigative journalists. On 24 October 2022, the King signed into law the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearances Act which Parliament enacted on 26 August 2022. This [...]
The Case of Nagaland: Addressing Controversial Provisions of the Armed Forces Act in India
Introduction “National Security lies not in protecting our borders but in reversing the substantial erosion of civil liberties.” – Theresa May The Indian Government, to deal with the 1958 Naga insurgency, enacted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958. AFSPA aims to protect armed forces and carry out operations in conflict prone areas. The [...]
Knight in Shining Armor: The Delhi High Court Decisions for Disha Ravi and Priya Ramani
As the United States Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo cogently puts it, The great ideals of liberty and equality are preserved against the assaults of opportunism, the expediency of the passing hour, the erosion of small encroachments, the scorn and derision of those who have no patience with general principles, by enshrining them in constitutions [...]
Former Ohio police officer pleads not guilty to Andre Hill killing
Former Ohio police officer Adam Coy pleaded not guilty Friday to the killing of Andre Hill, an unarmed Black man. On December 22, Coy and another officer were responding to a nuisance call about car noise. As Coy approached the area where the vehicle was located, he encountered Andre Hill. Even though Hill was unarmed, [...]