Salvatore Mancuso, a top military commander in Columbia testified that the government there was tied to the murder of civilians and cocaine trafficking, stating "paramilitarism was state policy." According to the Washington Post, 14 members of Columbia's Congress, 7 former lawmakers, the head of the secret police, and many others have been implicated in cooperating […]
The Lebanese Prime Minister, Fuad Siniora, has sent a formal request to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon calling for the ratification of an international court for Lebanon. The tribunal will be used to try suspects involved in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive explosion there in […]
Photo by Polaris Project “Hiding in Plain Sight: How can we find and protect child victims of trafficking!”- Sheila Neville, Staff Attorney of The Legal Assistance to Trafficking Victims Project One never thinks horrid things happen in their home town, nor does one want to believe that right next door unthinkable abuses are being committed, […]
Sun May 20, 2007 3:22AM EDT By Marie McInerney ADELAIDE (Reuters) – The first Guantanamo Bay inmate convicted of supporting terrorism by a U.S. military court returned to Australia on Sunday under a veil of secrecy, but “elated” to serve out his remaining sentence at home.
The DC Circuit Court released the transcripts for two cases involving detainees at the naval detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The cases are Bismullah v. Gates (06-1197) and Parhat v. Gates (06-1397).
“There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they can grow up in peace.” — Kofi Annan
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) today issued a report highlighting government complicity in attacks on civilians in the troubled Darfur region of Sudan. The UNHCR called for an "immediate and independent investigation" into atrocities committed by Sudanese intelligence officers. The report highlights violence over a land dispute between two ethnic groups […]
Today on the Foreign Policy Association's parent site they ran one of their many analysis pieces, this one was for the topic of Children's Rights. Please see the article, Great Decisions Analysis: Child Trafficking, and their many other great resources and analysis pieces. To accompany the piece on child trafficking, I wanted to give you […]
On this date in 1967, President Abdul Nasser of Egypt orders the UN Emergency Force (UNEF) in Egypt to disband. In 1957, Egypt had decided to nationalize the Suez Canal, imposing severe economic complications on Israel and her allies. Mounting circumstances resulted in the eventual invasion of the Sinai Peninsula by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). […]
When talking with the American reporter, Leo DiCaprio says, "Maybe we should all just write about it then". His cynical view is right in many ways, but here I am writing about it. Will I end the plight of any child soldiers in the world with this post? The truth is directly, most defiantly not, […]
A military hotel was raided yesterday in downtown Belgrade yesterday evening as part of a search for Ratko Mladic who is sought in connection with the Srebrenica massacre in 1995. Police officials said they were tipped off that Mladic was in the area, though the search turned up empty handed. Serbia has been developing a […]
I wasn't going to write a piece on a movie, but I have heard so much talk about one in particular that I feel I cannot ignore its effect on the general population. After having so many people approach me since the release of Blood Diamond, and even more since it came out on DVD, […]
The transitional government in Somalia has agreed to allow the United Nations to investigate allegations of human rights abuses, disappearances, and illegal detentions, among other war crimes. The UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes, said the Somali government did not accept allegations it was implicated in the atrocities, but said it would allow investigations […]
Today, May 15th is International Day of Families, and I wanted to take this time to honor the family. Having a loving and caring family is something none of us should ever take for granted, unfortunately most of us do. We take it as right, we complain about out siblings, our parents, and often take […]
Opening statements will be heard in Miami today in the case involving Jose Padilla, a US citizen and former gang member who converted to Islam while in prison. Padilla, 36, has been accused of material support of a terrorist organization and conspiracy to "murder, kidnap and maim" people overseas. Among the key documents expected to […]