Foreign Policy Blogs

Human Rights

'slavery in America'

'slavery in America'

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, […]

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al Qa'ida Suspect, David Hicks, Returns to Australia

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.

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Circuit Court Transcripts; Bismullah v. Gates and Parhart v. Gates

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).

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Children Have Rights…Don't Forget Them!

Children Have Rights…Don't Forget Them!

“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

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UN Report Accuses Sudanese Goverment of Darfur Attacks

UN Report Accuses Sudanese Goverment of Darfur Attacks

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 […]

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Great Decisions Analysis: Child Trafficking

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 […]

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Egypt Deploys Troops to the Sinai Peninsula as Israel Threatens Response; Today in History.

Egypt Deploys Troops to the Sinai Peninsula as Israel Threatens Response; Today in History.

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). […]

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'Blood Diamond' Cont.

'Blood Diamond' Cont.

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, […]

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Mladic Search Turns Up Empty, Serbian Officials Say.

Mladic Search Turns Up Empty, Serbian Officials Say.

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 […]

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'Blood Diamond'

'Blood Diamond'

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, […]

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Somalia to Allow War Crimes Investigations.

Somalia to Allow War Crimes Investigations.

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 […]

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International Day of Families

International Day of Families

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 […]

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Jose Padilla Terrorism Trial Starts Today

Jose Padilla Terrorism Trial Starts Today

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 […]

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Who's Children are They?

Who's Children are They?

Mark Vallen from his series Art for Change   They are your children, though you cannot and do not see them. They are all of our children…the parentless, homeless, abused, innocent victims of war, and the unloved children of the world. Why are they our children? Because they are the future, they are the future […]

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A Family Overcomes Child Abuse and Fights to Stay Out of Foster Care

I'm sitting here doing my Sunday night ritual of watching "Extreme Home Makeover" so I can have my weekly reality check and have a good cry. I wanted to especially tune into night as the show was about a family from my home town, Kansas City, but also because it was about a family who's […]

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