Yevgeny Zhovtis is in a dingy cell somewhere in Kazakhstan. A leading human rights activist, Zhovtis and his incarceration on trumped up charges of manslaughter point to a disturbing trend in the world of international law and human rights. States, and in particular, post-Soviet states are not being held accountable for their human rights abuse. […]
The general principles of the rule of law state that legality should take precedence over all political affairs. But is it ever possible for two wrongs, such as a military takeover of an unconstitutional civilian government, can produce a positive rule of law outcome? That is the question many are asking in relation to Thursday’s […]
CHAD: Prices hike, teachers strike Teachers demanding more pay to face higher food prices entered the third day of a nationwide strike. Primary school teacher Aubin Golmbaye told IRIN his US$200 monthly salary was not enough to feed his family. Education Minister Khadidja Hassaballah said the government would not negotiate salaries with the teacher union […]
Children’s rights abuses are shocking at any level, and working in the anti-slavery field I am not as likely to be shocked as many, due to the fact that I have heard so many unimaginable stories of abuse that I am sadly rarely surprised at what a human is capable of doing to another. Don’t […]
I came across the following course given by the Institute for a Humane Education (IHE) a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to creating a humane world through humane education. The organization states that; They foster a compassionate, just, sustainable world by training humane educators and by providing people with the tools, knowledge and motivation to […]
Amnesty International (AI) has suspended a senior officer for raising concern over the charity’s association with groups that support the Taliban and promote Islamic Rights ideas. An article published on February 7 by the Sunday Times quotes Gita Sahgal as questioning AI’s high-profile relationship with Guantanamo-detainee Moazzam Begg. Gita Sahgal is or now was…head of […]
While the debate over the current ban against openly gay service members in the US military continues in Washington, there is another story about the consequences of breaking barriers in the military that is also getting attention: the ongoing prevalence of sexual violence against women in the military. The BBC carried an interesting story this […]
As the day dawns on love, millions of couples are exchanging gifts which symbolize their love and affection for each other. While the commercialization of this day of love has left many emptying their pockets, while others are left entangled in the brutal world of modern slavery. Much of our chocolaty symbol of love comes […]
That’s right. Even in this day and age, freelance and independent journalists working for such outfits like Reuters are fair game for the American brass. The United States has, and continues, to imprison foreign journalists. This behaviour calls into question the principles upon which the nation was founded. Double-standards are de rigeur in the land […]
U.S. moms get mobile baby health tips The White House, health care professionals and wireless telephone providers have teamed up for the launch of “text4baby” project in a bid to improve infant health and decrease premature birth and infant mortality rates. Pregnant women and mothers of infants can sign up for free delivery of three […]
2010 will surely be known as the year that disaster struck Haiti, as the impoverished nation was rocked to it’s knees on January 12th. However while all eyes continue to be focused on Haiti’s aftermath, Somalia continues to cry out. In July last year in July I published, Will we remember Somalia?, at the time […]
As Iran marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution that brought the current system of government to power, there are two topics dominating headlines on Iran: their less than always transparent nuclear program and their human rights record. And both are the target of possible economic sanctions in the coming days and weeks. The […]
That is a heart-wrenching statistic. Specifically, one in four suffer from some form of physical violence while at least 10% are sexually abused. To address the problem, the EU is considering a common European-wide single telephone number for victims. The European Parliament today decided that the full physical and sexual autonomy of women is a […]
All eyes are on Sarah Palin’s left hand—you might even call it a vast left-wing conspiracy—after it doubled as a cheat sheet during a Q&A at the National Tea Party Convention. For those wondering, the words/talking points she had written on her palm were: “energy,” “tax” and “lift American spirits.” Palin did something I’ve always […]
The Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court declined to confirm charges of War Crimes against Abu Garda today, less than a week after the Appeals Chamber reversed the decision to exclude the charge of Genocide against Omar Al-Bashir. The Court stressed that the incident related to the charges – an attack on African […]