Foreign Policy Blogs

Human Rights

Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings. -Walt Disney

Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we live by and teach our children – are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings. -Walt Disney

Fear not the power your words have on your children, you are their teachers, idols and role models. Whether a parent or not, their are children out there looking up to you for guidance, be open, be honest and most of all allow children those same rights as they express their own ideas and thoughts.

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House of Lords protects detainee's human rights; no "British Guantanamo"

House of Lords protects detainee's human rights; no "British Guantanamo"

In September 2003, British soldiers raided a hotel in the southern Iraqi city of Basra during operations there. They had detained several Iraqi citizens, including Baha Musa, a receptionist at the hotel whom British soldiers had suspected being an insurgent. Musa was detained with several other Iraqi's, blindfolded, subjected to stress positions, and beaten over […]

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"Chemical Ali" faces death in June 24 verdict.

"Chemical Ali" faces death in June 24 verdict.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, widely known as "Chemical Ali", is expected to be sentenced to death by hanging on June 24, according to the Iraqi high tribunal. Majid is on trial with five other defendants , including several former military intelligence officers and the deputy director of operations for the Iraqi Armed Forces , for atrocities […]

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Children in Europe are Finaly Getting a Voice

Children in Europe are Finaly Getting a Voice

With a third of the population in the European Union being Children, it's about time their voices where finaly getting a platform to be heard on. The European Commission recently issues three press releases concerning their efforts to increase their protection of children in the EU, aiding in the prevention of human rights violations. On […]

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The Victims of Communism Finally Receive an International Memorial

The Victims of Communism Finally Receive an International Memorial

The Soviet Propaganda poster above, translates to say, “Keep your tongue behind your teeth” or Keep quiet, which to me has always summed up what we have done about communism and the victims to whom it befell. Since it's Bolshevik infancy, the world has watched with silent eyes and still tongues, as it took hold […]

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Former Serbian president sentenced to 35 years by UN tribunal.

Former Serbian president sentenced to 35 years by UN tribunal.

The former president of the Serbian breakaway Republic of Serbian Krajina, Milan Martic, was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment for war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).  Martic was found guilty on 16 counts of crimes against humanity and violations of laws and customs of war.  Judges dropped one count […]

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Rights For Children

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Bush administration ordered to release "enemy combatant."

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President George W. Bush cannot order the military to seize and indefinitely detain a Qatari national and suspected al Qaeda operative, the only person being held in the United States as an “enemy combatant,” an appeals court ruled on Monday. In a major setback for Bush's policies in the war on terrorism […]

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Rwanda moves to abolish death penalty to appease extradition reqeusts.

Rwanda moves to abolish death penalty to appease extradition reqeusts.

A majority of the Rwandan parliament voted to abolish the death penalty there last Friday. The move will eliminate obstacles regarding the extradition of war crimes suspects back to Rwanda to face prosecution. Many countries will not execute extradition treaties with countries that practice capital punishment. The new legislation is somewhat controversial, however. Some of […]

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Is placing an 80 pound child in a ring to fight a 450 pound bull, child abuse?

Is placing an 80 pound child in a ring to fight a 450 pound bull, child abuse?

Photo by Time The obvious answer to many would, be a definite yes, however in Mexico tradition often out ways, ones obvious reasoning. In the latest issue of Time, the article, In the Ring with The World's Youngest Bull Fighter, covered a story on child matadors, in Mexico. For ten year old Rafita Mirabal, who […]

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Hummanitarian Spotlight: Om Prakash Gurjar

Hummanitarian Spotlight: Om Prakash Gurjar

At only of five, Om Prakash Gurjar, was he was taken away from his parents and then held as a slave for the next three years. Om was forced to work in the fields, attend to cattle and even work with hazardous pesticides. Om was one of many victims of bonded labor in India, he […]

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Child Detainees, An International Crime?

Child Detainees, An International Crime?

Photo by Time No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Convention on the Rights of […]

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International Criminal Court urges UN to help arrest Sudanese war criminals.

International Criminal Court urges UN to help arrest Sudanese war criminals.

The International Criminal Court has issued a plea to the United Nations Security Council to assist in the arrest of two Sudanese officials for crimes in Darfur.  Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC prosecutor, was before the Security Council in New York yesterday advising the international community that they, in coordination with regional organizations, "must take the […]

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"The ones that matter most are the children."

"The ones that matter most are the children."

(Photo by Edward S. Curtis – circa 1899) “They are the true Human Beings.” -American Indian Proverb

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Human rights group issue report on CIA "ghost detainees"

Human rights group issue report on CIA "ghost detainees"

A report compiled by six human rights groups identifies "ghost detainees" allegedly held in secret CIA prisons. The report, titled Off the Record, identifies 39 people, including children as young as 7, who have been subjected to "enforced disappearances" at the hands of the United States. CIA spokesmen have dismissed the report, stating that the […]

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