Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, does not shy away from tough questions. Though many in a position such as his might shy away from argument, Rae seems to relish the opportunity to engage in some intellectual sparring. It was in this context that I requested an interview as Canada grapples with multiple [...]
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European Parliament adopts Media Freedom Act in move to protect journalists
The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted the Media Freedom Act to protect journalists and press freedoms. The new law was adopted with 464 votes in favor, 92 against and 65 abstentions. The act forbids EU member states from compelling journalists to disclose their sources and deploying surveillance spyware against journalists. A new European Board for [...]
In the Halls of Brazil's Senate: Unpacking the Legacy of the US Constitution
To date, America’s greatest contribution to the world has been its Constitution. The importance of this document far surpasses such other cultural achievements as the Moon landing, the telephone, GPS, rubber vulcanization, and Henry Ford’s mass production lines. It is more important, even, than Gone With the Wind, and the hamburger — even though this [...]
Breaking Barriers: A Global Review of Legislative Reform on Women's Rights
The plight of women’s rights in various countries reflects a complex interplay of legal, cultural and societal norms that significantly disenfranchise women and girls, threatening their human rights and dignity. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Nigeria present challenging environments where women’s rights [...]
Aidana Tastanova is a Kazakhstan national and a 4th-year law student attending the Moscow State Institute of International Relations under a Kazakh government scholarship. In May 2024, Kazakhstan, together with Australia, will head the International Conference of the IAEA on Nuclear Security. This comes in the wake of the 67th session of the General Conference [...]
Alabama House approves amended anti-DEI and absentee ballot restrictions bills
Alabama’s House of Representatives approved two bills on Thursday, including one that would restrict public funding for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The other bill passed by the Republican-led house would restrict absentee ballot assistance by charging individuals for helping others with absentee voting. The first bill, SB-129, sponsored by Senator Will Barfoot (R), [...]
US federal judge upholds most provisions of Arizona voting laws requiring proof of citizenship
A federal judge in Arizona upheld two state laws on Thursday that require voters to provide documentation to prove their US citizenship before registering to vote. US District Judge Susan Bolton’s decision upheld HB 2492 and 2243. After a 10-day bench trial, Bolton issued a 109-page opinion upholding the laws. However, Bolton found that the [...]
UK human rights group challenges legality of restrictions on protest
The UK unlawfully increased police powers to impose conditions on peaceful protests, human rights organization Liberty claimed in court on Wednesday. The law in question, the Public Order Act, had been pushed through Parliament by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, despite being rejected by Parliament only months before, in January 2023. The court case centers [...]
Explainer: Assange Launches Final Bid to Avoid Extradition to US
Publisher and activist Julian Assange appealed to London’s High Court this week in a last-ditch effort to avoid extradition to the US to face espionage charges. Following the hearing which spanned Tuesday and Wednesday, judges will consider whether Assange can appeal an earlier ruling ordering his extradition from the UK to the US, where he [...]
Emma DeSouza is a writer, campaigner and peace builder. She initiated a human rights case regarding the Belfast ‘Good Friday Agreement,’ resulting in substantive changes in UK Immigration Law for those resettling in Northern Ireland. Emma formerly ran as a candidate in the Northern Ireland Assembly elections. She spoke with JURIST Interviews Managing Editor James [...]