UK judge upholds request to withhold evidence in Russian spy death investigation
May 19, 2013
Sir Robert Owen, senior judge for the Judiciary of England and Wales, on Friday partially upheld a request by British Foreign Secretary William Hague to withhold certain information from the investigation into the 2006 death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who was a member of the Federal Secu....... [more] 
Afghanistan parliament blocks women's rights legislation
May 19, 2013
The Afghanistan parliament on Saturday blocked legislation that would work to strengthen women's rights in the country. If passed, the legislation would have protected provisions of the 2009 Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW), which was originally implemented by presidential decree....... [more]
Cameroon authorities urged to drop charges against transgender youths
May 19, 2013
Five human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), urged Cameroon authorities on Friday to drop the charges against two transgender youths rather than undergoing an appeal to the Cameroon Supreme Court. The defendants, who identify as women, were arrested in July 2011 and prosecu....... [more]
Federal court rules crack cocaine offenders have a right to resentencing hearings
May 19, 2013
The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Friday ruled that people convicted of crack cocaine offenses have a right to resentencing hearings under the Fair Sentencing Act (FSA). The case was brought by two incarcerated defendants seeking retroactive relief from racially discriminatory, 10-ye....... [more]
Illinois Senate approves medical marijuana bill
May 18, 2013
The Illinois Senate passed a bill on Friday that would allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes in the state, subject to strict regulations. The bill indicates that marijuana may only be used for specified medical conditions, and is intended to be regulated through dosage limits and backgroun....... [more]
Portugal expands adoption rights for same-sex couples
May 18, 2013
Portugal's Parliament voted Friday to approve a law allowing same-sex married couples to adopt their partners' children. The Parliament also voted on Friday to reject the Left Bloc and Green Party's proposal to grant gay couples the same adoption rights as heterosexuals. The bill approved by Parlia....... [more]
Colorado sheriffs challenge new gun control laws
May 18, 2013
A group of Colorado Country Sheriffs filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the District of Colorado on Saturday challenging two new gun control laws passed earlier this year. The challenged laws, signed by Governor John Hickenlooper in March, ban high capacity magazines, limiting them to a ma....... [more]
France president signs same-sex marriage and adoption bill
May 18, 2013
French President Francois Hollande gave final approval Saturday to legislation legalizing same-sex marriage and establishing the right of same-sex couples to adopt. The widely controversial bill, which was part of Hollande's campaign pledges, was was approved by parliament last month, but France's U....... [more]
Federal judge blocks Arkansas 12-week abortion ban
May 17, 2013
A judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas on Friday temporarily blocked enforcement of a law law banning abortions 12 weeks into a pregnancy. US District Judge Susan Webber Wright granted a motion for preliminary injunction against the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection....... [more]
France constitutional court approves same-sex marriage bill
May 17, 2013
France's Constitutional Council on Friday approved a same-sex marriage bill. The legislation was approved by parliament last month, but former president Nicolas Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement party filed a legal challenge. The court rejected the challenge but did clarify that the right of s....... [more]
Evidence of torture, arbitrary detention found in Syria government centers: HRW
May 17, 2013
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday urged Syrian opposition leaders and neutral international experts to safeguard evidence of torture and arbitrary detention uncovered in government intelligence facilities in Raqqa, the first city to fall to rebel forces. HRW visited the area in April and discovered....... [more]
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