The United States’ decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council and, consequently, from this year’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) marks a worrying retreat from global human rights accountability. Although the announcement did not cite any specific reasons for the withdrawal, it reflects a deeper unwillingness to accept scrutiny under the same universal standards [...]
Forget the TV drama of “democracy under attack.” There is no season twist on Capitol Hill, no slick villain delivering a chilling monologue to a string-quartet soundtrack, and no mastermind plotting from half a world away to bring America to its knees. The real plot twist unfolds much closer to home. It is the claim [...]
On October 1-3, the Labour Law Colloquium was once again held at Stellenbosch University. This annual event, which brings together the leading minds in the labour law world, often celebrates the works of prolific South African thinkers. In 2024, the Labour Law Colloquium honoured the recently retired Chief Justice Zondo. This year, the conference included [...]
Many migrants embark on dangerous sea journeys in search of better lives in foreign countries. Too often, these voyages end in tragedy, with lives lost in the middle of the ocean far from any help. For migrants fleeing conflict or persecution, boarding an un-seaworthy boat may seem like their only option when safer routes are [...]
On June 4, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, issued a statement that may seem, to external ears, like political posturing: “The United States and Israel can’t do a damn thing.” Yet within the constitutional framework of the Islamic Republic, such utterances do not function as rhetoric alone. They operate as binding pronouncements under the system [...]
In today’s world, military power is no longer measured solely by missile blasts and the roar of fighter jets. Alongside every military strike runs a quieter yet far more influential battle: the war of narratives. In the latest conflict between Iran and Israel, missiles matter—but perhaps not as much as the stories told about them. [...]
Prime Minister Mark Carney campaigned on being different from Donald Trump. Yet his government’s first major legislative act, Bill C-2—the so-called “Strong Borders Act”—represents nothing less than a shameful capitulation to Trumpian xenophobia that fundamentally betrays Canada’s legal and moral obligations to refugees and migrants. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, who introduced this sweeping 127-page [...]
At a time when Western institutions continue to dominate the international legal stage, China has made a bold declaration of intent to offer an alternative narrative of global order by establishing a new mediation organization in Hong Kong. The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed)—with the participation of over 30 countries including Pakistan, Indonesia, Belarus, and [...]
The rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly those enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI), has redefined the landscape of modern armed conflict. Once limited to surveillance, UAVs are now critical tools for cross-border military operations and targeted killings. As of 2023, at least 19 states have conducted drone strikes, with many more acquiring the technology. [...]
In a landmark moment for South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate decades-long allegations that successive post-apartheid governments obstructed the prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. This move, prompted by a civil suit filed by survivors and relatives of apartheid victims, marks an inflection point in the country’s democratic journey. [...]
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