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 [...]
Search Results for: International Criminal Court
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) indicted former Syrian Vice President Rifaat al-Assad on Tuesday, referring him to the Federal Criminal Court for trial. The OAG accused al-Assad of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity while serving as commander of the defense brigades and commander of operations in the Syrian city of [...]
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 [...]
UN report urges immediate action as Syria confronts escalating violence
The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry released a report Monday concerning the most severe escalation of violence in the country since 2020. Explosions during a military academy graduation ceremony in Homs triggered the escalation, which began in October, leading to a series of indiscriminate attacks by Syrian and Russian forces on opposition-held areas. The commission [...]
The Associated Press (AP) reported that a Pakistani court sentenced a 22-year-old student to death and gave a teenager life in prison on Monday under the country’s blasphemy laws. The 22-year-old student’s lawyer, Aslam Gujar, told the AP that Junaid Munir had been sentenced to death last week. The charges come as a result of [...]
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 [...]
Ecuador president extends state of emergency amidst 'internal armed conflict'
The President of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa Azin, issued Executive Decree No. 193, renewing the declaration of a state of emergency in Ecuador due to a “serious internal disturbance and internal armed conflict,” extending the duration of the state of emergency for another 30 days due to serious criminal incidents and conflicts in the country. The [...]
Hong Kong government sends new national security bill to Legislative Council for debate
The Hong Kong government released the new national security bill on Friday and sent it to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for deliberation. The bill consists of nine parts, including criminalizing several national security offenses not covered in the 2020 National Security Law but listed in Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law. The bill [...]
Germany authorities carry out raids against suspects of online misogynistic hate speech
German prosecutors and law enforcement carried out raids against 45 individuals on Thursday who were suspected of posting hate speech against women online. The General Public Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt, along with the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and other law enforcement agencies, led the raids. The raids form part of the government’s coordinated initiative [...]
Hong Kong appeals court upholds activist's 40-month sentence over sedition charges
Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal upheld Hong Kong activist Tam Tak-chi’s sedition convictions on Thursday and refused to grant him leave to appeal his convictions. The District Court of Hong Kong previously sentenced Tam on April 20, 2022 to 40 months in prison over sedition charges. He was found guilty of uttering seditious words, holding [...]