The US Treasury Department Friday imposed sanctions on five entities accused of supporting North Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction (WPD) and ballistic missile programs. In August 2010, the US Department of State designated the Munitions Industry Department (MID) for its involvement with or provision of support for North Korea’s WPD programs. The entities currently [...]

The EU Monday endorsed Spain’s decision to change its stance on Western Sahara. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sent a letter to King Mohammed of Morocco on Friday expressing his support for Morocco’s plan to allow Western Sahara to be an autonomous region while being a part of the sovereign state of Morocco. Western Sahara [...]

Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, Friday presented the Sixth Report of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan before the Human Rights Council. South Sudan gained independence in 2011 and in 2013 descended into a civil war that lasted five years. In 2018, rival leaders [...]

The United Kingdom Privy Council Monday ruled against same-sex marriage in Bermuda and against same-sex marriage in the Cayman Islands. Section 53 of Bermuda’s Domestic Partnership Act, 2018 limits marriage to a union between man and woman. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal of Bermuda held that the said restriction is invalid, and the [...]

The Russian Federation Thursday announced its withdrawal from the Council of Europe (“the Council”). The country claimed that EU and NATO countries are using their absolute majority to continue to destroy the Council, of which Russia will no longer will be a part. Russia joined the Council of Europe, a leading human rights organization of [...]

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Monday said that it will deliver its decision “as soon as possible” on a request from Ukraine for the indication of provisional measures following Russia’s invasion of the country. The ICJ had originally scheduled to hear the parties on the question of provisional measures for a period of two [...]

The Singapore Court of Appeal Monday dismissed an appeal against Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men. The court held that since there wasn’t any credible threat of prosecution under the section, the applicants lacked the requisite standing to challenge its constitutionality. In October of 2007, the Parliament debated whether Section [...]

The Council of Europe (“the Council”) suspended Russia’s right to representation in the Committee of Ministers (“the Committee”) and in the parliamentary assembly in a meeting held Friday, in light of the armed attack on Ukraine. The Council “condemned in the strongest terms the armed attack on Ukraine,” at a meeting held on Thursday, extending its unwavering support [...]

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) Monday began hearing oral arguments in a case to determine whether Myanmar has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention). The Gambia filed an application instituting proceedings against Myanmar concerning alleged violations of the Genocide Convention on November 11, 2019. The [...]

A spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a statement Tuesday expressing concern for the safety of four women who disappeared after participating in a women’s rights protest in Afghanistan. The Taliban returned to power in 2021 after being ousted by the US-led invasion in 2001. Since their [...]