UN rights chief urges Chad fighters to respect humanitarian law News
UN rights chief urges Chad fighters to respect humanitarian law

[JURIST] UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour [official website] Tuesday urged the Chadian government and rebel forces to follow humanitarian law and respect human rights [statement] as fighting continued for a fourth day after rebels entered the capital city of N'Djamena in an attempt to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Deby [BBC profile]. An estimated 20,000 civilians have fled the capital [New York Times report] since violence escalated Saturday. Arbour expressed concern regarding the loss of civilian lives and called for both sides to take measures to protect civilians.

The latest fighting in Chad [JURIST news archive] is the most recent eruption of longstanding hostilities between the Chadian government and several rebel groups seeking to depose Deby. The UN Security Council [official website] Monday condemned the recent attacks [press release] and urged neighboring countries to help stop the rebel forces. UN News Service has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism

November 9 is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism [UNITED factsheet]. On November 9, 1924, American gay activist Henry Gerber and several associates formed the Society for Human Rights, the first gay rights organization in the United States. The Society received a charter from the State of Illinois in December but was disbanded in July 1925 after a police raid which led to Gerber's arrest and trial (albeit not conviction). Pay a virtual visit to Henry Gerber House, now a registered Chicago landmark.

Supreme Court strikes down Massachusetts anti-draft law

On November 9, 1970, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 in Massachusetts v. Laird not to hear the case of the state's anti-draft law. Massachusetts had passed a law, which allowed its citizens to decline to fight in any undeclared war, even if the person was drafted. The law was passed in opposition to the draft and the war in Vietnam. The First Circuit found the war constitutional and thus struck down the law.