Examining the Legality of Forced Conversion Therapy in India
Two years after the Navtej Singh Johar judgment which decriminalized homosexuality in India, the death of Anjana Hareesh, also known as Chinnu Zulfikar, shook the whole LGBTQIA+ community, earlier this May. Claimed to have committed suicide, Anjana identified herself as bisexual and was forced by her family members to undergo “conversion therapy” without her consent [...]
The coronavirus pandemic has affected a lot of citizens: migrant workers, laborers, corporate job-holders and many more. However, what does it entail for the transgender community? There is a heightened responsibility on the government to grapple this issue where millions are affected. While the new labor laws are the talk of the town, the issue [...]
Under Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of Child, a “child” is defined as a human being below the age of 18 years old and, in legal parlance, a child is referred to as a minor. A study by UNICEF found that 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys [...]
Government Actions: A Colossal Test of Safeguarding Rights Amidst Covid-19
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now known to every country, city, town, village and family. The pandemic is spreading like wildfire and the human race is fighting every second to defeat this invisible enemy. On the 12th of March, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic and India on 22nd March, 2020, initiated the Janta [...]
Supreme Court holds virtual oral argument in First Amendment case
The US Supreme Court held its second virtual oral argument Tuesday morning in a First Amendment dispute. In Agency for International Development v. Alliance for Open Society International, Inc., parties are arguing whether Congress can require foreign recipients of HIV and AIDS relief funds to have explicit policies opposing prostitution and sex trafficking. The case [...]
The Supreme Court granted certiorari in two cases on Friday in addition to taking up appeals surrounding President Donald Trump’s financial records. The issue in McGirt v. Oklahoma is whether the prosecution of an enrolled member of the Creek Tribe for crimes committed within the historical Creek boundaries is subject to exclusive federal jurisdiction. The [...]
Hong Kong citizen who worked for British consulate alleges torture by Chinese authorities
A former staff member of the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong issued a statement via Facebook on Wednesday describing an “illegal process” of “torture, threats, and coercion” by Chinese authorities. Simon Cheng, the consulate employee and a Hong Kong citizen, was detained for 15 days while returning from a business trip to mainland China in [...]
California governor signs legislation protecting rights of sex workers
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 233, legislation meant to protect sex workers from prosecution in certain situations, into law Tuesday. SB 233 will protect sex workers who report being a victim or witness of a serious felony, including sexual battery, assault, domestic violence, extortion and human trafficking, from being charged with certain offenses related [...]
US Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta announced his resignation Friday amid renewed criticism concerning his handling of a sex crimes case against Wall Street billionaire Jeffrey Epstein during Acosta’s tenure as US Attorney in Miami. Though Acosta’s involvement in the Epstein case was a matter of controversy during his March 2017 confirmation hearing, the issue gained [...]
Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein pleads not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges
Wall Street billionaire Jeffrey Epstein entered a not guilty plea to new sex trafficking charges brought against him in the Southern District of New York Monday. Epstein was arrested Saturday on charges pursuant to a new grand jury indictment, which contained one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking. The indictment [...]
