Search Results for: Voting Rights Act

Several advocacy groups on Thursday sued Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama’s 42 District Attorneys, and Alabama Secretary of Stae Wes Allen to block the state’s recently enacted Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), which would directly target, restrict, and severely penalize certain engagement measures that would enable broader access to the right to vote. SB [...]

The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution Thursday on Combating Discrimination, Violence, and Harmful Practices against Intersex Persons who are born with sex characteristics differing from conventional binary perceptions of male or female anatomy. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 24 in favor, none against and 23 abstentions. In Resolution A/HRC/55/L.9, the [...]

New York’s Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a bill to repeal a largely unused law from 1907 that made adultery a criminal offense. The bill, which passed the State Assembly earlier this year, now goes to New York Governor Kathy Hochul. If signed, the adultery statute will be immediately repealed. Senate Bill S8744 repeals New [...]

Scotland’s controversial Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force on Monday. The law intends to unite existing hate crime laws, along with creating several new offenses, most notably criminalizing “threatening or abusive behaviour which is intended to stir up hatred.” Stirring up racial hatred has been an offense since 1986. However, [...]

The French National Assembly passed a bill on Thursday banning discrimination over the texture, length, color or style of a person’s hair on first reading. The bill will now go to the Senate for further approval. The proposed bill aims to amend the wording of existing anti-discrimination measures adopted in the labor code, penal code and [...]

A US federal appeals court panel ruled Wednesday that the date requirement for mail-in ballots for Pennsylvania voters did not violate the Civil Right Act’s Materiality Provision, reversing a lower court’s decision. This ballot debate has remained ongoing since the enactment of Act 77, a voter reform bill in Pennsylvania. Act 77 requires Pennsylvania voters [...]

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Monday demanding an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In addition to calling for a ceasefire, the resolution demands the “immediate and unconditional” release of hostages and a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza. It emphasizes that all parties must follow [...]

US President Joe Biden signed HB 2882, called the “Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024,” on Saturday. This act provides federal government funding through September 2024 and includes a provision that prohibits funds from being used for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The act also cuts funding to the UN International [...]

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday prohibiting companies that benefit from state economic development incentives from recognizing unions without first conducting formal secret-ballot elections. The bill, Senate Bill 362, now awaits Governor Brian Kemp’s signature to become law in the state. The bill has sparked debate regarding its compliance with federal [...]

The Hong Kong Legislative Council unanimously voted in favour of the new Safeguarding National Security Bill on Tuesday. The bill will be gazetted and come into effect on March 23. The bill consists of nine parts. It criminalises several national security offences that are listed in Article 23 of the Hong Kong Basic Law but [...]