Sudan has been called on multiple times to improve its human rights situation. Last week, Mashood Adebayo Baderin, the newly appointed UN Independent Expert on Human Rights in Sudan, stated [JURIST report] that the country must still work to improves freedoms of expression and the press. In May, AI had already urged [JURIST report] the country's government to stop its censorship practice of seizing newspapers from the printing press as well as harassing and arresting journalists.

Somalia has been urged by the international community to ensure that the country's transition is proceeding peacefully. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] told [JURIST report] officials at the Istanbul II Conference on Somalia [materials] that Somalia must take all efforts to smoothly transit into a permanent government with a new constitution. Since the end of Muhammad Siad Barre [Britannica profile] dictatorship in 1991, Somalia has been working on establishing a legitimate government and has faced difficulties in bringing the country's rule of law to the international standards. In May, it was announced [JURIST report] that the Elders of Somalia were planning to select delegates for the NCA. In early May, Somalia had been called on [JURIST report] to readdress the issue of legitimate judicial systems in Mogadishu and South Central Somalia after the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia found that there was significant difficulties in harmonizing Sharia law with modern international and human rights law. In February, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] criticized [JURIST report] the country's TFG for failing to prevent children recruitment into armed forces.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay [official profile] had previously urged [JURIST report] the country's authorities, especially the country's religious leaders, to make a concerted effort to stop the violence caused by the militant group. Boko Haram is a Muslim group that has been trying to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state. Its violence is directed at Christians including church bombings [AP report] on Christmas day killing 40 people. The violence was criticized by the international community such as the White House and the Vatican [AP reports] condemning it as senseless violence.

Pillay has previously called the international community to strengthen the treaty body system. In March, while addressing [JURIST report] the enforced disappearances' effect on women and children, Pillay stated that the system has a significant influence on the enjoyment of human rights across the globe, but while the system has grown exponentially, human and financial resources have failed to match up with the growth. The total number of treaty body experts have grown to 172 in 2012 compared to 97 in 2000 while tates have increased ratification under international human rights treaties from 927 to 1,586.

Earlier this month, lawyers for Taylor announced that they will appeal [JURIST report] the SCSL's conviction and 50-year sentence for war crimes committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone [JURIST news archive] against their client. Taylor was sentenced [JURIST report] in May after Trial Chamber II convicted [judgment, PDF] him of planning as well as aiding and abetting crimes committed by rebel forces in exchange for diamonds during the civil war, including acts of terrorism, murder, rape, sexual slavery, conscripting or enlisting children into armed forces, enslavement and pillage. Two weeks before the conviction, Taylor had asked the court to be sentenced with an eye toward "reconciliation, not retribution," a response to the prosecution's request seeking a sentence of 80 years upon his conviction [JURIST reports] in April.

Trial Chamber I of the ICTY has suspended [JURIST report] the trial of Mladic due to an error in disclosing documents to the defense lawyers. His trial was postponed indefinitely [JURIST report] in May due to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct related to evidence disclosure. Mladic has been charged with several counts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian civil war [JURIST news archive] including murder, political persecution, forcible transfer and deportations, cruel treatment and the taking of peacekeepers as hostages. In June 2008, Serbian authorities transferred [JURIST report] Zupljanin to the ICTY after a national court refused his appeal against extradition. He was arrested [JURIST report] earlier that month on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity, and violations of the laws of war for allegedly killing civilians during the ethnic conflicts of the 1990s.

Iran has been criticized for its detentions and harsh sentences of human rights defenders. In May, the Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders, the situation of human rights in Iran, and the independence of judges and lawyers called [JURIST report] Iran to grant human rights defenders to carry out their legitimate activities and to take measures so that they receive adequate protections. In January 2011, the prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh was sentenced [JURIST report] to 11 years for "acting against national security" and "making propaganda against the system." She was the lawyer for Arash Rahmanipour, who was arrested and executed [JURIST report] for his role in the post-election protests on charges of mohareb, or being an enemy of God.

Religious freedom is a cherished principle of our democracy. City governments and their police departments may not favor one religious group over another and may not discriminate against individuals because of their religious affiliation. No individual in the United States should be targeted for discriminatory treatment by a city, its officials or the police because of his or her religion.

The FLDS has also faced criticism in the past. In November the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled [JURIST report] that a law banning polygamy was constitutional. The law was under challenge by two bishops of the FLDS who claimed that the law infringed on their religious freedom and was not consistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The court found, however, that there was "a consistent set of harms associated with polygamy," including a higher rate of sexual and physical abuse of women and higher rates of abuse, neglect and emotional problems for children. These harms, the court said, outweighed the "minimal" impact on religious freedom.The FLDS is best known for a 2006 scandal that led to a sentence of in life in prison for former leader Warren Jeffs. Jeffs was accused of arranging marriages between underage girls and adult men. He was sentenced to 10 years to life [CNN report] in prison in November 2007 for charges of being an accomplice to rape. Jeffs was arrested in Las Vegas [AP report] in 2006 after being placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list.

The legality of drone strikes has been a controversial issue in recent months. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay declared on Friday that US drone strikes in Pakistan raise grave legal concerns [JURIST report] under international law. Pillay expressed particular concern that the drone strikes do not comport with the international law principles of proportionality and distinction. In October, JURIST contributing editor Jeffrey Addicott asserted [JURIST op-ed] that the CIA drone strike in September [JURIST report] that killed senior al Qaeda leader and US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki was legal under the law of war. Prior to the drone strike that killed al-Awlaki, the Obama administration issued a memorandum [JURIST report] justifying the legality of such an action. In August, JURIST guest columnist Laurie Blank argued [JURIST op-ed] that the US government's claim that drone strikes in Pakistan have caused zero civilian casualties belied serious concerns about American interpretation and adherence to the laws of war.

In 2010, the UK was found to be in violation [JURIST report] of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights when they stopped two individuals under the Terrorism Act 2000 [text]. In 2008, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) [official website] found [JURIST report] that Finland violated the same article for failing to provide a legal framework to protect the applicant's rights when his privacy was invaded by a personal ad with sexual connotations that was posted on the Internet without his knowledge.

[T]his Court should stay the proceedings in the case pending a decision by the Second Circuit in Windsor because: The issue before this Court—the constitutionality of DOMA Section 3 under the equal protection component of the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause—is precisely the issue now before the Second Circuit in Windsor; a merits ruling by the Second Circuit in Windsor—or a ruling on Section 3's constitutionality by the Supreme Court in Massachusetts, should that occur first—clearly will inform, and likely will be fully dispositive of, this Court's disposition of Plaintiffs' equal protection claims in this case; and it appears likely that the Second Circuit will consider the Windsor appeal on an accelerated basis.

The specific provision in DOMA that many same-sex couples are challenging on due process and equal protection grounds is section 3, which defines marriage solely as between one man and one woman. DOMA has been the subject of great controversy recently in the ongoing debate about same-sex marriage [JURIST backgrounder]. Last week, 10 US senators filed a brief [JURIST report] urging the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] to uphold section 3 of DOMA. Two weeks ago, a federal judge in New York ruled [JURIST report] that section 3 of DOMA unconstitutionally violated the principles of federalism. In May, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit [official website] opined [JURIST report] that section 3 of DOMA unconstitutionally infringed on a state's right to define marriage.

Malawi has a very progressive constitution with strong human rights provisions, and a good set of laws and institutions in place to promote and protect human rights. It is now time to strengthen a culture of human rights and the rule of law in Government institutions and in the individuals responsible for the protection, promotion and fulfillment of the full range of human rights for the people of Malawi. ... Great challenges lie ahead in advancing the realisation of all human rights—economic, social, civil and political—for all the people of Malawi. But I have seen the political will at the highest levels of Government to face these challenges with courage and vision.

Malawi President Joyce Banda last month announced in her first national address that she will decriminalize homosexual acts [JURIST report] in the country. The provisions she intends to repeal are Section 153 and 156 [ILGA backgrounder, PDF] of the Penal Code, which provide 14 years or 5 years imprisonment, respectively, for anyone engaging in male homosexual activity or relationships. Lesbianism is not criminalized in Malawi. In January 2011 Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika signed into law [JURIST report] a bill permitting the government to ban media outlets that its information ministry declared to be contrary to public interest. In November 2010, the Malawian government threatened the publishers of the Malawi Daily Times [official website], Blantyre Newspapers Limited (BNL), with a ban on advertising sales after one of their five publications ran stories covering sex scandals involving national celebrities and socialites.

In February, the European Commission announced [JURIST report] that it will seek guidance from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) [official website] before ratifying the ACTA to ease protesters' concerns with the ACTA's possible censorship of free expression. Hearings on a similar bill in the US were postponed [JURIST report] in January by Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA) [official website]. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) [text, PDF] would effectively block foreign websites that are suspected to infringe copyrights and give the US Department of Justice (DOJ) increased authority in counterfeiting copyright infringement. In November, the ECJ ruled [JURIST report] that Internet service providers (ISPs) cannot be required by law to monitor their customers' activities as an attempt to combat illegal sharing of copyrighted material.

Oklahoma has been at the center of controversy recently regarding reproductive rights [JURIST backgrounder]. Two weeks ago Pruitt appealed a ruling [JURIST report] that struck down an Oklahoma law restricting how doctors can use abortion-inducing drugs to treat patients. In April 2011 Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin [official profile] signed into law [JURIST report] a bill [HB 1888 materials] prohibiting abortions after 20 weeks. The law allows abortions past the 20-week mark only in certain extenuating circumstances where the mother faces death or serious injury. A doctor who performs an abortion in violation of the time limit would be subject to criminal prosecution for a felony, but the woman undergoing the procedure would not face a penalty. Last year an Oklahoma state judge extended a temporary injunction [JURIST report] blocking enforcement of HB 2780.

The purging of voter rolls in Florida has created controversy in recent weeks. Earlier this month, amidst calls to end its purging practices, Florida filed suit [JURIST report] seeking access to a federal database that will help it verify the citizenship of registered voters. Earlier in June, a spokesperson for Florida Governor Rick Scott said that the state would continue to search for ineligible voters [Huffington Post report], even after receiving a letter from the DOJ ordering them to stop the practice. Also this month, federal judge blocked [JURIST report] part of Florida's new election alw that required any group that conducts a voter registration drive to turn in registration forms within 48 hours of collecting them or else face a $1,000 per day fine. Last October, the state submitted a request [JURIST report] to a federal court challenging the VRA.

The 13 doctors, one dentist, nurses and paramedics who were jailed for providing treatment to injured protesters all worked at the Salmaniya Medical Complex in Manama, which was stormed by security forces in March after they drove protesters out of the nearby Pearl Square—the focal point of last year's protests. Among other terrorism charges, the 20 were accused of having possession of an AK-47, Molotov cocktails and other weapons for the purposes of ousting the ruling regime, confiscating medical equipment, spreading lies, inciting hatred against the regime and violating various other laws and regulations with an aim to disturb public security. A Bahrain civilian court in October began hearing the appeals [JURIST report] of the medics. They were granted the opportunity for retrial in civilian court earlier that month after their harsh sentences received international criticism. The medics were sentenced in September to terms ranging from five to 10 years [JURIST report] imprisonment for events that occurred at the medical complex.

This is not the first time the current Rwandan president has been accused of responsibility for the 1994 genocide. Theogene Rudasingwa, the former right-hand man of the Rwandan president, has accused Kagame multiple times of his involvement in the assassination. In April Rudasingwa testified [AllAfrica report] in Paris that witnesses who have information surrounding the killing of the former president should be protected because Kagame is allegedly trying to eliminate anyone having such information. He made the same accusations [BBC report; Facebook Notes] in October. In June 2011, the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrant Rights (CoRMSA) [advocacy websites] filed suit [JURIST report] against the government of South Africa to revoke the refugee status of Nyamwasa. In early 2011 the Rwanda National Police Force [official website] issued [JURIST report] an international arrest warrant against four officials including Nyamwasa after a military court found them guilty in absentia [AFP report] of disturbing public order, threatening state security and other offenses, handing down sentences ranging from 20 to 24 years in prison.

Protection of human rights, including media and journalists, remains a central concern for the UN. On Tuesday, La Rue presented a report [JURIST report] concluding that people in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories are severely limited in free expression, both by the official governing bodies, and de facto authorities like Hamas. In March, Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya [official website] outlined the risks and challenges faced by human rights journalists and media workers in a report [JURIST report] that called for additional protection for these individuals. Last October, Sekaggya released a report [JURIST report] indicating that human rights defenders were still being harassed, attacked and killed more than a decade after the international declaration adopted for their protection. Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Liu Xiaobo [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] remains imprisoned in China despite international calls for his release. In July 2011, a coalition of human rights organizations issued a joint statement urging the Russian government to investigate the murder [JURIST report] of rights activist Natalia Estemirova [BBC obituary; JURIST news archive]. In June 2011, Zimbabwean human rights activist Farai Maguwu was arrested [JURIST report] for allegedly supplying false information about Zimbabwe's controversial diamond mining practices to the international diamond control body the Kimberly Process [advocacy website], and Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] last month urged the body to address the issue [JURIST report].

Illinois was the seventh US jurisdiction to legalize same-sex civil unions, but it has not yet joined the nine jurisdictions that have legalized same-sex marriage. In February, three Illinois legislatures introduced [AP report] the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act [HB 5170 materials], which would have provided same-sex marriage rights for same-sex couples, but it has not been approved. In March, Maryland legalized same-sex marriage, joining Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia [JURIST reports]. On the other hand, North Carolina voters approved [JURIST report] last month a constitutional amendment [Amendment 1, PDF] to ban same-sex marriage. In February, the Wyoming Senate approved [JURIST report] a bill that would deny recognition of same-sex marriages and civil unions performed in other jurisdictions. New Jersey is still struggling to pass the same-sex marriage bill because Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed the bill [JURIST report] and called for a voter referendum to decide the issue, rather than the state legislature.