The Louisiana Senate has approved House Bill 211, a measure that would create new restrictions on public camping and establish court-supervised programs for individuals experiencing homelessness. The legislation has sparked debate among lawmakers, advocates, and community members over how the state should address homelessness. According to the legislation, unauthorized public camping could become a criminal [...]

UN human rights experts called on Brazil Friday to ensure full justice, accountability, and reparations for victims and families affected by the 2006 “Crimes of May.” They warned that continued impunity worsens the suffering of victims and perpetuates systemic racism and police violence. The experts said the killings and enforced disappearances should be recognized as [...]

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed Senate Bill 121 (SB 121) into law on Friday, approving a new congressional map that dismantles a majority-Black district. The new map eliminates Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district, reverting the state largely to the configuration it used for the 2022 elections: five safe Republican seats and a single Democratic-leaning seat [...]

More than 30 UN special rapporteurs and human rights experts welcomed on Friday a General Assembly resolution that reaffirms state parties’ obligations on climate change. This comes one day after the publication of a meteorology report, suggesting that the Paris Agreement’s long-term climate goals are attainable despite temporary breaches. The statement suggests that 141 states [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday urged countries and tech companies to establish effective regulation of online platforms to better protect children. The appeal comes with a guideline of important components required in regulations. Türk highlighted that effective regulations can prevent online harm posed to children. He emphasized that certain features–such [...]

The Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) on Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Graves in Canada released their preliminary statement on Sunday, finding that acts committed by Canada constitute genocide, and that Canada has failed to comply with its international legal obligations to investigate and punish these crimes. The PPT found that the pattern of [...]

The Federal Court of Australia has admitted a UN special rapporteur on human rights and environment as an intervenor in a judicial review case on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) operation site, according to a Friday press release. The admission marks the first time the court has allowed a UN environmental expert to assist it [...]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation Friday that places limits on where and how Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can enforce immigration law in the state. The new legislation also prohibits state and local police from cooperating with ICE to enforce civil laws. The new laws are included in the state’s Fiscal Year [...]

Ghana’s parliament on Friday approved a controversial new bill that criminalizes the so-called “promotion” of LGBTQ activity. The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill imposes prison terms of up to 10 years for individuals who “promote, sponsor, or advocate LGBTQ+ acts” and bans the funding of associated groups and activities. The bill comes in [...]