A UN expert on Monday called on states to emphasize and strengthen prevention as the most effective and sustainable means of combating the sale, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse of children. Ai Kihara-Hunt, Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, presented her first report to the General Assembly this week. [...]

The former foreign intelligence chief of Germany, August Hanning, was arrested on Tuesday on allegations of espionage and attempted treason. Hanning, who served as head of the Federal Intelligence Service  (Bundesnachrichtendienst, known by its acronym BND) from 1998 to 2005, was detained along with a former aide, identified as Manfred D., who served as his [...]

Several international civil society organizations on Monday issued a joint letter to members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), addressing the concerning situation following PACE Resolution 2664 (2026) on the functioning of democratic institutions in Georgia. Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2664 was adopted on 24 June 2026, stating that the conditions for [...]

Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the Belarusian authorities following reports of persecution, intimidation and systematic targeting of students and affiliates of the European Humanities University (EHU), actions which the organization said constitute violations of the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In commenting on the long-term implications of the imposition of such measures [...]

The British and Dutch governments made a public apology on Thursday to the people affected by the forced separation and forced adoptions of children in the second half of the last century. In England, between 1949 and 1976, the state and the Christian church created a system that targeted young unmarried women who had children [...]

A group of top human rights organizations issued a joint public letter on Wednesday ahead of the highly anticipated EU-China conference, urging the Members of the European Parliament to put human rights at the center of attention. The letter calls on the European Union to stop prioritizing business interests over human rights, declaring that Europe’s [...]

The European Parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to establish a consent-based definition of rape. The need for a new definition that does not define rape on the conditions of use of force, or the word “no,” aims to have a victim-centered approach to sexual assault and the trauma responses it [...]

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday that starting January 1, 2027, Greece plans to ban access to social media for children under the age of 15. The proposed ban is expected to be legislated in Greek Parliament through mid-2026. Leaders have made no public announcement as to which online platforms will be effected. [...]

The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Hungarian authorities on Wednesday to immediately drop all espionage charges against investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi. Panyi is an investigative journalist covering Hungarian national security, foreign policy, and Russian and Chinese influence. He recently reported on alleged ties between Hungarian political actors and Russia. The investigation sparked accusations from Hungarian [...]

The highly anticipated Italian constitutional referendum was rejected on Monday, according to published results, with roughly 53 percent voting against and about 47 percent in favor. The referendum, known as the “Justice Reform,” was called by presidential decree on January 13 and scheduled for March 22-23. It was governed by Article 138 of the Italian [...]