UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk praised Australia’s first formal treaty with Indigenous peoples on Monday, calling it a “historic step toward self-determination for the country’s First Peoples.” While still pending assent, the Victoria Statewide Treaty instates constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, a goal called for by Indigenous leaders in the [...]
The UN adopted the Doha Political Declaration at the second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar on Tuesday, calling on countries to “integrate quality education as a core component of poverty reduction strategies.” The declaration encourages nations to implement poverty reduction policies that are sensitive to the needs of children and calls for the [...]
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Monday urged Spanish authorities to swiftly investigate an attack on reporter José Ismael Martínez that occurred during clashes between police and far-left protesters in Pamplona on October 30. The group stated authorities should prosecute the perpetrators and protect journalists during protests. At the protest by far-left Basque separatists, [...]
Amnesty International stated on Tuesday that the South African government failed to provide adequate housing and essential services to more than five million people living in informal settlements, which are highly susceptible to severe flooding. Based on the findings of its recent report, Amnesty International South Africa found that the government’s response to flooding disasters [...]
The Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday expressed deep concern over recent reports emerging of mass killings, rapes, and other crimes allegedly committed during the course of the Rapid Support Forces’ seizure of El Fasher, North Darfur, in Sudan, which is said to be compounding an already catastrophic [...]
US states sued President Donald Trump’s administration Monday over its new rule that would exclude from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program employers that the Department of Education found to have a “substantial illegal purpose.” The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts by 22 states, alleged that the [...]
Amnesty International reported Monday that the Tanzanian government has shut down internet access and electric power, suppressing attempts to gather information about nationwide unrest following its October 29 elections. Vongai Chikwanda, deputy regional director for Amnesty, said: “Amnesty … is particularly alarmed by reports that amidst the blackouts, security forces have used excessive force to [...]
A US federal judge granted a preliminary injunction on Sunday that blocks the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Oregon, Texas and California until 5 p.m. Friday. District Court Judge Karin Immergut in Portland, a first-term Trump appointee, found that the administration’s federalization and proposed deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon in [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday released a report documenting widespread obstetric violence faced by women giving birth in public healthcare facilities in Sierra Leone. In its 80-page report, “No Money, No Care: Obstetric Violence in Sierra Leone,” HRW interviewed over 50 postpartum women who suffered health complications because of delayed and denied care due to [...]
UN leaders on Sunday called for safety and justice for journalists globally, urging governments to conduct investigations and ensure the protection of all media professionals. UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered the message to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. Guterres stated that nearly nine out of every ten journalist-killings remain [...]
