Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Thursday released their annual report summarizing violence and abuse against journalists. The organization reports that a total of 533 journalists are currently detained because of their work, 65 are held hostage and another 57 have been killed in the past year. RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said of the report’s findings: This [...]
The UN Economic and Social Council (ESC) Wednesday voted to remove Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Of the 54 current ESC members, 29 voted in favor of removal, 8 voted against and 16 abstained. Iran was to serve its term from 2022-2026. In early November, the US promised to [...]
Peru Minister of Defense Alberto Otarola early Tuesday announced that Peru will enter a state of emergency. In a tweet, Otarola said the measures are meant to “guarantee order, the continuation of economic activities, and protection of millions of families” following the protests that have broken out following the ousting of former President Pedro Castillo [...]
The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) Wednesday filed suit against Georgia for the state’s denial of gender-affirming care in the state’s health benefit plan. The state health benefit plan is the healthcare insurance offered by Georgia to its state and public employees. The complaint was filed on behalf of Micha Rich and Benjamin [...]
The UK Wednesday announced 16 new sanctions against Russian commanders and Iranian businessmen in response to missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The sanctions are in response to the continuing Russian occupation and seizure of Ukrainian territory. The new sanctions target 12 Russian commanders, 3 Iranian businessmen and an Iranian business for the [...]
The UK Attorney General’s Office Wednesday announced it started a program to train Ukrainian judges to conduct war crime trials. The program will train 90 judges from Ukraine under the supervision of Sir Howard Morrison, a former judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Morrison said that the judges are “very experienced in Ukrainian domestic [...]
The Michigan Supreme Court Tuesday issued an order that denied plaintiff’s leave for appeal in William Bailey v. Antrim County. The court said it was “not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.” Instead, the court held that “the Court of Appeals properly rejected plaintiff’s argument that he has a right [...]
Oregon Governor Kate Brown Tuesday commuted the death sentences of 17 individuals to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. In the commutation of sentence, Governor Brown argued “that the death penalty is dysfunctional and immoral in all circumstances.” The 17 individuals were previously sentenced to death in the state of Oregon. In Article V, Section [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Tuesday demanded the immediate release of Hong Kong “pro-democracy media tycoon” Jimmy Lai and six of his co-defendants. Lai is currently serving a 20-month prison sentence in Hong Kong for his participation in a vigil commemorating victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. A Hong Kong court added almost six additional [...]
President Biden Tuesday signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, granting federal protections to interracial and same-sex marriages. The landmark legislation passed the US Senate in November and the House of Representatives last week with strong bipartisan support. President Biden stated, “Today is a good day… a day America takes a vital step towards [...]
