A coalition of more than 70 rights groups on Monday sent a letter to Facebook asking for clarity on the social media website’s “policy on removing video and other content, especially human rights documentation, at the request of government actors.” The letter, signed by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), 350.org and the [...]
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The Supreme Court heard arguments in two cases Tuesday. The first, State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. v. United States ex rel. Rigsby , involves the False Claims Act seal requirement. Under the False Claims Act, a “relator” with knowledge of fraud in government contracts to file a suit against the contractor. When suit is [...]
UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression David Kaye on Tuesday urged countries to take steps to ensure security of journalists and to be sure that security complies with international human rights. International law protects the digital and physical security of journalists. Kaye stated: States have a positive obligation to ensure the security of journalists. [...]
Nigerian authorities have sexually abused and exploited women and girls displaced by the Boko Haram conflicted, according to a report released Monday by Human Rights Watch (HRW) . HRW documented sexual abuse of 43 females in July 2016 living in seven “internally displaced persons” camps in the Borno State capital. The majority reported being coerced [...]
The North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging North Carolina’s sudden cancellation of voter registrations across three counties. The voter removals, executed by the North Carolina State Board of Elections , were the result of third party challenges to an estimated 4,500 voters who [...]
JURIST Guest Columnists Anna Talbot and Greg Barns discuss the asylum seekers on Manus Island, establishing that there is no doubt under international law that the people being detained there are being tortured, and what legal tactics the government has used to hide its actions… Amnesty International published a report last week arguing that the [...]
A federal judge has rejected the New York Police Department‘s (NYPD) proposed settlement of a lawsuit accusing the department of improperly surveying the Muslim community. Following the September 11 attacks, the NYPD has reportedly used undercover cops to monitor Muslim neighborhoods, organizations and mosques in the name of national security. Last year a settlement was [...]
UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau commenced an investigation on Tuesday into the human rights of migrants in Australia. Crépeau arrived in Australia to assess the migration programs, policies and laws developed by the Australian government in recent years. The UN investigator aborted a visit to the country last year [...]
The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from advocates for the homeless and the Ohio Democratic Party to block state election rules that could disqualify thousands of absentee and provisional ballots. The rules allow ballots with minor mistakes or omissions to be discounted. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted commented on the timing [...]
A UN human rights expert on Monday called for new approaches to prevent trafficking among increasing numbers of people fleeing conflict. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro , the UN Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, released a full report detailing the prevalence and forms of trafficking among people in areas of conflict. Giammarinaro’s report corroborates a recent [...]
