A judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Thursday permanently blocked portions of a Florida law that would stop funding to Planned Parenthood following Governor Rick Scott’s decision to not pursue further legal action. The judge, Robert Hinkle, had previously enjoined the law on June 30, and held the [...]

According to a report issued by Mexico’s independent National Human Rights Commission , 22 civilians were executed during a May 2015 drug raid in Michoacan. The report states that among the 43 individuals killed during the drug-bust, including one police officer, 22 civilians died as a result of “arbitrary execution,” and an additional four were [...]

The Deputy US Attorney General announced Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will phase out privately operated prisons. The report states the DOJ’s intent to focus on the rehabilitative aspects of incarceration will be better both for society and the taxpayer, and outlines the ultimate goal of housing all federal inmates in bureau facilities. [...]

The India branch of Amnesty International (AI) temporarily closed its office Wednesday after the organization was accused of sedition and anti-India sentiments. The accusations arose after AI promoted a human rights seminar in Kashmir, focusing on alleged human rights abuses carried out by the Indian security forces. AI responded to the accusations by stating that [...]

An Oklahoma County judge upheld a controversial voter identification law this week, allowing the law to be in place Thursday while early voting commenced for a primary run-off. The Oklahoma law requires citizens to provide valid photo ID before voting. A brief filed by the plaintiff in the suit alleged that the photo ID requirement [...]

Afghan security forces are occupying schools as part of military operations, contrary to several international declarations, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Wednesday. The report details why such military seizures push civilians into the front lines, risks the lives of children and perpetuate a failing educational system in the nation. HRW also claims the Taliban is [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Maya Manian of the University of San Francisco School of Law discusses the history of abortion laws, and how Whole Woman’s Health has impacted women’s constitutional right to access abortion care… As numerous commentators have noted, the Supreme Court’s 5-to-3 decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt was a resounding victory for [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed his concerns Wednesday regarding Indian and Pakistani authorities refusing to allow the Human Rights Council access to Kashmir. The High Commissioner emphasized the importance of access to the region after recent allegations of excessive force, state sponsorship of violence, as well as the number [...]

Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton announced Wednesday that the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea plan to close the controversial Manus Island detention center. Since 2012 Australia has sent asylum seekers to offshore detention centers where they have been subjected to inhumane treatment. Human rights groups have brought light to the physical and sexual [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Brad Abramson discusses the new ABA amendment… At its recent annual convention the American Bar Association (ABA) adopted a resolution amending Rule 8.4 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, the code of ethics that governs attorney behavior. The amendment adds a new subsection to the attorney misconduct rule which, if [...]