Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday expressed concern over the human rights issues raised by EUNAVFOR MED, an EU implemented naval operation to identify, capture and destroy boats used by smugglers in the Mediterranean. The Council of the European Union agreed to create the program on Monday with the stated purpose of “prevent human tragedies [...]

The United Nations Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution which encourages increased cooperation in preventing the “illicit transfer, destabilizing, accumulation and misuse” of weapons, including small arms and light weapons. The resolution was adopted after a vote of nine in favor and none against. Six members, Angola, Chad, China, Nigeria, Russian Federation and Venezuela, [...]

The US Senate on Saturday blocked a House passed bill that would end the mass collection of phone records by the National Security Agency (NSA) in an after midnight vote of 57-42. Supporters of the measure were unable to secure the 60 votes needed to move forward, and no action was taken by the Senate [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Caroline Mala Corbin, of University of Miami School of Law, discusses whether filing paperwork in order to obtain a religious exemption is a substantial burden on religious liberty… Does filing paperwork in order to obtain a religious exemption from a law constitute a substantial burden on religious liberty? That is the question [...]

A military court in Israel on Thursday ordered Palestinian lawmaker, Khalida Jarrar, be released on bail. Under the terms of her release, she is to pay a 20,000-shekel (USD $5,000) bond with a third-party guarantee. She is to be held three additional days pending a possible appeal. Jarrar, a member of the Popular Front for [...]

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and ACLU of Michigan on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of six Michigan transgender individuals against Secretary of State Ruth Johnson challenging a state policy that they claim makes it nearly impossible for transgender individuals to change the gender recorded on their driver licenses and other forms [...]

South Sudan government troops are committing human rights abuses , such as abusing civilians and lighting villages on fire amid ongoing fighting in the region, Amnesty International (AI) reported Thursday. AI has also received reports that South Sudan government troops have committed other atrocities while dressed in civilian clothing such as attacking villages with axes, [...]

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Thursday expressed great concern over potential war crimes being committed by Islamic State (IS) militants in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra . The statement came after members of IS entered the site of Palmyra after seizing the neighboring town. “With the reported occupation of the ancient [...]

An 84-year old attorney, businessman and political candidate filed a lawsuit in a Tennessee court on Wednesday, challenging a law that makes it a felony for a doctor or another person helps someone commit suicide. John Jay Hooker, who once ran for Tennessee governor and worked for Robert F. Kennedy, said the law violates the [...]

More than a year after Qatar’s government promised reform for migrant workers, little to no improvement has been made , Amnesty International (AI) said Thursday. The government announced in November that the kafala sponsorship system, which currently limits the rights of foreign workers, is to be replaced with legislation that promotes a new employment contract [...]