Amnesty International (AI) revealed on Friday that the group, along with other prominent human rights organizations, has submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) , bringing claims of indiscriminate surveillance practices against the UK government. The decision to formally challenge the UK government stems from information obtained from by whistle-blower Edward [...]

The Parliament of Malaysia on Friday announced a change to the country’s sedition law, which will strengthen government intervention upon seditious activity. Malaysia’s original sedition law banned acts and speech expressing contempt against the government or any of Malaysia’s royal sultans and called for violators to pay fines or face prison sentences up to three [...]

The Oklahoma state senate passed a bill on Thursday that would allow for the use of nitrogen gas in executions if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court , or if the drugs become unavailable. If signed by Governor Mary Fallin , Oklahoma would be the first state in the nation to [...]

In a unanimous vote on Friday, Pakistani lawmakers passed a resolution to stay out of the conflict in Yemen, despite pleas from Saudi Arabia for aid in the form of warships, aircraft and ground troops. Saudi Arabia is leading the campaign against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen , and had anticipated assistance from its longstanding [...]

A judge in Spain decided on Friday that genocide charges against seven former and current Moroccan officials, who are accused of committing torture and killings in the Western Sahara from 1975-91, are justified. In his ruling, Judge Pablo Ruz asked that the men be extradited to Spain to face a trial. According to his ruling, [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Thursday criticized Malaysia’s proposed anti-terrorism law , known as the Prevention of Terrorism Act . Zeid said that the proposed law threatens freedom of expression and would breach international human rights obligations. The act would amend Malaysia’s Sedition Act of 1948 , which has [...]

Cambodian lawmakers on Thursday voted by an overwhelming margin to approve a new electoral commission that promises to ensure fairness in the next national vote in 2018. The vote came after opposition leader Sam Rainsey criticized the electoral commission for being biased and disputed the 2013 election results , which sparked a political crisis and [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday released a report entitled “Mind the Gap: The Lack of Accountability for Killer Robots.” The report analyzes the hurdles involved in holding anyone (programmers, manufacturers, and military personnel) accountable for deaths caused by fully autonomous weapons, or “killer robots,” that require little to no “meaningful human control.” HRW contends [...]

The Obama administration on Wednesday voice support for banning sexual orientation conversion therapy on minors in response to an online petition with more than 120,000 signatures. Conversion therapy is practiced by medical health providers with the goal of changing an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity. The practice has been used on minors, who opponents [...]

Amnesty International (AI) said Thursday that it has evidence showing that Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine killed several captured government soldiers in severe violation of international humanitarian law. According to AI, there are pictures showing bullet wounds to the heads and bodies of four Ukrainian soldiers who were confirmed dead. Over the past year it [...]