Ohio Governor John Kasich on Friday signed into law House Bill 63 , creating further restrictions on minors if they seek an abortion without parental consent. The new law puts several conditions in place, advancing the former law of making a minor receive a judge’s consent to have an abortion without parental notification. Now, judges [...]

The New Jersey Superior Court Friday ruled that a marriage equality lawsuit can continue, partially denying a motion to dismiss filed by the New Jersey Attorney General . Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit in June on behalf of Garden State Equality (GSE), New Jersey’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization, and seven same-sex couples and their children [...]

A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on Friday rejected the appeal of condemned murderer Reginald Brooks, affirming but not definitively ruling on Ohio’s new death penalty procedures. In July, Judge Gregory Frost stayed the executions of two inmates , agreeing with their arguments that Ohio executes inmates haphazardly, [...]

United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay praised the engagement of Moldova government officials Friday but noted troubling deficiencies in citizens’ economic and social rights, during a press conference at the end of her four-day visit to the country. Pillay said, from the capital city of Chisinau, that her visit to Moldova [...]

JURIST Guest Columnist Rifat Kassis, President of Defence for Children International (DCI), argues that Palestinian children detained by the Israeli military often face abuse, mistreatment and torture in violation of international law and human rights…

The European Commission has opened an investigation into whether Apple and Samsung Electronics have breached EU antitrust laws in their dispute over smartphone patents. The investigation could potentially force Samsung to halt action against Apple over smartphone patents in the EU. The European Commission enforces Articles 101 – 109 of the Treaty on the Functioning [...]

The UN Human Rights Committee expressed concern Friday over the protection of individuals’ rights in Iran. The committee, composed of independent experts, has recently examined Iran’s progress in adopting the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) . Committee members expressed concern about the discrimination and arrest of religious minorities and homosexuals, as well [...]

Chinese copper mining companies in Zambia routinely violate national and international labor standards , Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Thursday. The report describes poor health and safety standards, regular 12-hour and 18-hour work shifts, and anti-union activity. Workers also reportedly face the threat of being fired if they refuse to work under unsafe conditions. Although [...]

The Cuban government on Thursday announced the passage of a bill that will modify its housing law to allow permanent residents of the country to buy and sell their homes at will. The new law, which will take effect on November 10, will still limit home ownership to one house in the city and one [...]

The Ukrainian Parliament voted Friday to delay debate on a draft law that would change the way the criminal code punishes economic and administrative crimes and could result in the release of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko . Instead of punishing certain economic crimes with imprisonment, the proposed law would instead impose a fine. This [...]