The US Supreme Court on Monday affirmed a lower court decision in Flores-Villar v. United States upholding a gender-based distinction in two former sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Justice Elena Kagan took no part in the decision, and the court split 4-4, resulting in the decision by the US Court of Appeals [...]

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi called Monday on the international community to help improve workers’ rights , during an address to the International Labor Organization (ILO) at its annual conference. She said that the creation of the people’s network in Myanmar to address social justice and humanitarian rights shows that the desire of [...]

The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Anti-Terrorism Court of Pakistan to try six paramilitary forces in the shooting death of an unarmed man under the Pakistan Anti-Terrorism Ordinance of 1999 . On Friday, several paramilitary soldiers opened fire on an unarmed, 17-year-old man in Benazir Park, then stood by as he died. The [...]

The World Justice Project on Monday released its second annual report ranking countries by their adherence to the rule of law. The Rule of Law Index (RLI) is a tool by which the international legal community evaluates whether government officials are held accountable under the law, whether the laws are clear and protect fundamental rights, [...]

Amnesty International (AI) called Friday for a halt to executions in Saudi Arabia , claiming there is often a lack of basic procedural due process. AI cited a disturbing increase in executions in 2011, which they claim often rely solely on the basis of confessions obtained under duress or deception. According to AI, in 2011, [...]

Al Qaeda operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed was killed last week by security forces at a checkpoint in Somalia. Mohammed was on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorists Lists for his involvement in the 1998 US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. The FBI confirmed his identity through a fingerprint analysis. Mohammed, who was one of al [...]

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Friday signed legislation to compensate victims of the country’s armed conflict. The Victims’ and Land Restitution Law , approved by the Senate last month, seeks to compensate millions of individuals by providing damages to relatives of those killed during the armed conflict, which has spanned over 40 years. The [...]

Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Friday rejected a proposal by an opposition party seeking a referendum to grant amnesty to those involved in a military coup in 2006. The referendum was proposed by the Pheu Thai Party, supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra , who was ousted in the coup. However, the current [...]

UN officials expressed concern on Friday that the heightened rape cases in many war-torn nations indicate that rape is being used as a war weapon to terrorize citizens and cause them to flee because of fear. Recent concerns follow International Criminal Court (ICC) claims that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered mass rapes against his rebel [...]

A judge for the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Friday overturned the release of Yemeni Guantanamo Bay detainee Hussein Salem Mohammed Almerfedi . After his capture in 2001 and detention at Guantanamo Bay, Almerfedi filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus which was granted by a lower [...]