In a move that has alarmed human rights advocates and foreign policy experts alike, the U.S. State Department is undergoing a dramatic reorganization—one that includes stripping key content from its annual human rights reports. As NPR reported on April 18, 2025, internal memos instructed staff to remove references to over 20 categories of human rights … Continue reading Alterations to the State Department’s Human Rights Reports Threatens Global Accountability
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Russia/Ukraine War Update Until March 3, 2025: U.S. Relations, Deals, and Human Rights Violations
On Tuesday, February 18th, Russia and the U.S. began a discussion regarding an end to the Russia/Ukraine war. Along with talk about ending the war, the two countries spoke about making improvements to their economic and diplomatic ties. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State; Michael Waltz, U.S. President Trump’s national security advisor; Sergey Lavrov, … Continue reading Russia/Ukraine War Update Until March 3, 2025: U.S. Relations, Deals, and Human Rights Violations
Thailand’s Uyghur Crisis: A Decade of Detention and Desperation
Forty-eight Uyghur men have been held in detention facilities throughout Thailand for more than ten years. Trapped in a diplomatic limbo that perfectly captures the clash of international politics, human rights violations, and the suffering of an oppressed minority. These men, who are members of a Muslim ethnic group from China’s Xinjiang province that speaks Turkic, left … Continue reading Thailand’s Uyghur Crisis: A Decade of Detention and Desperation
Arbitrary Detentions in Venezuela
Imagine being arrested in the middle of the night—no warrant, no explanation. This is the reality in Venezuela, where arbitrary detentions are used as a tool of political repression. As noted in “Behind the Ballot: Corruption, Repression, and Hope in the 2024 Venezuelan Elections,” politically motivated arbitrary detentions have run rampant in the country, years … Continue reading Arbitrary Detentions in Venezuela
Behind the Ballot: Corruption, Repression, and Hope in the 2024 Venezuelan Elections
This year, a handful of elections were scheduled. At least 27 countries, including Algeria, Senegal, Pakistan, and Venezuela, held their presidential elections. Because of the varying political climates, let’s visit the most recent Venezuelan elections, which illustrate human rights violations in the form of voter intimidation and political persecution. The development of the events raises … Continue reading Behind the Ballot: Corruption, Repression, and Hope in the 2024 Venezuelan Elections
Russia-Ukraine War Update and Interview with Ukrainian UAB Student
Recently, North Korea has promised closer ties with Russia and to further its aid in the Russia-Ukraine war. Throughout the war, many civilian structures have been destroyed, as Russia has continued to target educational facilities, homes, and hospitals. For many Ukrainians, their country has been something they’ve constantly had to fight for. UAB (The University … Continue reading Russia-Ukraine War Update and Interview with Ukrainian UAB Student
Pro-Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai’s Case and The History of Hong Kong
In recent years, many freedoms of Hong Kong citizens have been stripped away. Once a British colony now under the rule of Beijing, legislation has restricted the voice of its journalists and activists. Critiques of the Hong Kong and Chinese government are met with an iron fist. New laws such as the National Security Law … Continue reading Pro-Democracy Activist Jimmy Lai’s Case and The History of Hong Kong
Pélicot Trial Questions French Laws Regarding Sexual Assault
Gisèle and Dominique Pélicot got married in the spring of 1973 in France at the age of 21. Considered the ideal couple that managed to find rare and great love in their life stories, it was a tale that brought about three children and seven grandchildren. A loving marriage of about 50 years with regular … Continue reading Pélicot Trial Questions French Laws Regarding Sexual Assault
China: Violations of Freedom of Expression, Speech, and Peaceful Assembly
Thousands of miles away, activists for basic human rights sit in prison cells. Most await punishments that far exceed the crime. In China, heavy prison sentences weigh on the shoulders of its brightest human rights activists, scholars, and lawyers. According to Amnesty International, freedom of expression and speech is having the right to say what … Continue reading China: Violations of Freedom of Expression, Speech, and Peaceful Assembly
The Treatment of People with Disabilities in Institutional Care Settings in Brazil
Overview of the Issue In Brazil, thousands of children and adults with disabilities are confined to institutions for people with disabilities, facing widespread neglect, abuse, and isolation. Designed ostensibly to provide care, many of these institutions have instead devolved into detention centers where individuals are deprived of their autonomy and dignity. Reports from Human … Continue reading The Treatment of People with Disabilities in Institutional Care Settings in Brazil
