rights

Back in 1965, a woman from Norway gave birth to a baby girl at a private hospital. Just a week later, she brought her little bundle of joy home, blissfully unaware of the life-altering mix-up that had occurred during her stay. As time went on, the child's dark curls set her apart from her mother, leading Karen Rafteseth Dokken to speculate that her little one had inherited traits from her husband's mother. It wasn't until nearly sixty years later that the shocking truth emerged: her biological daughter had been switched at…

A former police officer from Kentucky has been found guilty in a federal court for violating civil rights in the tragic shooting of Breonna Taylor. Her death ignited widespread protests for police reform and racial justice throughout the United States in 2020. Brett Hankison was convicted on a single count of civil rights abuse, as reported by the US Justice Department in a statement released overnight. Despite the fact that Hankison’s bullets did not strike Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman, he discharged his weapon…

The human rights leader of the United Nations has conveyed a grim message, stating that the "darkest chapter" of the conflict in Gaza is currently unfolding in the northern region. He cautioned that Israel’s military actions could potentially be classified as "atrocity crimes." Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted a staggering statistic: "Over 150,000 individuals are reported dead, injured, or unaccounted for in Gaza" since the outbreak of war just over a year ago. "It is unimaginable, yet the…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has taken a dim view of the Burkina Faso government’s recent submission to the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, highlighting its glaring omissions regarding human rights abuses. Various organizations advocating for human dignity have urgently appealed for enhanced protections for civilians amidst the ongoing armed struggles. They emphasize the necessity of lifting restrictions placed on journalists, dissenters, and political opponents, while also demanding that those responsible for…

Mogadishu (AX) — Sarah Mohamed Khalif, a Belgian with Somali roots, has once again secured a spot on Leuven's city council. Her election marks a continued path-breaking journey in the European political scene. Notably, she remains the first Somali, Muslim, and immigrant woman to achieve this milestone, winning a second term after a tenacious campaign. During her inaugural term, Sarah allied with the Vooruit party, aiming to cultivate a more inclusive Leuven. Her focus centered on enhancing social services for the…

Bishop Samuel J. Quire, the prominent leader of the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Liberia, has recently expressed deep concerns regarding reports of several congregations pondering a split from the denomination. Their contemplation of such a move stems from the heated discussions surrounding the acceptance of same-sex marriage within the church. Quire firmly emphasized that no congregation under the Methodist banner is entitled to sever ties, highlighting that those contemplating such a decision are straying from the…

In a significant gathering at the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 26, 2024, in Geneva, delegates from various nations convened to deliberate on pressing global human rights dilemmas. Amidst this backdrop, Kenya's election to the council for the 2025–2027 tenure stirred the pot, faced with heavy criticisms from civil society groups due to alleged human rights transgressions. Photo by Janine Schmitz/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — Kenya's leap onto the United Nations Human Rights Council…

 Simon Manley, the UK's envoy, and Somalia's Ambassador Khadra Ahmed Dualeh engage in a lively discourse at a Geneva gathering of the United Nations Human Rights Council.Mogadishu (AX) — A collaborative proposition has been tabled by the United Kingdom and Somalia during Thursday's United Nations Human Rights Council meet. Their joint initiative seeks to extend technical support for advancing Somalia’s human rights endeavors and to renew the role of the Independent Expert on Somalia.Simon Manley, representing the UK at the…

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has voiced strong objections to a recent decree from the Nigerien government, which greenlights the formation of a database targeting individuals suspected of terrorist activities. The organization argues that this legislation seriously infringes upon essential human rights by utilizing "overly vague criteria" for determining who gets placed on the list, consequently "denying due process" to those affected. Ilaria Allegrozzi, a Senior Researcher specializing in the Sahel region, expressed concern…

Meryl Streep shines brightly as one of the finest talents in Hollywood, but her recent appearance at the United Nations highlighted a different mission: advocating for the women of Afghanistan. These women, stripped of their right to self-expression under Taliban rule, face astonishing limitations on their lives. A recent UN report paints a grim picture of the situation, asserting that for the last three years, the Taliban regime has systematically "erased women from Afghanistan's public sphere." True to these findings, at…