The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday approved the invocation of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to allow for increased security measures in anticipation of large anti-government protests. The law will provide more power to security forces and allow for the movement of protesters to be restricted through the imposition of curfews, checkpoints, and restrictions on the [...]
Utah Governor Gary Herbert (R) signed a bill into law on Monday that would allow a woman to be charged with criminal homicide if she arranges for an illegal abortion. Bill HB 462 defines abortion and states that "he killing or attempted killing of a live unborn child in a manner that is not an [...]
The Nigerian government must investigate the recent killings of more than 200 Christian villagers and prosecute those responsible, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday. Attacks blamed on Muslim herders took place near the city of Jos over the weekend, in apparent retaliation for violence between Muslims and Christians in January. HRW called on acting President [...]
The Sri Lankan Parliament voted Tuesday to extend the country's current state of emergency until after next month's parliamentary elections. The measure, passed by a vote of 93-24 , was opposed by the Janatha Vimukthi Perumana, the country's main opposition party. President Mahinda Rajapaksa dissolved parliament in February to prepare for the April elections, but, [...]
Kyu Ho Youm : "The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative is a welcome development in the ongoing global movement for press freedom. It deserves serious attention from those who want to expand freedom of the press as a universal human right. The Initiative should serve as a worthy benchmark on what ought to be minimally done [...]
Indian lawmakers on Monday introduced a bill to ensure that one-third of seats in parliament are reserved for women, marking International Women's Day . The Women's Reservations Bill , introduced in the Rajya Sabha , or Council of States, would increase the number of women serving in the 543-seat legislature, which currently has no gender [...]
A Haitian judge on Monday ordered the release of one of the last two US missionaries out of a group of 10 who were arrested on kidnapping charges following the January 12 earthquake . The judge announced last month that both missionaries would be released, following the release of the other eight members of the [...]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday postponed the trial of former Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba , originally set to begin April 27 , until July 5. The trial was delayed to allow the court more time to consider the defense's motion on the admissibility of the case, filed in February. [...]
The top rights official at the Council of Europe on Monday rejected the notion of banning Muslim burqa and niqab garments. Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg noted in a written statement marking International Women's Day : Those who have argued for a general ban of the burqa and the niqab have not managed to [...]
Thousands of Spaniards gathered Sunday to protest recently approved changes to Spain's abortion laws. Protesters marched in cities across Spain to protest the new law , which will allow abortion up to 14 weeks in most cases. Organizers in Madrid estimated that as many as 600,000 people took part in the protests. Pro-life activists urged [...]
