The Netherlands will vote in a non-binding advisory referendum on Wednesday regarding Dutch ratification of the EU-Ukraine trade agreement. The EU-Ukraine deal will remove trade barriers between the European Union (EU) and the Ukraine. Many Dutch citizens view the EU unfavorably due to its expansion and allegedly “undemocratic decision-making processes.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte [...]
The UN Security Council requested on Friday that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon consult with the government of Burundi and members of the African Union about an option that would enable the council to deploy a UN police component to Burundi. The resolution expressed concern over increasing violence in Burundi and the humanitarian consequences that may [...]
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) filed a motion on Tuesday to request that the federal court unseal any docket sheets associated with a government request to unlock an iPhone in Massachusetts. The ACLUM says no formal applications or orders exist in the docket in connection with the government’s request, but that it [...]
The Supreme Court of Brazil ruled Thursday that it will take over the corruption probe against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva instead of returning the case to federal Judge Serio Moro. Senior officials are not immune from prosecution, but can only be tried before the Supreme Court. Judge Sergio Moro has been leading [...]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressed his deep concern about the latest reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR). The High Commissioner is seeking an investigation into the alleged conduct of the UN and French troops. He said the UN is taking these [...]
Mexican immigration authorities are returning children that might qualify for formal protection from violence in Central America, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Thursday in a report . The report states that by law “Mexico offers protection to refugees as well as to others who would face risks to their lives or safety if returned to [...]
Following a court decision in Brussels Thursday, Belgian authorities agreed to extradite Paris attack suspect, Salah Abdeslam, to France. Abdeslam was captured in Brussels four days before terror attacks struck an airport and metro station in the capital. He is being held in Brussels, pending questioning by Belgian authorities about the Brussels attacks. The extradition [...]
Turkey has been forcibly returning up to 100 refugees to Syria per day, since mid-January, Amnesty International (AI) reported Friday. In addition to Turkish authorities rounding-up refugees in migrant camps near the border, AI has also alleged that some migrants attempting to register in Turkey were, instead, removed back to Syria. The report criticized the [...]
Migrant workers preparing for the 2022 World Cup in Doha, Qatar, are facing systematic abuses, Amnesty International (AI) said in a report released Thursday. The report included interviews from 234 migrant workers building the Kahlifa International Stadium in Doha or landscaping areas surrounding the Aspire Zone sports complex. These interviews revealed that many workers had [...]
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic on Thursday acknowledged the Republic of Moldova’s recent efforts to address governmental issues and promote human rights. Simonovic noted various reforms implemented by Prime Minister Pavel Filip, including a National Human Rights Action Plan and a requirement that Moldova’s Parliament be 40 percent female. Simonovic also stressed [...]
