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UN rights group expresses concern about excessive detention in Brazil
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Wednesday expressed concern [statement; press release] about excessive detention and lack of legal assistance in Brazil, after a ten day visit to the country. The group found that Brazil re (More) |
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Europe rights court rejects Italy appeal on embryonic screening law
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Monday refused to reconsider an August ruling that Italy's ban on screening embryos for diseases before they are implanted in a womb violates parents' rights. The court found that this provision of Law (More) |
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Ireland to introduce abortion legislation
The Irish government on Tuesday announced plans to introduce legislation to clarify that abortions are legal when the mother's life is at risk. The legislation is intended to put Ireland in compliance with a 2010 ruling by the European Court of Hu (More) |
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Brazil police arrest former Turks and Caicos chief minister
Brazilian Police announced Friday that they have arrested former Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Michael Misick, who has been in hiding since fleeing TCI 2009. Misick fled TCI following an inquiry into corruption on the small B (More) |
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AI: human rights defenders subject to increasing hostility in the Americas
Those who are engaged in human rights defense in the Americas are subject to increasing levels of "intimidation, harassment and attacks," Amnesty International (AI) reported Friday. The report, entitled "Transforming pain into hope: Human rights d (More) |
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Brazil high court sentences ex-presidential aid for corruption
The Supreme Court of Brazil on Monday sentenced a former aide to ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to over 10 years of imprisonment for his involvement in a vote-buying scheme. Jose Dirceu, Lula's former chief of staff, was convicted of using (More) |
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UN elects 18 members including US to serve on rights council
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday elected 18 countries , including the US, to a three-year term on the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) beginning January 1. The secret ballot election was held at the UN headquarters in New York, and the followi (More) |
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Uruguay president signs bill legalizing abortion
Uruguay President Jose Mujica on Tuesday signed a bill legalizing abortion. The bill provides no restrictions on abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. After the first 12 weeks it provides that women must go before a medical panel and go thr (More) |
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Vermont Supreme Court permits wind power project despite local objections
The Vermont Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a challenge to a proposed energy project to construct wind turbines in the Lowell Mountain Range. The challenge was filed by the Lowell Mountain Group [Lowell Mountains News backgrounder] and the towns (More) |
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Botswana High Court strikes down male-dominated inheritance law system
The High Court of Botswana on Friday struck down longstanding local customary laws that prevented women from inheriting their family home. Judge Key Dingake ruled that such laws are not in line with the Botswana constitution , which guarantees gen (More) |
Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated in Memphis
Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968.
Pay a virtual visit to The King Center in Atlanta.
