Connect to share and comment

A blog about human rights in their many forms.

UN to investigate US drone attacks and civilian casualties

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism announced a forthcoming probe into the legality of drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia.
Un drones rightsEnlarge
UN Special Rapporteur on counterterrorism and human rights, Ben Emmerson, launched an inquiry into the human rights implications of the use of drones and other forms of targeted killing in London on January 24, with the final report expected to presented at the UN General Assembly later this year. (CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images)

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights announced today that the United Nations will launch an investigation into the use of drones and their impact on civilian casualties.

At a press conference in London today, Ben Emmerson, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, announced the probe and said it will focus on the US' programs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen, as well as Israel's actions in Occupied Palestine.

More

World's 1 percent gather at Davos as Greek austerity crisis spirals out of control

Reports of anti-austerity terrorist attacks and a lack of heating for the poor plague Greece as world leaders gather for the annual economic conference
Merkel davos rightsEnlarge
German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a session of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos. The WEF will see top politicians and business leaders pursue talks on whether they have seen the back of the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, the situation in Greece gets further out of hand. (JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

Davos, Switzerland is a utopia. The blue sky is winter-clear and the white mountain landscape is dotted with chalets full of warm raclette and mulled wine. It's the perfect place to host the world's "one percent," the top political and business minds, who come together once a year in this most beautiful of places, to decide what's in store for the rest of us at the annual World Economic Forum.

More

Was Obama's use of MLK's Bible an affront to human rights?

Dr. Cornel West thinks President Obama's use of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Bible was "a moment in political calculation" that disgraced the peace leader's memory.
Cornelwest mlk rightsEnlarge
Princeton University Professor Dr. Cornel West criticized President Obama's choice of Martin Luther King Jr.'s bible for his inauguration during a panel on CSPAN last week. Dr. West said the move was "calculated" and accused the president of being guilty of war crimes. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)

A video has surfaced of a CSPAN roundtable last week during which Dr. Cornel West blasted President Obama's choice of using Martin Luther King's Bible. 

Talk show host Tavis Smiley moderated a panel with Dr. West and other political luminaries, such as Newt Gingrich and Jeffrey Sachs, at George Washington University on Jan. 17 called Poverty in America. 

Dr. West sounded off on his indignation about the president using Dr. King's memory to get a political boost. 

More

UK looks to change rules of succession, allowing for LGBT royals

The British parliament will attempt to modernize the monarchy by making the rules of succession gender-neutral and LGBT friendly.
Dukeduchess uk rightsEnlarge
Prince William's pregnant wife Catherine left a London hospital on December 6, 2012, four days after she was admitted for treatment for acute morning sickness. Amendments to the rules of succession are being debated in Parliament this week, including one that would allow the baby to be heir to the throne, no matter its gender. (LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images)

Big changes could be on the way for Britain's royal family. Parliament will begin debate on a bill tomorrow that significantly levels the playing field for heirs to the British throne, whether they be women, gays, or married to Catholics, a step toward modernization many say is long overdue and could save the monarchy future headaches.

More

Religious freedom under threat from Morsi's government

Egyptians are reeling from anti-Semitic remarks the president made in 2010, as well as renewed violence against Copts and a problematic draft constitution.
Copts egypt rightsEnlarge
Newly elected leader of Egypt's Coptic Christian, Pope Tawadros II, Head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church, leads the Coptic Christmas midnight mass at the al-Abasseya Cathedral in Cairo late on January 6, 2013. Copts of Egypt celebrate their first Christmas since the country has been ruled by Islamists in a climate of concern. (HALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

Concern is rising in Egypt over threats to religious freedom and renewed violence in Coptic Christian communities.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood-authored draft of Egypt's new constitution removed a significant amount of protections for non-Muslims just as anti-Semitic remarks by President Mohammed Morsi have came to light.

More

The women of Connecticut: A study in inequality

Fairfield County doesn't just have one of the greatest income gaps in the country, it also has the widest gender gap.
Conn women rightsEnlarge
In Fairfield County, Conn., the income gender gap has widened, along with general income inequality. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

As GlobalPost releases its newest Special Report today, "The Great Divide," it's clear that the country has a very deep problem with income inequality. One of the lead stories of the new investigative series is about Fairfield County, Conn., one of the most unequal areas in the country. 

More

Women waging peace: A must-see panel

The JFK Jr. Forum at Harvard hosted six woman leaders in security and peacemaking.
Panel 3 closeupEnlarge
The panel included (L-R) Wafa Bugaighis of Libya, Rajaa Altalli of Syria, Ja Nan Lahtaw of Myanmar, and Sofi Ospina of Colombia. (Harvard University Institute of Politics/Courtesy)

In front of a packed house at Harvard's Institute of Politics last night, six women from divergent regions, cultures and backgrounds came together to share stories of how women are working to secure conflict zones and push for peaceful solutions to some of the most complicated issues in the world.

More

Human Rights Watch alleges use of forced labor by Canadian mining company

A new report issued today says Canadian company Nevsun is using forced laborers in mines in Eritrea.
Eritrea mining rightsEnlarge
Gold mines in Eritrea (like this one pictured in Sudan) have been accused of using forced labor in a new report by Human Rights Watch. The Eritrean government forces all able-bodied men and most women into a national service system and sometimes "loans" workers to foreign companies, like Canadian mining firm Nevsun, which operates the first mine in the country. (ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images)

Eritrea's vast mineral resources have recently been tapped by a Canadian firm, Nevsun, the first company to open a mine in the incredibly poor and repressive African country.

But, Human Rights Watch in a report released today called "Hear No Evil," says the company has not adequately investigated the possibility that they are using forced laborers, "loaned" by the government's subcontractor, Segen.

More

Femen take their tops off for LGBT rights at the Vatican

International naked instigators and activists, Femen, showed it all to the Catholic Church this weekend.
Femen vatican rightsEnlarge
Police try to arrest Femen activists at the Vatican on January 13, 2013. Four Femen activists stripped off in a protest for gay rights just as Pope Benedict XVI was reciting his traditional weekly Angelus prayer. ( VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images)

Pope Benedict XVI may have gotten an eyeful on Sunday while he gave his weekly address, as four members of Femen, the Ukrainian, topless protest group, interrupted prayers at St. Peter's square to protest the Church's stance on same-sex adoption. 

More

Abortion restrictions a painful reality in Turkey

Women in Turkey report emotional abuse when seeking out safe abortions, as women's rights see a steady decline.
Abortion turkey rightsEnlarge
A Turkish feminist (R) holds a placard reading 'Don't touch our abortion rights' during a protest outside Turkish Prime Minister's office in Istanbul in May, 2012. In Turkey, abortion is technically legal during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, but women have recently reported significant roadblocks to safe procedures. (BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Eda K.B., a 37-year-old mother of two, was shaking as she awaited an ultrasound that would determine whether she was pregnant with a third child.

For Eda, raising another child would have been a blessing, but neither she, nor her husband had the financial capacity to do it. They decided to have an abortion.

More