Foreign observers say Zimbabwe poll not free and fair
26/8/2023: Most observer missions have reported that although the recent elections in Zimbabwe were generally peaceful, the electoral processes did not meet international standards. In its preliminary report, the European Union Observation Mission referred to “an environment that was not always conducive to voters making a free and informed choice.”
Source: The East African
10 years later: Why are Egyptian human rights ignored?
3/7/2023: Egyptian activists complain the international community often talks about Egypt's crisis-ridden economy, but says far less about its dreadful human rights situation. Why is one seen as more important than the other?
Source: DW
Executions skyrocket to highest figure in five years
16/5/2023: Amnesty International's annual review of the death penalty reveals that a total of 883 people were known to have been executed across 20 countries, marking a rise of 53% over 2021. Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in a single day.
Source: Amnesty International
Amnesty International calls for universal social protection
10/5/2023: Amnesty International is calling for social security to be made available to everyone worldwide after a series of crises is leaving hundreds of millions trapped in a cycle of poverty and deprivation. About 55% of the world’s population have no recourse to even the most basic social protection.
Source: Amnesty International
Germany’s foreign policy: values or national interests?
7/5/2023: Germany has made democracy and human rights the centerpiece of its foreign policy. However, denouncing nations that don't check the values box, such as China, leads to criticism from domestic business interests.
Source: DW
India has the world’s biggest population but no census
23/4/2023: India hasn’t conducted a proper census since 2011 and there is no sign of preparation for the scheduled update. The government hasn’t figured out the demographic makeup of its massive populace because it’s afraid of what the numbers might say.
Source: CNA
International system unfit to deal with global crises
28/3/2023: Amnesty International’s Annual Report for 2022 highlights double standards throughout the world on human rights. The failure of the international community to unite has led to inadequate responses to human rights abuses, fuelling impunity and instability.
Source: Amnesty International
FIFA reverses Saudi sponsorship of women’s World Cup
17/3/2023: In an off-field victory for human rights, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association has reversed its sponsorship plans with Visit Saudi, Saudi Arabia’s state tourism authority, for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Saudi Arabia is a global outlier on women’s rights and also violates the rights of LGBT people.
Source: Human Rights Watch
World parliaments could take 80 years to achieve gender parity
8/3/2023: Women’s participation in parliaments has never been as diverse and representative as it is in many countries today. However, the World Bank reports that only 14 countries have full legal equality between women and men, and much more needs to be done to increase women’s political representation.
Source: Inter Press Service
Did Nigeria’s election tech fail or was it sabotaged?
2/3/2023: Young voters put their faith in recent amendments to Nigeria's electoral law that promised robust standards through digital technology. But at polling units nationwide, many were transported to an elections twilight zone.
Source: African Arguments