Articles

During the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review the human rights situation in Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of Congo is evaluated at the Human Rights Council. States note progress but concerns and areas for improvement remain.

The won war of Bangladesh liberation was marked by a final effort of eliticide, aimed at wiping out the intelligentsia and key occupational classes. This article reflects on several historical developments that formed the basis of Bangladesh’s identity, highlighting how the elimination of intellectuals sought to cripple the nation’s future and undermine its potential for self-determination. Both the unrecognized Bangladesh Genocide and Operation Searchlight represent suppressed narratives, struggling to fit into international recognition frameworks.

In Vietnam, the struggle for democracy and human rights is met with harsh repression, as activists, journalists, and dissidents face imprisonment for challenging the authoritarian rule of the Communist Party. Despite its commitments under international human rights treaties, the Vietnamese government continues to silence critics through vague and restrictive laws that criminalize free speech. This article delves into the plight of political prisoners in Vietnam, exposing the legal mechanisms behind their persecution and the broader implications for civil liberties in the country.

The traditional “yes versus no” framework of consent oversimplifies its complexity, especially in cases of sexual violence. Therefore, the article examines common definitions of consent and delves into the voluntariness of sex work to expand the discourse. The research advocates for a nuanced understanding of consent to enhance protections for sexual violence survivors and combat such violence more effectively.

The Bangladesh Genocide of 1971, considered one of the most brutal conflicts of the 20th century, continues to be a suppressed part of world history, manipulated by the victors and obscured by media control.

Despite the atrocities committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War the Bangladesh Genocide has yet to receive formal recognition from the international community. This article explores the social, political, and legal factors behind the ongoing lack of recognition, highlighting biases, geopolitical interests, and gaps in international legal frameworks that have hindered global acknowledgment of the Genocide.

This article explores the economic effects of the 1971 war and genocide in Bangladesh on providing historical context across four major eras: prewar, wartime, postwar and contemporary. EDIT: Hundred thousand figures have been adjusted to show 100,000 instead of 1,00,000.

The prisoner exchange that took place in early August between the West and the Russian Federation resulted in the release of 18 individuals from Russian detention facilities. However, the official narrative surrounding their incarceration has raised concerns among human rights experts regarding the motivations behind the concessions. In particular, there are fears that those released may face continued surveillance or restrictions, raising questions about the long-term impact on their rights and freedoms.

The EU’s new Pact on Migration and Asylum, approved in April 2024, aims to reform Europe’s asylum system, but has faced criticism for failing to address and reduce pressures on states of first entry, unlawful pushbacks, and human rights violations. Externalisation policies, used to curb irregular migration, have led to human rights violations in North Africa and neglected long-term migration challenges. Critics call for a more balanced approach, including legal migration pathways and addressing authoritarianism in third countries.

Many laws on the criminalisation of sex trafficking and most approaches to the sex work profession lack a distinction between voluntary sex work and exploitation within sex work. This makes the whole fight against sex trafficking result in an objection against the sex work industry as a whole, which, however, increases discrimination against sex workers and has not reduced cases of sex trafficking. The article intends to explore the convergencies between sex trafficking and voluntary sex work, emphasising the real causes of cases of exploitation in the industry, which is capitalist and labourist society and not sex work per se. It also delves into the different legislative approaches to sex work and their implications, promoting respect for the self-determination and freedom of voluntary sex workers.

The Imperial Japanese Army forced women from occupied countries into sexual slavery during World War II, referred to as “Comfort Women,” with many victims suffering severe physical and psychological abuse. Japan’s insufficient acknowledgment of responsibility and reparations remains a subject of international controversy, with critics highlighting the lack of formal apologies and inadequate compensation. Despite non-binding apologies and efforts like the Asian Women’s Fund, survivors and advocates argue Japan has yet to fully address the Right to the Truth and justice for the victims.

In the US, the SESTA/FOSTA bills, introduced to combat sex trafficking, have worsened the conditions for voluntary sex workers by driving them offline, increasing exposure to violence, and limiting their access to income and health services. The laws, while reducing some trafficking online, fail to address the deeper causes of exploitation and stigmatise consensual sex work, violating workers’ rights and freedom of expression. This article argues for distinguishing voluntary sex work from exploitation and emphasises recognising sex work as legitimate labour while advocating for sex workers’ autonomy and protection.

The Human Rights Council’s 16th meeting discussed gender discrimination, highlighting challenges like gender stereotypes, insufficient representation, and violence against women. Recommendations included promoting equality and combating discrimination.

The article examines the potential legal action against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, assessing the challenges to women’s rights within Afghan legislation.

The death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September 2022, after being detained by Iran’s morality police for not wearing her veil correctly, triggered a wave of unprecedented protests across the country. These demonstrations, marked by the participation of women and youth, signal profound social changes in Iran. While the protests of 2022 represent a significant moment, they follow a long history of civil resistance since the 1979 revolution, highlighting the growing importance of women as central figures in Iran’s political and social activism. This article explores the evolution and radicalisation of these movements.

This article examines Pornhub’s 2020 cases and the positive implications for women in mainstream pornography, highlighting the lack of specific instruments to prevent online violence.

Italy’s Black women face discrimination and harassment due to skin color, racial fetishism, and colonial legacy, perpetuating hyper-sexualization, exclusion, and biases, particularly in Italian colonies.

Wartime sexual violence against women is a taboo issue, causing physical, psychological, and social harm, yet international law has neglected it, with no explicit mention in human rights sources.