Human Rights

Amnesty International joined a chorus of voices accusing Israel of war crimes for its use of white phosphorus incendiaries over populated areas of the Gaza Strip. White phosphorus munitions are used for a variety of roles by military forces. It is commonly used as a smoke screen to mask military movements on the ground. It […]

To day we honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., King’s fight for human rights and his legacy was left for all children regardless of race, religion or color.  The fight he led for civil rights in the United States was, and still is, an inspiration for all who have, or are, oppressed around […]

As if sending Burmese refugees back out into the open sea wasn't bad enough, Thailand has now imprisoned an Australian writer for three years.  His crime – insulting Thailand's “sacred” and beloved monarchy. Apparently, he self-published the work which only sold a dozen copies. Enough however to put him behind bars.  The real crime is […]

Burma.  Let's not even call it Myanmar.  Doing so only condones the junta's legitimacy.  It overthrew the ruling leaders in a military coup in 1962.  And for years now, decades, the human rights abuses emanating from this kleptocracy is a constant reminder of the struggles facing a people held hostage. Nobel Peace prize winner Aung […]

Senegal is no stranger to the slave trade, as cities such as Saint-Louis prospered due to the sale of human lives. Gorée Island, which lies just less than 2 miles off the coast of Senegal, was one of West Africa's largest slave trading outposts during the Atlantic Slave Trade. The sale of men, women and […]

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney leaves office next week, leaving behind a legacy of back-room deals and, more importantly, a legacy of torture. Cheney in his eight years as vice president, and a career in civil service, paved the way for warrantless surveillance of the American people. Cheney also formed a team of legal experts […]

For the moment (and not to speak for Dan), I don't have any more analysis on the Gaza incursion – my take on the purely legal aspects of the issue is here. However, for those interested in the questions about the law of armed conflict posed by the incursion, Opinio Jurislinks what is certainly the […]

Are you a future global leader, do you want to share your ideas for change with the world, sick of people thinking you don't know what's going on in the world or your too young to make a difference? Well show the world what innovative ideas you have by putting your ideas, thoughts and youthful […]

Dan has two good posts addressing some of the legal criticism of the Israeli incursion into Gaza. There's been a vigorous debate on the incursion across the wonderful new array of Foreign Policy blogs; David Rothkopf summarizes his dispute with Steven Walt here. Christian Brose has a compelling piece here, too. While the writers don't […]

With Hamas and Israel ignoring international calls for a cease-fire, the top human rights official with the United Nations called for an investigation into war crimes in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military pushed deeper into the Hama-held Gaza Strip Sunday in the 16th day of assaults on the tiny Palestinian enclave. Khaled Meshaal, the […]

“Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, American physician, poet, writer, humorist and professor at Harvard, 1809-1894 They say 'the truth will set you free’, yet so often as we grow in to adulthood we forget the simple and all encompassing power of […]