Human Rights

Reactions to the so-called twitterspat between Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo and British journalist Ian Birrell that I posted on Monday is still in full swing online. The reactions I posted then pretty much summed up general opinion about the incident with most people siding with Birrell. And while I am […]

On Saturday, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda engaged in an off the cuff debate with British journalist Ian Birrell on Twitter regarding the right of non-Rwandans to judge Rwanda and the ongoing argument over the human rights situation in the country. Yes, you read that correctly: a sitting head of state took to Twitter to […]

On 11 May the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict of the United Nations issued the Annual Report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on Children and Armed Conflict.  Each year the report is published to lists those parties involved in the recruitment of children in armed conflict, as well and use, kill […]

Today 14 May is World Fair Trade Day, this years theme is “TRADE FOR PEOPLE – Fair Trade your world”. The theme encompasses the strong belief in the need to put people and the environment at the heart of trade and consumption, Trade for people means trade for sustainable development of local communities. Fair Trade […]

When one thinks of the biggest killers of children across the globe poverty and disease are what most often come to mind.   Only a few inches of water can be fatal to a child, leaving deadly hazards at many turns, such as a tub of water, a washing bin, a rice field, fountain or […]

Last week the U.S. ‘took out’ Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. As an American, I cannot help but have a visceral reaction of delight. Such a major blow will surely expedite the end of ‘the war on terror’. Whatever your opinion is of that endeavor, we can all be relieved by its conclusion. If […]

Today is a day to honor mother’s across the globe, women who give new life and hope to the world. Women who raise future leaders, raise the motherless child of another like their own, protect and shield children’s lives with no thought to themselves, and women who give their lives sacrificing all to see that […]

Tomorrow is Mother’s day and for many it means getting Mom a card, some flowers or a gift that show her how much we care and appreciate all she has done to make us the people we are today.  For mothers in developing countries it is also a day in which they most often reflect […]

The use of child soldiers in armed conflict plagues our global society, as thousands of children continue to be recruited into armed conflict by both government forces and armed rebel groups in spite global efforts to combat the continued use of children. UNICEF estimates there are some 300,000 child soldiers actively fighting in at least […]

Raufa Hassan was a fearless, focused and inspirational Yemeni political activist, journalist and thinker.  She died last week at 53.   These tributes below capture her well.   I first met Raufa in Sanaa, Yemen, in 1997 when I travelled to Yemen on my first ever trip to work with non-American women running for office (in this […]

Today is UNESCO World Press Freedom Day, therefore I wanted to take a brief moment to thank all of the journalists and press officials who work around the globe, especially those who risk their lives to bring us stories of oppression and conflict. Today is a day to remember the grave violations against freedom of […]

As I wrote in my piece, Are We Moving Closer to Peace and Human Rights with Osama bin Laden’s Death?, for the Examiner this is a time for celebration and remembrance; However this news, while unprecedentedly victorious, will undoubtedly leave a deep cut in the power of al Qaeda’s forces and the fight against terrorism, […]