Human Rights

“Until you have a son of your own… you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son. You will never know the sense of honor that makes a man want to be more than he is and to pass something […]

There are 12 million refugees, as of 2005, and an additional 21 million Internally displaced persons scattered across the globe today, approximately 44% of which are children.  Tomorrow, Sunday, June 20th, 2010 is World Refugee Day, a day set to honor the plight and resilient struggle of refugees around the world. World Refugee Day was […]

South Africans, Africans across the continent and diaspora, and Africa-lovers are rightfully proud of the first World Cup on African soil. With billions invested in infrastructure and a drastic increase in international airtime, South Africa is presenting a refurbished image as it affirms its presence on the world stage.    However, strikes this week have […]

A small collection of human rights story from the FPB network and beyond: And the clashes continue… For those of you living under a rock (or just caught up in World Cup fever), Kyrgyzstan is currently in the midst of some of the worst ethnic violence seen there in years. As ethnic Uzbeks flee from […]

The 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report was released today by the Department of State. This years TIP Report includes, for the first time ever, a ranking of the United States, which is based on the same standards to which we hold other countries. “The 10th annual Trafficking in Persons Report outlines the continuing challenges across […]

Today much of the world is flocking to their TVs to as the World Cup in South Africa kicked off. However while the joy of the game and international sportsmanship ensue, much of the World Cup and sport have been tainted by child labor, via sex trafficking and labor…including the stitching of soccer balls. Soccer […]

Much of our chocolate comes from the Ivory Coast, which according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) produces 43% of the worlds cocoa.  According to the ILO, over 132 million children, aged 5-14 years old, work in agriculture around the world, they are just a segment of an the estimated 246 million child laborers around […]

As the US watches the growing disaster from the BP oil spill unfold, it seems appropriate to take a look at what has happened in the wake of other modern industrial disasters.  Unfortunately, the developments of this week illustrate that justice is not always served in the aftermath. Twenty five years after a chemical gas […]

This week, the Senate will decide whether to save jobs and services, protect health care for children, fund summer jobs for youth, provide help for unemployed families, and boost the economy. In last minute surprise maneuvers, members of the House of Representatives passed a scaled back jobs bill that dropped key supports for families who […]

There is a lot of discussion on the issue of ending gender-based violence in recent media and the topic is far from new and far too widespread for many to see quick solutions and changes. However much has been done to raise awareness on gender-based violence and related issues and how they impact girls, women, and their families.  […]

By Cordelia Rizzo We knew that something was wrong with Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, former leader of the Legionaires of Christ, and his order, long before he was openly accused of child abuse in the ’90s. Last month, two years after Maciel’s death, Vatican has finally officially condemned Maciel’s behavior and is effectively imposing martial […]

The legal standing of indigenous people improved earlier this week when Nicaragua ratified the only binding international law for tribal people, the International Labour Organization Convention 169. While ILO Convention 169 covers many of the same provisions as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, unlike the UN Declaration it is legally binding […]