Fatiha Lakaaj is a grandmother of six children aged from 11 months to seven years. But hers is not the story of fun weekend visits like that of any ordinary grandmother. Fatiha’s story is one of anguish and pain. Between 2013 and 2014 her son Noureddine and his wife Tatiana, as well as her daughter … Read more →
On 11 March, Iranian defence lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, known for representing women who have protested having to wear the headscarf, was sentenced, whilst in prison without going to court, to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. She was charged with several national security-related offences, all of which she denies. Nasrin, laureate of the Sakharov … Read more →
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has released a statement on the UK’s consideration of how to bring back the children of Britons, who left the UK to join militant groups. He said he was working with Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary, on how children could be safely returned. “We have been looking at how … Read more →
Turkey has expelled three German journalists, igniting fresh concern over deteriorating press freedom in a country with a history of silencing opposition voices. Two of the journalists left the country on Sunday 10 March, while the third is already in Germany. The reporters were given 10 days to leave the country and, according to the … Read more →
On 6 March, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet presented her annual report at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The report covered human rights issues across the world surrounding women, conflicts and inequalities. In a wide-ranging speech, Michelle Bachelet addressed claims by activists that ten Saudi women are being held for … Read more →
International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place on 8 March and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality campaigns around the world. IWD has been observed since the early 1900s when women started to demand equality. In … Read more →
Monday 25 February marked the beginning of the 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which will be held between 25 February and 22 March, at the Palais des Nations, in Geneva. During the session, high-level discussions will be held on various human rights related issues, such as the right to privacy, … Read more →
On 26 February, the 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty began at the European Parliament in Brussels. Organised by ECPM, it is the world’s leading abolitionist event and the International Observatory of Human Rights is attending the four-day conference together with 1,500 politicians, 150 other NGOs as well as lawyers and researchers from over … Read more →
Venezuela is in turmoil as another weekend of violence has seen four people die and hundreds injured. The violent protests took place at the Venezuelan border with Colombia, when opposition activists gathered at the Simón Bolívar bridge that connects the two countries, to urge authorities to allow humanitarian aid to enter Venezuela. Last month a … Read more →
Thousands of children from around the world remain trapped in Syria facing an uncertain and dangerous future as the debate over what to do with these children rages. Among them are an estimated 100 children born to British IS members and many remain stuck in refugee camps, where they are being held away from the … Read more →
