Amnesty International has urged the Maldives government to reconsider ending the 60-year moratorium on the death penalty. There is growing political unrest in the Maldives and this move is seen as an attempt by the President, Abdulla Yameen, to silence dissenters and distract from the leadership’s troubles. President Yameen stated
Reuters reports that Indonesia’s Environment Minister, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, would like to make the current moratorium on issuing new licences to use land designated as peatland or primary forest permanent. Reuters states that the moratorium was created in 2011 and covered 66 million hectares by November 2016. President Joko Widodo
In a Newsweek opinion piece this week, journalist Rothna Begum highlighted the inequality of women that has become evident through the Gulf Crisis. Begum’s examination of the stories of women caught in the crisis show disadvantages and injustices that women are facing in these conflict zones. The injustice at issue
The Independent reported this week that Honduras has moved to ban all child marriages, making it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to get married, with no exceptions. This is a great step forward for a country where one in four children are married before the age of
U.S. ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, has warned that the U.S. is willing to use military force in order to stop the threat from North Korea, in response to the test missile launched earlier this week. The international community has condemned the actions of North Korea, but is concerned
10 years after the ratification of the Convention Against Torture, Amnesty International has expressed concern that Thailand is not fulfilling its obligations. Human Rights Watch stated that Thailand has created a committee to receive complaints and investigate allegations of torture, but without law recognizing these crimes, the committee has little
Last week was World Day Against Child Labour, and the UN warned that children in conflict zones are particularly vulnerable to becoming child labourers. UNICEF defines child labour as children who are “either too young to work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social
This week, The Associated Press reported that an increase in violence in central Africa may result from the U.S. decision to stop enforcing the “conflict minerals rule.” The rule requires U.S. companies to declare if they are sourcing minerals from a conflict area in order to ensure that minerals do
It is estimated that the demand for clean water will increase by 40 percent by 2050 according to the statement from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The Associated Press reported this week that Guterres has informed the Security Council that “strains on water access is already rising in all regions,”
The Associated Press reported this week that the head of the United Nations’ food and agriculture agency warns the ongoing conflict between the Dinka majority and the Nuer minority in South Sudan could hinder any hopes of avoiding a new famine next year. The conflict has killed tens of thousands
This year, Bonn, Germany will host a series of climate negotiations. Significant developments have occurred since the Paris Agreement of 2015. Most notably, the election of President Trump who has renounced U.S. obligations outlined in the Paris negotiations. However, recent news suggests that China may be stepping up to take
President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico has vowed to enhance the protection of journalists in his country. Reuters reports that President Peña Nieto will strengthen measures in investigations into attacks against journalists. In a press conference held Wednesday 17 May, he announced these changes but was met by heckles from journalists who
Following the recent election to replace the impeached former President Park Geun-hye, Moon Jae-in has been elected as the new leader in South Korea. In the lead-up to the election, The Telegraph reported that Moon was the son of North Korean parents who escaped to South Korea in 1950. The
Kidnapped soldier, Sergeant Anni Siraji, was found beheaded in the small Philippine town of Patikul on Sulu. Reuters reported that the militant group Abu Sayyaf was behind the beheading. This is the latest in a series of beheadings by the terrorist cell in the Philippines, including the video released online
