In light of the current Syrian refugee crisis, the European Union has found itself in a precarious position, its internal unity threatened as member states remain divided over the initiatives proposed to relocate Syrian refugees across the continent. The ethical dilemma encapsulating this lack of consensus presents itself in the form of the question as … Continue reading
In a country with rising domestic violence rates, Afghanistan’s culture has grown accustomed to being spoken of and understood in violently misogynistic frames. Women are more than ever at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence, whether at the hands of their husbands or fathers. There are severe cases, such as Zahra’s, where after refusing … Continue reading
Following the recent death of Saudi King Abdullah on Jan. 23, the ascendance of his half-brother, King Salman, to the throne has cast new light on the line of succession, leading to speculation over the future of reform in the country. Under King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia had experienced cautious, very limited reform. His initial policies … Continue reading
As Nigeria nears its Feb. 14th* presidential elections, Boko Haram continues to expand its stronghold in the north in the course of its crusade to establish an Islamic state. Its most recent attack occurred on Saturday as the insurgents infiltrated the northeastern capital, the city of Maiduguri. This assault is one in a long string … Continue reading
Two months since the beginning of the Hong Kong protests, what began as an energetic and widely-backed movement that captured international attention has largely collapsed in the face of continued Chinese refusal to grant any concessions. The protests, named the “Umbrella Revolution” for demonstrators’ use of umbrellas to protect themselves from pepper spray attacks by … Continue reading
Protests over the disappearance of 43 students spread from Iguala to Mexico City, calling for an accelerated government investigation and the demise of the President, Enrique Peña Neito. On September 26, students from the Raúl Isidro Burgos College at Ayotzinapa, Mexico traveled by bus to the nearby city of Iguala. There, Mayor José Luis Abarca’s … Continue reading
Amid the chaos from the Syrian Civil War as well as rising violence from Islamic State (IS) militants, millions of Syrians are being forced to flee their homes. Since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011, over nine million Syrians have been uprooted. More than six million remain internally displaced, while an additional … Continue reading
Audra Simpson’s lecture on aboriginals in academia was assuredly a highlight of this year’s Indigenous Awareness Week. Hosted at McGill and running from September 15th through to September 19th, this week’s events covered topics ranging from traditional dance to the impacts of the institutionalization of indigenous children. This year marked the 4th Indigenous Awareness Week … Continue reading
On September 17th, McGill University’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism was host to “After Atrocity: Optimizing UN Action Toward Accountability for Human Rights Abuses” presented by Mr. Steven Ratner, a Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law from the University of Michigan Law School. Held at the New Chancellor Day Hall, the lecture was … Continue reading
Since February 2014, Venezuela has experienced an outbreak of demonstrations that have led to unlawful violence perpetrated by security forces and government supporters against anti-government protestors, many of whom are unarmed civilians. Journalists and others found documenting the demonstration also face increasing personal risk as media censorship methods turn violent. “The Venezuelan government has openly … Continue reading
While suicide was formally removed from Canada’s criminal code in 1972, it is still considered illegal today to aid another person in ending his or her own life through euthanasia. Contested in the legal and medical sectors around the world, euthanasia has gained widespread attention as it pushes the envelope on what can legally be … Continue reading
Since 2004, hundreds of thousands of Eritreans have fled their home country to escape government repression. Yet increasingly, in the past three years, they have found themselves subject to human trafficking and put in circumstances worse than those they had left behind. According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), thousands of Eritreans have fled to … Continue reading
A doctor in rural Fuping County in China’s Shaanxi Province has received a suspended death sentence for selling seven infants into child-trafficking. The sentencing court has announced that while working as an obstetrician at the Fuping Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, the doctor, Zhang Shuxia “fabricate[d] reports about the infants, saying they had suffered from … Continue reading
The North conjures images of an untouched land. However, youths who know and who have experienced the North also know that the region’s natural beauty is under threat from prospects of resource development and environmental degradation. These issues are among the chief concerns of the Youth Arctic Coalition (YAC), a new independent forum fostering youth … Continue reading
On Saturday, October 26, a number of Saudi Arabian women got behind the wheel and drove cars. While it may not seem monumental, Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving on public roads. The country does not have an official law, but rather an unofficial ban imposed by … Continue reading
On May 23, 2013, US President Barack Obama described US drone strikes as a “legal, effective and necessary” tool in an effort to combat terrorism while asserting that he is haunted by the fact that the strikes can unintentionally kill civilians and that they were definitely not a “cure-all.” It seems, however, that the US … Continue reading
There is a distinction between extracting non-renewable natural resources for basic human uses and extracting non-renewable natural resources for mere ambition. Such is the case of gold, a resource that continues to mined not because anyone needs it, but because investors and consumers demand it. This is one of the most striking messages transmitted by … Continue reading
John Anaya, special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, visited Canada for nine days in October 2013 to interview First Nations communities and government officials, after the United Nations (UN) criticized the country for its treatment of aboriginal citizens. In September, Canada had its third Universal Periodic Review by the Human Rights Council (HRC), … Continue reading
Shortly after the United States government shutdown began at midnight on October 1, Republicans and Democrats immediately began placing the blame on one another. Senate Majority Leader and Democrat Harry Reid put the blame on Republicans when, on October 1, he told the Senate “Government is closed, because of the irrationality of what is going … Continue reading
Ten years after the end of its civil war, Liberia is still working to rebuild itself. The 14-year war did much to destroy existing Liberian institutions, including their education system. In August of this year, all of Liberia’s 25,000 high school students took the state university entrance exam – not a single student passed. Nelson … Continue reading
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