In 2009, I was arrested for the first time after participating in protests against the bauxite mining project in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and speaking out about Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Seven years later, I was arrested again and sentenced to ten years in prison for my writings and advocacy on behalf…
Israel’s international standing has undergone a profound and arguably irreversible transformation. Once regarded, despite criticism, as a flawed democracy grappling with complex security threats, Israel is increasingly perceived as a pariah state—isolated not only because of its adversaries, but because of its sustained conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. This shift is not the…
Prologue Human activities such as deforestation, forest fires, mining, industrialized agriculture, the burning of fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, coal), and wars have been threatening nature, civilization, and humans. Those threats weaponize the planet’s temperature. Scientists describe that effect as climate change/climate chaos. Climate change/chaos is global and anthropogenic/artificial. It has been affecting the lives…
There is a particular quality of fire that destroys completely and, in doing so, reveals exactly what must be rebuilt, and by whom. I have spent over three decades fighting for women and girls, often in the world’s most dangerous places. I drafted post-conflict constitutions in Iraq and Kosovo. I worked proudly across five different…
The Institute for Humanitarian Conflict Resolution embraces a philosophy of peace and reconciliation to ensure that men, women, and especially children in many violent conflict-ridden countries have hope for a better and more promising future
South Sudan is bleeding, and the world cannot afford to look away. As armed conflict intensifies, civilians continue to pay the highest price, killed in attacks, driven from their homes, and subjected to horrific sexual violence. The UN Security Council’s decision to renew the arms embargo is more than a diplomatic measure; it is a lifeline for vulnerable communities trapped in a cycle of war and impunity. Yet some governments continue to push for lifting the embargo, despite mounting evidence that weapons are fueling atrocities. More guns will not bring peace. They will only deepen the suffering. Protecting civilians begins with stopping the flow of arms that continue to devastate lives across South Sudan.
Taliban Use Force Against Hijab Protesters
Taliban authorities in Herat reportedly used sticks, whips, and firearms to disperse a protest supporting women arrested for alleged violations of the regime’s strict dress code. Witnesses reported that security forces fired shots and assaulted demonstrators, leaving multiple people injured. The protest followed the detention of more than a dozen women accused of appearing in public without a full chador or face-covering burqa. The violent response highlights the Taliban’s continuing assault on women's rights and the suppression of peaceful dissent.
No woman should be arrested for how she dresses, and no citizen should face violence for peacefully expressing solidarity. The international community must continue to demand accountability and support the rights and freedoms of Afghan women.
Source: Deutsche Welle (DW)
Human Rights Under Pressure: A Call for Global Action
Human rights are the foundation of dignity, justice, and equality. Yet around the world, that foundation is under growing strain. Human rights violations continue with impunity, violence is increasingly normalized, and civic space is shrinking. Recognizing that no individual, organization, or country can address these challenges alone, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has launched the Global Alliance for Human Rights, a global effort to strengthen cooperation and collective action ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028. The initiative focuses on making human rights meaningful in everyday life, supporting victims and defenders, strengthening public understanding, and ensuring that innovation and technology serve human dignity. At a time of growing global uncertainty, protecting human rights requires more than words—it demands commitment, collaboration, and action from all of us.
