Guantanamo
Hunger Strike Grows More than half of US detainees in Guantanamo are involved in a hunger strike, protesting their indefinite detention and other conditions at the military prison, including alleged mishandling of the Koran. Though hunger strikes are common, this strike has lasted nearly three months and has included instances of violence and force-feeding.
US Supreme Court Blocks Overseas Cases | New Zealand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage New Zealand is the first Asia-Pacific country to legalize same-sex marriage. The newly minted law expands on privileges previously afforded to gay couples in civil unions. The expansion allows gay married couples to adopt and have their marriage recognized worldwide. The new law has many advocates and opponents within New Zealand.
Hong Kong Transsexual Argues Marriage Right A Hong Kong woman who underwent gender-reassignment surgery was denied the ability to marry her boyfriend by Hong Kong’s top court. Hong Kong does not allow same-sex marriage and though the woman’s passport and identity card identify her as a female, her birth certificate still identifies her as male. |
Paintballs Used by Chilean Police Violence After Venezuelan Elections Amnesty International fears that the violence occurring in the wake of Venezuela’s recent elections will continue to increase if law enforcement does not act. Seven deaths and numerous injuries have been reported. In addition, Amnesty has received reports of attacks against media workers, human rights defenders, and protestors. | Workers Cry Betrayal in Pretoria
Malian Court Dismisses Case Against Editor Boukary Daou, the editor of Malian newspaper Le Republicain, was arrested in March for inciting disobedience and publishing false information for publishing an open letter from Malian troops critical of coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo. His arrest was criticized by local and international media. A Malian court recently dismissed his case. |
British Unemployment Since 2012, unemployment figures have dramatically increased in
Britain. Over 1 million people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four
are currently unemployed. Even those employed are affected by the
recession. Due to low pay rise and high inflation rates, employees are
seeing their salaries decrease by an average of three percent. Russia’s Faltering Democracy | Syrian Civilians Suffer from Civil War Syrian civilians continue to suffer as bureaucratic roadblocks hinder humanitarian efforts. Amid growing reports of sexual violence perpetrated against young women and girls, bombings aimed at civilians, and claims of chemical warfare, the UN condemned the mounting violence as “completely unacceptable” and called for its immediate end.
Excessive Death Penalties in Iraq |
Tensions
Rise in Sri Lanka Protests Ignite From Rape in
India Frustration grows in India after the rape of a five year old girl and continued gender issues the country is facing. Child rapes cases in India have increased from 2,113 in 2001, to 7,112 in 2011. Last month, India’s president introduced stricter anti-rape laws, which include the death penalty for repeat offenders. |
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