Stories about Human Rights from November, 2015
On French TV, Iran's President Plays Down Women's Facebook Protest Against Hijab
"...the law that made hijab mandatory in Iran is in part due to your own writings. You are responsible and now that you are in power you must be accountable."
Officers Murdered in Tajikistan as Forced Recruitment Hits Headlines Again
"This is the echo of the system that has been working for more than 20 years during recruitment periods in Tajikistan."
The Crisis in Burundi Takes a Troubling Turn for the Worse
"...if the Burundian population remains poor, with all of the problems that come with a large population and a small territory, the country will always have violent cycles."
Where's the Outrage Over Mass Rape in War-Torn South Sudan?
The brutal sexual attacks are not indiscriminate. Rape is being used as a weapon of war in the country's civil war.
Four Tanzanians Charged for Publishing Political Information on WhatsApp
Four other Tanzanians have been arrested and charged for political comments they made using the messaging service WhatsApp.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Crime-Solving Facebook Users Are Back, and So Is the Controversy of Policing Domestic Violence
Back in action are the crime-solving citizens of the so-called 'Facebook Division' of the police. This time, they're after a man who beat his partner with a steel pipe.
Lumad Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines Speak Out Against Abuses
“The Philippine Army destroyed our school. They even burned our agricultural cooperative. I experienced getting jailed and now face trumped-up charges of kidnapping. We miss our ancestral land."
Who Will Defend Tajikistan's Detained Lawyers?
Lawyers prepared to represent beleaguered opposition figures in the Central Asian country are finding themselves following them into jail.
On Net Freedom Report in Africa, The Gambia Scores Poorly
The Gambia, the tiny West African state, is the second worst when it comes to internet freedom in Sub-Saharan Africa.
When Were You Sexually Harassed for the First Time? Brazilian Women React to Online Violence
Social networks are increasingly filled with hate speech. This alarming phenomenon, however, is being countered by creative, irreverent, and organized women's groups online.
Indigenous Communities Live Complex Lives in a Disputed Corner of South America
Around 159,542 sq. km (61,600 sq. mi) of territory is disputed by Guayana and Venezuela. Indigenous groups pay a high price for living in this no man's land.
Sassou-Nguesso on the Path of Other African Presidents-for-Life After Congolese Referendum
Young citizens of Congo (Brazaville) protests the President Sassou-Nguesso's attempt to run for an additional term.
It May Be Legal Now, But Many Chinese Say They Can't Afford a Second Child Anyway
China announced at the end of October that it was scrapping its infamous one-child policy. Many Chinese netizens didn't exactly greet the news with cheers.
Is an Award-Winning Photo of a Haitian Immigrant Bathing in Brazil Unethical?
"The objective of the media in the middle of these crises is to pressure the state to take a stand, not to embarrass those who need help the most."
Why Did the Giant Ears Cross the Road? To Protest State Surveillance in Macedonia
The wiretap "bombshells" released by opposition party leaders almost one year ago revealed that the communications of more than 20,000 individuals in Macedonia had been secretly recorded.
Iran Has Departed From Quranic Punishments Before, Despite What Hardliners Say
Leading clerics have spoken in the past about the need for flexibility given modern necessities, but hardliners continue to use unyielding adherence to Quranic principles as a political tool.
Brazil’s Modern Day Slave Owners Don't Want Their Names on the Web
Multiple court rulings have led to the censorship of Brazil's "dirty list" that identifies companies engaged in forced labor practices.
Myanmar Decides: 4 Videos to Help You Understand the Upcoming Election
Myanmar's November 8 election is the country's second general election after the military-backed government implemented political reforms in 2010.
Protest Activity On the Rise In Russia, Study Finds
The overall protest activity in Russia recorded by the experts grew almost 15 percent compared to the first half of 2014.
Bay Area Intifada: Identity Politics with a Capital ‘I’
The dream of Third World liberation and decolonization is alive in Oakland, California.
Iran to Provide Universal Public Healthcare to Refugees
Iran's Afghan refugee population nears 1 million, with an additional estimated 1.4 to 2 million unregistered refugees living and working in the country.