Stories about Law from January, 2020
Remembrance for femicide victims in Trinidad & Tobago raises awareness of gender-based violence
The gathering highlighted several key issues, including the need for better support systems, updated legislation and social reformation programmes to inspire cultural change.
How Zimbabwe's biometric ID scheme — and China’s AI aspirations — threw a wrench in elections
Some citizens were told that if they didn't register and submit their biometrics, they might be barred from voting.
In Dhaka's mayoral election, environmental promises undermined by plastic campaign posters
City Corporation elections will be held in Dhaka on February 1, 2020. Netizens are concerned about the use of laminated posters in the election campaign which poses a threat to the environment.
This Nigerian human rights lawyer wins second order of restraint against government
Lawyer Gloria Ballason has experienced ongoing intimidation and harassment by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, amid a growing crackdown on freedom of expression and dissent in Nigeria.
Redemption Song: My journey to marijuana activism
"Ganja has been a source of inspiration, meditation and medication on my journey as a mixed-race, working-class Caribbean woman trying to make a way in this capitalist world."
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar arrested in Bangladesh for ‘insulting’ Islam
Baul singer Shariat Sarkar is accused of making comments which hurt the “religious sentiment” of Muslims. He says that there is no evidence forbidding music in Islam.
Is there more to the Caribbean's single-use plastics ban than meets the eye?
The move to go plastic-free is timely. According to the United Nations, 70 to 85 percent of marine litter in the Caribbean originates from land, and the lion's share is plastics.
New privacy law in Mozambique threatens freedom of expression, activists say
New legislation criminalizes all types of invasion of privacy via mobile phones, and the publication of images or videos of third parties without their consent.
Thai journalist convicted over a 2017 Twitter post about a labor conflict
"There is a high level of self-censorship in Thailand… When you forbid freedom of expression… you forbid an open society."
Sudan needs strong network neutrality laws to match its growing internet boom
As internet access becomes more available to a wider range of Sudanese citizens, a lack of net neutrality regulations means that violations in Sudan occur easily and often.
Belize's new fisheries bill: A ‘model for how to manage marine resources’
Belize has been working toward this legislation for nearly a decade, partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund to ensure both its integrity and that it addresses resulting concerns.
Is Taiwan an unrecognized country?
"While today the international community is happy to maintain the current status-quo when dealing separately with Taiwan and China, certain political forces in both places are advocating for a change."
Deadline looms for biometric SIM card registration in Tanzania
The biometric SIM card registration process means Tanzania joins a growing list of African nations gripped by the biometric data and digital identification revolution in Africa.
Belize gets serious about ocean conservation with new Fisheries Resources Bill
Climate change, overfishing and pollution affect the preservation of ocean habitats in Belize, but new legislation hopes to protect marine life by managing overfishing.
Ahead of Taiwan's presidential election, KMT accuses DPP of ‘green terror’ and Beijing echoes
The political label “green terror” is also circulating widely on mainland Chinese state-affiliated media and social media outlets.
‘A disturbing crackdown on press freedom’: Pakistan arbitrarily blocking Slate.com
This is the second time that the website has been blocked in Pakistan in 2019, and the third time since 2018.
Global Voices quinceañera: When the Caribbean did the right thing
In 2019, the Caribbean envisioned a more holistic brand of public education, spoke out against corruption, and experienced a resurgence of respect towards its First Peoples. Part 5 of 5.
