Stories from June, 2018
With the provisional release of accused gang rapists, many ask if Spain is trivializing violence against women
"Not every man is a rapist, nevertheless, now that the five men charged with sexual abuse have been released from jail, we all become potential victims."
The dark side of World Cup fun in Russia: Online mobs are bullying women getting ‘too friendly’ with foreigners
The World Cup euphoria will fade in a few weeks, but hard questions about women's rights in Russia are still lingering, it seems.
Turkey looks ahead to a strongman era
The political presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now too dominant to be checked by rivals or institutions.
Q'eswachaka, the last Inca bridge that keeps communities together
Every year in June, four Peruvian rural communities from Cusco get together to renew Q’eswachaka, the last Inca bridge.
Simone Veil, the Immortal: A conversation with author Pascal Bresson on Veil's human rights legacy
"Beyond her image of rectitude and honesty, Simone Veil was, first and foremost, a woman who embodied her era and her struggle."
With elections approaching, Pakistani journalists and activists face rising risk of assault, abduction
This election will mark the second time a democratic transition of power will occur in the country's history.
Central European University remains in ‘legal limbo’ under Hungary's new higher education amendment
Central European University (CEU) announced that it will remain open in Budapest for the next academic year amidst a legal battle and debate over its destiny with the Hungarian government.
With new anti-migration laws, the space for civil society in Hungary continues to shrink
"Hungary's gov targets NGOs...because Hungary is small and these happen to also be the only NGOs working on civil rights of Hungarian citizens: looking into police abuses, representing protesters..."
Did Syrians really have a choice? Final days in Ghouta: Caught between an immediate death and a delayed one
"Should we leave the land of our childhood? How can I take my wife and kids from a dark reality to an unknown one? Many questions and no definitive answers."
What were Global Voices’ readers up to last week?
During the week of June 18-24, 2018, our stories and translations attracted readers from 201 countries. Number 2 on the list? Iraq. And number 15? Jordan.
Will Trinidad and Tobago's cybercrime bill stifle media freedom?
Journalists and users of social media networks are concerned about sections of the recently amended bill which could negatively impact press freedom and online speech.
During the World Cup, Mexico gets in trouble when their fans’ chants are called ‘foul’
"In addition to being considered a homophobic scream, the “EEEEEH P…” could cause serious problems for the Mexican National Team" according to FIFA rules.
No paper, no electricity, no news: Information controls keep coming in Venezuela
With news and porn sites being blocked, Venezuela's government intensifies its control over mainstream and social media while painting a grim landscape for freedom of speech and access of information.
Protesting Polish students stall controversial bill that would clamp down on academic freedom
"The new law on higher education centralises responsibility at universities and withdraws autonomy from individual faculties...In addition, smaller Universities are marginalized in favor of the larger ones."
Freedom segregated: China to set up open internet zone on tourist island
"If visiting Twitter, Facebook is appropriate and harmless, why [are they] only granting foreigners access but not Chinese?"
Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh jailed on national security charges for representing hijab protesters
"If you ask me what the authorities are thinking deep inside, I will tell they just want Nasrin to sit at home and...and stop defending civil and political activists..."
The Nepali “sausage vine” evergreen plant is famous in the United Kingdom, yet remains unknown in Nepal
"We plant and eat fruits of foreign origin like avocado and kiwi...However, we don’t even know that foreigners are trading delicious fruits taken from our own jungles."
Netizen Report: Who will be next? Venezuela’s political crisis sees a new wave of censorship, media repression
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Agitated debate revives over the destiny of Mexico's protected waters
The signing of 10 presidential decrees is the center of an agitated debate in the press and online.
A new generation picks up the struggle against coal in the Czech Republic
"With decision makers still jammed in the vicious cycle of coal and nuclear, building a strong climate movement that crosses borders seems more important than ever."
‘Internet is not for the Tajik language'? A crowdsourced soccer blog marks 10 years
"I had volunteers. Many of them!"
