Stories from September, 2020
Historic peace deal in Sudan signed during historic flooding
A historic peace deal with rebel groups in Sudan also comes during historic flooding that has ushered in a humanitarian disaster. What are the government’s plans to make life easier?
How churches became entangled in Belarus’ political crisis
As the crisis drags on, the leader of Belarus' Catholics was denied entry into the country and his Orthodox counterpart was replaced. Both had publicly criticised the crackdown on protesters.
What is Russia's endgame in Belarus?
Moscow has wearied of embattled President Alexander Lukashenka and is now concerned with protecting its interests in an eventual (and inevitable) transition of power, says Belarusian political scientist Yuri Tsarik.
Indian scientists pen letter against government slashing of environmental protections
The letter says the updates to the Environmental Impact Assessment norms will encourage projects with no prior clearance to commence operations and eventually get regularised by paying a fine.
At least 15 students were ‘impregnated by instructors’ in Mozambican police academy, internal report says
The document states that the pregnancies resulted from the students' sexual relations with their instructors, without specifying whether these relations were consensual.
Moderating harmful content online in Sudan: Policies and measures
In Sudan, social media platforms struggle to enforce guidelines and rules regarding content deemed harmful such as hate speech and disinformation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazilian gravediggers face increased prejudice
With the increased workload due to COVID-19, workers in São Paulo's cemeteries tell of the difficulties of their work and the stigma that they face.
French media ignores minority role models during COVID-19 coverage
Public health specialists who appear on French TV to discuss the coronavirus pandemic do not reflect the diversity of the French public.
We made the largest Mexican telecommunications operator stop blocking secure internet
Group effort, research, perseverance, and Global Voices' journalism played a key role
How indigenous women in Canada heal through art
Indigenous women in Canada suffer high rates of violence and the legacy of colonialism. Through art, women and artists offer pathways to heal individually and collectively.
What's happening in Thailand? Youth activists rally to protect democracy, freedom of speech
An explainer about the ongoing youth-led protests in Thailand.
Surveillance in Lebanon: A crisis of privacy
Intrusions on citizens’ privacy in Lebanon are pervasive and often conducted without proper judicial oversight.
For Asian activists, boycotting Disney's ‘Mulan’ says no to China's nationalist propaganda, censorship and police brutality
"What we're boycotting is the Western commercialization (Disney) of Chinese nationalism. . . which points to how intertwined and convoluted the interests of global capital really are."
Myanmar activist poet convicted for protesting against internet shutdown
The protest featured the unfurling of a banner that read: “Is the internet being shut down to hide war crimes and killing people?”
COVID-19 leaves Indian tea workers struggling for survival
The Indian tea industry is facing losses that hamper the already tenuous well-being of labourers, whose stark economic reality has led them getting back to work during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Julian Assange supporters rally to defeat extradition to United States
"The extradition to the US of a publisher and journalist, for engaging in journalistic activities while in Europe, would set a very dangerous precedent."
Jamaica Labour Party wins decisive second term in office amidst low voter turnout and COVID-19 fears
The government lifted quarantine restrictions for several communities so that even those who had tested positive for the virus – and thousands in home quarantine – could exercise their right to vote.
In Sri Lanka, affected families resist climate of fear on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
Thousands of people, primarily ethnic Tamils, are believed to have been forcibly disappeared while in state custody during the final years of the 1983-2009 civil war. Their families still seek answers.
‘Khon Kaen has had enough': Pro-democracy activists protest in northeast Thailand
The youth-led protest actions in Thailand are not just happening in the capital Bangkok. Here's a report of a major rally in the country's northeast region.
Colombian and Chilean psychiatrists plead to care for mental health by avoiding COVID-19 overexposure of (fake) news
In Chile, there has been an increase in drug, alcohol, and tobacco consumption during quarantine.
Netizens across former Yugoslavia celebrate 75 years of women's suffrage
"And women managed to win that right -- be careful not to faint -- under communism."