human rights

EU-funded project promotes and protects the rights of the marginalized San communities

The EU-funded project “Empowering the San: Legal Capacity Building for Human Rights” has officially been activated following a successful two-day inception workshop held from 19 – 20 June 2024, in Windhoek. This project is aimed at strengthening the rights and legal capacities of San communities across Namibia. The workshop was attended by an esteemed gathering of Chiefs, San people from across Namibia, San traditional and community leaders, […]

June 24, 2024 42

Namibia

High Court’s Landmark Ruling: A Victory for LGBTI Rights

The High Court has declared the common law offences of sodomy and unnatural sexual offences unconstitutional, marking a historic victory for LGBTI rights in Namibia. This landmark ruling, initiated by activist Friedel Dausab, is a significant step towards ending discrimination and affirming constitutional rights. It aligns Namibia with global human rights standards, and civil society organisations are committed to working with the government to ensure its effective implementation and further […]

June 24, 2024 25

Africa

Lawyers claim torture of Americans accused in DRC coup plot

Lawyers of three American citizens accused of trying to overthrow the government in the Democratic Republic of Congo have urged a military court to nullify the statements made by their clients on grounds that they were tortured while in detention.

June 19, 2024 51

Africa

Over 6,000 displaced in DRC conflict without aid

More than 6,000 people displaced by conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo are living in difficult conditions without any assistance from the government or aid agencies. Chris Ochamringa reports from Kinshasa.

June 18, 2024 114

World

Greek coastguard blamed for migrant deaths

The Greek coastguard has caused the deaths of dozens of migrants in the Mediterranean over three years, witnesses say, including nine who were deliberately thrown into the water. The nine, according to the BBC, are among more than 40 people alleged to have died as a result of being forced out of Greek territorial waters, or taken back out to sea after reaching Greek islands. The Greek coastguard told BBC […]

June 17, 2024 41

Namibia

BIG Coalition Advocates for Basic Income as Human Right

The BIG Coalition asserts that the Basic Income Grant is not charity but a moral imperative and human right, crucial for protecting citizens from poverty. Spokesperson Rinaani Musutua emphasizes the need for social protection amid high unemployment rates, urging the government to fulfill its obligations under international human rights treaties. The coalition views BIG as an economic stimulus, planning a protest march to support a universal, unconditional grant to combat […]

June 13, 2024 28

World

EU migration policy is getting tougher: the 3 new tactics used to keep African migrants out

By Chris Changwe Nshimbi, University of Pretoria and Inocent Moyo, University of Zululand Nearly a decade has passed since migration to Europe from Africa and the Middle East reached a peak in 2015, referred to as the year of the “migrant crisis”. Over a million people from Africa and the Middle East applied for asylum in the European Union (EU). Since then, numbers have […]

June 11, 2024 15

Africa

Detained Uganda environmental activist freed but ‘in bad shape’

An environmental activist in Uganda who is opposed to a huge oil project led by French giant TotalEnergies has been freed after five days in detention, his employer said Monday. Stephen Kwikiriza was found on Sunday evening dumped on a roadside in Kyenjojo, about five hours' drive west of the capital Kampala, said Samuel Okulony, director of the Environment Governance Institute. The activist had said he was […]

June 10, 2024 14

World

We polled EU citizens on what they want asylum policy to look like – their answers may surprise you

Asylum seekers arriving on the Greek island Lesvos in 2015. Nicolas Economou/Shutterstock By Natalia Letki, University of Warsaw; Dawid Walentek, Ghent University; Peter Thisted Dinesen, University of Copenhagen, and Ulf Liebe, University of Warwick The issues of migration and asylum are contentious in Europe, and have caused deep rifts among EU member states for years. These topics are fully on the agenda for the 2024 EU elections. […]

June 6, 2024 32