Recently, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives introduced a new bill focused on strengthening the human rights standards used by the U.S. Department of the Interior in awarding international conservation grants.[1] The bill is a product of a year-long investigation by the House Natural Resources Committee […]
“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man’s mind.”[1] Captain Beatty’s words from Fahrenheit 451 were penned by Ray Bradbury in 1953, but they still hold relevant. These words refer to the purpose of censorship—to prevent knowledge […]
On December 28, 2021, satirical writer and government critic, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was beaten by Ugandan military officers and arrested for violation of the Computer Misuse Act.[1] His crime was criticizing the physical weight of Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, on Twitter.[2] Rukirabasaija was held for fourteen […]
“We believe that sons and daughters are equal. By increasing the marriage age of women from [eighteen] to [twenty-one], the government wants to enable ‘desh ki beti’[1] to build a career for herself and become Aatmanirbhar.[2]” These were the words stated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in support of […]
Author’s Note: This blog was written at the beginning of March 2022. It focuses on several issues that occurred within the first three weeks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Subsequent allegations of acts against humanity and war crimes are not mentioned in this blog. The international community is calling for […]
Before the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there were only 12 people on the No-Fly Lists.[1] After 9/11, the newly formed Transportation Security Administration (“T.S.A.”) took over aviation security from the Federal Aviation Administration.[2] In September 2011, ten years after 9/11, there were approximately 420,000 individuals on the Terrorist Watchlist, with 32,000 […]
Reproductive violence has “traditionally been ignored” by the international community at large when discussing one’s rights to bodily autonomy.[1] While movements against sexual violence have become more common in recent years, reproductive violence has not gotten the same attention.[2] Reproductive violence can occur as “forced contraception, sterilization and forced abortions” […]
At the beginning of this year, New York state legislators proposed the Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (“Fashion Act”).[1] The bill represents a first-of-its-kind type of legislation within the United States which seeks to reign in and hold accountable some of the fashion industry’s biggest brands for their role […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as the deadliest public health crisis in over a century.[1] Despite this, rapid scientific advancements have led to safe and effective vaccines which drastically reduce the chances of severe illness and death.[2] Given this, countries around the world should be working as quickly as possible […]
“I asked almost everyone I interviewed…about their regrets, but…[t]hat’s not what we’ll remember when we have to leave, by choice, force, or casket.”[1] Karla Cornejo Villavicencio came to the United States without documentation at age 5, attended Harvard University, pursued her PhD at Yale, and wrote for major newspapers and […]