China’s Uyghur Situation and the 2022 Winter Olympics

March 31, 2022
The 2022 Winter Olympics were recently held in Beijing, China, which caused some countries to refuse to send diplomatic delegates to the games, including the United States. This conflict stems from the current human rights violations China are potentially engaging in. The focus of these violations includes the detainment of over one million Uyghurs and […]

In Close Proximity to Their Abusers

March 7, 2022
This article was first published by American University in Cairo’s Cairo Review of Global Affairs. It was published as part of UCF’s partnership with AUC, thanks to the generous support of Jonathan and Nancy Wolf.   As governments across the globe make major disaster declarations due to COVID-19, many victims of domestic violence have found […]

Australian PM Suspends Extradition Treaty, Extends Visas For Hong Kong Citizen

July 15, 2020
On July 9th, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the nation would immediately suspend their extradition agreement with Hong Kong (Reuters). This decision came as a direct response to the passing of China’s controversial national security law in Hong Kong (CNN). Opponents of the security law stated that it would drastically reduce many democratic […]

Turkey Convicts Human Rights Activists on Terrorism Charges

July 13, 2020
On Friday, July 3rd, a Turkish court convicted four human rights activists on terrorism-related charges (NYT). Taner Kilic, former chairman of Amnesty International Turkey, was sentenced to over six years in prison for charges of being a member of a terrorist organization (NYT). Three other human rights activists were convicted of assisting a terrorist organization, […]

U.S. State Department Versus Human Rights Groups

July 1, 2020
Human rights groups are growing increasingly concerned over Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s “Commission on Unalienable Rights” (Al Jazeera). Pompeo is reexamining human rights in U.S. foreign policy, determining what human rights the U.S. will recognize and protect abroad (HRW). Over 160 human rights groups and advocates have publicly voiced fear over the commission’s work […]

Human Traffickers Demanding Payment for Rohingya Refugees

June 22, 2020
Rohingya refugees, a Muslim minority group fleeing persecution in Myanmar, attempting to reach the shores of Malaysia are being held hostage by human traffickers (Reuters 1). Family members of these refugees living in Bangladesh say they have received calls from traffickers demanding money for the safe arrival of their loved ones (Reuters 1). Victims have […]

Domestic Violence Battlegrounds Worsen Due to COVID-19 Crisis

April 22, 2020
As governments worldwide made major disaster declarations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many victims of domestic violence found themselves locked at home with their abusers. Forced to shelter in place, victims of domestic abuse all over the world became even more vulnerable. UN Secretary General António Guterres urged all governments to put women’s safety first […]