Tag: Human Rights

Sudden death of South Korea’s first trans soldier sparks military to step forward to inclusion

By Hangyun Kim on March 5, 2021March 26, 2021 Human Rights, South Korea, transgender rights

South Korea’s first known trans soldier, Byun Hee-soo, 23, was found dead at her home on March 3. She was the first in South Korea to have had gender reassignment surgery while in the military. South Korea’s Minister of National Defense Suh Wook said research on military service by transgender individuals is necessary, a milestone in the LGBTQ rights movement in one of the least inclusive countries in East Asia where even the incumbent president, a former human rights lawyer, openly opposed homosexuality in 2017.

Cybersecurity International Relations Privacy and Civil Liberties

Gallagher calls for stricter regulation of surveillance sales to China

By Apoorva Mittal on October 1, 2019 china, Human Rights, surveillance, Technology, US

Rep-Gallagher and human rights experts discuss the regulating supply of American technology to China when it is used to spy on Uyghur Muslims and commit humanitarian abuses.

Conflicts and Terrorism

After murder of Slovak reporter, an uncertain future for Central European media

By Elizabeth Strassner on March 8, 2018 Human Rights

The murder of a Slovak journalist is the second in the EU in less than a year. Does Jan Kuciak’s murder reflect a change for the worse in terms of press freedom, or is it a single tragic blip?

Environment Global Health and Migration

Zika virus effect on Rio Olympics

By Benjamin Cohen on June 6, 2016 Brazil, conflict, Human Rights, international relations, mosquito, national security, Olympics, USOC, Zika, Zika virus

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, are less than four months away and many are still wondering what effect the Zika virus will have on the games and what Brazil can do to protect athletes and spectators.

Conflicts and Terrorism Domestic Politics International Relations Privacy and Civil Liberties

Democracy, Human Rights in the Federal Budget Request for the MENA region

By Satvika Khera on June 2, 2016June 3, 2016 Egypt, Human Rights, MENA, politics, Syria

Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia in an act of “desperation” and rebellion against the government. Five years on, the protests in Sidi Bouzid have set a precedent for democratic governance in the region. With the release of FY17 budget requests for assistance for human rights and governance to countries in the region, we analyze the US priorities in Egypt, Tunisia and Syria and break down the idea of an “overly securitized” approach in the MENA region with the FY2015 expenditure on democracy and governance programming reaching an all-time low. With pro-democracy organizations playing a limited role in a “repressive environment,” how can we leverage on the assistance to bring reform in the political scenario in the region and what does this reform look like? We also look at a 14 million USD request in the FY17 proposal for political competition and consensus building in Syria and what that implies for the region.