By: Sophie Goodman.
Over 140 million girls and women are affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Many countries have taken steps to enact laws and regulations to curb the cultural and societal expectations to undergo FGM. South Africa effectively criminalized FGM and continues to educate society on the complications and human rights implications of FGM.
Image credit: Sophie Goodman.
Read MoreBy: Megan Hall.
Fishing on the high seas is one of the most important rights nations have under international law, but the lack of regulation has allowed humans to decimate fish populations. In 2015, the United Nations resolved to adopt a new treaty to regulate high seas fishing. The Republic of Maldives is a key stakeholder that will be affected by these new regulations.
Image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yellowfin_tuna_nurp.jpg
Read MoreBy: Kylie Cumback.
In the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana’s diamond industry has helped the nation thrive. A handful of sprawling diamond mines controlled by the most famous name in the diamond industry—De Beers—dot the country’s rugged terrain. In Fall 2017, Botswana underwent it’s third KP review—and pledged to remain transparent and follow the KP.
Image credit: : Seth Wenig/AP
Read MoreBy: Morgan Lear.
For the past 50 years, Colombia has been fighting a civil war against its largest rebel group, FARC. Now that a peace accord has been signed and approved by Congress, what issues may arise? What issues still linger?
Image credit: Mijotoba, available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Taganga.jpg
Read MoreBy: Kelly McClintock.
The Cambodian government, led by Hun Sen who has ruled as Prime Minister since 1997, has been met international criticism and condemnation after conclusion of the Kkmer Rouge Tribunal. People are talking about Cambodia again, and it’s not just the indie-film lovers and critics. Can the success or failure of an international criminal war tribunal be measured as a quantifiable result? What about qualitative results?
Read MoreBy: Lauren Kissel.
The Supreme Court of India recently outlawed the longstanding practice of allowing Muslim men to instantly divorce their wives through “triple talaq,” or uttering the word “talaq,” meaning “divorce,” three times in a row. The Court ruled this practice unconstitutional and against the tenents of the Muslim faith. With this ruling, India joins many other counties that have outlawed this Muslim practice and in turn strengthens the rights of Muslim women.
Image credit: by , available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_building_in_Chennai.JPG
Read MoreBy: Inessa Wurscher.
Since 1967, native-born Palestinians in East Jerusalem have struggled to acquire and maintain legal residency. This struggle has left many Palestinians with a tenuous status that may be revoked at any time, leaving them stateless and without a legal remedy. Now, a recent Israeli Supreme Court decision ordering Israel to reinstate a Palestinian man’s residency may mark the beginning of new protections for East Jerusalemites.
Read MoreBy: Evan Bonnstetter.
While mammoth tusks have been collected from Russia for decades now, new techniques pose grave consequences for the environment. Attempts by local authorities to regulate the removal of tusks have been unsuccessful, and while the federal government possesses primary authority it has left this practice largely unregulated. While the removal and sale of mammoth tusks promises great financial reward, regulation is necessary to mitigate the negative effects. The federal government must either regulate this area itself, or enable local authorities to do so.
Image credit: Midmar - Miskolc TDM available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mocsarciprus_04.JPG
Read MoreBy: Angela Gamalski.
Japanese law requires the government operate its national heatlh care system in a sound manner. However, economists and medical professionals have argued that the Japanese health care system is failing, as the current insurance system will not support Japan's projected demographics. Now is the time for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to act on campaign promises and implement change.
Image credit: Japan Health Care College, by 禁樹なずな - available on Wikimedia.
Read MoreBy Jeff Caviston.
Vietnam, a country that has become a welcoming place for foreign investors, recently promulgated new laws that may lead to an influx of investment by casino businesses. However, uncertainty remains because the reforms are tentatively temporary, investors have been let down by the Vietnamese government in the past, and other opportunities to gamble exist nearby.
Image credit: Charles Haynes, available by Creative Commons 2.0 license
Read MoreBy: Matthew Thran.
Western nations have stolen many cultural artifacts through conquest and colonization. There has been an international effort to return stolen cultural artifacts which were stolen after 1970 but older cultural artifacts have been zealously guarded by the colonizing nations. The Louvre, the Smithsonian, and the British Museum have all stockpiled cultural artifacts belonging to nations like Egypt, Greece, and Mexico which they refuse to reparation to their country of origin. An international treaty discussing cultural repatriation of items obtained prior to 1970 is required to rectify the problem.
Image: Canadian Museum of Civilization, by Wladyslaw/Wikimedia
Read MoreBy: Amanda Carmichael.
The “War on Drugs” in Indonesia has been evolving over the last couple of years, yet the problems related to drugs in this country remain. The President of Indonesia implemented a new plan to deal with drugs in early 2016 and the country has been executing both citizens and non citizens for drug use, possession, and trafficking. The country has executed 18 persons last year and plans to execute 30 more this year alone, all for drug related offenses. Indonesia should consider another method of addressing its extreme drug issues.
Image credit: Davidelit/Public Domain/Wikimedia
Read More.By: Marlene Zieah.
North Korea, and other nuclear weapon states may be in violation of international law if a prohibition on such use is given jus cogens status - i.e., is deemed a preemptory norm. A ban on nuclear weapons satisfies the jus cogens test because their use is immoral, it disrupts international order, and no nation has used them in combat for seventy-two years.
Image attribution: by Kok Leng Yeo from Singapore , available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pyongyang_Arch_of_Triumph.jpg
Read MoreBy: Max Mittleman.
Concerns over election fraud and hacking have become a world-wide concern. Kenya joins many other countries left questioning the authenticity of election results, with this issue being reviewed by that nation's Supreme Court. Has Kenyan democracy has been given a new jolt of energy which may provide for future election legitimacy?
Image attribution: By JimSlim, information available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:25332612.nairoboi013.JPG.
Read MoreBy: Sarah Faris.
Fourteen nations have contracted to be regulated by an EU regulatory framework for the purpose of protecting the water quality in the Danube River Basin. Austria is a member of this agreement and has been a leader in incorporating this framework into national regulation. However, Austria uses the hydropeaking process to create hydroelectricity, which has been shown to have a negative impact on certain river species. Although full effects are still unknown, there may be a way to get the best of both worlds: protect the species as well as maintain the benefits of hydroelectricity.
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