Media freedom is virtually non-existent in the Arab World where freedom in the conventional sense is itself a mirage. But media freedom is now worth a story as things are changing, albeit slowly. The snail-paced changes being witnessed in the media scene, especially in the Arabian Gulf states where Sheikhdoms
A new order is taking shape from North Africa to the Middle East; but as the dust settles down, will the quest for human dignity and democracy continue? Patrick Mugo Mugo analyzes what kind of governance system will win the hearts and minds of millions of the Arabic people: a
Ecuador has long championed the struggle against colonialism and criticized exploitative neoliberal policies in Latin America, however, the government's continued support of resource extraction on Indigenous lands have led them to repress legitimate protest movements, and to violate key legal documents including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Literary censorship directly affects many aspects of media, in many countries of the world. This essay explores the ways in which the Islamic Republic of Iran has silenced national and international artists, thus banning their literary creativity. Chapters of contempt and scripts of scandal are classified as those that deviate
The Bolivian President has promoted a true transition: A constitutional reform, which introduces elements of direct democracy and allows for the postulation of independent candidates in municipal elections, the systematic depolitization of public posts, the ratification of reasonable and realistic agreements (which reconstructs the confidence in negotiation), the rejection to
This paper addresses the wide gap between the good intentions of development aid and its actual consequences for the world's poor. The analysis hinges on the central question of what role morality plays in the political and economic strategies underlying the provision of development aid.
This essay touches on conceptual debates around theories of human rights, particularly as they apply to language and universality, before presenting a narration of philosophical development towards the contemporary understanding of human rights through Greek and Roman thought, Mediaeval Europe, liberal and revolutionary individualism, and the creation of the UN
Thailand is encountering the problematic situation of military intervention and the return of absolute monarchy. Those incidents violate human security, particularly, political security.
Journalist Rob L. Wagner examines the feminist movement’s gains in Saudi Arabia and whether King Abdullah’s royal decree granting women voting rights can remain intact without alterations in 2015. Granting women the right to vote, run for local elections, and take seats in Saudi Arabia’s quasi-legislative Shoura Council came at
New report by the UN Support Mission in Libya and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documents widespread human rights abuses and other violations of international law.
