Journalists and activist opposed to the Kremlin are under political fire from the Russian government. Nevertheless independent media is unwavering and has a growing appeal of alternative truths. Floriana Fossato shines a light on two women at the center of the harassment reports.

Joe Schumacher interviews J. Paul Martin, executive director of the Center for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, New York Dr. Martin, together with Professor Louis Henkin (University Professor Emeritus/Special Service Professor, Columbia University), founded the Center in 1978, and has served as its executive director ever since.

Women's rights groups are trying to give their cause a lift and work past its token status. Slowed by cultural asymmetry and the bureaucracy of international organizations, the fight continues. Ilkkaracan explores the ins and outs of women's rights campaigns around the globe.

Sympathy and pity come naturally. But truly understanding a person or group of people may require you to put yourself in their shoes, and that requires empathy. A careful process of teaching and field trips can lead students toward this frame of mind, and a greater understanding of the people

Nansiri Iamsuk discusses the complex challenge posed to human rights and peace by the multi-billion dollar human trafficking industry. Focusing on Southeast Asia, Iamsuk shows how victims are deceived and exploited by international criminals, and then ignored or mistreated by governments and/or NGOs that are supposed to help them. Key words:

After 30 years, a tribunal has finally been established to bring some of those responsible for the Khmer Rouge attrocities to justice. As Sopheada Phy demonstrates, however, the limited scope and poor design of this tribunal will ensure that the justice served will be superficial at best, as many of

The Weird Torture Debate Author: Peter Krupa Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 12/16/2005 Category: Editorial The current debate in the US over torture is unbelievably weird. First of all, it’s weird that there’s a debate at all. For a long time the US has prided itself on

A recent conference at Columbia University brought vividly to life the events of May 13, 2005 in Andijan, Uzbekistan. Journalists and human rights advocates told riveting tales of the massacre there, where it is estimated over 700 people were murdered. Almost a year has passed now, but in many hearts

As Francesca Musiani writes, the widest mass of Internet end users is now located in an undemocratic country, allowing only a “tamed” version of the Internet, wrapped in state censorship and control. In this special report, Musiani discusses the unique Chinese internet experience and the implications of media regulation on

Thompson Ugiagbe analyzes the African Court of Justice and Human Rights by examining the court´s use of ratione materiae, ratione personae and ratione temporis . After a careful examination of the challenges the court faces, including accessibility, accountability and unclear provisions, Ugiagbe stresses the need for the Court to