International

By H.K. Seneviratne, LL.B, Attorney-at-Law– A way out from the constitutional impasse Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva setting forth an argument that constitutional obstacles do exist for the incumbent President to contest for a third term notwithstanding the removal of two term limit of presidents made on 9 September 2010 by way of the […]

Ravaya, an alternative Sinhala language weekly, which has been campaigning for a democratic governance and minority rights for more than 25 years has now published a public appeal for signatures for what it calls a Public Petition for Reforms in the light of impending presidential election within few months time. The petition is calling these […]

[High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré] 22 October 2014 – At the root of crises confronted by the United Nations usually lies a “complex web” of violations of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights requiring solutions that can only come from more emphatic and comprehensive protections, the Organization’s […]

It gives me great pleasure to speak to you today as part of this distinguished panel. I wish to thank the International Association of Tamil Journalists – or IATAJ – which has organised this forum. I also wish to thank the individual sponsors who back this effort through their varied contributions, all coming together to […]

World-renowned Swiss photographer René Burri, known among others for his portraits of revolutionary hero Che Guevara and artist Pablo Picasso, died Monday in Zurich at the age of 81. Burri, who was born in Zurich in 1933 and later moved to Paris, was hired by the prestigious Magnum agency in 1955, and travelled around the […]

The Human Rights Council resolution is a significant moment for global LGBTI movements, and for people around the world who have worked tirelessly for human rights for everyone. We intend to press the Council to keep these concerns atop its agenda and to ensure sustained attention and action. By Monica Tabengwa, (Geneva) – The UN […]

[Peaceful march of the families of the disappeared were blocked by the Police on 39Aug © Melani Manel Perera] Academics and non-government organisations have condemned a University of Sydney academic’s call for delegates at a human rights conference to go soft on Sri Lanka, despite claims of the country’s war-time atrocities. A group of lecturers […]

[President Salvador Allende was killed by the army in 1973] SANTIAGO Thu Sep 11, 2014 5:01pm EDT Forty-one years to the day after General Augusto Pinochet seized power in a military coup in Chile, a right-wing legislator was arrested on Thursday for alleged involvement in the killing of three activists during the 17-year Pinochet dictatorship. […]

Ayman al-Zawahiri calls on Muslims across Indian subcontinent to join ‘caravan of jihad’ Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaida, has announced the formation of an Indian branch of the extremist organisation, calling on Muslims across the subcontinent to join the “caravan of jihad”. In a 56-minute video posted online on Wednesday, Zawahiri also renewed a […]

The Human Rights Council, on 1st September adopted a resolution in which it requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently dispatch a mission to Iraq to investigate alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law committed by the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and […]

{ Click here for an interactive map showing how the ICRC is helping families find out what has happened to missing relatives] Geneva (ICRC) – In the run-up to the International Day of the Disappeared, 30 August, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is calling on the international community to show greater awareness […]

UN Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay, has said that she remains unfazed by derogatory remarks and accusations made against her by Sri Lankan officials. Speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour just days before the end of her term, Ms Pillay said that she was not disturbed by criticism from Sri Lanka, where she has been criticised […]

[Captured Iraqi soldiers by militants from the Islamic State of Iraq] In a rare move, countries who opposes each other in relation to human rights issues at the UNHRC has come together have a special session on human rights situation in Iraq. The Permanent representative of Iraq has requested to convene a special session of […]

[Irom Chanu Sharmila after the release;AP photo] Sunanda Deshapriya — Irom Chanu Sharmila was born to an ordinary family in the Manipur state in India in 1972. Manipur is a state of ethnic minorities in India, that has been under military control for decades. In November 2000, a special wing of the Indian military named […]

While the government of Sri Lanka entertaining anti- Tamil and anti-TNA Dr Subramanium swamy in Colombo the Indian Government invited 5 member team of TNA leadership to reassure India’s support to achieve “equality, dignity, justice and self-respect” for Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority. The official statement issued by the Indian Government said that “The prime minister […]

Liberals welcomed Gary Anandasangaree to their team as a candidate for the 2015 federal election in Scarborough Rouge Park, following a record-breaking turnout for the nomination meeting on Wednesday. Nearly 2,000 people turned out to vote at the Liberal nomination meeting for the newly formed federal riding of Scarborough Rouge Park at Scarborough Convention Centre. […]

[Irom Sharmila has been on hunger strike for more than 13 years.© Amnesty International] Indian activist Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on a hunger strike for 14 years, has been freed following a court order. Ms Chanu said she was happy to be freed but would continue her fast. She began her hunger strike […]

It was the last meeting of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, with civil society actors that engage with human rights bodies in Geneva. Pillay, whose tenure as the highest UN authority on human rights concludes at the end of August, wanted to exchange one last time with the NGO community in Geneva […]

76 countries criminalize homosexuality- Progress at UN incremental- Activists should focus on violence aspect- Mounting research exposes harsh realities-  (IRIN) – In recent years, the world has seen enormous human rights gains with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. However, there have also been substantial setbacks – ranging from discriminatory legislation, to […]

23 July 2014 The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its Special Session on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, after adopting a resolution in which it decided to establish an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law […]

French far-right leader  Marine Le Pen (Chesnot/Getty Image) Simon Baptist, Chief Economist and Asia Regional Director  Voters in the European Union sent a strong message last week, with populist and eurosceptic parties topping the polls in a number of countries, most notably the Front National in France and the UK Independence Party in the UK. […]

NEW YORK (25 October 2013) – Two United Nations human rights experts today expressed concern about the potential illegal use of armed drones. In two separate reports to the UN General Assembly, the experts called upon States to be transparent in their use of drones as weapons, to investigate allegations of violations of the right […]

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) fighters ( file photo) NEW DELHI/ Sri Lanka is fast becoming a “safe area” for the dreaded Pakistani terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), an Indian weekly newspaper claimed today.In a Colombo-datelined report, The Sunday Guardian quoted experts tracking the growth of international terror organisations that LeT is being patronised by Shahbaz Sharif, the brother […]

The 29-year-old source behind the biggest intelligence leak in the NSA’s history explains his motives, his uncertain future and why he never intended on hiding in the shadows • Q&A with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden: ‘I do not expect to see home again’  Link to video: NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden: ‘I don’t want to live […]