Kofi Annan: his legacy is not perfect, but he helped improve millions of lives
Why the US left the UN Human Rights Council – and why it matters
Professor Freedman’s latest piece on the UN Human Rights Council for the Conversation
NGOs need to step up and keep children safe – here’s what they can do
The wave of reports about abuses perpetrated by aid sector workers in Haiti and elsewhere, including allegations of the abuse of children, should sadly come as little surprise. International actors frequently fall into the gaps between national, regional and international…
Myanmar and Bangladesh strike a shameful deal on Rohingya refugees
Many Rohingya people who have fled the ethnic cleansing in Myanmar are now living as refugees in Bangladesh. And now, the two countries have reportedly struck a deal to return them home. Returning Rohingya people to the hands of their…
Politics won out over international law in recent UN election
For the first time in the court’s history, the UK will not have a judge sitting at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Christopher Greenwood, who was seeking a second nine-year term, pulled out of the race on November 20,…
UN finally apologises for bringing cholera to Haiti – now it must match its words with funds
Professor Freedman’s latest piece with Nicolas Lemay-Hébert is available to read at The Conversation.
Why Gambia is not ideal to host Africa’s human rights watchdog
Rosa Freedman, University of Birmingham and Jonathan Fisher, University of Birmingham When one thinks of human rights in Africa, The Gambia might spring to mind as an example of a country with a domestic record of grave violations. It is…
How rights violators keep the UN Human Rights Council focused on Israel
Rosa Freedman, University of Birmingham Another UN human rights report has been released about Israel and the human rights abuses it perpetrates in the Occupied Territories – yet another report that highlights ongoing violations of international law and that criticises…
Terror attacks on France and Tunisia are much more than a security issue
Rosa Freedman, University of Birmingham As details emerge about an attack at a factory in France in which one person is dead and several injured, comparisons with the Charlie Hebdo killings in January are inevitable. Following an explosion at a…
New push to protect ‘family values’ is a brazen attack on human rights
Rosa Freedman, University of Birmingham Once again, the Human Rights Council has been hijacked to promote the agendas of states who are trying to undermine the very same human rights the UN is supposed to protect. A recently circulated draft…