One of the world’s biggest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup, will be hosted by Russia in 2018. This is despite the serious issues surrounding football within Russia such as the racism and homophobia which are rife at all levels of the game. There are also issues surrounding hooliganism within Russian football, which threatens theContinue reading “2018 FIFA World Cup: Racism, Homophobia, and Hooliganism in Russia”
Category Archives: Europe
Brexit: Where Does It Leave Human Rights?
It is almost a truism to say that the nine months since the EU referendum have been tumultuous in British politics. As Theresa May poises herself to trigger the process of leaving the EU, it is important to look at Brexit’s implications for human rights, both in the UK and further afield. What has alreadyContinue reading “Brexit: Where Does It Leave Human Rights?”
France the Police State: The Decline of Enlightenment Ideals in the Wake of Terror
On the afternoon of July 14th, 1789 a mob of Parisians stormed the Bastille in the name of “liberté, égalité, and fraternité” as well as a democratic future for France. The French Revolution was characterised by a desire to designate and protect the rights of man. Although almost 230 years have passed since the mobContinue reading “France the Police State: The Decline of Enlightenment Ideals in the Wake of Terror”
A Return to “Traditional Values”: Russia’s New Domestic Violence Policy
Domestic violence is a taboo subject, one which, as of late, has been at the forefront of the Russian parliament’s political agenda. Though amendments that criminalized the beating of one’s family member were put in place as recently as July of 2016, this progress has been undone by a bill introduced in January 2017. CoincidingContinue reading “A Return to “Traditional Values”: Russia’s New Domestic Violence Policy”
Stuck in the Dark Ages: Abortion Rights in Northern Ireland
In April of 2016, a Northern Irish court handed down a three-month suspended sentence to a 21-year-old girl for ingesting mifepristone and misoprostol, two drugs she used to induce a miscarriage. It was heard in court that the woman – a teenager at the time of the offence – could not afford to travel toContinue reading “Stuck in the Dark Ages: Abortion Rights in Northern Ireland”
Polling, Porn, and Privileges: What Does the ECHR Entitle Prisoners to?
Have you ever tried to go a whole night aware of the fact that you do not have access to a toilet until a certain time? It is not a comfortable situation to be in. Even the mere thought that you might need and not be able to access the toilet puts you on edge.Continue reading “Polling, Porn, and Privileges: What Does the ECHR Entitle Prisoners to?”
Is Russia Finally Accountable?
The United Nations General Assembly held the Human Rights Council elections on October 28, 2016, a monumental day for human rights accountability across the globe. The Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations, which is comprised of 47 states. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, states that “All victims of human rightsContinue reading “Is Russia Finally Accountable?”
Human Rights: Who Cares?
Why should I care about human rights? What difference does it make to me in Scotland? We’ve always had human rights, right? These are questions which no one asks, or at least, no one has ever asked me. Yet when you ask people on the street about whether they support human rights, they will likelyContinue reading “Human Rights: Who Cares?”
Burkini: Liberation by Oppression or Oppression by Liberation?
A woman on holiday is publicly confronted by locals and forced to leave the beach, another is confronted by state officials in a public place and forced to change her clothing, while others are fined for failing to wear ‘an appropriate outfit’. Unimaginable in a country like France? No. Such instances have been happening onContinue reading “Burkini: Liberation by Oppression or Oppression by Liberation?”
Victory for Polish Women’s Rights
A controversial abortion bill was rejected by the Polish parliament on Thursday, 6 October after public protests throughout the preceding week. The law was rejected by a large margin of 352 to 58, with 18 abstaining votes by members of the lower house of parliament, called the Sejm. The bill would have limited abortion toContinue reading “Victory for Polish Women’s Rights”
Protocol Magazine 