Human rights

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Friday said that the ICC’s recent decision to resume its drug war investigation was an ideal opportunity for the Philippine government to reaffirm its commitment to human rights duties. The ICC noted that the Philippines was not making enough progress in its investigations to justify a delay in the court’s probes. READ: ICC resumes probe on PH’s drug war “The ICC investigation is an opportune occasion for the present government to take the right track in upholding its human rights obligations, especially for those wronged and violated,” said the CHR in a statement. The CHR has observed the latest ruling that permits ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC to investigate further the death-filled war on drugs instigated by former president Rodrigo Duterte, which has seen numerous fatalities. READ: Total drug war deaths at 6,248 as of April 30 — PDEA “CHR urges the … [Read more...] about CHR: ICC probe perfectly timed for PH gov’t to uphold human rights obligations

After trying for over a year to persuade more South Korean women to have babies, Chung Hyun-back says one reason stands out for her failure: “Our patriarchal culture.” Ms. Chung, who was tasked by the previous government with reversing the country’s plummeting birthrate, knows firsthand how tough it is to be a woman in South Korea. She chose her career over nuptials and children. Like her, millions of young women have been collectively spurning motherhood in a so-called birth strike. A 2022 survey found that more women than men — 65 percent versus 48 percent — don’t want children . They’re doubling down by avoiding matrimony (and its conventional pressures) altogether. The other term in South Korea for birth strike is “marriage strike.” The trend is killing South Korea. For three years in a row, the country has recorded the lowest fertility rate in the world, with women of reproductive age having fewer than one child on average. It reached the “ dead cross ,” when deaths … [Read more...] about How to End South Korea’s Birth Strike? Feminism.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is moving to ease restrictions on blood donations from gay and bisexual men and other groups that traditionally face higher risks of HIV. The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced draft guidelines that would do away with the current three-month abstinence requirement for donations from men who have sex with men. Instead, potential donors would be screened with a questionnaire that evaluates their individual risks for HIV based on sexual behavior, recent partners and other factors. If finalized, the shift would be the latest FDA move to broaden donor eligibility, with the potential to boost the U.S. blood supply. Gay rights groups have long opposed blanket restrictions on who can give blood, saying they discriminate against the LGBTQ community. Medical societies including the American Medical Association have also said such exclusions are unnecessary given advances in technology to test blood for infectious diseases. “Current and former … [Read more...] about FDA eases rules again for gay men seeking to donate blood

Tennessee: Five Memphis police officers charged with murder SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Footage of five officers allegedly beating Tyre Nichols is set to be released tonight, with a police chief warning it is worse than the Rodney King incident in 1991. Related articles Cops face investigation after traffic stop death Two cops allegedly caught having sex in parking lot after cries heard Mr Nichols, 29, died in hospital three days after the confrontation during a traffic stop. Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said the video was the worst she had ever seen in her career. "We are going to see acts that defy humanity, a disregard for life, duty of care and a level of physical … [Read more...] about ‘Acts that defy humanity’: Warning as Tyre Nichols bodycam footage to be released

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 4 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s government said Friday it will promote civilian efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to North Korea in hopes of softening a diplomatic freeze deepened by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s growing nuclear ambitions. South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse didn’t specify the type of aid he sees as conceivable or whether it was realistic to expect those exchanges to induce meaningful diplomatic breakthroughs. North Korea has suspended virtually all cooperation with rival South Korea since the collapse of its nuclear negotiations with the United States in 2019 over disagreements in exchanging the release of U.S.-led sanctions and steps to cut back its nuclear weapons and missiles program. Kim further ramped up tensions in 2022, test-firing more than 70 missiles, including potentially nuclear-capable weapons of various ranges … [Read more...] about S. Korea to support civilian aid to North in hopes of talks

SDF claim capture of ISIS boss in the Syrian city of Raqqa (Image: SDF PRESS CENTER) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info US special forces along and allied Kurdish fighters have netted 68 ISIS terrorists in mass raids across Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have reported that ISIS's so-called "governor" of Raqqa province has been captured in the operation. Related articles ISIS trial chaos after jihadists claim ‘abuse’ by Brussels police Nigerian jihadis carry out bloody massacre of 33 ISIS brides According to the SDF, the terrorist boss Atallah al-Maythan was in charge of leading the ISIS cells including the so-called Khalid bin Al-Walid Battalion, which was responsible for the terrorist attacks … [Read more...] about Top ISIS boss captured in Syria as more than 60 terrorists arrested in mass operation

Haiti: Police storm Prime Minister’s residence in riots after killings SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Haiti police have launched riots in the capital Port-Au-Prince on Thursday after 14 officers were killed by criminal gangs. The government are being blamed by the officers for not taking action against gangs who are more armed than the police. Related articles Varicose veins rarely seen in parts of the world with high-fibre diets 'Might as well live in Iowa' - Montecito locals on Meghan and Harry In an escalation of tensions, it is reported that a number of officers stormed through the gates of Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s official residence. It is reported that officers who are thought … [Read more...] about Haiti police storm Prime Minister’s residence in riots after 78 officers killed by gangs

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine justice secretary said Friday that any investigation violating the country's sovereignty by the International Criminal Court into the widespread killings of suspects during an anti-drug crackdown under former President Rodrigo Duterte would be “totally unacceptable.” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla spoke in reaction to a decision on Thursday by judges in The Hague-based court allowing Prosecutor Karim Khan to resume an investigation that was suspended in late 2021 after the Duterte government said it was already looking into the killings and argued that the ICC, a court of last resort, did not have jurisdiction. The ICC decision was welcomed by human rights groups and by relatives of mostly poor suspects killed in Duterte's police-enforced crackdown. “The various domestic initiatives and proceedings, assessed collectively, do not amount … [Read more...] about Philippines: Unapproved probe into killings unacceptable

Department of Foreign Affairs (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO) MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is prepared to represent the Philippines if needed, before the International Criminal Court (ICC) which reopened its investigation on the country’s war on drugs. “The Department has yet to receive the official copy of the decision from the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC) of the International Criminal Court. Nevertheless, the Department defers to the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General on the appropriate action or ways forward with regard to any legal or procedural issues raised by the PTC,” DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said on Friday. “If necessary, the Department stands ready to make appropriate representations through our Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands,” she added. Then President Rodrigo Duterte and former Philippine National Police chief and incumbent Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa are accused of crimes against humanity due to the … [Read more...] about DFA ready to face ICC probe into war on drugs

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine government said Friday it intended to appeal an International Criminal Court decision to reopen an inquiry into Manila’s brutal anti-drug campaign , which left thousands dead. The Hague-based tribunal launched the enquiry in 2019 but suspended it later that year at the request of the government of then Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, who had launched the crackdown in 2016, with Manila saying it would re-examine cases of alleged abuses. Announcing the probe’s resumption on Thursday, the ICC said its pre-trial chamber was “not satisfied that the Philippines is undertaking relevant investigations that would warrant a deferral of the court’s investigations”. Menardo Guevarra, the chief lawyer of President Ferdinand Marcos’ government, told AFP: “It is our intention to exhaust our legal remedies, more particularly elevating the matter to the ICC appeals chamber.” Officially, 6,181 people were killed in Duterte’s “war on drugs” but … [Read more...] about Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe