Lèse-majesté Laws in Thailand and Saudi Arabia

By Urmi Shukla and Oliver Polachini

In the last decade, citizens around the world have challenged their authoritarian governments. From Thailand to Saudi Arabia, the demand for free press has increased exponentially. In Thailand and Saudi Arabia, citizens desire government transparency and honesty. Meanwhile, their governments have attempted to suppress freedom of speech to protect the power of their monarchies. While civilians fight for a voice, government officials seek to preserve a history of oppression. READ MORE about the laws, both constitutionally-imposed and implied, that allows for absolute rule.

Censorship in Egypt
By Raiaab Ajmal and Sara Singh

Since the Arab Spring, Egyptian citizens have still tried to get their voices heard. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” An examination of the legality of Egypt’s press and expression laws is necessary, as it will affect the future given COVID-19 pandemic governance and security. READ MORE

Fluent ≠ Fitting In: International Students at English Speaking Universities

By Zyna Shoukat and Gaya Chandrasekaran

For international students to truly be a part of the collegiate environment in an English-speaking country, they have to be proficient in English and, although it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, the language barrier always seems to be present. Even for international students deemed fluent, applying the language in practice, especially in a university setting remains challenging. International students often experience feelings of isolation and lack a sense of belonging, which only serves to present further challenges to their daily life and mental health. READ MORE

COVID Vaccine Rollout: Where do Prisoners Fall?
​By Elena Chrysafi and Oliver Polachini

With President Biden’s goal to administer 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office, the United States faces a daunting task. Since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago, officials have debated the level of care prisoners should receive. This discussion has not only taken place in the U.S., but around the world. Public health experts are concerned about prisoners living in close quarters in unsanitary conditions. While some states and countries prioritize immunizing prisoners, other governments believe that prisoners should wait after every adult has been vaccinated. The entire vaccine rollout has been a numbers game: trying to save the most lives in a logistical, ethical way. READ MORE

Institutionalized Discrimination: Vaccine Distribution in Israel and Palestine
By Raiaab Ajmal and Urmi Shukla

As we have observed throughout the past year, COVID-19 has affected every human life. The inequality in healthcare has highlighted the inequities and discrimination in all communities. Without a doubt, vaccine distribution plans have become one of the most prominent issues worldwide, with many leaders facing the question: Who receives a vaccine and when? Israel and Palestine are two areas struggling to keep their populations safe. While vaccine rollout has been primarily successful in Israel, their neighbors in Palestine are still suffering from high infection rates of COVID-19 due to lack of vaccine access. READ MORE

Ableism Around the World
By Ainsley Gill, Raiaab Ajmal, Penelope Xenou and Oliver Polachini

Despite the millions of people worldwide affected by a disability, ableism has not received adequate international awareness and recognition. To better understand this form of discrimination, the state of three nations is assessed to determine whether they warrant being characterized as ableist. The characterization of a society as ableist depends on two main factors: the degree to which disabled persons’ legal rights are secure and the social response they receive. Read on to understand how Ghana, Germany, and the United States measure up. READ MORE

Armenia and Azerbaijan: Animosity in the Post-Soviet World
By Sharanya Swaminathan and Dhanviee Misra

The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two former members of the Soviet Union, has been terrorizing these nations' citizens for almost three decades. The conflict stems over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh—also known as Artsakh— a territory that is the site of a separatist war fought in 1994, three years after the disbandment of the Soviet Union. READ MORE

Toxic Traces of Colonialism in Education, Religion, and Global Health
By Medha Nagasubramanian, Oliver Polachini, and Raiaab Ajmal

With political and racial tensions mounting, activists and scholars have repeatedly pointed to colonialism as the source of these conflicts. Through examinations of healthcare, religious interaction and education, it is evident that colonialism has played a pivotal role in the state of society today. Since the Age of Discovery, indigenous and other people of color have suffered from the careless actions of white colonizers. Because these colonizers disregarded the cultures, traditions, practices, and religions of people of color, these marginalized groups encounter serious health problems and a grave lack of resources with regards to healthcare and education. Now more than ever, indigenous groups and people of color raise their voices against old and new forms of colonialism. READ MORE

Muslims in Xinjiang: A Second Cultural Revolution?
By Raiaab Ajmal and Medha  Nagasubramanian

Since the Cultural Revolution, China has taken it upon itself to make the nation a secular Marxist state. Thus, many religious minorities, most notably the Uighur Muslims in the most northwestern region of Xinjiang, have suffered. Recently, the detainment and torture of Uighur Muslims came to the world’s attention. While many believed the strong Arab nations would offer aid to this marginalized population, they provided little help, as economic ties regarding the oil trade superseded religious and cultural relations. Meanwhile, undetained Uighur Muslims led protests and attacks in order to protect themselves. READ MORE

Internet Regulation: A Utility or a Privelege?
By ​Ainsley Gill and Media Nagasubramanian

The internet connects the global community. Once seen as a novelty, the internet has now become a staple in people’s everyday lives. From education to the media, internet access changes how we interact with society. Because of the prevalence of online platforms, the question of whether the internet is a utility or a privilege has been raised. Regulation of this vast, diverse space is a major concern of governments worldwide as the desire for freedom of speech is on the rise. READ MORE

A Case Study in Venezuela: COVID Crackdowns in South America
By Raiaab Ajmal and Oliver Polachini

Like many countries worldwide, Venezuela struggles to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. Currently, cases in Venezuela are undercounted, and the people are dissatisfied with President Maduro’s plans to protect the country. The Venezuelan people criticize his usage of force and detention camps against all citizens, whether they have the virus or not. Maduro’s actions have also sparked issues with migration as the economy continues to spiral downward into another recession. READ MORE

Native American Healthcare Disparity: A Story of Neglect
By ​Raiaab Ajmal and Oliver Polachini

Throughout American history, the United States government has committed nearly genocidal acts towards Native American communities. The lack of documentation of modern acts has proven to be dangerous for indigenous populations. After the passage of the ACA, millions of Americans gained healthcare coverage. However, the government has still denied the same opportunities to Native Americans. In an effort to mitigate the ongoing virus’s effect, natives turned to herbal medicine, which has been scorned by doctors and civilians alike. READ MORE

The Equity of Remote Learning
By ​Ainsley Gill and Medha Nagasubramanian

The ongoing pandemic  has changed how many students around the world receive an education. Because of social distancing, schools worldwide turned to remote learning. However, remote learning hindered poorer students from receiving the same education as their peers. Although inequity in education existed before the pandemic, remote learning has greatly exacerbated the issue. Technology is ingrained in our society, yet the lack of access to the internet and computers is a problem for many disadvantaged students who depend on education to escape poverty. READ MORE

An Accurate Measure: Questions Shaping the Census
By ​Ansley Gill and Medha Nagasubramanian

This year, millions of Americans will fill out the U.S. Census, a crucial process that plays a large role in determining the allocation of government funds for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. However, what many see as a bureaucratic chore is fraught with obstacles impacting census efficiency and accuracy. Funding cuts, fear surrounding the possibility of a censorship question, ambiguity in the race and ethnicity section, and the limits brought by the COVID-19 pandemic only further the longstanding problem of minority under-representation, resulting in fewer resources for communities that need it most. READ MORE

Defining "Reasonable Restrictions": Decline of Freedoms under the Modi Administration
By Ainsley Gill and Vanessa Baziquero

As COVID-19 sweeps the world’s largest democracy, the pandemic only serves to mask a long-term problem that continues to plague India - the escalating danger to and the deterioration of the freedom of the press, speech, and assembly under Indian Prime Minister Modi. But is this decline in freedoms truly illegal? The Indian Constitution allows for “reasonable restrictions” to be put in place on many freedoms. But what exactly constitutes ‘reasonable’? READ MORE about how these restrictions are defined, justified and implemented and the moral and ethical questions surrounding them.

By a Thread: The State of Europe's Last Dictatorship
By Nikita Guelmer and Oliver Polachini

A fixed election, an autocratic leader and a growing protest movement amidst the COVID-19 pandemic have shaped August 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. As President Aleksandr Lukashenko struggles to remain in power, the Belarusian government tries to crush opposition movements by blasting protesters with tear gas and through mass arrests and detentions. Because of Lukashenko’s conservative political mindset and his harsh attitudes towards opposition, Belarus has been called ‘Europe's Last Dictatorship’. READ MORE

Racial Discrimination in India: The Chemistry of Caste and Religion
By Ainsley Gill and Vanessa Baziquero

Human rights in India, especially for Muslim immigrants and citizens, have recently become strained due to the revocation of Kashmir’s special status and changes in India’s immigration codes. Across the country, Indians are protesting discriminatory laws vigorously in the name of their Constitution. However, it seems like another type of discrimination is being overlooked by many: India’s racial discrimination, a controversial subject matter that invokes strong feelings regarding the country’s tumultuous history. READ MORE

Real Justice or a Government Show of Power? A New Look at the Death Penalty
By Leena Mohammed and Afek Shamir

80.3%: the percentage of the Japanese populus that still supports the death sentence. George Stinny, Jr.: a 14 year old boy that was wrongfully sentenced to death by the U.S. government. 58 countries continue to implement the death sentence, although Japan and the United States are the most developed in this category. Why? Even in the United States, 54% of the country supports the death penalty, despite the more vocal minority that wants to eradicate the capital punishment. Why? Deterrence and retribution. READ MORE

International Relations & the Common Man: South American Migrants
By ​Leena Mohammed and Vanessa Baziquero

For decades, South American migrants have made the dangerous trek to seek refuge in the United States. Recently, the amount of migrants fleeing violence and other dire situations has dramatically increased, thus forcing the United States and Mexico to confront the issue. Mexican and American officials struggle with the upkeep of their shared border, while migrants from all over South America await a decision that will change their futures, which is already in doubt. ​READ MORE

Guantanamo Bay: Case Studies & Rights Violations
By Afek Shamir and Ainsley Gill

 Guantánamo prison has long remained elusive, both of the public and of the law. As detainees are released, they share their stories. As case studies, former inmates reveal the extralegal actions taken on behalf of the U.S. government at Guantánamo, justified by the fact that most inmates are considered national security threats, despite not being tried. READ MORE

BLM & Modern Repercussions of Apartheid
By Afek Shamir

In 1948, the National Party of South Africa introduced apartheid, a discriminatory system of extreme racial segregation. Most notably, the white minority controlled the actions of a black majority. Although apartheid ended in the early 1990s, the black majority in South Africa still experience systemic racism due to the country’s discriminatory past. Despite several attempts to reclaim the African country, black citizens suffer from economic and political oppression, which are a result of the country’s dark history of apartheid. ​READ MORE

Countering Terrorism: A New Excuse to Undermine Free Speech
By Leena Mohammed and Raiaab Ajmal

On June 1st, 2020, House Speaker Cayetano called upon the Filipino president to approve the recent Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. The Philippines, like many countries worldwide, has struggled with terrorism infiltration. Thus, the country suffers from compromised security and instability. While some Filipinos view the bill as an invasion of privacy and a restriction on freedom of speech, the government believes that the act is necessary in order to keep the majority of citizens safe. The real question is, what are people willing to sacrifice for personal and national safety? READ MORE

U.S. Prisons & Juvenile Delinquents
By Leena Mohammed and Raiaab Ajmal

The juvenile justice system in the United States is a complex web of technicalities. Leena Mohamed and Raiaab Ajmal discuss the efficiency of the justice system’s treatment towards minors. While proponents of juvenile detention centers claim that the purpose of youth imprisonment is to foster education and mental correction, opponents claim that the system is inhumane and cruel. Legislation such as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Act address these concerns, but activists seek to gain more rights for American children in the system. READ MORE

Discrimination in Great Britain: A History of Perpetuation
By ​Leena Mohammed and Raiaab Ajmal

Although colonialism ended in the late 1940s, British minorities still experience inklings of colonial ideology. This includes discrimination in the work force, police brutality, an unfair criminal justice system, their finances, and housing. With proportionately lower representation in the government, BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) individuals encounter a perpetual cycle of racial prejudice. READ MORE

Modern Antisemitism in Europe
By Raiaab Ajmal and Medha Nagasubramian

In Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion...includ[ing] freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” Since, the declaration’s adoption,  discrimination against the Jewish people continues. After the Holocaust ended in 1945, the European Union attempted to enact policies that would protect their Jewish citizens. Despite these efforts, antisemitism is still common and on the rise as more hate crimes occur annually. This begs the question, is the E.U. doing enough? READ MORE

Disabilities and Discrimination in Afghanistan
By Ainsley Gill and Penelope Xenou

In this day and age, the world’s eyes are often on the Middle East. Specifically, in Afghanistan, the government attempts to hide women and children with disabilities from the public in order to convey stability despite having been in near-constant war for the past 40 years. Meanwhile, individuals are barred from receiving proper medical care and an education. The Afghan government claims that lack of international support is to blame. READ MORE about the relationship between funding for people with disabilities and the treatment they receive.

Nauru: Immigrant Rights and Detention Centers
​By Ainsley Gill and Raiaab Ajmal

The remote area of Nauru, an island off the coast of Australia, is where the Australian government established a center for processing immigrants. After arriving in Australia to apply for asylum and/or citizenship, migrants go to Nauru to await their immigration decision. At the centers, migrants experience poor, unsanitary conditions while Australia attempts to process immigrants legally. READ MORE about the complex immigration process in Nauru and the treatment of migrants.

The Amazon, Wealth Disparity and Ethnocide
​By Oliver Polachini and Leena Mohammed

The international community has largely condemned Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s destruction of the Amazon. However, in Brazil, many see his initiative as immensely popular due to his vision that the deforestation and development project will close the wealth gap. As the cultural, economic and social aspects of deforestation are all addressed, it remains important to consider whether the means justify the ends. READ MORE

Reproductive Rights Case Studies
By Penelope Xenou, Oliver Polachini and Raiaab Ajmal

Reproductive rights vary around the world, differing due to regional pressure, religion and more. Cultural tradition is as responsible for lacking reproductive rights around the globe as a failure to act. Case studies in Malta, Sudan and Latin America reveal the state of reproductive rights in developing nations, including those associated to western cultures. Organizations founded by western, more progressive thinkers continue to push nations to enhance their reproductive rights despite their histories. READ MORE