This year’s CESNUR conference is co-organized by the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), Université Bordeaux Montaigne — CLIMAS (Cultures et littératures des mondes anglophones), and the International Society for the Study of New Religions (ISSNR). The conference takes place from 12 to 15 June at the Université Bordeaux Montaigne in Bordeaux, France, and…
Human Rights
The Torch of Freedom Burns Bright in France
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash The ideals of Liberté, Egalité, and Fraternité sparked the French Revolution over two centuries ago and transformed the world. With its recent constitutional enshrinement of reproductive rights, France has reaffirmed its commitment to these principles, writes Alyssa Milano. I recently visited the beautiful city of Paris for a fan convention. Reuniting with…
EU Aid for Palestine
Photo by Michel E on Unsplash The European Commission has given the green light to a second tranche of assistance of €25 million for the Palestinian Authority. It says this will contribute to the payment of salaries and pensions of Palestinian civil servants and disbursed €16 million for UNRWA to provide basic services such as health and education…
Taiwan Global Model for Democracy
Photo by Tom Ritson on Unsplash A former high ranking Taiwanese government minister has called for current tensions between China and Taiwan to be defused. But, speaking on Friday in Brussels, he also voiced concern about China’s recent military exercises against the island which have sent shockwaves throughout the world. He was a keynote speaker…
Global Peace Summit 15 June
Photo from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kharkiv region The daily onslaught on Kharkiv’s civilian infrastructure by Russian forces is escalating to horrifying levels. The world must unite to crush this insidious Russian aggression! For the third year now, since Vladimir Putin decided to initiate the so-called “special military operation,” which, in reality,…
UKRAINE: NGOs rescue Ukrainian children deported by Russia
Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash Human Rights Without Frontiers calls upon the UN, the EU and states supporting Ukraine to fund Ukrainian NGOs rescuing at high risks Ukrainian children deported by and to Russia, writes Willy Fautre. Since the beginning of the year, it was publicly reported by Kyiv that several Ukrainian non-governmental organizations had rescued more…
My Voice, My Choice
Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash Leading European NGOs met in Berlin on Wednesday (22 May) calling to “put reproductive rights on the ballot paper” in the forthcoming European Parliament elections. On the heels of the recent government commissioned report calling for abortions to be legalised within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in Germany, activists from across Europe gathered…
My Voice, My Choice
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash Activists have launched the “My Voice, My choice for safe and accessible abortion” initiative. The “ground breaking” drive, championed by prominent figures in the fight for reproductive rights, aims to secure over 1 million signatures over the next seven weeks before the EU elections. It is said to mark the first step…
Combatting Gender-Based Violence
Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash Socialist MEPs have voiced “regret” over the failure to classify non-consensual sex as rape under planned new EU laws. After a decade of calls and insistent pressure and campaigning, the EU will finally have the first-ever law to combat violence against women – a solid first step to eradicate the pandemic of…
Lyra McKee Remembered
Photo by Eve Maier on Unsplash The NUJ is among those who have remembered journalist Lyra McKee on the fifth anniversary of her death. The 29-year-old freelance journalist was shot dead while observing a riot in Northern Ireland in 2019. Tribute to her was paid by Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish secretary. On Monday, he said: “The thoughts of…