Photo by Joel Heard on Unsplash As the Vice Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan, I am proud to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to advancing human rights and adhering to international standards, writes Botagoz Zhakselekova. One of the key mechanisms through which we pursue these goals is the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) – a process under…
Law and Justice
Action To Combat Domestic Violence
Photo by Altin Ferreira on Unsplash European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has called for more action to combat the bullied victims of domestic violence who, she says, are often left “traumatised” by their ordeal. She was speaking in parliament to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. To honour victims, the…
Response to Russian Use of Chemical Weapons
On November 18, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) published a report confirming the use of chemical weapons by Russia during military operations against Ukraine. These actions constitute a severe violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), undermine the foundations of international law, and pose new threats to global security. Experts from…
End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Photo by Korie Cull on Unsplash International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is being marked with the launch of a new initiative aimed at protecting the media in their work. To mark the international day on 1 November, the National Union of Journalists, NUJ, has launched its new Journalists’ Safety Tracker….
Allegations of Misuse of EU Funds
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash The biggest political group in the EU parliament has moved to respond to a reported investigation. This concerns a reported probe by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into a possible alleged misuse of EU funds. The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is…
Support Taiwan’s Participation in Interpol
Photo by Sean Lee on Unsplash.com Timely intelligence sharing is key to combating transnational crime; join hands with Taiwan to build a safer global village, writes CHOU Yew-Woei. Taiwan enjoys strong law enforcement capabilities and cooperates with friendly partners in criminal investigations. Being able to exchange information in real time is crucial to combating…
Destruction of Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage
Photo: Alina Bodnar / UNITED24 The recent adoption of the Declaration “Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Ukraine” by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe marks an important step in recognising the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The document notes that as a result of deliberate actions by…
Interpol Launches “Operation Identify Me”
Photo by Sam McNamara on Unsplash An international campaign to solve the mystery of scores of missing women in Belgium and mainland Europe is being stepped up. The initiative, called “Operation Identify Me”, aims to identify women whose bodies were found in six European countries, many of whom are believed to have been murdered….
Erosion of EU Sanctions Policy
Despite the imposition of the most stringent sanctions on Russia since 2014, aimed at crippling its military-industrial complex, the resilience of Russia’s defence sector remains evident, largely due to ongoing support from Chinese companies. These sanctions, designed to restrict high-tech product supplies, have not succeeded in stifling the production of military equipment and armaments in…
Attacks on Judiciary in Hungary
Photo by Keszthelyi Timi on Unsplash The US Ambassador to Hungary has criticised alleged attacks on the judiciary in Hungary. David Pressman was giving a keynote address at the 2024 Budapest Forum on 18 September. He told the event that soon after he arrived in Hungary, he had endeavoured to meet with leaders…










