Tag Archives: Law & Politics

Uncategorized
Former Quebec premier and separatist leader Jacques Parizeau dies at 84.
  • As premier, he organized the second referendum on Quebec’s secession from Canada, which was narrowly defeated in 1995.
  • His speech condemning ethnic voters as having contributed to the defeat outraged many, and he resigned the following day.
  • In addition to his separatist campaign, his legacy includes his commitment to pay equity and contributions to the nationalization of Quebec’s hydroelectric system.

More on this story at The New York Times.

(Image Credit: Reuters, via The New York Times)

Nationality + Migration
U.S. extends temporary protected status of Somalis in the country.
  • The status is in effect from September 18 through March 17, 2017.
  • With the Somali Civil War still ongoing, some Somalis seek asylum in the U.S. through illegal border-crossing from Mexico to the U.S.

More on this story at Shabelle News.

Gender
East Melbourne clinic takes case against the Melbourne City Council to Victoria’s supreme court, alleging failure to exercise jurisdiction over anti-abortion protesters harassing its patients.
  • The fertility clinic claims protesters attempted to impede women’s access to the clinic, which provides other health services like pap smears and fertility testing.
  • Legal questions hinge on the definition of “nuisance” and whether the Council exercised its power to ensure the protection of women seeking the clinic’s services from it.
  • The ruling could have broad impact on council’s interpretation of the state’s Public Health and Wellbeing Act, which could expand councils’ response to protesters statewide.

“Women attending the clinic had the right to access healthcare without harassment, fear or intimidation.”

More on this story at The Guardian.

Nationality + Migration
Brazil accepts nearly 2,000 Syrian refugees, the second most in the Americas.
  • Brazil adopted measures to ease refugee entry nearly two years ago, according to its National Committee for Refugees.
  • Families find their livelihoods wiped away upon arrival, though NGOs and beneficence organizations help ease the transition through informal markets and language and professional courses.

“It was very difficult to leave our country, mostly because of our tradition…We chose Brazil because we heard that there is no prejudice here. It is a wonderful land that has received us very well.”

More on this Associated Press story at ABC News.

Race + Color + Ethnicity, Religion + Belief
Tony Blair, former U.K. PM, appointed head of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation.
  • Within the Council’s mission to combat antisemitism, xenophobia, and racism across Europe, Blair hopes in particular to counter the increase in anti-Semitic sentiment.
  • Blair notes that such sentiment tends to increase during times of economic slowdown, as was the case in the periods preceding both World Wars.
  • Blair hopes to push for strong counterextremist measures, including more aggressive responses to hate speech and expanded educational programs to promote tolerance.

“It is our firm belief that it is not religion or faith per se that causes or foments conflict. It is the abuse of religion, which then becomes a mask behind which those bent on death and destruction all too often hide. The real issues are far more complex and demand greater tolerance, understanding and legislative powers to achieve a solution.”

More on this story at The Guardian.

(Image Credit: Chris Jackson/PA, via The Guardian)

Sexual + Gender Minorities
Although same-sex marriage is not recognized in Northern Ireland, the Belfast City Council votes in support of changing the law.
  • Councillors vote 38-13 in favor of legalization.
  • Though the vote doesn’t have any legal effects, supporters hope it will help spur the Northern Ireland Assembly to become the last country in the British Isles to legalize the union.
  • Homosexuality was decriminalized in Northern Ireland in 1982, a decade before the Republic of Ireland, where same-sex marriage is now legal.

More on this story at Belfast Telegraph.

Race + Color + Ethnicity
Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission finds government committed “cultural genocide” against Canadian indigenous peoples for more than a century.
  • Report finds 3,201 died while in the schools–often because of mistreatment or neglect–though some research suggests more.
  • The Commission offers 94 recommendations, including the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, child welfare system reform and amendment of Canada’s oath of citizenship.
  • Canadian aboriginals still face structural inequality, being disproportionately incarcerated and present in child welfare caseloads.

More on this story at The New York Times.

Image Source: Library and Archive of Canada, via The New York Times

Sexual + Gender Minorities
Slovak NGOs push for legal partnership recognition for same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples.
  • Initiative Inakost is coordinating efforts to get “Life Partnership” status recognized by government, bestowing rights and protections upon same-sex and unmarried heterosexual couples.
  • Slovakian Ombudswoman Dubovcová supports the creation of the status.
  • The initative is also pushing for same-sex couple adoption rights.

More on this story at The Slovak Spectator.

Image Source: SME

Nationality + Migration
A member of the Federal National Council of the UAE proposes a tax on remittances exported by foreign workers.
  • 80% of the UAE population is non-native, with the country relying heavily on foreign workers for unskilled labor.
  • The rise in costs associated with such a tax could make the Arab world’s second biggest economy less attractive to foreign talent, though the Finance Minister says the socioeconomic impact has yet to be studied and is not currently under consideration.
  • Employees transferred a net Dh45.1 billion ($12.3 billion) out of the country last year, an increase from Dh41.2 the year before.

Read more on this story at Gulf News.

Race + Color + Ethnicity

Slovak government claims incest effects as cause of disproportionate Roma representation in “special schools,” angering advocates for the marginalized community. More from The Slovak Spectator.

Sexual + Gender Minorities

Turkey sees its first openly gay candidate run for political office as provincial candidate for the pro-Kurdish, minority-friendly HDP (People’s Democratic Party).  More from PinkNews.

Race + Color + Ethnicity, Religion + Belief

In a country where “Israel” and “Jew” are often conflated, Turkish Jews grow increasingly concerned by official anti-Semitic statements. More from The Times of Israel.

Sexual + Gender Minorities

In advance of Pride Month, President Obama releases statement reflecting on political victories and unfinished LGBT rights work. More from Washington Blade.

Gender

The Moroccan government publishes first data on its sex-worker population despite social conservatives who have long prohibited such official recognition. More from Al Jazeera.

Race + Color + Ethnicity, Religion + Belief

Local and national politics in Myanmar plays upon and is at times driven by society’s anti-Rohingya sentiment (and anti-Muslim sentiment more generally). More from Al Jazeera.