Human rights

The Latest

Harriet Tubman. Public Domain.

Harriet Tubman, new face of 20 dollar bill, praised for her faith

Apr 20, 2016

As the U.S. treasury announces the legendary Harriet Tubman as the new face of the 20 dollar bill, she also... Read more

Portrait of Samburu woman in Kenya, Africa on Nov. 8, 2008.

Vatican diplomacy zeros-in on human rights in Africa

Mar 30, 2016

In a region fraught with political, ethnic and religious divisions, the Central African Republic's motto of “Unity, Dignity, and Work”... Read more

Yes, ISIS is guilty of genocide, says European human rights group

Jan 28, 2016

By Matt Hadro

Europe’s leading human rights body passed a resolution on Wednesday calling ISIS atrocities a “genocide,” a week before the European... Read more

Why China's two-child policy won't alter its human rights horrors

Jan 25, 2016

By Matt Hadro

The dark nature of abortion and choice come into sharp relief when considering the human rights abuses which result from... Read more

Flag of China.

China's abuses take spotlight on Human Rights Day

Dec 10, 2015

By Matt Hadro

As the world observes Human Rights Day, advocates have turned their focus to China for its egregious abuses, particularly the... Read more

Robot.

Killer robots? They're a real issue – and here's what the Vatican has to say

Dec 2, 2015

No longer relegated to mere science-fiction, robots – built to kill people – play an increasing role in fighting terrorism... Read more

Creidt:Yang and Yun via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

A bloody secret still haunts the diamond industry

Jul 5, 2015

By Adelaide Mena

Imagine being woken up in the middle of the night by a dark figure in your room. He presses a... Read more

Venezuela flag.

Venezuelan hunger strikers arrive at the Vatican with a plea

Jun 11, 2015

By Elise Harris

Two Venezuelans on a hunger strike came to Rome ahead of Pope Francis' scheduled meeting with their president, asking the... Read more

Holocaust Memorial, Berlin on Sept. 21, 2014.

Does 'never again' have any meaning? Human rights after the Holocaust

Feb 1, 2015

By Adelaide Mena

Even though it ended seventy years ago, the Holocaust still gives a stark and relevant warning on dehumanization and persecution... Read more

Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett speaks at a press conference to announce the Defending Freedoms project Dec 6, 2012.

Prisoners of conscience remembered on Human Rights Day

Dec 11, 2014

By Matt Hadro

On International Human Rights Day, advocates drew attention to prisoners of conscience around the world who are being detained for... Read more

Bishop condemns acts of torture detailed in damning Senate report

Dec 10, 2014

By Matt Hadro

Beatings. Sleep deprivation. Death by hypothermia. Isolation. A Senate report released Tuesday exposed a dark underbelly of the CIA’s Detention... Read more

Pope Francis speaks to journalists on the papal plane on his way to Strasbourg, France, Nov. 25, 2014.

Is dialogue with terrorists a lost cause? Pope Francis says no

Nov 25, 2014

By Elise Harris, Alan Holdren

Speaking to journalists in-flight on his way back from Strasbourg, Pope Francis touched on dialogue with extremist terrorists – saying... Read more

Sleeping Baby, by Vera Kratochvil (CC0 1.0).

UK pro-lifers throw rare legal punch against sex-selective abortion

Nov 12, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

Claiming that the government has turned a blind eye to sex-selective abortions, British pro-life activists are launching a rare private... Read more

Judges of the European Court of Human Rights.

Pro-euthanasia ruling axed due to plaintiff's secret suicide

Oct 1, 2014

A woman’s lawsuit aiming to change European law on assisted suicide has been thrown out after revelations that she had... Read more

JuiEn Cross.

Chinese leaders intensify push for 'national' Christianity

Aug 15, 2014

By Hillary Mast

The Chinese government recently announced that it will increase its efforts to promote and develop a national brand of Christian... Read more

Wedding Rings.

Human rights court: Europe cannot be forced to redefine marriage

Jul 18, 2014

By Adelaide Mena

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the refusal to recognize same-sex “marriages” does not violate the European Convention... Read more

Bishops hold Mass and procession on US border in support of immigration reform.

Surge of 'desperate' migrant children leaves needs unmet

Jul 3, 2014

By Matt Hadro

As a wave of unaccompanied children adds to the already large numbers of immigrants entering the United States, humanitarian groups... Read more

Zhang Ruli (L) and Zhang Anni (R) speak with CNA on May 5, 2014

China's youngest detainee decries torture of father

May 8, 2014

By Elise Harris

Dubbed as “China’s youngest prisoner of conscience,” Zhang Anni and her sister Ruli have voiced their opposition to the government’s... Read more

Former Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska speaking at CPAC 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland, March 8, 2014.

Sarah Palin rebuked for comparing waterboarding to baptism

May 1, 2014

Catholics and other Christians have criticized Sarah Palin’s recent comments comparing waterboarding to baptism, calling them disrespectful, irreverent, and even... Read more

Participants at the opening of the plenary meeting of the World Health Assembly on May 19, 2009.

Lawyers warn of global push for 'gender identity' language

Apr 9, 2014

Attorneys working for human rights at the United Nations and other global organizations note a growing trend to introduce “sexual... Read more