Human rights Archives

Pakistan’s iconic human rights defender I.A. Rehman dies

Apr 12, 2021

An iconic Pakistani human rights defender and journalist I.A. Rehman has died in the eastern city of Lahore after a brief illness, his family and friends said Monday. Rehman was 90. He spent his life defending human rights, opposing military dictators, fighting for the rule of law and democracy.

By Associated Press

Blinken ends Trump rights plan promoting conservative agenda

Mar 31, 2021

In a sharp rebuke to Trump-era policies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday formally scrapped a blueprint championed by his predecessor to limit U.S. promotion of human rights abroad to causes favored by conservatives like religious freedom and property matters while dismissing reproductive and LGBTQ rights.

By Matthew Lee

Vatican official insists religious services are ‘essential services’

Feb 24, 2021

For believers, the ability to practice their faith and receive spiritual guidance are “the highest of essential services,” and pandemic practices over the past year have shown they are not automatically super-spreader events, the Vatican foreign minister said.

By Catholic News Service

Taiwanese president praises pope’s stance on human rights

Jan 16, 2021

At a time when the Vatican continues to draw fire for its controversial deal over the appointment of bishops with China, the president of arguably the most longstanding thorn in Beijing’s side has written Pope Francis instead to praise collaboration between Taiwan and Rome.

By Elise Ann Allen

Top theologian: Argument just keeps ‘foot in the door’ waiting for a saint

Dec 18, 2020

Archbishop Rowan Williams offered the example of Malcolm Muggeridge, a celebrated British journalist and satirist who was attracted to Communism in his youth and later converted to Christianity under the influence of St. Teresa of Calcutta.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Inter-American Human Rights Commission to look into clerical sexual abuse

Dec 9, 2020

For the first time in its history, the Inter-American Human Rights Commission promised to defend victims of clerical sexual abuse, with cases being reported in at least 19 countries in Latin America.

By Inés San Martín

More than 100 UK lawmakers condemn China over Uighurs abuse

Sep 9, 2020

More than 100 British lawmakers signed a letter to the Chinese ambassador Wednesday condemning what they described as “a systematic and calculated programme of ethnic cleansing against the Uighur people” in China’s far western Xinjiang region.

By Associated Press

Pressure on Francis increases over human rights in China

Aug 1, 2020

As Chinese central authorities tighten their grip on Hong Kong and as the world continues to hear news of the alleged repression of the country’s Uighur Muslim population, Pope Francis is the target of increasing pressure over his hesitancy to speak out.

By Elise Ann Allen