Human Rights in the News: May 2021
/Welcome to the May 2021 edition of Human Rights in the News, Woven Teaching’s monthly collection of important human rights stories from around the world.
ISIL committed genocide against Yazidis: UN investigation
Al Jazeera | May 11, 2021
The UN’s Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) has found “clear and compelling” evidence that ISIL/ISIS committed genocide agains the Yazidi people of Iraq in 2014. Forensic evidence from mass graves and digital data from hard drives used by members of ISIS allowed the team to also establish a clear timeline of the genocide. Learn more >
Half Of LGBTQI Students Are Bullied At School - But Most Don’t Report It
Nick Morrison | Forbes | May 16, 2021
A recent study conducted by International LGBTQI Youth and Student Organization and UNESO, the UN’s education organization, found that more than half of LGBTQIA+ students have been bullied at school, but most do not report it. Many say they do not report harassment because teachers have ignored it or done nothing about it during previous incidents. Learn more >
Vaccine inequity triggers ‘huge disconnect’ between countries
UN News | May 17, 2021
“The pandemic is a long way from over, and it will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) recently told journalists. While many in rich countries have been vaccinated, the majority of people living in poor countries have not. Ghebreyesus urged vaccine manufacturers to share their vaccines with COVAX, the WHO’s vaccine initiative. Learn more >
UN refugee agency urges Biden to end asylum restrictions on the border
Priscilla Alvarez | CNN | May 20, 2021
The United Nations refugee agency recently called on the Biden administration to end the asylum restrictions put in place by former President Donald Trump. More specifically, the UN is calling for an end to Title 42, which allows border officials to expel migrants from the US-Mexico border for “public health” reasons, including those seeking asylum. Learn more >
Gaza damage and Glasgow raids: human rights this fortnight in pictures
The Guardian | May 22, 2021
Check out this stunning collection of photos from around the world. View the pictures >
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