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Gender apartheid in Iran and Afghanistan: Recognising the crime in international law
Women in Iran are under direct attack by the Iranian regime, and in Afghanistan, the Taliban wishes to erase them from society completely. The situation worsens when intersectional factors are taken into consideration, such as ethnicity and religion. While gender-based persecution is recognised as one of the crimes against humanity, segregation and subjugation on the…
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Russia’s invasion is wreaking havoc with surrogacy in Ukraine. It shows why Australia must change its laws
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a nightmare for prospective parents engaged in surrogacy arrangements in the country. Ukraine has become a popular destination for surrogacy. While exact numbers are difficult to obtain, it’s estimated between 2,000 and 2,500 babies are born each year via surrogacy in Ukraine.
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Explainer: The international courts investigating Russia’s Ukraine invasion, and how they differ
Last week, it was announced that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor was opening an investigation into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, examining whether any war crimes had been committed. Then this week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) held a preliminary hearing into the Ukrainian demand that it issue an emergency order that Russia stop its…
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‘All in this together’: Similarity, difference, or none of the above?
Today marks what the United Nations calls ‘International Human Solidarity Day’. The idea of solidarity across borders is appealing, particularly in light of the many global crises that challenge the enjoyment of human rights. But can we conceptualise solidarity in a manner which enables it to go beyond mere rhetoric? Does it (or can it)…
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The foreign policy response to the situation for women in Afghanistan: From optics to effective change?
Concerns for the rights of Afghan women and girls were used to leverage support for the war in Afghanistan from start to finish. In her famous radio address at the beginning of the war, Laura Bush urged Western governments and the international community to amplify and protect the voice of Afghan women. Throughout the duration…
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law 