Witch hunting: 83% of Odisha's cases in six districts, says report

Most of the victims were targeted for “causing health issues or crop failure”

COP15: Marginalised groups urge ‘meaningful’ integration of human rights in post-2020 GBF

Human Rights and Biodiversity Working Group says there are gaps in the GBF related to human-rights relevant indicators  

Thailand poised to become first Southeast Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage

If upper house of parliament approves marriage equality bill, Thailand will be third Asian one to legalise gay marriage

Access to water is a crisis for the powerless

Fair access to water is an issue for millions of people in India. Who controls access and how this is governed needs fixing  

Population populism: UP draft population bill fails tests of necessity, intrusiveness

The proposed law will lead to more abortions and adverse sex ratio at birth

Internet shutdowns hurt much more than we realise: UN rights office

Shutting down internet affect people’s safety & well-beng, hamper information flow and harm the economy    

Will the State recognise women workers’ right to bleed with dignity

The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs has sought feedback from stakeholders on the draft National Action Plan on Business & Human Rights by …

Portuguese youths sue 33 European governments at EU court in largest climate case ever

Case will constitute what lawyers refer to as a “hard case” & play an important role in other future climate applications

NHRC raps Mamata govt on silicosis rehabilitation

At least 250 people from Minakhan block in Sunderbans contracted the disease when they left home to work as labourers in stone and mineral …

Mauritius is the latest nation to decriminalise same-sex relations in a divided continent

Mauritius Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a law that criminalises consensual same-sex acts between adult men

Internet shutdowns: India saw half of all global gags in 2022

The country topped charts for blackouts for a 5th consecutive time; 2022 also saw highest total number of shutdowns worldwide

Globally, 9 million girls face extreme risks of climate disaster and child marriage every year: Report

The combination of threats has created emergency hotspots for girls’ rights in Bangladesh and across sub-Saharan Africa

The World Bank used to cause untold harm — but 30 years ago it started reforming. What went right

The bank supported some projects that were environmentally and socially damaging

Tribal ministry panels draft fresh guidelines for community forest, habitat rights

Gram Sabhas may get more power in managing community forest, habitat

In Africa, climate change has exacerbated modern slavery & government response is poor

More than 3.1 million Africans are in forced marriage and more than 3.8 million in forced labour

Odisha stir against coal trucks emitting smoke: Nearly 170, including children, detained

The movement of coal trucks sparks pollution concerns; police claim no forceful detention of children

US govt halts funding for relocation projects in protected areas

The move comes in response to alleged human rights violations by WWF; likely to deal a blow to relocation project in Karnataka’s Nagarhole …

Gay, bisexual and pansexual men can now donate blood in US

FDA updates discriminatory guidelines; new set of risk-based rules in place applicable on all prospective donors

Daily Court Digest: Major environment orders (October 25, 2023)

Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal  

Pregnancy of India’s first transman: Looking into unaddressed structural issues

Inclusivity, sensitivity needed to overcome socio-structural challenges of parenthood for gender-diverse people

For a day, thousands of scientists halt work to protest racism

The aim was to stop business-as-usual for a day and initiate long-term action plan — protesting, educating themselves on issues faced …

Why Cuban doctors deserve the Nobel Peace Prize

Cuban medical workers are risking their health to break the chain of COVID-19 infection. They have also developed drugs to help fight the disease

Indian activists call for recognition of queer relationships beyond marriage

Trans and queer kinships provide emotional as well as material supports and care, but legalising marriage alone ignores such kinship ties

Same-sex marriages: Reproductive and sexual rights shouldn’t be different based on sex and gender

Denying the right of marriages and a family over homosexuality is a gross violation of human rights  

COVID-19, war and hunger: Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is becoming worse

Over 10 million are on the brink of famine; as many as 400,000 children are at the risk of dying, according to UN