Geography

Afghan civil society gained momentum on Tuesday with the formation of a national, independent organization designed to promote high standards among civil society institutions through a comprehensive certification process.

Source: UNFPA On the 18th of January 2015 the Deputy Ministry of Youth Affairs launched the first-ever Afghanistan National Youth Policy. The document was presented as a national program for youth, a governmental commitment to address […]

During ten years of civil war, from 1991 to 2002, the children of Sierra Leone were deliberately and routinely targeted, and witnessed widespread and systematic acts of violence and abuse.

In many countries, polling day ends with disputes about ballot-box fraud, corruption, and flawed registers. Which claims are legitimate? And which are false complaints from sore losers?

This report examines how and to what extent transitional justice approaches have engaged children and considered their needs and perspectives, analyzing the experience of truth-seeking mechanisms, criminal justice, reparations, and institutional reform.

Armanshahr/OPENASIA HR & Civil Society Newsletter – issue 106 year VII

The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, and on extrajudicial executions, Christof Heyns, today publicly urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately halt the execution of Saman Naseem

It was subtle, but telling: One of the immediate consequences of the new Afghan president taking office was that everyone around him turned into a note taker. Members of the powerful political elite, accustomed to 13 years of casual politics characterized by grand postures and long-winded speeches, all scribble in Ashraf Ghani’s presence.

Evidence – if more was needed – of the intensification of the Afghan war has come in the United Nations’ annual report on civilian casualties. 25 per cent more civilians were killed in the conflict in 2014 than in 2013, almost all Afghans by Afghans.

Jafar Panahi, the renowned Iranian filmmaker, won the Golden Bear prize of the Berlinale Film Festival on 14 February 2015 for his film “Taxi” and his niece received it on his behalf.