Colombia is the latest Latin American country to decriminalise abortion
The Constitutional Court’s decision to legalise the procedure within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy follows a growing trend across the region, which is renowned for its deeply conservative values. Adding to a recent string of legal victories for reproductive rights in Latin America, Colombia’s top court on constitutional matters...
Current in People
Why ‘gaslighting’ becoming more than a dating buzzword is progressive
The term recently made an impact within the UK legal system, speaking to a wider and long overdue culture shift in challenging abusive behaviour. If you’ve ever dipped your toe into the dating pool, likelihood is you may have experienced ‘gaslighting’ at one stage or another. The term, which was...
Understanding Nigeria’s northern region kidnappings
WARNING: This article discusses acts of violence and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised. Across Northern Nigeria, kidnappings have become a source of income for local criminal gangs targeting school children for huge ransoms. At the beginning of this year, a number of hostages, mostly women and children, were released...
Thousands of students walk out of classrooms amid Omicron surge
The UK might be past the height of Omicron’s presence, but across the pond, numbers are climbing steadily. Without proper protective measures in place, students of all ages are refusing to stay in classrooms. As coronavirus cases slowly fell and vaccination rates rose, students around the world have embraced...
What Novak Djokovic’s visa battle can teach us about the refugee crisis
Tennis star Novak Djokovic became the target of public scrutiny and international support after the Australian government decided to cancel his visa. But now that a judge has overturned the decision, the player’s dispensation shines a light on our deeply flawed attitudes toward refugees and displaced people. Serbian Tennis star...
Ethiopian civilians killed in Tigray drone strike
Ethiopia has been facing a humanitarian crisis for more than a year. Monday and Tuesday’s drone strikes have killed and wounded more women and children according to local reports. Over the past two days, Ethiopia’s war-stricken region, Tigray, has experienced drone strikes killing 19 people and injuring dozens. On Monday, in...
In conversation with #HerGameToo co-founder Lucy Ford
Despite a slight technical hitch 10 minutes in, I was fortunate enough to talk with Lucy Ford, mega-fan of Bristol Rovers FC and co-founder of #HerGameToo, an online campaign tackling sexism in football. (Content warning: mention of abuse, rape, threats, discrimination.) Lucy is one of 12 female football fans who came together in May 2021 to launch #HerGameToo, a response to the onslaught of sexist abuse they have faced online...
Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to appear on a US quarter
The legendary writer and activist passed away in 2014 and is now being paid tribute by having her image depicted on America’s brand new 25 cent coins. How can one begin to describe the late Maya Angelou? One might start with her accomplishments as an inspiring poet and novelist, whose books lifted her to fame for discussing subject matter so challenging that some have been banned in certain parts of America,...
Preventing pandemics would cost 5% of the damage they inflict
Every year, the world loses approximately $500bn due to economic fallouts spurred by zoonotic diseases. The cost of preventing them in the future, according to a recent report, could be just $20bn. Though Covid-19 has obviously taken a huge toll on the world, claiming more than 5 million lives and costing trillions in economic losses, it’s far from the first zoonotic virus – one which is spread from animals to...
Sudan’s prime minister resigns amid mass protests over military dictatorship
January 1st 2022 marked 66 years of Sudan’s independence. The following day, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned - leaving the military in full control. On Sunday 2nd January, prime minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his resignation as the head of the civilian government. In an evening televised address, Mr. Hamdok said, ‘I have tried my best to stop the country from sliding into disaster. Sudan is now crossing a dangerous turning point...
