Last month, the first woman ever was convicted of genocide. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, Rwanda's former minister for family and women's affairs, guilty of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, for her role in planning and ordering others to carry out these crimes during the country's 1994 genocide.

Last month, the first woman ever was convicted of genocide. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda found Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, Rwanda's former minister for family and women's affairs, guilty of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape, for her role in planning and ordering others to carry out these crimes during the country's 1994 genocide.

Since mid-April, the government of Bahrain has urged its citizens to sign pledges of allegiance to the country's "wise leadership," saying the signatures would be inscribed on a golden sword whose existence would then be entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, in the category of... well, "sword bearing the largest number of signatures," according to the official Bahrain News Agency.

Since mid-April, the government of Bahrain has urged its citizens to sign pledges of allegiance to the country's "wise leadership," saying the signatures would be inscribed on a golden sword whose existence would then be entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, in the category of... well, "sword bearing the largest number of signatures," according to the official Bahrain News Agency.

Phelim Kine, Senior Researcher in the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, argues that in order for the Chinese government to legitimately address human rights concerns, it must acknowledge the shortcomings of previous efforts and ensure that government officials and security forces follow and enforce human rights protections...

 Richard Dicker, Director of International Justice , argues that any political deal allowing Muammar Gaddafi to avoid prosecution before the ICC would compromise peace and deny the victims of crimes against humanity the possibility of redress.

 Richard Dicker, Director of International Justice , argues that any political deal allowing Muammar Gaddafi to avoid prosecution before the ICC would compromise peace and deny the victims of crimes against humanity the possibility of redress.

Current immigration law often disregards the human right to family unity. But a few provisions in U.S. law allow the government to acknowledge the importance of family ties and to use its discretion to prevent unfair results in extraordinary cases. Last week, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced legislation that would eliminate these discretionary powers.

The challenges faced by the government should not be used to justify abuses on the streets – but that is the accusation facing the police

“Help us, we’ll die,” read a note from 10 prisoners at Muinaina Farm Prison in Uganda to Human Rights Watch. They were right to worry. There is hardly any medical care available at Muinaina, yet many of its prisoners are sick. Why are these people being sent to places like Muinaina? To work.

The obvious fix to an “asylum industry” that allows con artists and misguided amateur representatives to prosper is to lift the bar on court-appointed legal representatives and give asylum seekers the same rights to legal representation that criminal suspects enjoy.

President Obama’s policy toward the Bush administration’s use of torture has been one of splitting the difference — Obama ordered an end to further torture but largely avoided investigating, let alone prosecuting, what Bush administration officials had done.

The Indonesian government has long praised its migrant workers as “economic heroes” for their immense contributions to the economy in their home country.

The Indonesian government has long praised its migrant workers as “economic heroes” for their immense contributions to the economy in their home country.

Strasbourg has ruled that Britain failed to investigate civilian killings in Iraq. This must never happen again.