We mustn't close our eyes to violence against campaigning women

Photo: UN Women/Carlos Rivera

This week marked the launch of a sixteen-day UN campaign to eliminate gender-based violence.  As part of the global solidarity movement they want to turn the world orange.  In the 21^st century this campaign should not be necessary, but we see daily examples across the world of how women are being singled out for violence, particularly campaigning women. Read our CEO Ruth Smeeth's weekly blog post about why we must not stay silent.

"His only crime is to believe that Egyptians deserve the most basic of human rights”

Two months ago, British documentary filmmaker Jess Kelly was making plans for a happy future. She had just got married and she and her Egyptian husband Karim Ennarah were planning on a life together in London.

Today, the future could hardly be more uncertain. Ennarah is in an Egyptian jail facing charges of belonging to a terrorist group and spreading false news, with the threat of a long jail sentence.

Read this troubling story about the state of human rights in Egypt. 

“Tanzanians want democracy, respect for their basic human rights and dignity”

The Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has been forced to flee the country, talks to Index about the recent contested election in the country in which incumbent president John Magufuli was declared the winner with 84% of the vote. Photo: Likumbage.

Why a naked feminist statue should remain uncensored

Maggi Hambling's A Sculpture for Mary Wollstonecraft has been roundly criticised, with some trying to censor its nakedness. But, Orna Herr argues that the sculpture’s would-be censors have it wrong. Covering its nakedness merely strengthens its sexual objectification. Read her arguments here.