By UPF Webzine Articles/Uncategorized

A Turn to the Right – The Guatemalan Election

GUATEMALA’S NATIONAL PALACE. PHOTO: ROB MERCATANTE. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Every fourth year the western media massively mobilize to cover every single detail of the presidential election of the United States of America.

Meanwhile, other states hold elections that pass by without anyone taking notice. One of these countries is Guatemala, a small country in Central America known for its ancient pyramids (that appear as the rebel base in the Star Wars IV – A New Hope), Mayan culture, and a long and bloody civil war. In 1996, Guatemala came out of a 36 year long civil war in which 200,000 people were killed, of which 83% were indigenous, and has since embarked on a difficult path towards democracy and development.

By UPF Webzine Articles/Uncategorized

Women’s Rights in Pakistan – Interview with Hina Jilani

Hina Jilani at the Second Session of Human Rights Council, Geneva in 2006. Photo: United Nations Information Service. flickr

Last week Hina Jilani was invited by the Raoul Wallenberg Institute and the Lund University to give a lecture in the memory of the late Swedish Foreign Minister – Anna Lindh. Ms. Jilani has been fighting for the human rights for over 30 years, not only in her home country, Pakistan but around the world. She has served as the Special Representative to the UN Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders from 2000 to 2008. Her work has been recognized with many international human rights awards. In our interview we paid special attention to the situation of the women rights in Ms. Jilani’s homeland.

By UPF Webzine Articles/Uncategorized

Ukraine – Lost in transition

President Van Rompuy and President Barroso welcome President Yanukovych. Photo: President of the European Council. flickr

The trials of Ukrainian opposition leaders, Yuliya Tymoschenko (Former Prime Minister, imprisoned for 7 years) and Yuriy Lutsenko (Former Minister of Internal Affairs, still on trial), have become controversial not only in Ukraine, but around the world. At the same time the current Ukrainian government expresses a strong interest in the European Union, trying to negotiate free trade and accession agreements to be signed on December 19th. These leave many people question the inconsistent behavior of the Ukrainian government.

By UPF Webzine Articles/Uncategorized

Elections in Egypt

Tahrir Square on February 12th. Photo: sierragoddess. flckr

A step towards or away from democracy

The ‘Arabic Spring’, also called the ‘Facebook/Twitter Revolution’ brought down many regimes in the Arab World. The wave of revolution started in Tunisia, but spread as a wildfire to North Africa and the Middle East. Protests have taken place in 20 states. However, only two countries overthrew the regimes which have led to elections being held 2011 in Tunisia and Egypt.

By UPF Webzine Uncategorized

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Thank you for showing interest in Utrikesperspektiv.se, UPF Lund’s Web-magazine. The Lund Association of Foreign Affairs (UPF Lund), is open for anyone interested in current international issues. Utrikesperspektiv.se is the web-based magazine of the Association. We aim to publish articles which further knowledge and debate about international issues, and which give

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