On the 3rd of March 2021, the Swedish supreme court ruled that the musician and rapper Frej Larsson would not be convicted for threatening a public servant in his song “Då ska hon skjutas” (Eng.: “Then, she will be shot”). The song includes explicitly threatening lyrics about specific police officers,
By UPF Webzine
Articles/Conflict/Europe/Human Rights/International Relations/Leaders/Middle East/Realities of Human Security/UPF
Yemen’s crisis: seven years of bombstorms, seven years of stalemate
Ten years ago, an unprecedented wave of social movements, sparked by weariness, hope, and a yearning for liberty and justice, led to the uprooting of several autocratic regimes in the Arab world. The mantra “the people want the fall of the regime” inspired millions of people to fight for dignity and
By UPF Webzine
Articles/Central America/Climate Change/Corruption/Democracy/Environment/Freedom of Speech/Human Rights/Realities of Human Security/South America/UPF
‘The future we want’ – The Escazú Agreement and environmental democracy in Latin America
More than eight years after the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development, the first legally binding agreement emerging from it will enter into force in April: the Escazú Agreement. It is praised as a unique treaty breathing new life into the fight for environmental democracy and justice in Latin America and
Myanmar’s Strife
Myanmar—or Burma, as it was known—is a country with a troubled history. The latest example of this came to light in February 2021, when a coup d’état took place, enabling a group of military leaders (otherwise known as a ‘junta’) to grip the reins of power once again. The situation
Women in Leadership – Barriers to female political representation
When you hear the word “political leader”, what comes to mind? A man in a suit? Despite significant gains in female representation in powerful roles, such as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, women remain dramatically underrepresented in political leadership positions. Of the world’s heads of state and government 93%
Modi, Money, and Market Deregulation: India’s farming protests
In August 2020, the Indian government made public their proposed new agricultural reform bills. These were met with anger from Indian farmers who, as a result, have been protesting peacefully since then. On January 26th 2021, these protests turned violent, subsequently gaining media attention and leaving many worldwide wondering; what
COVID-19 Vaccine Programs Shine Light on Global Health Inequality
By September 2020, the world’s richest countries, which represent less than 15% of the global population, have bought over 50% of all available COVID-19 vaccine doses. What is more, high and middle-income countries have additional bilateral deals to administer further doses that exceed their actual need many times. This has
Abortion rights in danger: the effects of rising right-wing populism
In 1960, abortion was practically illegal in Sweden, leading many Swedish women to go to Poland to get an abortion. Yet today, Poland is the EU member state with the most restrictive abortion laws except for Malta. On October 22nd, Poland’s constitutional court issued a nearly complete ban on abortion.
“Have arsonists been allowed to join the fire brigade?”
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of UPF Lund and The Perspective. How the latest additions to the UN human rights council have confused and exasperated many. On October 13, 2020, the UN General Assembly underwent their yearly secret-ballot election to vote in new member
Xinjiang: Where Hollywood Meets Genocide
Why is the world silent about the Uyghur Muslim detainment camps? In September 2020, news surfaced that Disney’s new film, Mulan, had been partially filmed in Xinjiang province in China. Consequently, Disney received considerable backlash from Western media due to the ongoing detention of Uyghur Muslims in this region. This