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South Koreans reversed a martial law decree in just six hours, showing how ordinary citizens and politicians can take fast action to uphold democracy.

Far from representing the agenda of a single party or ideological constellation, Mexico’s militarisation over the last few years is part of a phenomenon that has constantly developed over decades, unimpeded by the succession of governments of different political shades and orientations.

Three years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine, resulting in devastating consequences. Yet, there are also hundreds of thousands of individuals in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine who have refused to participate in the war. What is the state of their right to conscientious objection? What about their protection? Join us in this discussion with peace activists and campaigners from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. 

On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia, and occupied Ukraine. However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States.

Invitation to an international Peace Camp and Conference at a major UK airbase used by the US Air Force, for conventional and potentially nuclear weapons stationing.

This quick overview of my impressions, following a twelve-day stay in Kosovo, does not claim to be a detailed analysis of the situation in this country. I was not in Kosovo for political or journalistic reasons, but as a volunteer for the NGO "The Ideas Partnership". This non-profit organization, founded in 2009, tries to fill the gap in education, health care, and school and social support suffered by the most deprived communities in Kosovo (Roma, Ashkali, and other marginalized communities).

In the vast, silent expanse of the Algerian Sahara lies an enduring legacy of destruction, a shadow cast by French nuclear testing that continues to harm lives and the environment decades later.

In December 2024, WRI staff member Andrew Metheven met with Khem Rogaly, a Senior Research Fellow at Common Wealth, a think tank that sets out to “reimagine ownership to repair past harms and secure a future of sustainable and shared prosperity”.

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law. Park An-su, appointed as the martial law commander, announced decrees from the Martial Law Command. These decrees severely undermine constitutional rights such as freedom of the press, freedom of publication, and freedom of assembly and association. Both the President’s declaration of martial law and the martial law commander’s decrees are actions that gravely threaten democracy.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected Turkey’s appeal against the conviction as an outcome of Murat Kanatlı’s complaint, a conscientious objector who refused compulsory military service in Northern Cyprus. The ECHR’s ruling, issued on September 24, upheld the violation of rights verdict in Kanatlı’s case against Turkey. Ankara was ordered to pay the conscientious objector 9,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,363 euros for trial and other expenses.