America’s New Floating Black-Sites

The exploitation of grey areas in international law created floating prisons, black-sites, and the potential for and the probability of grave human rights violations. In its quest to protect American citizens, the United States continuously stretches the boundaries of legal construction to justify morally reprehensible behavior in the name of “national security.” A seemingly infinite … Read more

Cultural and Political Nuances of International Human Rights

The perception of international human rights as being “universal” risks oversimplifying the historical traditions that typically inform the manifestation and protection of human rights internationally. This issue is particularly poignant when examining the differences between Western and Eastern cultures: while Enlightenment thinkers played a seminal role in defining conceptions about legitimate rule in the Western … Read more

Human Rights Violations in the Syria Detention Camp: A look at the al-Hol Camp Annex

The detention camp of al-Hol annex in Northeastern Syria is in a state of dire human rights violations. The conditions show violations of provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).[1] Reports have come out … Read more

Boko Haram Attacks Again: 110 Girls Missing

On the night of February 19, 2018, armed members of Boko Haram stormed the grounds of Dapchi Government Girls Science and Technology College, a school of 900, in Yobe state, northeast Nigeria. The armed intruders surrounded the school and began to fire their weapons causing girls to run in all directions. While shooting rang out … Read more

Applying an Unratified Treaty in U.S. Domestic Courts: A New Paradigm?

Judicial Implications of Treaty Ratification On December 4, 2012, the United States Senate failed to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).[1] The vote was 61 to 38, lacking just five votes to pass the two-thirds threshold for ratification.[2] The ratification failed despite unanimous support from the Senate Foreign … Read more

Politics over Peace: Waving Goodbye To UNESCO…Again

On October 12, 2017, the United States announced that it would withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (“UNESCO”) effective December 21, 2018.[1] The United States cited anti-Israel bias at UNESCO as a reason for the decision, similar to President Reagan’s decision to exit UNESCO in late 1983.[2] The recent decision proves … Read more

Gaps in International Law Surrounding Human Trafficking and Natural Disasters

Most of the modern world has concerned itself with both the atrocity of human trafficking and the devastation of natural disasters. These events leave human pain and suffering in their wake at outstanding levels. A large international effort to create transnational standards of law has been constructed to mitigate and respond to these catastrophes, however, … Read more

Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis and How Refugees Receive Asylum in the United States: Part 3

This third installment focusing on Syrian refugees will address what a refugee goes through when he or she finally makes it to the United States and what we, especially those of us in Colorado, can do to help. Once a refugee has passed the security clearance screening, they then fly to one of five designated … Read more

Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis and How Refugees Receive Asylum in the United States: Part 2

The first part of this three-part series explained what the causes of the Syrian Refugee Crisis are and where the crisis stands now. The second portion of this series will explore the process a Syrian refugee must go through to receive asylum in the United States. This is important information for all of us to … Read more

Understanding the Syrian Refugee Crisis and How Refugees Receive Asylum in the United States: Part 1

The Syrian Refugee Crisis is not only a problem for residents in Europe and the Middle East; it is a problem for all members of the global community. The Syrian Refugee Crisis has become an issue in Europe and the Middle East because the war has created a massive influx of refugees who need food, … Read more