The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has released its Fundamental Rights Report for 2024, highlighting numerous threats to fundamental rights across Europe. The report emphasizes the urgent need for strong and sustainable protection of human rights, noting challenges such as the rising cost of living, widespread poverty, threats to democracy, and ongoing racism.
When the European Court of Human Rights ruled in April this year in the Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz case that Switzerland had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to adequately address climate change, it was a landmark decision. However, it was not the Strasbourg Court that first addressed the relationship between human rights and climate change. A number of earlier, equally important decisions by other institutions paved the way for this judgment.
Since 7 October 2023, the Gaza Strip has been involved in an intense armed conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparking numerous legal debates. Two international courts, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, have both intervened, addressing various aspects of the conflict.
In May 2024, the European Commission completed its analysis of Poland's state of the rule of law. As a result, Poland is no longer at risk of severe breaches of the rule of law. Poland has been facing proceedings over the rule of law since 2017 due to certain actions of the previous Polish government.
The verdict of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court, issued on 1 March 2024, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing investigation concerning the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The Appeals Chamber unanimously rejected Venezuela's appeal against the decision of the Pre-Trial Chamber from 2023 and affirmed the authorization to resume the investigation despite previous attempts to halt it.
In recent years, the Kyrgyz authorities have continuously suppressed independent media in an attempt to crack down on investigative journalism and consolidate the power of the government. As of 16 January 2024, eleven current and former employees of the respected investigative media outlet, Temirov Live, have been arrested on dubious charges.
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the First Amendment of the Constitution, protecting the freedom of speech, prohibits the state of Colorado from forcing a wedding website designer to create designs depicting same-sex marriages and conveying messages with which she disagrees. What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the application of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation?
