South Sudan: The Politics of Starvation as a Weapon of War

In South Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon. As the nation reels from repeated conflict, President Salva Kiir’s government stands accused of using starvation to crush opposition and assert power. Aid routes are blocked, crops destroyed, and millions are left on the brink of famine– all due to this man-made crisis.

AfricaKatie PriceOctober 26, 2025Human Rights, South Sudan, ICC, Starvation, Famine, War, Civil War

Crushing Dissent: Belarus’ Campaign Against Human Rights Lawyers

By criminalizing lawyers committed to defending the right to a fair trial and exposing human rights abuses, the Government of Belarus undermines essential international standards and further drives Belarus away from democracy. These measures reveal a regime intent on eradicating independent voices and tightening authoritarian control, while simultaneously signaling to the international community the urgent need for continued attention and accountability.

Russia & FSUSonia ChornodolskyOctober 8, 2025Human Rights, International Law, Political Dissent

Exclusion, Repression, and Confusion: President Bukele’s Failure to Address Organized Crime in El Salvador

The self-proclaimed “world’s coolest dictator” is lauded by his people for making them feel safe in their own neighborhoods, however, President Bukele’s approval rating conceals his administration’s ignorance of past and future rural life in El Salvador. While President Bukele’s crackdown has provided short term success, his actions ignore El Salvador’s history of war and violence that motivates gang participation in the first place. Explicitly, Bukele’s mano dura (firm hand) policies have undermined impoverished communities more than they have helped them and centralization of state power has contributed to a democratic backsliding in El Salvador that exacerbates the class divide between industry elites and the rural population.

The Paralysis of the Past: An Evaluation of President Arévalo’s Aspirations to Combat Historic Impunity and Indigenous Oppression in Guatemala

For decades, the Guatemalan military has cooperated with foreign and domestic elites to stymie public efforts at combating racial and social inequalities. State repression is so embedded into the Guatemalan political system that corruption has been made contingent for the state to function. Nevertheless, various transitional justice initiatives which emerged at the end of the Civil War, such as the Equipulus I and II agreements and the REHMI and CEH reports, carried positive changes to the modern Guatemalan state. The strategies used in this time can inform the Semilla party in its anti-corruption mission.

The Institutionalization of Gang Violence in Trinidad & Tobago

In Trinidad and Tobago there has been a record of gang-related violence that has made life unsafe for citizens of the island nation. Moreover, the gangs themselves are deeply institutionalized into Trinidadian society, even serving functions of government, thus making them exceptionally difficult to remove.

Violence in Peru: The Roots of Inequality

With the removal of Pedro Castillo, Peru has fallen into a state of brutality. Indigenous and historically marginalized groups demand to have their voices heard.