Major shifts in global politics are fast shaping the refugee protection regime in Africa in a way that threatens to negatively affect humanitarian action towards refugee populations in the region, writes Joshua Orawo, 27, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya. Two recent happenings have substantially affected and continue to affect funding for refugee protection programmes in the …

“Need to rethink refugee protection programming in Africa” Read More »

At this point in the 21st century, the right to vote as a fundamental cornerstone of democracy appears to be beyond debate, writes Brian Dan Migowe, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Kenya. However, those with disabilities may face obstacles in casting a ballot. For many persons with psycho-social and physical disabilities, the right to vote remains …

“Voting rights for those with disabilities” Read More »

Freedom of speech has been a fundamental human right since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Kiiza Saddam Hussein, 26, a Commonwealth Correspondent who lives in Uganda and Rwanda, argues that while we should enjoy these rights, they are not absolute. Duties and responsibilities may impose some limitations as the world draw lines between rights …

“Drawing a line: hate and freedom of speech” Read More »

A refugee crisis provides a hot topic for discussion, with viewpoints across the spectrum of the argument. Shiboni D’Souza, 23, a Correspondent from Bangalore in India, argues that a refugee crisis is a test of a host nation’s character.  The manner in which we treat the weakest amongst us is ultimately the basis on which we as …

“Refugee crisis tests a nation’s character” Read More »

Among the talk about girls and women, gender equality and reduced inequality, Amit Jain, 26, a Correspondent from Pune, India argues there is one area where women are most harmed, yet few people are working toward innovative solutions. What I’m talking about here is the grave issue of the life of widows. Absent in statistics, unnoticed by …

“Invisible women, invisible problems: widows” Read More »

Colonialism is an indelible blight that blemishes the racial evolution of the peoples and cultures of Africa, writes Ope Adetayo, 19, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos, Nigeria. The debasement of dignity it entailed now exists in a new form. The pure evil of colonialism and slavery involved predatory interruption of African histories and the debasement of …

“Modern day slave trade a blight on Africa” Read More »

Refugees mistreatment in Libya requires immediate action, writes Sunday Memba, 22, a Correspondent from Matete in Kenya, but he argues it is also a sign of a deeper issue facing development of African society. One of the cruelest ventures man has forever abhorred is treating fellow humanity as a good or service that can be …

“Humans must not carry a price tag” Read More »

In many places around the world, ‘feminist’ can be perceived as an insult, writes Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, 21, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Ghana. The majority belief that discrimination based on gender is wrong has failed to significantly affect social discourse in the real world, as many women continue to be constricted by societal conceptions of where their places lie. …

“Ghana feminists flipping the gender script” Read More »

Illegal migration has been an issue for eons in Africa, writes Oluwapelumi Francis Salako, 19, a Correspondent from Oyo State in Nigeria, who argues for a united stand to oust the perpetrators and protect human rights. Young Africans, male and female alike, and even the elders, view the Libyan route as leading to an aisle of wealth …

“The Libya situation and the rest of us” Read More »

Societies are defined by beliefs that are intrinsic to the people, writes Ope Adetayo, 19, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Lagos, Nigeria. Because human existence cannot be isolated from religious influence, the question is how differing beliefs influence law and co-exist within society.  Every society tends to preserve the absolutes of its beliefs. Since a country is …

“Society includes a plurality of beliefs” Read More »