human rights

Vanuatu, an archipelagic nation in the South Pacific, operates an economic citizenship scheme known as the Development Support Program (DSP). Established in the late 1990s, the program allows foreign nationals to acquire full Vanuatu citizenship through a minimum investment of US $130,000 (approximately AU $201,000). Proponents argue the scheme generates much-needed revenue for one of the world’s smallest economies, funding public services, infrastructure projects, and pandemic recovery efforts. According to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the DSP contributed nearly 9 percent of Vanuatu’s government revenue in 2024—albeit a drop from a peak of 33 percent in 2020, when travel restrictions led more applicants to seek expedited citizenship.

At its heart, this case was about how the law interprets the word “woman” in a 2018 Scottish law that encourages equal gender representation on public boards. A group called For Women Scotland argued that the law should not include transgender women in its definition of “woman”. After a series of appeals, the case landed in the UK’s highest court.

In one of the deadliest incidents involving first responders in Gaza, 15 Palestinian paramedics and rescue workers were killed by Israeli forces and their bodies dumped into a bulldozed pit outside Rafah, according to eyewitnesses and family accounts. The killings, which occurred in the early hours of 23 March, have shocked relatives and raised grave concerns about the targeting of humanitarian personnel amid ongoing conflict.

A new report from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has laid bare the disturbing reality faced by women in politics across the Asia-Pacific region. Interviews with female Members of Parliament (MPs) and staff from 33 countries—including Australia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and the Philippines—reveal that gender-based violence, harassment, and abuse have become all too common in parliamentary workplaces. The findings underscore an urgent need for reform to protect the women who serve in these democratic institutions and to ensure that parliaments remain safe havens for robust debate and law-making.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of Türkiye for the seventh consecutive night following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. The mass protests—which have seen over 1,100 people arrested so far—underscore deep-seated public anger and a widespread belief that the detention of Imamoglu is a politically motivated maneuver by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to eliminate a key rival ahead of upcoming elections.

For the past five nights, hundreds of thousands of people have flooded the streets of Türkiye in a massive show of protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The dramatic scenes, captured under the cover of night, reveal a country on edge—flames and fireworks illuminating determined crowds, while riot police deploy rubber bullets, pepper spray, and water cannons in a bid to quell the unrest. The arrest of Imamoglu, a popular opposition figure and rising star of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has sparked what is being hailed as the largest wave of street demonstrations in Türkiye for over a decade.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that more than 50,000 people have been killed by Israel’s ongoing bombardment and invasion of the Gaza Strip—an unprecedented figure that has alarmed international observers and provoked renewed scrutiny of the conflict. According to the ministry, the death toll, which had slowed during a two-month ceasefire, has surged dramatically since Israeli forces resumed their offensive on March 18.

Ahead of the Australian election, young voters—especially those from Gen Z and Millennials—are expected to outnumber Baby Boomers for the first time, making their concerns and demands an important focus for politicians. With many young people actively engaged in political issues, understanding what they care about is crucial for future policy development.