Warning: this article contains graphic descriptions of sexual abuse and torture. Relevant sections are marked and can be skipped by sensitive readers. “I was 24 years old, it was a long time ago. But I can tell you I continue suffering from the result of my...
I will not submit to exhaustion. I will not become accustomed to sadness. My heart seeks a window for hope, Two wings to fly, and a lifetime of freedom. I want my hours spent awake to be as sweet as my dreams. A woman shouldn’t have...
Lisbon, Portugal- The international press followed the Brazilian elections closely when it became clear that Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right candidate, had a good chance at winning. In one of the most significant countries for the Brazilian diaspora, due to the historic and cultural relations dating from...
Iran and Afghanistan have a rich shared history. Parts of Afghanistan were once jewels of the Iranian Empire and the country’s population, particularly Persian-speaking ethnic groups, still share many cultural practices and references with Iran. However, Afghanistan’s recent history, in which it has been plagued by...
The current Iranian government is again trying to pass a law that would finally criminalize domestic violence, reviving an unsuccessful draft from five years ago. However, the efforts to finally provide victims, and potential victims, with the protections they deserve are at risk of being undermined...
Since 28 December 2017, there have been several protests and demonstrations in Iran. They began as opposition protests to the government’s economic policies which favor the richest parts of the population, while the low-middle class, although educated, struggles to make ends meet. Soon thereafter, the protests...
Many migrant women reach Europe with the hope of a better life, only to be subjected to domestic servitude across the continent. While it is not as publicly recognised as sexual exploitation, domestic servitude can trap its victims for years and it is often harder to...
United for Iran is an NGO that aims to defend human rights in Iran by increasing the awareness of civil society and engaging citizens through technology. Their project Safe Activism: Reducing the Risks and Impact of Arrest is an innovative attempt to secure the rights of...
According to the Dublin Regulation (which first came into force in 1997 and was altered in 2003 and 2013), asylum seekers have to go through the process of applying for asylum in the first EU country they enter. While this may not have seemed such a...
When a far-right European group announced its crowdfunding campaign to disrupt rescue missions of migrant boats, human rights groups and concerned citizens burst out in anger. Regardless, the campaign was successful and achieved its financial goal. How did the journey overseas go? Well, that's a completely...
Afghanistan’s recent conflict-ridden history has made the country increasingly dangerous for its population. Among the most vulnerable groups are young Afghan boys who face particular challenges that often leave deep and enduring impacts on their lives and on their social standing in society. But the reason...
Mikael Owunna is a Swedish-Nigerian photographer undertaking a daring project to increase the visibility of LGBTQ African migrants in Europe and North-America. We talked to him about his project Limit(less), why it is important and the obstacles facing those who must struggle with being both LGBTQ...
In 2016, a 24-year-old Portuguese filmmaker named Leonor Teles won the Golden Bear of the Berlin Film Festival for best short film, becoming the youngest person ever to receive the award. This in and of itself should have been news in Portugal. The real reason was...
This article is the first in a 4-part series about racial discrimination in Portugal and Brazil. On 13 April 2017, Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, travelled to Senegal. He visited the House of Slaves in Gorée Island and took advantage of the opportunity to condemn...
Most people would associate Iran and Afghanistan with a religious fundamentalism that goes completely against the realities of transsexuality, transgenderism and homosexuality. And while it is true that both countries have a strong stance against what they call “sodomy”, Iran is currently the country with the...
