Civil Liberties

Congress should demand transparency and require the U.S. government to publicly release third-country deportation agreements, including with the Central African Republic. 

Environmental human rights defenders must be empowered to design and implement their own forms of collective protection to shift the power imbalance.

The tribunal will be judged not only by the verdicts it produces, but by the institutional model of accountability it leaves behind.

Coverage of key developments, including in concise “What Just Happened” expert explainers, legal and policy analysis, and more. Check back frequently for updates.

The once-lauded Zambian president's nixing of a major digital rights conference shows the risks of lionizing individual leaders without a backup plan.

China's intrusive military, economic, and diplomatic aid to Russia, Iran, and others spreads autocratic practices such as secrecy, censorship, surveillance, and corruption.

To the extent that the Voting Rights Act served as at least a minimal constraint on political gerrymandering, that constraint is gone.

Bill Pulte’s appointment as Acting Director of National Intelligence suggests that ODNI may now be serving a more political function than advising the president.

Zambia’s cancellation of RightsCon is an indication not only of China’s influence, but also the country's own democratic erosion under a government that promised otherwise.

The White House’s new Aliens.gov website uses fear, dehumanizing rhetoric, and conspiracy themes to build public support for mass deportations.

Afghanistan’s justice system took 20 years to build and 11 days to destroy. Former Attorney General Mohammad Farid Hamidi outlines the ongoing fight for accountability.

Poland’s recovery from democratic backsliding shows how hard the process can be -- and why U.S. reformers should start planning now for lawful, durable renewal.