Local Voices
Just Security’s “Local Voices” section features perspectives and analysis from individuals directly affected by conflict, human rights abuses, and political crises around the world.
336 Articles
High-Level US Attention Needed for a Backsliding Democracy in Central Asia
Voters in Kyrgyzstan approved a referendum on April 11 that expands the president’s powers and threatens the most vibrant civil society in the region.
Combating Transnational Authoritarian Kleptocracy: Cracking Down on Western Professional Enablers
Effectively battling corruption and human rights abuses requires the tools provided by the Global Magnitsky Act - including the ability to target those who aid money laundering.…
Amid Palestinian Election Plans, Time to Challenge Hamas?
A new approach to longstanding Quartet conditions for recognizing any Palestinian government might incentivize Hamas to move away from violence.
Corruption Is a National Security Threat. The CROOK Act Is a Smart Way to Fight It.
A surcharge on entities liable under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act could advance good governance abroad and help create a more stable world.
The Fight Against Kleptocracy Should Look Beyond the West
Efforts that help constrain the enabling environment for corruption in the West do not sufficiently tackle how foreign authoritarian actors turbocharge kleptocracy and the role…
In Haiti’s Political Crisis, US Should Support Democracy and Human Rights
Activists say the Biden administration should reverse its support of President Moïse's illegal, abusive rule and consult civil society on a way ahead.
International Consensus Needed for the Taliban’s “Non-Return Through Force”
With a May 1 deadline looming for the withdrawal of the remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan, stalled intra-Afghan “peace talks” in Doha, and a dramatic rise in violence across…
Decolonizing the ICC: The Situation in Palestine and Beyond
On Feb. 5, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Palestine situation. Here's why the apparently narrow and formalistic ruling offers hope for decolonizing…
Put Yemen’s Civil Society – and Accountability — at the Center of the Push for Peace
Restoring US leadership and values on Yemen requires more than to stop selling bombs to the Saudis. Yemenis need the chance to confront impunity.
Sri Lanka’s Evasion of Accountability Tests the Limits of the International Human Rights System
Twelve years of failed justice must trigger an honest debate on the ability of these mechanisms to prevent violations and deal with historical atrocities.
How Domestic Civic Movements Could Reshape US Foreign Policy
Nonviolent and inclusive, they can provide the energy, dynamism, and power-shifting ability needed to address the world’s interconnected crises.
Biden Needs a Foreign Policy Focused on Sustainable Peace
War and weapons cannot solve today’s most urgent challenges. They require peacebuilding, diplomacy, and conflict-sensitive development.