Civil Society | Council on Foreign Relations

Human Rights

The Changing Landscape of Global LGBTQ+ Rights

Although LGBTQ+ people in every region of the world face marginalization and repression, their human rights have steadily advanced. The Biden administration has an opportunity to further promote LGBTQ+ rights by asserting them as a foreign policy priority.

by Paul J. Angelo and Dominic Bocci January 28, 2021
Nigeria

Nigerian Human Rights Activist Omoyele Sowore Released on Bail

In Nigeria, causation of arrests and release are murky, and the rumor mill operates overtime. Some Nigerians are suggesting that Omoyele Sowore was released because the authorities are aware of the s…

Blog Post by John Campbell January 26, 2021 Africa in Transition
Religion

Nigeria: “A Nation In Search Of Vindication”

Roman Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Matthew Kukah, in a Christmas message titled "A Nation In Search Of Vindication," delivered a blistering critique of Nigeria's governance and political economy. The me…

Blog Post by John Campbell January 26, 2021 Africa in Transition

Experts in this Topic

Jerome A. Cohen

Adjunct Senior Fellow for Asia Studies

Yascha Mounk

Senior Fellow

Democracy

Dear America: The Rest of The World is Watching

Nkasi Wodu is a lawyer, peacebuilding practitioner, and development expert based in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. On January 6, a large group of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt t…

Blog Post by Guest Blogger for John Campbell January 15, 2021 Africa in Transition
Nigeria

Nigerian Human Rights Activist Arrested—Again

Nolan Quinn contributed to this post. Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, was arrested New Year’s Eve following a peaceful prote…

Blog Post by John Campbell January 5, 2021 Africa in Transition
Nigeria

Amnesty International and Nigerian Civilian Deaths in Military Custody

On December 8, Amnesty stated that at least ten thousand civilians have died in Nigerian military custody since 2011. The report cites Giwa Barracks, a particularly sordid prison in Maiduguri. Previo…

Blog Post by John Campbell December 17, 2020 Africa in Transition
Nigeria

Nigeria's Cultural Efflorescence

Two weeks ago, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian novelist celebrated for her Half a Yellow Sun, was awarded the Women's Prize for Fiction as the author of the best book to win the annual prize o…

Blog Post by John Campbell November 24, 2020 Africa in Transition
Nigeria

Harsh Measures in Nigeria

Human rights advocates in Nigeria and abroad are concerned that the Buhari administration is adopting a policy of repression following the demonstrations against abuses by the police’s Special Anti-R…

Blog Post by John Campbell November 12, 2020 Africa in Transition
West Africa

Anti-Police Demonstrations in Nigeria

There is little sense of national cohesion in Nigeria, and protests tend to be along ethnic and religious lines rather than national. Like the 2012 demonstrations against the Goodluck Jonathan admini…

Blog Post by John Campbell October 14, 2020 Africa in Transition
Human Rights

U.S. Effort to ‘Nationalize’ Human Rights Undermines Them at Home and Abroad

The draft report of the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights provides a gift to despotic regimes and reveals the Trump administration’s hypocritical human rights policy.

by Stewart M. Patrick August 10, 2020
Human Rights

U.S. Effort to ‘Nationalize’ Human Rights Undermines Them at Home and Abroad

The draft report of the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights provides a gift to despotic regimes and reveals the Trump administration’s hypocritical human rights policy.

Blog Post by Stewart M. Patrick July 27, 2020 The Internationalist
Human Rights

Same-Sex Marriage: Global Comparisons

A growing number of countries are legalizing same-sex marriage amid a steady advance in rights for LGBTQ+ people, but opposition remains strong in many countries.

Backgrounder by Claire Felter and Danielle Renwick June 23, 2020
Corruption

Why Governance Matters in the Time of COVID-19

Transparency, accountability, and trust matter now more than ever.

Blog Post by Guest Blogger for the Internationalist June 23, 2020 The Internationalist
Demonstrations and Protests

Affirming Our Commitment to Human Rights, at Home and Abroad

The sickening murder of George Floyd, and the laudable fact that the press in the United States is free to report it and to tell the story of the protests sweeping the nation, has again exposed just …

Blog Post by Michelle Gavin June 2, 2020 Africa in Transition
Nigeria

Perceptions of Corruption in Nigeria Remain High, According to NGO

Transparency International (TI) has issued its Corruption Perceptions Index. As in previous years, its citizens togerther with a selection of international organizations perceive Nigeria as one of Af…

Blog Post by John Campbell January 29, 2020 Africa in Transition