The Uruguayan Parliament’s adoption of the Equal Marriage Act on 10 April will bolster human rights protections and bring an inclusive society for all a step closer.

The UN has adopted a new treaty that will prohibit states from transferring arms when they know they will be used to commit or facilitate genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

Serious deficiencies in a new draft Arms Trade Treaty text would fail to prevent arms transfers to countries where they could be used to commit or facilitate summary and arbitrary killings, torture and enforced disappearances.

The US and Rwandan authorities must ensure that Bosco Ntaganda’s rights are protected pending his transfer to the ICC, where he can face a fair trial for war crimes.

World leaders must address the poorly regulated global arms trade that fuels grave human rights abuses of tens of millions of people and claims countless lives each year, Amnesty International said from the UN.

Arms supplied by the world’s major powers are among those contributing to the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and blighting the livelihoods of millions of people every year.

Former Haitian leader Jean-Claude Duvalier faced a court hearing regarding human rights abuses committed during his time in office.

Colombian human rights defender Angélica Bello died on 16 February in controversial circumstances after receiving threats for her work.

Uruguay today provided the crucial 10th ratification of a new UN Protocol which will allow individuals and groups to seek justice if their rights are trampled on.