The Inconsistent Approach to Violence Against Women by the European Court of Human Rights
In two recent judgments involving similar fact patterns, the European Court of Human Rights reached opposing conclusions as to whether there had been a violation of the European Convention on...
From Safe Spaces to Centres of Social Control: Regulating Love through the One Stop Centre in Bhopal, India (Part 4 of 6)
Women’s bodies and their choices have been a political subject and, in several matters, politically controlled by society. Retractions from the norms are met with resistance that could be criminalised...
When “Honour” Goes Viral: Social Media, Masculinity and the Hidden Male Victims of Honour-Based Abuse
Refuge’s recent report focuses upon technology-facilitated perpetration of Honour Based Abuse (HBA). However, many of its policy responses still exclusively concern the female victims. The report discusses the use of...
The US TAKE IT DOWN Act: The Fight Against Deepfake-Enabled TFGBV and Human Rights
On 19 May 2025, the US President signed a new law named TAKE IT DOWN Act (S.146) (‘the Act’), which protects victims of real and deepfake ‘revenge pornography,’ a crime...
Discarding the Marital Rape Exemption: From Fundamental Rights to Vulnerability Theory
Recently, in Gorakhnth Sharma v. State of Chhattisgarh, the Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted a man, who allegedly forced anal intercourse on his wife resulting in fatal injuries, of all charges...
ECtHR’s Judgment in N.Ö. v Türkiye: A Missed Opportunity to Address the Structural Gender Inequalities
On 14 January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) issued a significant judgment on sexual assault in the case of N.Ö v Türkiye. The case...
A Road to Safety: Addressing Domestic Violence in Sindh, Pakistan
An increasing number of Pakistani women are turning to legal avenues to address domestic violence (DV). However, significant implementation gaps remain. The province of Sindh adopted a comprehensive roadmap to...
Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking in Bangladesh: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead
Despite decades of relentless efforts by state and non-state actors—including ministries, law enforcement agencies, NGOs, and donor organisations—modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) continue to be a stark reality in...
Silence and Neglect: Understanding and Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis Women Face in Sudan
On April 15, 2023, civil war erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Services (RSF) militia forces,...
The Right to Protest: Limiting the Right to a Class of Citizens In India
On August 9, 2024, on the eve of India’s Independence Day, the nation woke up to the news of a horrific rape and murder of a junior doctor, who was...
Al Hassan Acquitted of Gender Persecution at the ICC
On 26 June 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Mr Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud (‘Al Hassan’) on eight counts of war crimes and crimes...
US Supreme Court Upholds Law that Disarms Domestic Abusers, But Future Challenges Await
With a significant majority, but in a narrowly written opinion, the US Supreme Court held on Friday, 21st June 2024, that the Second Amendment of the Constitution does not prohibit...
