Supreme Federal Court of Brazil Resumes Discussions on Decriminalisation of Personal Use of Cannabis
In 2006, Brazil implemented a new drug law which continued to criminalise various activities related to illegal drugs, such as buying, possessing, transporting, or cultivating them for personal use. However,...
The Wait is Coming to an End: The Brazilian Supreme Court’s Promising Opportunity to Finally Decriminalise Abortion up to 12 Weeks
In September 2023, a key event changed the direction of discussions about the criminalisation of abortion in Brazil: Justice Rosa Weber, rapporteur of ADPF 442 –Brazilian acronym for “Claim of...
Depathologising Gender Identity at the United Nations: A Call to South Africa
On 29 March 2023, a cross-regional group of countries led by Argentina, called for United Nations Member States to implement laws and policies based on self-determined gender identity. This reform...
Life-Saving At a High Cost: The Case for Provision of Rare Disease Treatments Being a Human Right
Earlier this year, Brazilian authorities added Zolgesma, once “the world’s most expensive medical treatment to date,” to the country’s mandatory coverage list. The medication treats Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare...
La violencia obstétrica y su reconocimiento por la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
Desde hace algunos años, la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (Corte IDH) ha desarrollado estándares en materia de derechos sexuales y reproductivos. Sin embargo, la Corte se ha encontrada reacia...
Obstetric Violence and its Recognition by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
For some years the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACoHR) has been developing standards regarding sexual and reproductive rights. However, the court has proven reluctant to recognise obstetric violence as...
The Paris Agreement as a Human Rights Treaty: PSB et al. v Brazil
Image description: Satellite image of Brazil during natural disaster crisis in 2020 In late October, Brazil ousted incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro and elected Lula, who has since promised to cut...
“That’s the Key Question: Institutional Responsibility for Inequality (Episode 4)
Human rights experts reveal how we could reform equality law to make sure it protects the most vulnerable in times of crisis. This is the last episode of a four-part...
“…Patriarchal Mentality”: The Functioning of Equality Law in Crisis (Episode 2)
Human rights experts help us determine whether equality law is set up to protect the most vulnerable in times of crisis. This is Episode Two of a four-part series. The...
“I Can Hear Another Ambulance”: The Rise of Exponential Inequalities During COVID-19 (Episode 1)
Human rights experts tell stories of inequalities from around the world, revealing how these inequalities have been exacerbated during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. This is Episode One of a...
The Inter-American Human Rights System on Public Security and Police Violence in Brazil: In Defence of a Rights-Based Approach to Security Policies
Three years after the “Favela Nova Brasília” case, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (‘IACtHR’) is hearing a second police violence case against Brazil, the “Castelinho”. The human rights violations...
Challenging Regression in Climate Commitments: Doctrine of ‘Non-Retrogression’ to the Rescue?
Amidst the wave of new climate commitments or nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from Parties to the Paris Agreement (PA) in the run up to COP26, there were some which ran...
