The IHRA Definition of Anti-Semitism at UCL

By Romane Lenoir Coined during the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) plenary in May 2016, this non-binding working definition of antisemitism is as follows: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property,…

Biodiversity and Indigenous Land Rights

by Romane Lenoir The forests of Borneo are a treasure of biodiversity, home to more than a million Dayak Indigenous people whose livelihoods directly depend on these forests. However, in the past decades, multiple government-enacted projects have threatened this peaceful equilibrium. Launched in 2005, the Palm Oil Mega project continues to devastate this environment. More…

Zionism is not Judaism

by Viviana Biasco Photograph by David Holifield on Unsplash As a result of the constant turmoil between Israel and Palestine, the world has seen an increase in anti-Semitism throughout the years. However, this rise has not merely come about due to the “conflict” amid the two states, but also due to the obscurity about the…

The Violence in Columbia

Written by Caroline Gretton The right to peaceful assembly and association undermined by the government’s use of excessive force.  Anti-government protests in Colombia entered their third week on Wednesday, 12th May. The demonstrations were sparked in response to a tax reform bill proposed by the government who insisted that the plan was essential to “stabilising…

India’s second COVID-19 wave: vaccine shortages in the pharmacy of the world

by Francesca Gavins On 25th April 2021, India reported 352,991 positive tests in a single day – the highest daily figure in the world, surpassing the biggest daily rise recorded in the United States (US) in January 2021. Its second wave has accelerated at a near vertical rate. Although, the reality of the infections and…

The Hirsi ruling and its implications

by Julia Antone In its 2012 landmark judgement Hirsi Jamaa and Others v. Italy, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) set a precedent by establishing that European Union (EU) law applied not just within EU territorial borders, but extended to the high seas. With the subsequent migration crisis and illegal sea crossings totalling more than…

Priti Patel’s Asylum Reform: What will come of it?

by Viviana Biasco   Photograph by Julie Ricard on Unsplash In response to the UK’s asylum process, which many refer to as an “embarrassing failure,”  Home Secretary Priti Patel is putting forward a new proposal to deal with the issue of asylum and migration in the UK. If Patel’s plan is held up, we would be…

The Case of Alexei Navalny

by Beth Cosgrove In 2011, anti-Kremlin activist Alexei Navalny nicknamed the ruling United Russia party the Party of Crooks and Thieves and has since continued to redefine electoral competition throughout the country. He has become a prominent figure in the fight against Putin, with last month’s events demonstrating his growing influence in the difficult world…

Quo Vadis, Aida?: The Srebrenica Massacre

by Sophie Smars Last Monday, Quo Vadis, Aida? was nominated for an Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The highly acclaimed movie directed by Jasmila Zbanik covers the events in July 1995 leading up to the Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian war, through the eyes of Aida Selmanagic (Jasna Duricic) a translator working for the UN. 8000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were killed during this massacre by the Bosnian Serb…

Sarah Everard and violence against women: Too close for comfort

By Caroline Gretton Sarah Everard’s murder is far too close to comfort for so many women. Women have been conditioned to be hyper vigilant in public spaces with good reason. However, they should not have to bear this burden. Safer lives for women come with the deconstruction of patriarchy and misogyny.  Over the past couple…

The Future of Protests: Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill

by Beth Pritchett Edward Colston, empty pedestal by Caitlin Hobbs (licensed under CC BY 3.0)  To say this has been an eventful week for the police would be an understatement.   Questions over police power have been circling prominently since the Black Lives Matter demonstrations last year. It must be acknowledged that within communities of colour, these conversations have been happening for years. However, these discussions must be continued…

The State of Emergency in France: A history of its repressive and discriminatory use

by Lou Khalfaoui In the wake of the coordinated attacks that swept through Paris on November 13, 2015, the French government instituted a formal state of emergency. Two years later, it officially ended. However most of the special powers and legal ‘short-cuts’ it reserved for the state were enshrined in the Anti-terrorism Law passed in…