Western Balkans and their uneasy road to (gender) democracy Interview In an interview for the Heinrich Böll Foundation Warsaw, Irena Cvetkovic talks strategies of dealing with structural discrimination, human rights situation in the Western Balkans, and creating a new progressive voice of the future. By Aleksandra Janowska and Maria Puchalska
Refugee protection in Europe: weakened at present, undermined in the future? Analysis The EU Commission, the European Parliament and EU Member States are negotiating a reform of the common asylum policy. The comprehensive reform package contains a large number of legislative proposals that would have massive consequences for asylum seekers. By Neda Noraie-Kia
75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Committed to a Peaceful Solution in the Middle East böll.column The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted seventy-five years ago this week. In view of the crimes committed in Germany’s name and the Shoah, this anniversary presents the country with a particular challenge in this post-October 7 world. By Imme Scholz
The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not be indifferent! Interview On April 19, 1943, Jews condemned to death in the Warsaw Ghetto rose up in an unprecedented heroic struggle against the German occupation. The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the ghetto uprising is approaching. Joanna Maria Stolarek, director of the Warsaw office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation spoke with Zygmunt Stępiński, director of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN in Warsaw about the commemoration, the nature of remembrance, and the universal message that the uprising and its commemoration bring. By Joanna Maria Stolarek
What will Happen if I Use my Voice? Interview Gendered disinformation online silences women in the public sphere. The disinformation and democratization expert Nina Jankowicz explains how. By Nina Jankowicz, Claudia Rothe and Georg McCutcheon
Lowering the standards of human rights protection Commentary On 10 March 2022, the politicised Constitutional Tribunal (CT) ruled that Article 6(1) of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which guarantees everyone the right to a fair trial, is incompatible with the Polish Constitution. By Katarzyna Pabijanek
"Mainstreaming Gender and Empowering Women for Environmental Sustainability" Analysis In March 2020, the OECD Global Forum on Environment focused on "Mainstreaming Gender and Empowering Women for Environmental Sustainability". This summary report on the OECD-Forum highlights selected environment-related sectors and policies, and how they should be discussed from a gender-responsive perspective. By Birte Rodenberg
It’s time for the Green family to show its support for Ukraine Commentary Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine is a tragedy on an unprecedented scale. The struggle for independence of the Ukrainian society will go down in history, and the heroism and determination of the resistance movement will be remembered by successive generations of Europeans. By Andriy Korniychuk
Four reasons why Poland’s war on abortion should scare you Commentary This is not just ‘Poland being Poland’. These actions are illegal, inhumane and could spread across Europe – and this is just the beginning. By Neil Datta
How coronavirus has worsened the plight of refugees in Tunisia Background In the shadows of the Covid-19-crisis, refugees and irregular migrants in Europe’s neighbouring countries are afraid for their very existence and terrified of long-term detention in reception camps. In Tunisia, political provisions are being put into place and emergency plans negotiated to deal with migrants and refugees on their way to Europe. By Fabian Heppe