Human Rights

,

Thailand's New Marriage Equality Bill: Examining the Conditions and Implication for SOGI Minorities in Southeast Asia

,
Thailand's New Marriage Equality Bill: Examining the Conditions and Implication for SOGI Minorities in Southeast Asia

On June 18, 2024, Thailand's Senate approved a landmark marriage equality bill, making Thailand the first ASEAN country to legalise same-sex marriage. This progressive move marks a significant advancement in LGBTQ+ rights in the region. Despite Thailand's leadership, Southeast Asia remains largely hostile towards SOGI minorities, with many countries enforcing laws that criminalise non-hetero-cis identities. The article highlights the historical and political context influence of these laws that shows the role that colonial legacies and contemporary Western influences have in the life of queer people in the region. It also underscores the urgent need for broader regional reforms and the potential for Thailand to inspire similar advancements in neighbouring countries.

,

Bolivia’s Political Turmoil

,
Bolivia’s Political Turmoil

This article examines the persistent political instability in Bolivia and underscores the critical need to address its deep conflicts stemming from the profound division of the ruling party and the political polarisation. By analisyng key events and prominent figures, the article seeks to offer a thorough understanding of the ongoing turmoil and the governance challenges it presents.

Nicaragua: Democracy on the Brink

Nicaragua: Democracy on the Brink

After a long-lasting revolution started in 1961, decades of armed conflict and the complex establishment of democracy since the late 1980s, Nicaragua once again faces an uncertain future. The repression carried out by the ruling Ortega-Murillo family has grown exponentially since the 2018 protests, spreading to almost all sectors of society and reaching unprecedented proportions. Its last move was expelling and stripping the citizenship to more than 200 political prisoners.