Inhuman Calculations: How the Hungarian Government Selects a Group to be Scapegoated Published: 24 June 2021 Analysis Hungary voted for a bill originally intended to enhance the protection of children and tighten sanctions against pedophile offenders, though introducing an explicit, harsh ban on the "portrayal and the promotion of gender identity different from sex at birth, the change of sex and homosexuality" for persons under the age of 18. What led to the scapegoating of the LGBTQI community? By Bea Sándor
Sustainably recovering from the pandemic: The European Green Deal – Think Locally Published: 10 May 2021 Dossier The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Europe's economy, health systems and democracy is enormous. In terms of European policy, it will now be important to shape the economic construction in Europe in a socially and ecologically sustainable way. Municipalities are now seen as the new bearers of hope in this endeavour and initiatives at the local level are already making a difference in many areas and are seen as potential drivers of the socio-ecological transformation. The focus of this years’ Annual European Conference is thus put on the local dimension of the European Green Deal. By Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Anti-Western propaganda against civil society in North Macedonia: The case of CIVIL Published: 3 May 2021 Commentary In North Macedonia, it has become the norm for pro-Russian politicians to attack activists, human rights defenders and journalists with outrageous online behaviour, bullying and threats to our lives. My case, as the President of the human rights organisation CIVIL, is not an exception, but certainly is one of the most illustrative ones. By Xhabir Deralla
Hassan Fazili: caught between the duties of a director, a father and a husband Published: 4 December 2020 Interview When the Taliban put a bounty on Afghan director Hassan Fazili’s head, he was forced to flee the country with his wife and two young daughters. He captured the family’s uncertain journey at first hand, documenting their harrowing trek across numerous borders. By Zora Siebert
“A declaration of war”. Poland introduces almost complete abortion ban Published: 26 October 2020 Commentary “The hell of women is in full swing” is one of the most pertinent comments on the decision of the government-controlled Polish Constitutional Court to further restrict the anyway very limited public access of women to abortions in Poland. Although the measure had been part of the public discourse for years, the timing for its implementation comes partly as a surprise. What does this tell us about the further prospects for the rule of the Law and Justice party? By Gert Röhrborn
After Ursula von der Leyen’s ambitious first State of the Union address: It’s time for EU action! Published: 18 September 2020 Commentary European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s first State of the Union speech showed an ambitious and a strategic approach to the many crises hitting Europe and the world. However, words are not enough. They must be backed up by actions and coherent policy measures. By Eva van de Rakt , Lisa Tostado , Martin Keim , Zora Siebert , Anna Schwarz and Joan Lanfranco
Racism’s true colours: institutional racism and police brutality in Brazil Published: 16 September 2020 Analysis Nowhere in Latin America are so many people killed by the police as in Brazil. But not everyone is equally affected by this. Society is divided between those people who “can be killed” and “good citizens”. By Marilene de Paula
Safeguarding the Rule of Law in EU Member States Published: 14 July 2020 Conversation In recent years, the rule of law has been dismantled in the EU, especially in Hungary and Poland. Who and which measures can guarantee safeguarding democracy and citizen's rights? And how will the situation develop in Europe? By Joanna Maria Stolarek and Gert Röhrborn
Green Ideas: Conference on the Future of Europe Published: 13 July 2020 Conversation The Conference on the Future of Europe was supposed to allow citizens to get involved to identify priorities for a more democratic, sustainable and efficient EU. However, political conditions have changed dramatically since the pandemic. By Dr. Christine Pütz
Black Lives Matter! Published: 6 July 2020 Article George Floyd just had time to tell his executioners “I can’t breathe”. His words were heard in Belgium, where they succeeded in toppling King Leopold II, whose face was daubed with red paint when he was not simply torn down. Black lives matter! An autopsy of the controversial movement, which is no longer in its test phase. By Wendy Bashi