From free vote to 'foreign agent': Kyrgyzstan's new law hits civil society

In recent years, Kyrgyzstan's rule has become increasingly authoritarian and repression of opposition voices, media and civil society has intensified, reports Freedom House 2024. Photo: Arseniy Kotov/Pexels

Of: Johanna Berzell

In March 2024 Kyrgyzstan introduced a "foreign representatives" law that requires organizations with foreign funding to be registered and audited. Lagene, reminiscent of Russia's infamous Foreign Agent Law, has awakened strong reactions internationally. Critics believe that the law hoodr civil society's independence and limitr freedom of expression. 

January 10, 2025, FUF-correspondents, News

Poverty as entertainment: the jeep tours through Rio

During her time in Rio de Janeiro, Stella has noted how jeeps filled with safari-clad tourists whiz by in the city that is home to over 6 million people. Image: collage in Canva (the people in the image have nothing to do with the text content).

FUF correspondent Stella Monitor reflects on the more and less respectful ways that tourists choose to experience Rio de Janeiro.

December 22, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Chronicle

Youth challenge conservative norms in southern Kyrgyzstan

Inobatkhon Sultanova started getting involved as an activist in 2017 and is today the organizational manager at the Kyrgyz youth organization Noviy Ritm. Photo: Johanna Berzell/Uttvecklingsmagasinet.

Of: Johanna Berzell

— We are trying to create change, to make our country and our lives better, says Inobatkhon Sultanova. For a decade, the youth organization has Noviy Rhythm worked for equality and human rights in southern Kyrgyzstan. This despite opposition from the authorities and the local population.  

November 7, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Interview

Key decision on death penalty in Taiwan

The court building that houses the Constitutional Court of Taiwan. The death penalty has long been debated in Taiwan, but this year the discussion has intensified when the Constitutional Court has to make a decisive decision. Photo: Saga Koberstein From/Utvecklingsmagasinet

Of: Saga Koberstein From

This year, a legal process has created discussions about whether or not the death penalty should be used in Taiwan. In September, the Constitutional Court's verdict finally came. The death penalty is maintained, but its exercise is limited. The reactions were not long in coming.

October 31, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Civil society challenges the silence in Kazakhstan

Photographs from “Protracted silence” by Zhaniya Fazylova. The series is about the horror that women are forced to go through alone, ashamed to share their experiences of violence with society. Photos: Zhaniya Fazylova

Of: Meja Roberg

After a high-profile murder, intimate partner violence is once again punishable in Kazakhstan. While government repression is hitting women's rights activists hard, civil society is strengthening its voice through initiatives like NeMolchiKZ and art exhibitions that promote community dialogue.   

October 28, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Criticism of the UK's aid cuts - and change is expected to be delayed

The UK has been a pioneer in international development cooperation, but in recent years the country's aid has gradually declined. The Labor Party, which won the election in early July, is positive about increasing aid again, but the change is expected to be delayed. Photo: Sgt Neil Bryden/RAF. Source: Flickr. 

Of: Tova Tabacsko

War, conflicts and climate change lead to increased needs for aid around the world, mainly in the global south. Despite this, the previous UK government ruled out an increase in aid in the budget, which has been criticized by several aid organisations. The British Labor Party, which recently secured its own majority in parliament, is on the other hand positive about returning to a higher 0,7 percent of GNP - but the change is expected to be delayed.

July 22, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

Great challenge with gender equality in German-speaking Europe

Women's negative special position on the labor market is often connected to the fact that they have children and are on parental leave. This is, for example, the case in Austria and the cultural neighbors Germany and Switzerland. "There is an unspoken expectation for women to do the unpaid work in the home," says Austrian social anthropologist and preschool teacher Hannah Büchel to Utvecklingsmagasinet. Photo: Agnes Fältman.

Of: Agnes Fältman

In a part of Europe where a woman's role has long meant being a housewife, a new old structure has emerged: female part-time work in combination with unpaid work in the home. As a result, the German-speaking countries have among the largest wage differences between women and men in all of Europe. But today's young people increasingly question status quo and want to see a change. 

June 24, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage

The EU's war against the tech giants could be fatal

The European Commission, headed by President Ursula von der Leyen, has targeted tech giants such as Google and Apple. And the EU's constant war against the tech giants creates a bad reputation among technology companies, writes Jakob Kerren, FUF correspondent based in Brussels. Photo: EU Parliament. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Jakob Kerren

Brussels has repeatedly collided with de global the tech giants. Ofta justified. But the EU should try to shake things up av sig the anti-technology image if you want to have a chance at it the race om the future 

June 7, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Chronicle

The assassination attempt on Robert Fico shakes up an already polarized Slovakia ahead of the EU elections

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt on May 15 and is struggling to recover. Since he took office in October 2023, political tensions in Slovakia have increased, as his government implemented a series of controversial reforms that, according to the European Commission, threaten the rule of law in the country. Photo: European Council. Source: Flickr.

Of: Agnes Fältman

The assassination attempt against the pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico has already left a deep mark and has become political dynamite in polarized Slovakia. With the upcoming EU elections, it is eagerly awaited what the recovering leader's next step will be - continued radicalization, or increased humility and tolerance towards dissenters?

May 27, 2024, Analysis, FUF-correspondents

The EU is torn between its farmers and support for Ukraine

Margarethe (left) and Alice (right) are both beef farmers from the Netherlands. They have gathered in Brussels with other farmers to demonstrate against the EU's free trade agreement with Ukraine. Image: Jakob Kerren.

Of: Jakob Kerren

Intensive peasant protests has put EU politicians under pressure. The farmers are angry about the Union's free trade agreement with third countries. The problem is only that one of the the countries are Ukraine - who need every penny in the war against Russia.  

May 13, 2024, FUF-correspondents, Reportage