IN FOCUS

Bahrain: election without freedoms falls far short of democracy

Empty election ritual held in the absence of opposition leaves ruling power untroubled

Spain: a victory in the struggle against sexual violence

The country’s first law on sexual consent comes after years of feminist demands for a new approach to gender-based violence

Brazil: danger averted

Transition process underway following narrow defeat of far-right incumbent by broad coalition under leftist leadership

Lebanon: people take on the banks

Driven to desperation by government failure, depositors resort to extreme measures to recover their money

ECONOMY | ENVIRONMENT

Haiti: will another international intervention help?

Haitian civil society’s voices must be heard in any strategy to address the chaos

CONFLICT | CRISIS

Bulgaria: stuck in a loop?

Fourth election in 18 months produces yet more deadlock with parties divided on Russia and corruption

Serbia: LGBTQI+ people the latest target of repression

Anti-rights groups find dual inspiration in US conservative Christians and Russian nationalists

Tunisia: a rare moment of LGBTQI+ visibility

Post-pandemic comeback of LGBTQI+ film festival offers hope in restrictive environment

NORTHERN AFRICA

Change in Lesotho: how much, and who for?

Newly founded party wins election and enters government – but will it deliver real change?

SOUTHERN AFRICA

UN Human Rights Council takes action on Russia

Unprecedented move followed by rights-abusing states winning Council seats through non-competitive elections

GLOBAL GOVERNANCE