Ben Ward
@bpward.bsky.social
This photo by Don McCullin of a protestor - taken in 1962 at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis - resonates strongly today...
October 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This photo by Don McCullin of a protestor - taken in 1962 at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis - resonates strongly today...
So let me get this straight - the Home Secretary thinks the Council of Europe shouldn't stand up for people's rights in the UK now because that might affect its ability to do so in the future. Good grief.
October 15, 2025 at 9:51 AM
So let me get this straight - the Home Secretary thinks the Council of Europe shouldn't stand up for people's rights in the UK now because that might affect its ability to do so in the future. Good grief.
October 1, 2025 at 12:44 PM
It is moving to see thousands of people, many of them retired, gathering to protest an unjust state decision to designate Palestine Action a terrorist organisation, knowing that they faced arrest for doing so. The UK Parliament and Government should listen to them.
August 11, 2025 at 8:36 AM
It is moving to see thousands of people, many of them retired, gathering to protest an unjust state decision to designate Palestine Action a terrorist organisation, knowing that they faced arrest for doing so. The UK Parliament and Government should listen to them.
Pretty devastating analysis by @nytimes.com on how USAID cuts have fallen. We knew from our partners that human rights, rule of law and civil society funding were badly hit. These numbers confirm it
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
June 23, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Pretty devastating analysis by @nytimes.com on how USAID cuts have fallen. We knew from our partners that human rights, rule of law and civil society funding were badly hit. These numbers confirm it
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
It's been a year since my mum died, and a little over three since my dad died. Remembering them both today with love.
May 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
It's been a year since my mum died, and a little over three since my dad died. Remembering them both today with love.
Beyond disheartening to see the modest progress made in the UK on protecting the rights of trans people rolled back and undermined, including by so-called progressive politicians. As always the voices of those who are actually impacted - trans humans beings - are ignored.
April 23, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Beyond disheartening to see the modest progress made in the UK on protecting the rights of trans people rolled back and undermined, including by so-called progressive politicians. As always the voices of those who are actually impacted - trans humans beings - are ignored.
Taking a break from Bluesky. See you in a week…
April 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Taking a break from Bluesky. See you in a week…
Recent weeks have been a combination of…over and over again
March 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Recent weeks have been a combination of…over and over again
International development, social security, refugee protection, international law, the post-WW2 international order all faltering in a matter of weeks…
If Europe’s response to this chaos leaves its values behind we will all be less secure and less free. Human rights can be a compass.
If Europe’s response to this chaos leaves its values behind we will all be less secure and less free. Human rights can be a compass.
March 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
International development, social security, refugee protection, international law, the post-WW2 international order all faltering in a matter of weeks…
If Europe’s response to this chaos leaves its values behind we will all be less secure and less free. Human rights can be a compass.
If Europe’s response to this chaos leaves its values behind we will all be less secure and less free. Human rights can be a compass.
Repost with the first album you bought with your own money
February 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Repost with the first album you bought with your own money
And to reject those inside and outside who would seek to divide societies and communities - or suggest that some are more deserving of rights than others.
Defending democracy starts at home with human rights and the rule of law.
[ENDS]
Defending democracy starts at home with human rights and the rule of law.
[ENDS]
February 19, 2025 at 9:43 AM
And to reject those inside and outside who would seek to divide societies and communities - or suggest that some are more deserving of rights than others.
Defending democracy starts at home with human rights and the rule of law.
[ENDS]
Defending democracy starts at home with human rights and the rule of law.
[ENDS]
Institutions founded in the wake of the Second World War and the ashes of Europe were designed to protect and uphold those shared values including human rights and in doing so serve as a bulwark against future conflict
February 19, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Institutions founded in the wake of the Second World War and the ashes of Europe were designed to protect and uphold those shared values including human rights and in doing so serve as a bulwark against future conflict
It's been a deeply sobering & troubling few days for people who care about the future of democracy & human rights in Europe. A lot is uncertain at this point. What is clear is that European governments need to take better care of democratic institutions & rule of law & defend shared values [thread]
February 19, 2025 at 9:29 AM
It's been a deeply sobering & troubling few days for people who care about the future of democracy & human rights in Europe. A lot is uncertain at this point. What is clear is that European governments need to take better care of democratic institutions & rule of law & defend shared values [thread]
It's been a deeply sobering & troubling last few days for people who care about the future of democracy & human rights in Europe. Lot of uncertainty at this point. But what is clear is that European governments need to take better care of democratic institutions & rule of law & defend shared values
February 18, 2025 at 2:27 PM
It's been a deeply sobering & troubling last few days for people who care about the future of democracy & human rights in Europe. Lot of uncertainty at this point. But what is clear is that European governments need to take better care of democratic institutions & rule of law & defend shared values
Important statement from @unhcr.org on worrying legislative proposals by Poland's government aimed at suspending access to asylum on Belarus border, making clear that non-refoulement obligations apply at ALL times
(scroll down for English)
www.unhcr.org/pl/15743-kom...
(scroll down for English)
www.unhcr.org/pl/15743-kom...
February 7, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Important statement from @unhcr.org on worrying legislative proposals by Poland's government aimed at suspending access to asylum on Belarus border, making clear that non-refoulement obligations apply at ALL times
(scroll down for English)
www.unhcr.org/pl/15743-kom...
(scroll down for English)
www.unhcr.org/pl/15743-kom...
Taking a break from Bluesky for the holidays.
Looking forward to more thoughtful engagement and hoping for a more peaceful world in 2025
Looking forward to more thoughtful engagement and hoping for a more peaceful world in 2025
December 18, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Taking a break from Bluesky for the holidays.
Looking forward to more thoughtful engagement and hoping for a more peaceful world in 2025
Looking forward to more thoughtful engagement and hoping for a more peaceful world in 2025
Shocking statistic from recent UK Parliament debate on Grenfell inquiry report - 7 years after the deadly fire, in half of all high rise residential buildings in UK, there's been no action to make them safe. That's a human rights failure. #JusticeforGrenfell
hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-1...
hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-1...
November 27, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Shocking statistic from recent UK Parliament debate on Grenfell inquiry report - 7 years after the deadly fire, in half of all high rise residential buildings in UK, there's been no action to make them safe. That's a human rights failure. #JusticeforGrenfell
hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-1...
hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-1...
Six months after a catastrophic shipwreck that cost hundreds of lives, families and survivors are still waiting for justice, Human Rights Watch @hrw.org and Amnesty International say in a new report that identifies key failings in the Greek authorities response
www.hrw.org/news/2023/12...
December 15, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Six months after a catastrophic shipwreck that cost hundreds of lives, families and survivors are still waiting for justice, Human Rights Watch @hrw.org and Amnesty International say in a new report that identifies key failings in the Greek authorities response
www.hrw.org/news/2023/12...
What a week of contrasts for the EU...
Lech Walesa in tears in the Polish parliament as Poland's democracy is revived
The European Commission cynically restores €10 billion in funding to Hungary over supposed reforms to its judiciary that leave fundamental problems unaddressed
Lech Walesa in tears in the Polish parliament as Poland's democracy is revived
The European Commission cynically restores €10 billion in funding to Hungary over supposed reforms to its judiciary that leave fundamental problems unaddressed
December 14, 2023 at 12:42 PM
What a week of contrasts for the EU...
Lech Walesa in tears in the Polish parliament as Poland's democracy is revived
The European Commission cynically restores €10 billion in funding to Hungary over supposed reforms to its judiciary that leave fundamental problems unaddressed
Lech Walesa in tears in the Polish parliament as Poland's democracy is revived
The European Commission cynically restores €10 billion in funding to Hungary over supposed reforms to its judiciary that leave fundamental problems unaddressed
Disheartening to reflect on the fact that in a little over a decade the rule of law has gone from being a rather abstract concept mainly of interest to scholars to one of the biggest democratic challenges in Europe... from Hungary to Greece to the UK
December 12, 2023 at 4:50 PM
Disheartening to reflect on the fact that in a little over a decade the rule of law has gone from being a rather abstract concept mainly of interest to scholars to one of the biggest democratic challenges in Europe... from Hungary to Greece to the UK
Remembering our dear colleague Dewa Mavhinga who died two years ago today. His was a life well-lived.
www.hrw.org/news/2021/12...
www.hrw.org/news/2021/12...
December 4, 2023 at 11:52 AM
Remembering our dear colleague Dewa Mavhinga who died two years ago today. His was a life well-lived.
www.hrw.org/news/2021/12...
www.hrw.org/news/2021/12...
Tell me you are middle aged without telling me you are middle aged...
December 1, 2023 at 2:08 PM
Tell me you are middle aged without telling me you are middle aged...
There's not a lot of light right now, but I am finding inspiration in this universal jurisdiction case from Germany that helps bring justice for victims of abuse in Gambia, part of an encouraging trend on UJ in Germany
www.justiceinfo.net/en/125382-ge...
www.justiceinfo.net/en/125382-ge...
December 1, 2023 at 12:09 PM
There's not a lot of light right now, but I am finding inspiration in this universal jurisdiction case from Germany that helps bring justice for victims of abuse in Gambia, part of an encouraging trend on UJ in Germany
www.justiceinfo.net/en/125382-ge...
www.justiceinfo.net/en/125382-ge...
Rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe amid the recent hostilities in Israel-Palestine has prompted deep concern. Effective responses will take comprehensive anti-discrimination data and protection strategies that EU governments currently lack, @HRW says www.hrw.org/news/2023/11...
November 30, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred in Europe amid the recent hostilities in Israel-Palestine has prompted deep concern. Effective responses will take comprehensive anti-discrimination data and protection strategies that EU governments currently lack, @HRW says www.hrw.org/news/2023/11...