Best of Dispatches: Top News Posts This Week

Sweden calls out Saudi Arabia's atrocious human rights abuses; this year's NY St. Patrick's Day parade had a new addition; and South Africa's President makes bizarre comments about teen pregnancy - these were among the most popular posts to Dispatches, our daily forum for breaking human rights news and commentary. You can find all our Dispatches here.

Dispatches: Sweden Challenges Saudi Rights Abuses

Adam Coogle
The least surprising aspect of the recent diplomatic dust-up between Sweden and Saudi Arabia is the Kingdom’s typically thin-skinned response to anyone calling them out over their atrocious human rights record. What is surprising is Sweden’s resolve not to roll over, as so many other countries have done...

Dispatches: 'Irish and Queer' in NY St. Patrick's Day Parade

Celso Perez
New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade features a new addition: a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) group marching under its own rainbow banner...

Dispatches: How Not to Deal With Teen Pregnancies

Liesl Gerntholz
A few days ago, the South African cabinet approved a progressive and far-reaching strategy designed to lower its exceptionally high rates of teen pregnancy and provide access to comprehensive reproductive health care to adolescents. This positive development is, however, undermined by bizarre comments made yesterday by President Jacob Zuma...

Dispatches: Danger and Design in Russia

Graeme Reid
IKEA’s recent announcement that it was shutting down its online lifestyle magazine in Russia out of concern that the content would contravene the country’s notorious “gay propaganda” law should set alarms ringing...

Dispatches: US May Finally Join the Rest of the World in Offering Paid Family Leave

Janet Walsh 
Millions of US workers are suffering from damaged health, drained finances, and shrinking career prospects because federal law lacks any guaranteed paid family leave...A bill introduced in the US Senate this week could make a huge difference for working families...