HUMANITARIAN FEATURES
LATEST
HUMAN RIGHTS
50 States of Disclosure: A State-by-State Road Trip Celebrating FOIA’s July 4 Anniversary
Nearly six decades on, FOIA remains a cornerstone of democracy—and despite delays, loopholes and denials in state laws, the fight for transparency endures.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Church Attendance and Faith Surge in Wake of Pandemic, National Study Finds
A five-year national survey finds Americans reconnecting with faith, boosting church attendance, service and study. Even former “nones” are coming to church.
ARTS & CULTURE
Writers of the Future Wins Gold at 2025 International Book Awards
Celebrating 40 years of spotlighting emerging talent, the acclaimed science fiction and fantasy anthology claims top honors amid thousands of global entries.
ARTS & CULTURE
From Jaffa to Manila: Daniel & Bayou’s Mission to Change the World Through Film
Drawing on personal trials and cinematic passion, the duo creates stories that awaken audiences and spark action worldwide.
DRUG PREVENTION
CDC Reports Steepest Drop in Overdose Deaths Since 1979
America’s overdose death toll fell sharply in 2024, with fentanyl deaths down nearly 37 percent. But experts warn the crisis is far from over.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
80 Years Later, Schindler’s Factory Reopens as Holocaust Museum in Czech Republic
Oskar Schindler’s complex legacy is commemorated at the newly opened museum, highlighting his role in saving 1,200 Jews.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Right Out of the Gate, Pope Leo XIV Forcefully Advocates Religious Freedom
From Eastern Christians to global interfaith outreach, the new pope makes religious freedom a top priority.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Global Survey Finds Majority Worldwide Believe in Spirits, God and Life After Death
From Latin America to Southeast Asia, beliefs in reincarnation, spirits and the afterlife are prevalent. Pew’s findings suggest that spirituality remains a significant aspect of belief systems globally.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Georgia Becomes State #30 to Enact Religious Freedom Restoration Act at State Level
The new law strengthens protections for faith, but faces backlash over fears it enables discrimination.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
French Court of Cassation Affirms Religious Freedom in Deacon Dismissal Case
France’s highest court rules that religious institutions’ internal decisions are beyond the reach of secular courts, reinforcing the separation of church and state.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Pope Francis Remembered: A Voice That Spoke the Many Languages of God
He washed the feet of Muslims, Hindus, Copts and Catholics and called religious persecution “a sin against God.” Pope Francis’ defiance of hate is his lasting legacy.
HUMAN RIGHTS
CCHR and Child Abuse Survivors Honored for Exposing Psychiatric Torture at Lake Alice
New Zealand’s psychiatric system hid decades of torture and abuse—until survivors and watchdogs ripped the cover off a national disgrace.
