Every Monday, the Research Trainees of the CERESE assess the news of the previous week. You can read their opinions below:

I like the landmark decision, through which Estonia legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the second Eastern European country to do so. Following a no-confidence vote tied to Family Law Act amendments, the law now defines marriage as a union between “two natural persons,” extending legal rights, including adoption, to same-sex couples. Effective January 2024, this builds on the 2014 Registered Partnership Act, marking significant social progression. The move signifies Estonia’s commitment to inclusivity, equality, and human rights, although the close vote underscores the potential challenges and societal consensus needed for full implementation and integration of these changes.

I like that the Treaty of the High Seas was adopted by consensus and standing ovation during the United Nations meeting in New York. This Treaty is key to protecting the ocean, promoting equity and fairness, tackling environmental degradation, fighting climate change, and preventing biodiversity loss on the high seas. The adoption of this Treaty “BBNJ” (biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction), is a historic achievement marking and it is also a welcome addition to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework under which all activities in the ocean take place.

I dislike the news of the imprisonment of activist Anastasia Loika in Belarus. On 20 June, a Minsk court sentenced her to 7 years in prison on charges of participating in the organisation of a 2018 investigation into repressive violence of law enforcement. At the time, state authorities had organized an operation to control and suppress anarchist groups in the city. Her arrest and hasty trial are part of a series of prosecutions of activist organizations and individuals in the country, with no clear charges leading to this outcome of the trials.

I dislike the escalating tension between South and North Korea. As the anniversary of the Korean War of 1950 gets closer, the two countries declare new UAV armament programs, which confirms and reinforces the security dilemma in the Korean peninsula. It is noticed that the role of drones has been amplified since their extensive use on the Ukrainian front. The president of South Korea has stated that UAVs are the future at operational and tactical levels.