Ukraine's weak human rights record makes peace harder

+ effective altruism explained; California as a climate model US Edition - Today's top story: Ukraine has a mixed record of treating its citizens fairly – that could make it harder for it to maintain peace, once the war ends [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 January 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Ukraine’s cabinet ministry fired several top government officials because of corruption this week, offering a reminder of sorts. Yes, Russia illegally invaded Ukraine and Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer the brunt of the devastating war, now in its 11th month. But also, Ukraine had its own problems, like all other countries, long before the war began. Human rights scholars David Cingranelli and Brendan Skip Mark note that Ukraine [has had a mixed record in respecting its citizens’ rights](. It scored a 42 out of 100 in the scholars’ new data set that analyzes countries’ human rights over several decades. Systematically not respecting citizens’ right to protest, for example, may have ripple effects for Ukraine down the line. Human rights shortfalls can make it harder to achieve and maintain lasting peace, they write: “Research shows that human rights violations create social and political problems that can lead to conflict both within a country and internationally.” Also today: - [How U.S. tanks to Ukraine changes the war – to a point]( - [The Byzantine Empire also debated over religious imagery]( - [Prince Harry’s kill count and war’s effect on soldiers]( Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor Ukraine has a mixed human rights record over the past several decades, new data shows. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images [Ukraine has a mixed record of treating its citizens fairly – that could make it harder for it to maintain peace, once the war ends]( David Cingranelli, Binghamton University, State University of New York; Brendan Skip Mark, University of Rhode Island New data from 2000 through 2019 shows that Ukraine’s human rights record is better than Russia’s – but worse than that of its Western European neighbors. Economy + Business - [What’s effective altruism? A philosopher explains]( Jacob Bauer, University of Dayton The term, coined in 2011, refers to people who seek to use their money and time to make as much progress as possible toward solving the world’s most pressing problems. Ethics + Religion - [Debates over sacred images in the Byzantine Empire show why it’s hard to appease any side]( Paroma Chatterjee, University of Michigan Fierce debates about visual depictions of the sacred have existed for centuries. An art historian explains the controversies in the Byzantine Empire over images of Christ. Environment + Energy - [How California’s ambitious new climate plan could help speed energy transformation around the world]( Daniel Sperling, University of California, Davis California is one of the world’s largest economies, and it’s aiming for net-zero emissions by 2045. A transportation expert involved in the plan explains why it just might succeed. Health + Medicine - [People blame and judge parents for children’s heavier weights]( Jaimie Arona Krems, Oklahoma State University; Devanshi Patel, Oklahoma State University While excess weight arises from a complex interplay of genes, environment, diet and activity, new research finds Americans hold parents responsible for excess weight in their kids. Politics + Society - [US will give military tanks to Ukraine, signaling Western powers’ long-term commitment to thwarting Russia]( Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University The US tanks could give Ukraine an advantage in pushing back Russia from its territory – but no amount of money alone is enough to win a war. Education - [Prince Harry’s kill count revelation could spark important discussions about war’s effects on soldiers]( L. William Uhl, United States Air Force Academy A US Air Force professor of philosophy weighs in on Prince Harry’s decision to disclose his ‘body count’ from his service in Afghanistan. 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