Release Peace: THe Magazine
Spanning the Atlantic
Gifted to the U.S. by France on 4 July 1884, the Statue of Liberty represents not only dear values, but is also a physical manifestation of the bonds between North America and Europe.
Spanning the Atlantic: Our Stories from Europe & North America
When the Law Does Not See a Victim of Human Trafficking
The spectrum of survivors’ experiences does not always align neatly with the legal language that defines human trafficking. Some forms of coercion are particularly difficult to recognize as they are not always visible or explicit.
Dublin and its Local Networks Supporting Ukrainians
Ireland has welcomed more than 100,000 of the almost 6 million Ukrainians who have fled the country since the 2022 full-scale invasion by Russia. The result has been a sizable Ukrainian community within the country that has sought to preserve its culture and way of life amidst a foreign environment.
From Motown to BabyTron: The Unique Business of Detroit Rap
Detroit brought about new forms of Black cultural production and sense of identity amidst the economic collapse of the city. But as Detroit rap gained nationwide visibility, it entered a media environment that often reduced Black artistic expression into simplified stereotypes.
Public Spaces in one of Britain's Former Slave Trading Cities
During the 18th century, Bristol emerged as one of the most important ports for the slave trade in Britain. One-fifth of all African slaves forcefully deported by Britain between the 16th and 19th centuries were transported on Bristol’s merchant ships.
Landmines and Youth Exodus: Will this Country make it into the EU?
In the late summer of 2025, a 19-year-old Bosnian farmer was killed by a landmine while tending to his goats in a village near Doboj. Such an event may feel out of place in a country whose war ended in the 1990s. However, it serves as a stark reminder that the work of mine clearance is far from over.
The Questione Meridionale: Italy’s Divide
Italy’s North-South divide has existed since the country’s unification in 1861. It is commonly referred to as the “Questione Meridionale” or the “Southern Question.” The phrase first appeared in an 1862 edition of the newspaper il Roma. The divide transcends economic or cultural issues.
Sweden’s Past and Present Security Doctrines in Ages of War
For over two centuries, Sweden has avoided direct participation in wars and cultivated a doctrine of military non-alignment until it joined NATO in 2024. The country’s policies on staying out of conflicts trace back to the Napoleonic Era. But it was not always as straightforward as simply staying out of wars.
Ukraine, Media Attention in the UK, and the Human Cost of Forgetting
Martha Yavor and Yehor Kurstev sought asylum in the UK in 2022, at the peak of public support for their country. In 2026, they note how the atmosphere around the subject has markedly shifted. Their anecdotal evidence is supported by empirical evidence that this article examines.
An Interview with Angelika Watzl, Secretary-General of the Austrian League for Human Rights
On its 100-Year Anniversary, the Secretary-General of Austria's oldest human rights organisation speaks about a history of challenges and progress, today's politics, and a new legal oversight system for the police.
AI: Liability, Regulatory Gaps, and the Limits of the Law
The regulation of AI systems falls between the jurisdictions of a multitude of U.S. federal agencies. As of 2026, the United States has not enacted comprehensive federal legislation or regulation for the development of AI.
The People Behind Healthcare: How Storytelling Supports Professional Identity Amongst Healthcare Workers
Projects like National Health Stories in England are opportunities for healthcare professionals to share their lived experiences with peers. They provide insights and a sense of belonging alike.
The History of the Russian Orthodox Church and What it Means for Ukraine Today
The Russian Orthodox Church, established as a patriarchate in 1589 in Moscow, has maintained a historically close relationship with the Russian state. Under Patriarch Kirill, it emphasises unity among East Slavic peoples. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Church’s public statements have attracted significant international attention.
Californian Grapes and a Workers' Union That Advocated for a New Vision of Consumption
Today, many think of consumption in the terms of "customer is king". But back in 1968 the United Farm Workers Union proposed an entirely different approach to how we perceive consumption. It is an approach largely forgotten today.
Maternity Care for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Women in the UK
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) women regularly report experiences of discrimination when accessing maternity care in the UK. Multiple case studies show negative and positive trends.
Canada's Value and Their Roots in The Philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment
Many of the values that Canadians hold dear can be traced to the Enlightenment. However, only by 1981 did Canada give itself a written document reflecting those values in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The New Age of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing is undergoing a significant shift in how drugs are produced, scaled, and supplied. In the US, trade policy, development timelines, and complex therapeutic modalities are reshaping production like never before.
The Legalisation of Prostitution in The Netherlands
From how Catholic and Protestant rulers dealt with sex work in The Netherlands in centuries gone by, to today's discussions around the trade, this article explores the challenges and legalities of how The Netherlands handles sex work.
The Daily Realities of Ethnonationalism in Bosnia & Herzegovina
Thirty years after the end of the war, a popular joke in Bosnia and Herzegovina compares the state to an onion: it has many layers and it is bound to make you cry. The metaphor captures a harsh and discomforting political reality.
The Media and the Myth of Appalachia
An image of economic deprivation, opioid addiction, and antisocial behaviour dominates the representation of Appalachia in the U.S. media. From novels to documentaries and even sitcoms, it is an image that has engrained itself in the U.S. public mind for decades. We looked at some examples and how they misrepresent a region of that almost 1 in 4 U.S. states is a part of.
Canada, Your History: The Earl of Dalhousie and the Context of John Elliott Woolford's Famous Paintings
The 9th Earl of Dalhousie was the British Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia in today's Canada at the onset of the 19th century. He commissioned J.E. Woolford to create a myriad of paintings and maps of the territory that Britain had conquered. Today, Woolford's work remains artistically magnificent yet offers a unique, firdt-hand look at how the colonisers viewed the land they settled in.
Exploited in Transit: Organ Trade at the U.S.-Mexico Border
How much does my kidney cost? It is a question some at the US Southern border ask themselves. Or they are being asked by the cartels. This is a story of an underreported phenomenon and part of a global, illegal market worth over $1bn.
Ukraine has faced various imperial ambitions in its modern history. The foreign policy of the Russian empress Catherine II, in particular, shaped Southern Ukraine for centuries to come. But also Vienna and Berlin had their plans with the country and its people.
The Depiction of War, Society, and Peace in Animation
During WW2, cartoons and other forms of animation served to depict, stereotype, and dehumanise the enemy. But anti-war animations and even nuclear armageddon likewise featured in animation. This article will take you on a journey you might never have thought about.
26 years old Rowan* has been using heroin and fentanyl since age 10. Opioids were not something she just stumbled upon; her mother used opioids throughout her childhood. One day, Rowan took a pregnancy test and realized she was pregnant.
Challenges Around Youth Participation in Peacebuilding: A Case Study of the Eritrean Diaspora in Canada
Though the guns may be silent in Eritrea, social distrust, generational trauma, and civic disengagement travels across continents and an ocean. This is a look from the inside into the Eritrean diaspora in Canada.
The Moment Sweden Lost a Staggering 20% of its Population
Today one of the most affluent countries in the world and a major destination for migrants Sweden was once on the other side of the migration equation. Few other countries in the world have ever experienced such an exodus. And one town in Sweden's South has played a pivotal role in that history.
It was 1988 when a fifth of the entire population of modern-day Estonia came together to sing Eestimaa Laul. It was the song of independence and the first time that the restoration of independence was demanded publicly in this Baltic state. Soon after, the Baltic Way, a human chain stretching an almost unimaginable 600km and spanning three countries and capital cities showed to the world that freedom was a powerful force.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution unequivocally condemning the atrocities of Srebrenica and instating 11 July as the “International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica”. It was a day when mostly men and boys were taken to forest and execute. A day of horror while UN troops stood by.
Descendant of Indian royalty and goddaughter of Queen Victoria, Duleep Singh was focal to the British suffragette movement – a turning point in the emancipation of women. Born in 1876, Sophia Duleep Singh was the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh and Maharani Bamba. Her father was the last Maharaja (Indian prince) of Punjab before it was annexed by Britain in 1849.
Marginalised and abused for centuries, the daily life of persons with disabilities has changed to the better in recent decades. Unbeknown to many, over 185 countries are parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) Was it a game changer or a paper tiger?
'The Swedish Model' is often used as a case study for democracies due to its relatively peaceful early transition. Unlike many violent transitions to democracy, as seen in, for example, French history, Sweden never experienced a revolutionary break. Instead, it underwent a long-term structural change. Once Sweden had become a democracy, it did not break down, even under the pressure of the interwar period during which other democracies collapsed. But surprisingly, Sweden didn't always have the ideal conditions for democracy to emerge.
A History You Might Now Know: The Motivations of Woodrow Wilson
He was a man of faith and a man of conviction. One that was not liked by all his companions. What drove the 28th president of the United States and led him to transform US foreign policy for generations?
Tetiana Pechonchyk is the head of the board of Kyiv-based Human Rights Centre ZMINA. We spoke with her about the flood of criminal proceedings in Ukrainian courts, Russian show trials, the case of Iryna Danylovych, and the emotional impact of ZMINA’s work on the own investigators
The Istanbul Convention is an international treaty to reduce and combat domestic violence. It was signed by the Baltic state of Lithuannia in 2013, but not yet ratified. Are protections in Lithuania simply strong enough or is the country behind the curve on this crucial issue?
The Baltic states have recently shown that small countries can yield big influence. Another small EU & NATO member, Denmark has been pivotal in advancing their causes in decades prior. This is the story of small states and their often overlooked influence, if deployed smartly.
Voices from Ukraine: The Reckoning Project and the Human Impact of War
In this article, you will read testimonies by ordinary Ukrainians. The full spectrum of war crimes is on display in Ukraine since 2022, sometimes in the most unlikely places.
“Our current resistance has a particularly female face” was the way Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine, acknowledged and praised the role of women in defending their country. From frontline combat roles to humanitarian support, women play a pivotal role in Ukraine. And the world should take note.
A Look at Norway's System of Father's Quotas
Soon-to-be parents in Norway are entitled to 49 weeks of combined paid leave. Mothers can take paid maternity leave of 18 weeks, and the “common period” which is 16 paid weeks for both parent. The country has set up a system to ensure both parents are spending time with their new-born and receive paid leave. Does this encourage fathers to stay home? Can it be a case study for other nations?
Like no other nation in the world, Estonia has moved all civil service processes online over the past two decades. This culminated in a majority of Estonians now voting in national elections entirely online, rather than going to polling stations. How does it work and what are the risks?
Will Reconciliation be Given a Chance in Bosnia & Herzegovina? The Case Study of Prijedor
How can reconciliation be a success when the former killers resist it to this day? In a nation from which 2 million people have fled, can the diaspora play a pivotal role? Approaching the answers can be as difficult as anything else in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The Arctic Council is a truly unique institutions. While it counts 8 members that are UN member states, indigenous communities are involved via six organisations that have Permanent Participant Status in the Council. No other transnational body in the world includes indigenous representations at that level.
When thinking of the Nordics, most will give little thought to the region's Indigenous population. The Sami are estimated to number 80,000 - 100,000. Their cultural roots tell us more than you think.
A revealing interview with Sevgil Musayeva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainska Pravda, and Yulia Samaieva, editor of the economic section at ZN.UA, about war casualties, corruption, and defending Ukraine's democracy against Russia
It was mid-October 2021 when Sonia Sotomayor, an Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, entered the doors of the New York University School of Law. She was about to announce a ground-breaking administrative rule change in the Courts’ structure of oral arguments that would enter the history books as a crucial step towards gender equality
The whole world held its breath when a full-scale war broke out on February 24, giving Ukraine only days to resist. It has pushed the Ukrainian government and its innovative citizenry to develop apps, track Russian troops in real time, and pool donations online. Ukraine was already used to digital doctor's appointments, app-based communication with governments officials, and much more. But in the midst of war, the astonishing ingenuity of Ukrainians seems to have reached new heights.
In the midst of the ongoing war, Ukraine is not standing still on other important issues. While the world receives updates about the frontlines in the Donbas every day, we have a look at the latest developments on gender equality in the country.
Many Norwegians take pride in being perceived as a peaceful country. Their advocacy for open international political dialogues and Norway's involvement as a peace mediator has given the country a domestic and international reputation for being a “peace nation”. What are the different historical, social and geopolitical aspects that shaped Norway’s stance in the international arena and made them a “peace nation”?
