Author: Human Rights Watch

The European Union hosted a delegation of Taliban officials in Brussels on June 22 for the first time since the group returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The European Commission described the meeting as “technical” and focused on returns, while a Taliban spokesperson described it as a “historic visit” and a step toward […]

(London) – Harassment and attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) university students in Indonesia escalated during the June 2026 Pride Month celebrations, Human Rights Watch said today. At least 10 public universities have recently adopted discriminatory regulations and are curbing student media coverage and social media discussions around gender and sexual diversity, undermining freedom […]

United Nations member countries took an important step last week to protect the world body from financial ruin. The UN has faced a liquidity crisis for years, mostly due to the United States withholding billions of dollars in obligatory contributions and China paying very late. This has forced the UN to cut back on peacekeeping operations and lifesaving […]

(Berlin, July 7, 2026) – German authorities have deported a Tajik opposition activist to Tajikistan, intensifying concerns that Germany is not upholding its human rights obligations when making deportation decisions, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 20, 2026, Germany deported Asadullo Boboev and his adult son, Muhammad, to Dushanbe, despite concerns he would be detained and could […]

(Beirut) – Tunisian courts sentenced eight human rights defenders to prison terms and fines in recent days for charges connected to their human rights work, including two prominent women who were handed harsh sentences, Human Rights Watch said today.  On June 26, 2026, a Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced Sihem Bensedrine, the former president of the […]

Many refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt, most from Sudan and South Sudan, have faced a months-long campaign of arbitrary arrest, unlawful detention, and deportation. Refugees and asylum seekers are losing their residency status because of bureaucratic delays and are being jailed and deported for lacking documents the government has failed to provide. Egyptian authorities […]

(Bangkok) – Thai authorities should criminally investigate the alleged torture and ill-treatment of conscripts in the Royal Thai Navy’s Marine Division, Human Rights Watch said today. The Thai government and military should end the longstanding practice of hazing and other brutality against conscripts and prosecute wrongdoers according to the law, regardless of their rank. On […]

An Egyptian court sentenced doctor and filmmaker Omnia Suwydan on July 4 to a six-months suspended prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (US$408) for alleging obstetric violence at an Alexandria public hospital. Obstetric violence, which includes physical and emotional abuse of pregnant people seeking sexual and reproductive health services, is a widespread but broadly ignored […]

Immigration is helping the US soccer team get the job done at the World Cup. Many of the players on the US squad, which faces Belgium in a World Cup elimination game on July 6, have roots to immigrant parents or grandparents. Another player, star striker Folarin Balogun—whose availability for today’s game is the subject of […]

At the current session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC), a closed meeting about human rights in Tajikistan curiously appeared on the agenda. Held in response to a complaint submitted under an opaque procedure of the Human Rights Council, there is no public information about the meeting, which only compounds the grave human […]