Author: Human Rights Watch

(Sydney) – The government of Bhutan’s release of 2 political prisoners on June 1, 2026, is a positive step, but at least 28 more should be urgently freed, Human Rights Watch said today. The two men, Chatur Man Tamang, 42, and Hasta Bahadur Rai, 44, whose detention was under scrutiny from United Nations human rights […]

(Berlin, June 10, 2026) – Azerbaijani authorities are prosecuting critics in exile, often based on social media posts and online commentary, Human Rights Watch said today. Those targeted, often convicted in absentia with long sentences, are at risk of extradition, detention during travel, and other forms of cross-border pressure. “These trials of government critics abroad […]

(Nairobi) – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) should ensure that Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanders who have defected to the Sudanese army, including two since April 2026, are held to account for their role in serious crimes, Human Rights Watch said today. This includes cooperating with ongoing independent regional and international investigations into serious international […]

(Nairobi) – Rwandan military forces and the M23 armed group carried out a campaign of forced recruitment and abusive detention of thousands of captured combatants and civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 78-page report, “‘Death Was Everywhere’: Arbitrary Detention, Killings, and Forced Recruitment by […]

(Brussels) – The new European Union Migration and Asylum Pact ushers in sweeping changes that undermine the right to asylum, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch released a question-and-answer document that explains the key changes to EU asylum laws and procedures and the risks for people’s rights. The Pact, adopted in 2024, comes […]

(Beirut) – The National Basketball Association (NBA) risks “sportswashing” the UAE’s egregious human rights record by expanding its financial partnership with its government, Human Rights Watch said today. The 2026 NBA Final series began on June 3, 2026, and is ongoing.  The UAE hosts high-profile sporting, entertainment, and cultural events to promote a public image of openness that […]

In recent weeks, several states have taken steps towards restoring the voting rights of people with felony convictions. Governor Wes Moore of Maryland signed on May 12 HB 115 and SB 241, legislation that will automatically register people to vote following the completion of their felony sentence. Similarly, the Missouri legislature passed on May 28 HB 1871, a […]

(Beirut) – Jordanian authorities should not contest the most recent application to review and annul the abusive conviction of Ayman Sandouka, the former head of a now-dissolved political party, and pave the way for his release, Human Rights Watch said today. Jordan’s State Security Court (SSC), a military institution that includes both military and civilian […]

In a living-room-sized hall of a political party’s Cairo headquarters, family members of prisoners gathered around a photo exhibition on May 12. There, they shared grievances and called on Egyptian authorities to release their loved ones. In the days that followed, the National Security Agency summoned several of the families for interrogation and detained a […]

A new UNESCO report illustrates how education can empower children and their communities to access their human rights. It also shows that education and justice can uphold the rule of law in contexts where it’s in decline and where children live in conditions of extreme injustice.  Human Rights Watch has long documented the consequences of […]