Author: Human Rights Watch

On July 17, 1998, countries around the world adopted the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a day now recognized as International Justice Day.   The ICC is the court of last resort for victims seeking justice for the most serious crimes in violation of international law. However, this year victims’ access to […]

(The Hague) – The International Criminal Court (ICC)’s confirmation of war crimes and crimes against humanity charges against the Libyan suspect Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, the first after 15 years of investigation, is a milestone for justice in Libya, Human Rights Watch said today. On July 16, 2026, a panel of three pretrial judges unanimously confirmed […]

On July 13, the Trump administration again clawed back a crucial rule that would have expanded monitoring of hazardous air pollutants in the United States, two days before it was set to go into effect. Communities living close to facilities producing dangerous air pollution in the US were set to celebrate a victory that would equip […]

(Brussels) – The European Union (EU) and its member states should publicly denounce human rights violations in Tunisia and stop funding abusive migration control activities, 46 human rights and humanitarian organizations said in a joint statement released today. The statement comes three years after the EU and Tunisia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on […]

Russian occupying authorities force Ukrainian children into schools that suppress Ukrainian identity, promote anti-Ukraine propaganda, pressure them into militarized youth programs, and illegally compel boys to register for the draft. Russian internet restrictions and surveillance, including at schools, make accessing Ukrainian education online difficult and dangerous. Governments should press Russia to end propaganda and militarization […]

Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Health and Human Services made unannounced visits in June to several DC-area legal aid nonprofits dedicated to representing unaccompanied immigrant children. According to media reports, the agents asked for documents and financial records relating to the organizations’ child clients from Kids in Need of Defense […]

On June 29, Pakistani airstrikes in three provinces in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 28 civilians and wounded at least 49, including among them women and children, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Pakistani authorities assert that they were targeting militants responsible for attacking Pakistani security personnel days earlier in Karachi but provided […]

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki and other senior government officials presided over the 38th graduation ceremony of secondary school students from the Sawa military training center on July 11. Though graduation ceremonies are ordinarily a cause for celebration and the promise of a new future, for many young Eritreans, Sawa’s graduation ceremonies sadly mark the loss of […]

Democratic Congressman of California Ro Khanna got a taste of Palestinians’ daily life under occupation on July 8. While visiting the occupied West Bank, Khanna said he and his team were stopped by armed Israeli settlers who were soon joined by four Israeli soldiers that proceeded to hold the group for over an hour. Khanna […]

(Berlin) – A new immersive documentary spotlighting the climate crisis in the Pacific nation of Solomon Islands will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival September 2–12, 2026, Human Rights Watch said today. Academy Award-nominated actor and human rights advocate Mark Ruffalo has joined forces with Human Rights Watch to narrate the extended reality experience, “Solwata.” […]