Cambodia: Returned Migrant Workers Face Hunger, Joblessness

The Cambodian government is not supporting hundreds of thousands of migrant workers with microfinance debts who returned from Thailand because of hostilities in mid-2025. The Cambodian government has long failed to ensure an adequate standard of living, compelling many families to obtain predatory microfinance loans, making the tenuous situation of people who returned even more […]

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New Data on Censorship and Harassment of Brazil’s Educators

A new quantitative study from National Observatory on Violence Against Educators represents one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to measure the nature and scale of censorship and harassment of educators across Brazil. While previous analyses have documented the legal and political tactics to undermine or prohibit human rights education, this new report offers a nationally representative […]

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COP30 Fails to Confront Drivers of Climate Crisis

In Belem, Brazil, as the United Nations climate summit (COP30) convened, I marched alongside thousands of activists and Indigenous peoples calling on governments to urgently address climate change and protect human rights. As previous host countries restricted such demonstrations, the November 15 march was exhilarating. However, despite clear—and powerful—calls from civil society for the summit to […]

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UN rights chief: AI misuse and corporate influence present ‘clear and present’ challenge

Opening the 14th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on Monday, he said that corporate power has become increasingly influential in terms of social change. He warned that without proper checks in place, new tools like generative artificial intelligence – or AI – could easily be misused. “When powerful tech giants introduce […]

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US Ends Temporary Legal Protection for Myanmar Nationals, Citing Elections as Progress

The United States has announced it will terminate temporary legal protection for citizens of Myanmar, a decision affecting roughly 4,000 nationals currently residing in the country. The move, set to take effect on January 26, 2026, was justified by Washington as recognition of “progress” linked to Myanmar’s upcoming elections. Background Myanmar has been mired in […]

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Nigeria: Renewed Spate of School Kidnappings

(Abuja) – Nigerian authorities should act urgently to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks, Human Rights Watch said today. The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release the students and teachers they are holding captive. […]

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Myanmar is Safe? | Human Rights Watch

Is it safe to return to a country wracked by an abusive armed conflict, widespread atrocities, and targeted ethnic violence, including war crimes and crimes against humanity? The Trump administration says it is. On November 24, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued notice of termination of Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for people from Myanmar, effective January […]

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US State Department Debases Human Rights Diplomacy

The US State Department’s annual human rights report was created to give Congress a clear accounting of how other governments treat their people, measured against international human rights law. Recent media reports indicate that the Trump administration is turning that purpose on its head by mandating reporting in support of ideological priorities at odds with […]

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EU reinforces humanitarian response with €143 million for Sub-Saharan Africa

The European Commission is providing €143 million in humanitarian aid as EU and African Union leaders meet in Angola, responding to continued pressure on relief operations across several crisis zones. The allocation includes €2.5 million euro for aid in the Central African Republic, €8 million in Nigeria, €30 million in Ethiopia, €30 million in Somalia, […]

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Seventy-Nine Years Without a Woman Leader at the UN

In February 2026, it will be 80 years since the United Nations selected its first secretary-general, a man. Since then, eight other people have had that job, all men. Surely, it’s long past time a woman held the post.  António Guterres, the current secretary-general, completes his term in December 2026. Maneuvering over his successor is well underway. […]

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