Category: Human Rights

Hong Kong — As closing arguments begin in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, attention is turning not only to the legal complexities of the case but also to the humanitarian and health concerns surrounding his prolonged detention. Lai, who has pleaded not guilty […]

Over the past two weeks, United Nations member countries started substantive negotiations for the first-ever UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation; a historic process that reflects major shifts in global economic policymaking and geopolitics. The treaty could replace the current patchwork system that deprives governments of considerable revenue and undermines their capacity to support human […]

Alexandria, Egypt — August 20, 2025More than 1,000 workers at the Misr Al-Amriya Spinning and Weaving Company have entered the third week of a strike, demanding overdue entitlements including health insurance, fair wages, and full labor rights. The protest, which began on July 30, has drawn national attention amid allegations of interference by Egypt’s National […]

Astana, Kazakhstan — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Kazakh government to reverse its decision to deny accreditation to 16 journalists affiliated with the U.S.-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The appeal comes ahead of a pending court hearing that could determine the outlet’s ability to continue operating in the […]

“It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza,” the Secretary-General told reporters on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), “and the unconditional release of all hostages and to avoid the massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause.” Around one million people still […]

Ankara, Türkiye — Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Enes Hocaoğulları, a 23-year-old LGBTQ+ rights advocate who was arrested in early August following a speech critical of government actions during recent mass protests. Hocaoğulları, who served as the international relations coordinator for ÜniKuir, a Turkish university-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group, was […]

Colombo, Sri Lanka — Human Rights Watch (HRW) has raised fresh concerns over the continued harassment of families of enforced disappearance victims in Sri Lanka, alleging that security forces are using counterterrorism laws to suppress calls for justice and accountability. In a statement released Wednesday, HRW criticized the administration of President Dissanayake for failing to […]

Erbil, Iraq — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Iraqi Kurdish authorities to release journalist Sherwan Sherwani following a court decision that extended his prison sentence by four years and five months. The ruling, issued Tuesday by the Bnaslawa Misdemeanor Court, has intensified concerns over press freedom in the Kurdistan Region of […]

Earlier this week, Burkina Faso’s junta expelled the top United Nations representative in the country, Carol Flore-Smereczniak, declaring her “persona non grata” following a new UN report on violations against children in the country. Flore-Smereczniak is the second senior UN official to be expelled by the junta, after Barbara Manzi was declared persona non grata in […]

In July, major news organizations published the image of 18-month-old Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a Palestinian child so emaciated that his bones protruded through his back, while his mom cradled him in her arms. Instead of a diaper, he wore a black plastic bag.  Some online commentators have sought to downplay the image’s power by […]