Category: Human Rights

Today, President von der Leyen and President Costa exchanged views with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Türkiye, Armenia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman on the latest developments regarding the war in Iran, including the unacceptable attacks against the countries of the region and the impact on energy […]

2 repatriation flights chartered directly by the European Commission have safely landed in Romania. The 2 flights brought back 356 European citizens who were stranded in the Middle East from Oman to Romania. For the first time ever, the Commission mobilised its own rescEU transport and logistics capacities following a request from the Romanian authorities. […]

HIGHLIGHTS Watch: Asia-Pacific regional commemoration of IWD in Bangkok, Thailand. UN marks International Women’s Day: Events at UN Headquarters precede the opening of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the UN’s largest annual forum on gender equality. Focus on “Rights, Justice, Action”: This year’s theme calls for stronger action to […]

(Sydney) – The Australian government should strengthen gender-focused approaches across all crisis responses, Human Rights Watch said today following International Women’s Day. The authorities should acknowledge that gender equality is essential to global peace, security, and justice by supporting women-led organizations and ensuring that women are meaningfully included in decision making. Human Rights Watch in February […]

A February 28, 2026 attack on a primary school in southern Iran was an unlawful attack that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including schoolchildren. The laws of war prohibit attacks if the anticipated harm to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate compared to the expected military gain from the attack. The United States and Israel […]

On March 3, Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of four individuals—three of whom remain in detention—as part of an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by an armed separatist group in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions. The investigation focuses on individuals in Belgium suspected of holding leadership roles in the Ambazonia Defence Forces,the armed […]

Last week, a St. Petersburg court in a closed door hearing, designated a leading Russian LGBT rights group, Coming Out, as an “extremist organization.” The ruling delivers another severe blow to a community that has become a key target of the Kremlin’s harmful “traditional values” crusade.  Coming Out is the first LGBT rights organization to be […]

Weaker regulations from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are putting millions at risk of higher exposure to deadly air pollutants, hundreds of former EPA scientists said in a new report. Published on February 27, “Terrible Toxics” found that under President Donald Trump, the EPA has abandoned safeguards necessary to protect communities’ health. The Environmental Protection […]

(Beirut) – Iranian authorities should immediately end the ongoing internet shutdown and communications restrictions, which place civilians at risk of further harm, Human Rights Watch said today. The international community should also support internet access for the civilian population. On February 28, 2026, internet traffic dropped significantly, indicating a nationwide blackout following strikes across the country by the United […]

State restrictions on abortion, since the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the US constitution does not confer a right to abortion, are creating risks to pregnant people nationwide. Women are dying preventable deaths because abortion care is denied or delayed due to state restrictions. Thirteen states enforce complete abortion bans, while others impose harsh limits on when […]