North Korea: Escapees Describe Covid-Linked Repression

People who have escaped from North Korea since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic have described severe repression and restrictions on economic activity. North Korean escapees’ accounts illustrate the devastating impact of the government’s oppressive Covid-19 measures that further shrank people’s already limited freedoms. The UN Human Rights Council should renew the mandate of the UN special rapporteur […]

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Commissioner Lahbib calls for stronger disaster preparedness at event marking 20 years since 2004 Asian tsunami

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, alongside 4 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), hosted a commemorative event at the European Parliament on 18 February to reflect on the lessons learnt from the 2004 Asian tsunami and to discuss improvements in disaster preparedness and EU-ASEAN cooperation.  The event, which marked the 20th anniversary of one of the deadliest […]

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ECHR Rules Bulgaria Violated Human Rights by Denying Journalist Access to Acquittal Judgment

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Bulgaria breached the European Convention on Human Rights by denying journalist Galina Mariova Girginova access to the acquittal judgment of a former Minister of Internal Affairs in a high-profile criminal case. The case revolves around the minister’s acquittal on charges of failing to supervise […]

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UN World Food Program Shuts Southern Africa Office Amid US Aid Cuts

The UN World Food Program (WFP) is closing its office in Johannesburg, South Africa, following significant cuts to US foreign aid under the Trump administration. This decision is part of a broader restructuring that merges the WFP’s southern and East Africa operations into a single regional office in Nairobi, Kenya. WFP spokesperson Tomson Phiri confirmed […]

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Almost 80,000 flee DR Congo amid fighting, sexual violence: UNHCR

“Near the frontlines, sexual violence and human rights abuses remain rampant, as is the looting and destruction of civilian homes and businesses,” said Patrick Eba, Deputy Director of UNHCR’s Division of International Protection. Speaking in Geneva, Mr. Eba told journalists that that North and South Kivu provinces remain unstable, with “hundreds of thousands of people […]

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EHRC Welcomes Reversal of Suspension on Four Rights Groups, Citing Successful Advocacy

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced the lifting of the suspension on four prominent civil society organizations (CSOs) by the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO). Among the organizations reinstated are the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), Lawyers for Human Rights […]

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UNICEF: 22.9 Million Afghans, Including 12 Million Children, Will Need Humanitarian Aid in 2025

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, including 12 million children. The agency’s report, released on Sunday, highlighted the worsening situation caused by climate change, natural disasters, and the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, Iran and Pakistan. The humanitarian […]

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Trial Against ISIS Members for Kidnapping and Torture of Journalists Opens in Paris

The trial of five men accused of kidnapping and torturing four French journalists has begun in Paris, marking a crucial step in the fight against impunity for crimes committed against journalists during Syria’s decade-long conflict. The accused members of ISIS stand trial for their role in the abduction of Didier François, Édoud Elias, Nicolas Hénin, […]

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UN Human Rights Chief Warns of Global Turmoil Amid Rising Conflicts and Divisions

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a stark warning on Monday about the escalating global conflicts and increasing societal polarization. Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk emphasized the growing “turbulence and unpredictability” driven by intensifying conflicts in regions such as Ukraine, the Middle East, and parts of Africa, […]

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Amnesty International Calls for Immediate Release of Hostages, Regardless of Ceasefire Outcome

Amnesty International has urged for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians detained by Israel, regardless of the progress in ongoing ceasefire negotiations. The human rights group emphasized that the fate of hostages and detainees should not be tied to the results of the next phase of talks between Hamas and […]

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