Category: Human Rights

A Zimbabwean High Court has denied bail to journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who has been detained for 25 days after interviewing a former ruling party member who called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down. Mhlanga’s arrest, on February 24, has drawn attention to growing concerns over press freedom and government repression amid Zimbabwe’s ongoing economic […]

(Beirut) – Syria’s newly approved constitutional declaration, meant to govern the country’s transitional phase, concentrates power in the executive and could undermine the independence of the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today.  The declaration, endorsed by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa on March 13, 2025, grants the president significant authority, including over judicial and legislative appointments […]

In a significant move to address human rights violations, the UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals involved in the brutal Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009). These measures, including travel bans and asset freezes, target key figures accused of committing atrocities during the conflict, which claimed an estimated 80,000-100,000 lives. The sanctioned individuals include: […]

The mother of British-Egyptian human rights activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who has been imprisoned in Egypt, has warned she will resume her hunger strike by the end of the month if no progress is made toward securing her son’s release. This follows her hospitalization after collapsing from 150 days of fasting in London. During the […]

21 March marks the adoption of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and honours the legacy of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, when South African police opened fire on a peaceful protest against apartheid, killing 69 people. A toxic legacy Despite decades of progress, racism remains a threat, UN Secretary-General […]

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has raised serious concerns over a growing wave of arbitrary arrests, particularly targeting lawyers, judges, and military personnel. The UN has called for the immediate release of detainees, highlighting the use of filmed confessions, where individuals are allegedly coerced into admitting to crimes and then publicly humiliated. […]

A group of former journalists and staff from Voice of America (VOA), alongside advocacy groups such as Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have filed a lawsuit in New York federal court seeking to reinstate employees and contractors who were terminated following President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14238. This […]

In a joint appeal, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) urged all countries to step up to support the displaced Rohingya – the world’s largest stateless population. A ‘frightening’ place The humanitarian situation in Cox’s Bazar – home to around one million Rohingya in Bangladesh – has worsened. […]

As Afghanistan’s new school year commences, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has once again called on the Taliban to lift its ongoing ban on girls’ secondary education. This restriction, in place since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, has left millions of Afghan girls without access to education and is threatening […]

Government officials, local authorities, health professionals, and civil society are gathering today at the second global conference on air pollution and health in Cartagena, Colombia. As multilateralism is under threat, this convening is a crucial opportunity for policymakers to make progress on tackling air pollution globally. Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the government […]