Samat Matsakov, a prominent human rights defender and lawyer in Kyrgyzstan, was arrested on November 29, 2024, after law enforcement raided his home in Bishkek. Matsakov, who has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations in the country, particularly cases of alleged torture by state security forces, is facing serious criminal charges, including large-scale […]
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“Syria is now at a crossroads with great opportunities for us, but also with grave risks. And we need really to look at both,” said Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria. “We know that, of course, HTS is now the dominant group in control of Damascus, but it’s important also to remember that they […]
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December 10, 2024 The Department of State is establishing two new visa restriction policies to promote accountability for wrongful, abusive, and unjust detention practices around the world, a critical step to address the growing trend of foreign governments unjustly detaining individuals worldwide. With these policies, the State Department can impose visa restrictions on individuals who […]
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For those forced to flee the country’s 13-year war, “they are considering how safe Syria is to return to, and how far their rights will be respected before they can make an informed, voluntary decision to return home; they must be given the space to do so without any pressure”, said Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson from the […]
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Today, on International Anti-Corruption Day and on the eve of Human Rights Day, the United States is announcing additional measures against those connected to corruption and human rights abuses. The Department of State is today designating 14 individuals, including immediate family members, from countries around the world for significant corruption and one individual for gross […]
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December 6, 2024 – Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, has raised serious concerns over the U.S. government’s response to the criminal charges filed against climate activists Alex Connon and John Mark Rozendaal. The two activists were among hundreds arrested during peaceful protests against fossil fuel financing in New York […]
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Baku, Azerbaijan / Washington — Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned the recent detention of Rufat Safarov, a prominent Azerbaijani human rights advocate, calling for his immediate release. Safarov, the head of the Defense Line human rights organization, was arrested on Tuesday on charges of fraud and hooliganism. He was placed in pretrial […]
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Ankara, Turkey – December 6, 2024 – Nimet Tanrıkulu, a prominent woman human rights defender and feminist, was arrested on November 30, 2024, following a prolonged detention. Tanrıkulu, a founding member of the Human Rights Association (HRA) and Women for Peace Initiative, has been a vocal advocate for human rights in Turkey for decades. Her […]
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The Trump administration has identified several countries to which it aims to deport migrants when their home countries refuse to accept them. Among those countries is The Bahamas, which has firmly rejected participation in the scheme. The move has raised significant concerns about the potential violation of international human rights standards, particularly the Universal Declaration […]
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(New York, December 9, 2024) – The United Nations Security Council should urgently authorize and rapidly deploy a full-fledged United Nations mission to Haiti, Human Rights Watch said today in publishing a briefing paper on the subject. The mission should ensure a human rights-based response to restore security, the rule of law, and democratic governance. Haiti’s crisis […]
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