UN hails Colombia’s first convictions under transitional justice measures as ‘crucial milestone’

“After decades of atrocity upon atrocity, these convictions represent a fundamental step in the fight against impunity in Colombia and in fulfilling the rights of victims to truth and justice,” he said. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), established under the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Government and FARC rebels, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of […]

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India Court Order on Adani Group Criticism Sparks Press Freedom Concerns

NEW DELHI — A recent court directive ordering the removal of online content critical of the Adani Group has ignited widespread concern among journalists and civil society advocates over the future of press freedom in India. The ruling, which mandates the scrubbing of articles and social media posts referencing allegations against the conglomerate, has been […]

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Designation of Two Former Haitian Public Officials for Involvement in Significant Corruption

The Department of State is publicly designating Arnel Belizaire, a former member of the Haitian Chamber of Deputies, and Antonio Cheramy, a former Haitian Senator, for their involvement in significant corruption during their time in public office.  This action renders Belizaire, Cheramy, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States.  […]

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Texas Sets Execution Date for Robert Roberson Despite Ongoing Innocence Investigation and Review

TEXAS — An execution date has been scheduled for Robert Roberson, a death row inmate who has spent more than two decades incarcerated for the 2002 death of his daughter, despite mounting scientific and legal evidence challenging his conviction. Roberson was sentenced based on the now-discredited “shaken baby syndrome” theory, which medical experts—including pediatricians, forensic […]

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New Industry Requirements Could Disrupt Abusive Armed Groups’ Trade in Gold

Deep in the forest in Venezuela’s Bolivar state, residents live in fear of horrific violence at the hands of armed groups involved in the illicit gold trade. During a 2020 investigation, a 17-year-old boy told Human Rights Watch how he witnessed members of a Venezuelan armed group amputating both hands of a miner they accused of […]

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EU’s New India Strategy Overlooks Modi’s Repression

The European Union unveiled its “New Strategic EU-India Agenda” this week, setting out a range of areas for closer bilateral cooperation. The document hails India as the “world’s largest democracy” and a “like-minded and trusted partner,” but deliberately overlooks India’s deepening human rights crisis. Strengthening EU-India trade, economic, and political ties has long been among […]

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Kyrgyzstan: Media Workers Sentenced to Prison in Flawed Trial

(Bishkek) – A Kyrgyz court on September 17, 2025, convicted two former media workers on charges of “public calls for mass unrest”, Human Rights Watch said today. Joomart Duulatov and Aleksandr Aleksandrov, from the independent investigative outlet Kloop, were each sentenced to five years in prison. Two of Kloop’s accountants who were also convicted on the same […]

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US Judge Blocks Expulsion of Guatemalan Children

On September 18, a federal judge in Washington, DC issued a preliminary injunction blocking the removal of unaccompanied Guatemalan children, at least 76 of whom the Trump administration attempted to summarily expel in the middle of the night last month. On the night of August 30 to 31, children across shelters or foster care run by the United […]

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US: Journalist Mario Guevara Faces Imminent Deportation After Charges Dropped

Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist originally from El Salvador, remains in U.S. custody and faces imminent deportation despite all criminal charges against him being dismissed. Guevara was arrested on June 14, 2025, while livestreaming a protest against immigration raids in Georgia. He was charged with unlawful assembly, obstruction, and pedestrian violations, but those charges were […]

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UN Applauds Colombia’s First Peace Tribunal Ruling as Key Step Toward Justice

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has hailed the first convictions issued by Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) as a “crucial milestone” in the country’s pursuit of accountability and reconciliation. In its inaugural ruling, the SJP convicted seven senior members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia–Popular Army (FARC-EP) for war crimes […]

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