Category: Human Rights

On International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, the United States recognizes the tireless efforts of women and girls who advocate for human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world. All over the world, women work to challenge systemic injustices and advocate for the rights of all. Women human rights defenders face an increased risk of […]

Prison officers allegedly sexually assaulted and harassed Vida Rabbani, an Iranian journalist and activist, during a body search at Evin Prison in Tehran on October 3, an informed source told Human Rights Watch in late November. Security forces arrested Rabbani in September 2022, during the nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Jina Amini’s death while detained by […]

Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said massive missile and drone attacks on the power network this week have heightened serious concerns about the plight of civilians facing a winter of hardship and misery.   Russia launched missile and long-range drone strikes on Thursday, which reportedly caused damage in at least 13 regions, in addition to the capital city, […]

The 13th and possibly last mission under Brazil’s Operation Cedar Roots carried 150 passengers, including elderly persons and children, back to safety. For many, the relief of reaching Brazilian soil was tempered by the devastation they left behind. “I’m very happy, very thankful for this repatriation operation, which sent a plane for us,” said Mona […]

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases…Unjust Sentencing of PRC Journalist Dong Yuyu The United States condemns the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s November 29 unjust sentencing of journalist Dong Yuyu to seven years in prison for alleged “espionage.” His arrest and today’s sentencing highlight the PRC’s failure to live up to its […]

On Thursday night, the Australian government passed new laws that expand the country’s offshore detention regime, further evade international obligations, and allow officials to pursue prison terms for people who resist deportation, including asylum seekers. These laws undermine the core principles of refugee protection and mark an escalation in Australia’s existing mistreatment of refugees, migrants, and […]

The urgency is clear: humanity produces over 460 million metric tonnes of plastic annually, with half designed for single use. “By 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish,” UN Secretary General António Guterres has cautioned, with pollution now found “everywhere – all around us and inside us – from our seas […]

In a significant yet controversial decision, a Zimbabwe court has suspended the sentences of Jameson Timba, the interim leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), and 34 of his supporters. These individuals had been arrested in June 2024 for participating in an unlawful gathering, marking the latest chapter in the ongoing political tension […]

In an age where social media has become a powerful tool for amplifying voices and demanding change, one woman’s courage to speak out about the systemic issues plaguing her country has led to devastating consequences. Ana da Silva Miguel, better known online as Neth Nahara, a singer, activist, and mother of two, has become the […]

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban issued a stark call for urgent international action on Thursday, describing the situation as “dire” for children. Since the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar has plunged into a deepening crisis. Fighting between military forces and ethnic armed groups has escalated, with reports of heavy artillery, airstrikes, and widespread violence. […]