Restore and Bolster Congressional Oversight of DHS, ICE, and CBP

Congress approved five of six federal funding bills this week, delaying funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over concerns regarding recent immigration crackdowns, including killings and other abuses. Congress is now negotiating possible reforms for DHS and two of its agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  The […]

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Concerns persist over herbicide spraying reports on Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel

The development poses a “serious humanitarian risk” to civilians living there, maintained the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), briefing journalists in Geneva. “The use of herbicides raises questions about the effects on local agricultural lands and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods in the […]

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Greek Coast Guard Under Scrutiny for Migrant Deaths

On February 3, a devastating collision between a Greek Coast Guard vessel and a migrant boat occurred off the Greek island of Chios. The collision, which resulted in 15 deaths and 24 people injured, including 11 children, raises serious questions about the actions of the Greek Coast Guard at sea. Although officials were quick to blame the migrant boat […]

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How AI, gaming and virtual worlds are reshaping Holocaust remembrance

“At the moment, we have an incredibly dispersed and diverse landscape of memory-making, and the more digital we get, the most diverse it gets,” Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden, Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab at the University of Sussex, told UN News. As Holocaust survivors age and first-hand testimony becomes rarer, educators, researchers and […]

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Chad: Africa’s refugee haven struggles with its own stark challenges

Here’s what you need to know: Fighting and dire humanitarian conditions triggered by the conflict that erupted among rival militaries in Sudan in April 2023 have so far displaced 14 million people, spilling over to the country’s seven bordering neighbour nations, according to the UN. Few places are feeling the effects of the ongoing war as […]

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Nepal: Protests Over Corruption, Inequality, and Social Media Ban

(Bangkok) – Nepal was rocked by disorder and arson after police killed 19 protesters during the September demonstrations that toppled the government, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2026. An interim government mandated to conduct fresh elections in March was sworn in under the leadership of former chief justice Sushila Karki, who has pledged […]

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Syria: Renewed Hope for Justice, Accountability

(Beirut) – The Syrian transitional government took initial steps in 2025 to advance justice and accountability for crimes and abuses committed by the former government, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2026. The Syrian authorities created new government bodies on transitional justice and to account for thousands of missing persons in Syria. But […]

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End to Abuses Still Distant in DR Congo

The Washington Accords, signed in December 2025 between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda under US mediation, promised an end to the devastating armed conflict in eastern Congo through troop withdrawals, ceasefires, and economic cooperation on critical minerals. Months later, the deal has delivered little more than paper promises, with fighting continuing and civilians bearing the brunt. Support […]

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Ukraine: Civilians injured, miners killed, in separate Russian attacks

Matthias Schmale was “appalled” by the attacks in Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kyiv, noting that many more people in several regions – including Dnipro, Odesa and Vinnitsya – are facing power outages.  “Systematic attacks by the Russian Federation Armed Forces on critical infrastructure affect the daily lives of millions and cause life-threatening conditions for the most vulnerable, including older people and children,” he said in a […]

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World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed, ‘Olympic truce’, Ukraine’s freezing children

“We welcome efforts to bring stability to the region and now hope for a complete end to hostilities and a sustainable resolution,” said Chair of the independent UN Human Rights Council-mandated investigative team, Paulo Pinheiro, stressing the need to address acute humanitarian needs, including food, water and electricity. Recognition of rights He also welcomed a […]

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