Category: Human Rights

To mark International Wrongful Conviction Day, the “End ‘Hostage Justice’ in Japan” project, co-sponsored by Human Rights Watch and Innocence Project Japan, has placed a newspaper advertisement to raise awareness of Japan’s abusive “hostage justice” system, which severely violates human rights and continues to result in countless wrongful convictions across the country. The ad states […]

(Berlin, October 2, 2024) – Kyrgyzstan’s government has proposed problematic amendments to the criminal code and other legislative acts that would restore criminal charges for the mere possession of materials deemed “extremist,” Human Rights Watch said today. This move threatens to undo crucial progress made in 2019 when authorities decriminalized possession without intent to distribute […]

(Geneva) – The Egyptian parliament must reject a proposed draft law that would replace the 1950 Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), Amnesty International, Dignity, Human Rights Watch, and the International Commission of Jurists said today. If enacted, the draft legislation would undermine Egypt’s already weakened fair trial rights protections and further empower abusive law enforcement officials. “Instead of seizing the […]

(Geneva) – The United Nations Human Rights Council should adopt a resolution on Sri Lanka to enable continued UN monitoring, reporting, and evidence collection of rights violations for future prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said today. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was elected on September 21, 2024, should reverse the policies of his predecessors by cooperating with the UN’s investigation […]

(Beirut) – A Kurdish youth group in northeast Syria with links to the de facto authorities is recruiting children apparently for eventual transfer to armed groups, Human Rights Watch said today. Child recruitment robs children of their childhood, exposes them to extreme violence, and can cause lasting physical and psychological trauma.  The Revolutionary Youth Movement of […]

The United States congratulates Claudia Sheinbaum on her inauguration.  We also congratulate the people of Mexico for making their voices heard through the democratic process and for this historic day.  We deeply value our strong relationship with Mexico, which is based on shared democratic values, deep economic ties, and strong cultural and familial bonds. We […]

The European Union is carrying out the 2024 edition of its crisis management exercise – EU Integrated Resolve (IR24) from 30 September to 25 October 2024. EU IR24 will test the EU’s preparedness and ability to respond to complex crises of a hybrid nature with internal and external dimensions. The scenario will simulate a multilayered […]

With multiple wildfires breaking out in Greece, and most notably in Northern Peloponnese region, the EU is sending planes to help fight the rapidly spreading flames.  Following Greece’s activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism yesterday afternoon, the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre has immediately mobilised three firefighting aircraft from the rescEU emergency reserves. The […]

“Yet again, another unfathomable attack of the Russian Armed Forces killed and injured civilians, this time at the start of their day at a busy marketplace in Kherson City, south of Ukraine,” Matthias Schmale said in a statement. At least five people were killed, and others injured, according to media reports. Mr. Schmale said the […]

The United States will hold federal elections on November 5. But as people prepare to head to the polls, both voters and election administrators face threats and intimidation from those trying to subvert the democratic process. US election officials should be able to do their jobs in safety. Nevertheless, election administrators in Colorado and Arizona […]