Bangladesh at a crossroad, says senior UN official

“Young people and people from every range of life across Bangladesh, across the entire country, came out on the streets to celebrate,” UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis remarked.  Some of the celebrations following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation took a violent turn, leading to scenes of destruction, vandalism, attacks against police stations, and killings of […]

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Thailand: Constitutional Court Dissolves Opposition Party

(Bangkok) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court dissolved the opposition Move Forward Party on August 7, 2024, based on politically motivated allegations, seriously damaging the country’s return to genuine democratic rule, Human Rights Watch said today. The nine-judge Constitutional Court unanimously ruled that the Move Forward Party committed treason by advocating reform of Penal Code section 112 […]

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UN rights office reports escalation in strikes on schools in Gaza

According to the office at least 17 schools have been hit, raising serious concerns about compliance with principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including distinction, proportionality and precaution. OHCHR also pointed to an escalation in such attacks. Since last Monday, at least seven schools have been targeted – all reportedly serving as shelters for internally […]

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Ethiopia: Free Brother of Slain Opposition Politician

(Nairobi) – Ethiopian security forces are detaining the brother of, and at least 11 other people linked to Batte Urgessa, a political opposition member who was murdered in April 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should immediately and unconditionally release those held without charge and seek international support for their investigation into Batte’s […]

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Iran’s protest crackdown disproportionately targeting minorities: UN experts

The paper highlights several ways Iranian security forces violated the rights of minorities including through “extrajudicial executions, unnecessary use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape” and other crimes against humanity. The mission says this is the “direct result of long-standing discrimination” that must end immediately. The protests’ impact The advocacy paper said that the […]

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World News in Brief: Justice for Yazidis, South Sudan abductions, food prices hold steady

The Commission said that survivors and victims of Yazidi genocide and ISIL crimes, as well as women and children held solely for their perceived affiliation to ISIL, should be immediately released from unlawful detention in northeast Syria and repatriated where possible and supported to rebuild their lives. “Captured Yazidi women, girls, and boys, survivors and […]

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Israel: Amid reports of torture inside jails, rights experts call for end to impunity

“Israel’s widespread and systemic abuse of Palestinians in detention and arbitrary arrest practices over decades, coupled with the absence of any restraints by the Israeli State since 7 October 2023, paint a shocking picture enabled by absolute impunity,” the experts said. Call for international observers “What is required now is nothing short of an independent, international […]

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Bangladesh: UN urges peaceful transition as PM resigns and flees the country

Secretary-General António Guterres “continues to closely follow developments in the country,” UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said in a statement. “He urges calm and restraint by all sides and emphasizes the importance of a peaceful, orderly and democratic transition,” he added. The UN chief also expressed “full solidarity with the people of Bangladesh” and called […]

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Historic first medal for Refugee Olympic Team

The 25-year-old was the first boxer to qualify for the Refugee Olympic Team, and now she is slated to win gold, silver or bronze later in the week, after her contest against France’s Davina Michel in the 75-kilo category. “I want to say to refugees all around the world, [including] refugees who are not athletes around […]

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Shocking violence in Bangladesh must stop: UN rights chief

More than 80 people, including at least 13 police personnel, are said to have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, according to media reports. Authorities have imposed a curfew and restricted internet access. A police station in Sirajganj district, about 100 kilometres (62.5 miles) northwest of the capital, Dhaka, was also attacked. […]

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