Category: Human Rights

The “Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice” silences women’s voices and deprives them of their autonomy, “effectively attempting to render them into faceless, voiceless shadows”, said Ravina Shamdasani, OHCHR’s Chief Spokesperson. “This is utterly intolerable,” she stressed. “We call on the de facto authorities to immediately repeal this legislation, which […]

Ahead of the upcoming school year, local authorities and politicians in Lebanon are seeking to impose discriminatory restrictions that could result in tens of thousands of refugee children being denied their right to education. On July 8, Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea wrote on social media that the Education Ministry must require all students […]

The 31 August 2022 report stated that violations had taken place in the context of the Government’s assertion that it was targeting terrorists among the Uyghur minority with a counter-extremism strategy, involving the use of so-called Vocational Educational and Training Centres (VETCs), or re-education camps. Detailed exchanges and dialogue In an update to reporters, OHCHR […]

Last week, Philippine government censors put an X rating on a documentary film about the enforced disappearance of a peasant activist, effectively banning the movie from public showing. The filmmakers said that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board ruled that their film, “Alipato at Muog” (Flying Embers and a Fortress), “tends to undermine the faith and […]

(Geneva) – The Bangladesh interim government should seek a resolution at the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent mechanism to investigate and pursue accountability for recent grave abuses in Bangladesh, Human Rights Watch said in a letter to chief advisor Muhammad Yunus and other interim government officials that was […]

The Sri Lankan government has been trying to persuade international partners of its achievements in reforming the economy and protecting human rights.  However, a new report by the United Nations high commissioner for human rights warns that Sri Lanka is facing renewed threats to fundamental freedoms. It finds that authorities have sought new repressive laws and engaged […]

(Nairobi) – Cameroon’s authorities and security forces forcibly disappeared Ramon Cotta, a social media activist, and apparently tortured him, Human Rights Watch said today. Cotta, born Yves Kibouy Bershu, has been living in Gabon for the past 10 years, where he also went by the name of Steve Akam. He is known for his TikTok videos in […]

Ukraine is taking key steps toward becoming a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a milestone in advancing global justice. This comes after years of campaigning by national and international human rights groups. The Ukrainian government should ensure that membership moves forward, while dropping a limitation in the law that risks shielding war criminals. On […]

His view is shared by Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, who described the team as “one of the great stories of the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Each of these athletes has overcome tremendous odds to get here and has a compelling message to share with the world”. Representing more than 120 million forcibly […]

2024-25 Tiruchelvam Fellow: Thyagi Ruwanpathirana The Human Rights Program and the Program on Law and Society in the Muslim World at Harvard Law School are thrilled to welcome the inaugural Neelan Tiruchelvam Fellow, Thyagi Ruwanpathirana. Thyagi comes to Harvard Law School from Amnesty International, where she served as a South Asia Regional Researcher since 2018. […]