Category: Human Rights

(Beirut) – The Syrian Ministry of Finance has targeted, since early 2024, hundreds of people and their families from a town south of Damascus with unlawful asset freezes, Human Rights Watch said today. The en masse asset freezes constitute collective punishment and a violation of the right to property. These decisions are based on a 2012 […]

Hamas-led armed groups committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity against civilians during the October 7 assault on southern Israel. Palestinian fighters committed summary killings, hostage-taking and other war crimes, and the crimes against humanity of murder and wrongful imprisonment. Governments with influence over the Palestinian armed groups should press for the urgent release of […]

Last week, the Congolese government’s Communication and Broadcasting Board (Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel et de la communication, CSAC) suspended journalist Jessy Kabasele for an indefinite period, following his interview with one of the country’s most famous singers, Koffi Olomide, on Le Panier The Morning Show. During the interview, aired by the state-run broadcasting company, Olomide criticized the army’s […]

The Nelson Mandela Rules, which are named after the former South African president who was unjustly incarcerated for 27 years, are playing a key part in prison and penal reform in the Philippines. Ahead of Nelson Mandela International Day marked annually on 18 July, here’s what you need to know about the Rules and what is being done […]

Thousands of people are being deported every year for drug offenses that in many cases no longer exist under state laws, harming and separating immigrant families. Punitive federal immigration laws separate families, destabilize communities, and terrorize non-citizens, all while overdose deaths have risen and drugs have become more potent and available. Congress should reform immigration […]

(Beirut) – Iranian authorities under the new president should halt their use of excessive and lethal force at the Iran-Iraq border against predominantly Kurdish kulbars (border couriers), who come from marginalized communities, Human Rights Watch and the Centre for Supporters of Human Rights (CSHR) said today.  Masoud Pezeshkian, the newly elected president of Iran, said during his presidential […]

(Nairobi) – The Kenyan government and International Monetary Fund should work together to ensure that the IMF program and its implementation align with human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The focus should be on progressive revenue generation and accountability over public funds. Following the recent nationwide protests, President William Ruto declined to sign Finance […]

At the Manila City Jail in the Philippines capital, prisoners lie in neat rows as they demonstrate how they sleep every night. In male dormitory number 4 most do not have a mattress or even a bed; indeed it’s not even possible due to a lack of space to lie down on your back. Instead, […]

El Salvador’s state of emergency, declared in March 2022, has led to severe human rights violations against children of low-income communities. Many children have been doubly victimized by gang members who abused them and then by security forces who detained and mistreated them, with possible lifelong consequences. The government should end its abusive approach and […]

The celebration to mark Nelson Mandela International Day, observed annually on his birthday, 18 July, provides an opportunity for everyone to make a positive contribution by volunteering for 67 minutes – in honour of each year he fought for justice. The theme this year is: It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity. […]