EU steps up humanitarian assistance for Palestinians

In light of the continued deterioration of the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the steady rise of needs on the ground, the Commission is stepping up its funding to support Palestinians affected by the ongoing war. The EU has now allocated an additional €68 million in the form of humanitarian aid to be channelled […]

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Honoring a Philippine Human Rights Icon

The Philippines on April 23 lost a human rights stalwart. Rene Saguisag, a human rights lawyer and former senator, defended victims of abuses during the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship and was an ardent human rights advocate in the ensuing years. He died of undisclosed causes at the age of 84. Saguisag, along with Jose Diokno, Lorenzo […]

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Lebanon: Stepped-Up Repression of Syrians

(Beirut) – Lebanese authorities have arbitrarily detained, tortured, and forcibly returned Syrians to Syria in recent months, including opposition activists and army defectors, Human Rights Watch said today. Between January and March 2024, Human Rights Watch documented the forcible return of a Syrian army defector and an opposition activist by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) […]

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Burkina Faso: Army Massacres 223 Villagers

(Nairobi) – The Burkina Faso military summarily executed at least 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, in two villages on February 25, 2024, Human Rights Watch said today. These mass killings, among the worst army abuse in Burkina Faso since 2015, appear to be part of a widespread military campaign against civilians accused of collaborating […]

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Amid campus crackdowns, Gaza war triggers freedom of expression crisis

“The Gaza crisis is truly becoming a global crisis of the freedom of expression,” said Ms. Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. “This is going to have huge repercussions for a long time to come.” Demonstrations around the world have been roundly […]

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Africa’s High Teenage Pregnancy Rate Demands Strong Response

Throughout 2024, the African Union will mark the “AU Year of Education.” The aim is to renew collective commitment and joint action by African countries towards the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education, as well as the Continental Educational Strategy for Africa, designed to make education a reality for all […]

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Key asks on humanitarian access in Sudan

On 15 April 2024, the European Union, France and Germany co-hosted the International Humanitarian Conference for Sudan and Neighbouring Countries in Paris. The event aimed at refocusing the attention of the world on the crisis in Sudan and the region, improving access and respect for international humanitarian law and mobilising funds. One year after the […]

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Gender therapy review reveals devastating impacts on teens

The development is in line with several western European countries that have reportedly reduced access to similar gender identity treatments whose benefits were found to be “remarkably weak”, according to a National Health Service (NHS) England-commissioned review, published on 10 April by consultant paediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass. UN Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem also welcomed the […]

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UN migration agency assists survivors of deadly shipwreck off Djibouti

The migrants were on a boat carrying at least 77 people from Ras al-Ara off Yemen’s coast which capsized off the coast of Djibouti, near Obock, leaving 24 dead and 20 others missing. Just two weeks ago, a similar accident, resulting in the death of at least 38 migrants, occurred.   “The occurrence of two such […]

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Iran: Popular Rapper Sentenced to Death for Dissent

(Beirut) – An Iranian court has issued a death sentence to the imprisoned popular rapper Toumaj Salehi on speech-related charges, Human Rights Watch said today. The legal proceedings and sentence against Salehi, 33, are a cruel and outrageous assault on fundamental freedoms and the right to a fair trial. Amir Raeesian, Saheli’s lawyer, told the […]

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