Category: Human Rights

That is the picture painted by James Heenan, head of the UN human rights office (OHCHR) in the South Korean capital, Seoul. His team monitors the DPRK from beyond its borders because, as he puts it, “almost no one” can get in. Speaking to UN News in New York, Mr. Heenan described a country where […]

Despite civilians’ willingness to return home, continued Israeli military activity and presence in the south are making it very difficult, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists on Friday.  This week alone, further demolitions, fires and strikes by Israeli forces were reported across Southern Lebanon, both within the so-called combat zone declared by Israel – from […]

(New York) – An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan imposed 10-year prison sentences on two human rights lawyers on October 29, 2026, in an escalation of the government’s crackdown on civil society, Human Rights Watch said today. Pakistani authorities should immediately quash the convictions, release Imaan Mazari-Hazir and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha, and cease criminal […]

MOSCOW — Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia’s most prominent independent news outlets, announced on Friday, October 30, 2026, that it will permanently cease operations after more than three decades. The publication’s editorial board stated that systematic campaign efforts and state pressure from Russian authorities—including police raids, financial blockades, and eviction orders—forced the outlet into a […]

The United States Treasury announced new sanctions this week against Rwanda’s Ministry of Defense and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a Rwandan financial institution that the US Treasury found facilitated payments for the Rwandan army and the abusive M23 armed group. The sanctions freeze all named parties’ assets and interests in the US and effectively bar […]

OHCHR said that Israel has stated that it aims to increase the area of military deployment to 70 per cent of Gaza’s territory.  The relentless contraction of space has caused new displacement in areas adjacent to the “yellow line” demarcation boundary.  Military expansion, reported attacks  Over the past two weeks, OHCHR documented the westward expansion […]

When I woke up this morning to the news that Novaya Gazeta is closing its doors, it felt like a personal blow. To me, Novaya’s office in a small grey building in central Moscow always felt like home.  The newsroom moved to Moscow almost three decades ago. I got to know its every nook and […]

Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the military overthrew the democratically elected Government in February 2021, triggering widespread armed resistance across the country.  Special Rapporteur Kelley Anne Eckels-Currie’s new report found that at least 8,384 civilians have been killed by the military since the coup, up until 15 September 2026.  Special Rapporteurs are independent […]

Europeans continue to show very strong support for a coordinated European approach to disaster preparedness and response, according to the latest Special Eurobarometer on EU Civil Protection published today by the European Commission.  As Europe faces growing risks and increasingly complex natural hazards and human-induced disasters, 9 in 10 Europeans think it is important that the […]

On Tuesday, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, will open the 9th edition of the European Civil Protection Forum. The Forum, taking place on 3 and 4 Novembre, will bring together over 1,900 participants from around 80 nationalities, including high-level representatives, civil protection professionals, first responders and experts, to discuss crisis preparedness […]