Category: Human Rights

(New York) – The Hong Kong government should immediately quash a court’s groundless national security law convictions of prominent pro-democracy activists, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 30, 2024, three judges handpicked by the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong chief executive convicted 14 activists and former elected lawmakers under the draconian National Security Law. Two were acquitted. […]

In a historic decision last week, a longstanding United Nations body recognized that the international human rights system doesn’t fully protect older people’s rights, and it recommended a new human rights treaty to help correct this. Chaired by Argentina and following negotiations facilitated by Brazil and Portugal, the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing reached […]

The experts highlighted recent incidents targeting the Persian language news service Iran International, its journalists and staff and its owner, Volant Media UK Limited. Death threats and intimidation against the staff escalated into the stabbing of journalist Pouria Zeraati outside his home in London on 29 March. Since 2017, Iran International has faced ongoing threats […]

Filippo Grandi said the number currently stands at 114 million. “Next month we will update this figure. It will be higher,” he added. Mr. Grandi recalled his last briefing to ambassadors seven months ago, when he shared his views on several crises around the globe. Non-compliance with international law He said the situation has not […]

In a rare piece of good news for human rights and democracy in the United Kingdom, last week the High Court ruled that anti-protest measures introduced by the government earlier this year are unlawful. The case was brought by Liberty, a UK-based civil liberties organization, who hailed the decision as a “victory for democracy.” Last June, […]

(Berlin, May 30, 2024) – Increasing numbers of people in Uzbekistan are being prosecuted and imprisoned for “insulting the president online,” Human Rights Watch said today. The criminal charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and violates international human rights law. “People in Uzbekistan should be able to criticize the president and […]

(Nairobi) – Those responsible for a brutal attack 10 years ago on a Central African Republic church serving as a camp for displaced people still need to face justice, Human Rights Watch said today. The May 28, 2014 attack at the Notre-Dame church in the Fatima neighborhood of the country’s capital, Bangui, took place less than a […]

(New York)  – Federico Borello, an Italian lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in human rights, civilian protection, and transitional justice, has been selected as Human Rights Watch’s new deputy executive director and chief programs officer, Human Rights Watch said today. Borello will assume the position on July 1, 2024. “We are absolutely thrilled […]

The European Commission decided to close the article 7 procedure against Poland on Wednesday, despite Poland’s newly elected government not having implemented all needed reforms. Article 7 is the EU’s primary treaty-based mechanism to hold accountable EU member states that undermine the bloc’s values, including by violating the rule of law. Article 7 was invoked […]

The Rwandan government’s decision to block Human Rights Watch senior researcher Clémentine de Montjoye from entering the country this month was not a complete surprise. Unfortunately, the vague and unfounded allegations against de Montjoye are part of a long-running pattern from a government intolerant of anyone reviewing its human rights record. In barring entry to de Montjoye, […]