Category: Human Rights

During the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the United States worked closely with UN Member States to highlight and address pressing human rights concerns and to uphold the universal values, aspirations, and principles that have underpinned the UN system since its founding.  Our statements and positions underscored the U.S. commitment to promoting the […]

Ethiopian armed forces summarily executed scores of civilians in Merawi, a town in the Amhara region in late January and February amid fighting with Fano militia. Since armed conflict broke out in Amhara in August 2023, federal forces have committed numerous abuses with impunity. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights should launch an independent […]

Georgia’s ruling party plans to reintroduce highly controversial Russia-style “foreign agent” legislation aimed at incapacitating civil society and independent media. If adopted, the laws, which were withdrawn last year in the face of massive protests, would require foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations and media to register as “agents of foreign influence”. That would make them subject to additional scrutiny […]

The United Nations Human Rights Council has passed its first ever resolution affirming the rights of intersex people, signaling growing international resolve to address rights violations experienced by people born with variations in their sex characteristics. The resolution was put forward by the governments of Australia, Chile, Finland, and South Africa and is called “Combating […]

A United Nations human rights body has criticized the United Kingdom government for “involuntary, compulsory treatment and detention” of people with disabilities inside and outside hospitals and urged UK authorities to guarantee access to community-based services. The Human Rights Committee, a body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and […]

Today, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing a new investigative body to advance accountability for international crimes committed by Belarusian authorities. This sends a strong message to perpetrators that their crimes will not go unpunished. The new body – which was advocated for by Belarusian and international rights groups, including Human […]

As the world prepares to celebrate World Health Day on April 7, governments’ failure to invest adequate resources or appropriate budgetary support in public healthcare systems undermines the right to health for many people around the world. Forthcoming Human Rights Watch analysis of the most recent available data in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global […]

The European Commission takes note of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s announcement to open further humanitarian aid access points into Gaza, following his phone call with US President Biden, in particular the commitments to open the Ashdod port, as well as the Erez crossing to let aid flow directly into north Gaza, and to significantly boost deliveries […]

(Berlin, April 5, 2024) – Migrants from Central Asia and other people of non-Slavic appearance are facing a notable increase in ethnic harassment and attacks in Russia in the wake of the March 22, 2024 attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, Human Rights Watch said today. Media reports describe an increase […]

(Nairobi) – Uganda’s Constitutional Court on April 3, 2024, upheld the abusive and radical provisions of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, Human Rights Watch said today. The ruling further entrenches discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and makes them prone to more violence. The court did strike down sections that restricted healthcare access […]