Category: Human Rights

(Manila) – Threats by members of the Philippine Congress to defund the national human rights commission have resulted in its weakening of support for abortion rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The lawmakers’ action against the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) not only undermines the commission’s ability to protect reproductive rights in the Philippines but […]

“One day, they came and pulled me out of the basement. 4 hefty guys, well-armed, positioned me in front of the house with rifles and began interrogating me.” That day marked the beginning of Tetiana’s long and perilous journey to safety. After spending months in her home village under the control of the Russian army, […]

Out of 127 million registered voters in Pakistan, 10 million more men than women have registered to vote in the general election scheduled for February 8, 2024. This is a large gender gap in a country in which women make up 49 percent of the population. Although voting is a constitutional right for all adults […]

(Beirut) – Parties to the conflict in Yemen, the UN, and the international community should prioritize the protection of children in the ongoing peace talks to ensure justice and accountability, 43 organizations, including Human Rights Watch, said today, on International Children’s Day. Human Rights Watch is one of 43 human rights organizations that published a […]

(Sydney) – The Australian government should press Lao government leaders to end their systemic human rights violations when the two governments meet for a bilateral rights dialogue, Human Rights Watch said today. The Australia-Laos 8th bilateral human rights dialogue is scheduled for November 23, 2023, in Canberra. A Human Rights Watch submission to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs […]

Unpredictable and extreme weather due to climate change is affecting Somalia. Dedicated frontline health and nutrition workers are in action with immediate life-saving response, as 1.8 million children are expected to need treatment for malnutrition by the end of the year. Establishing health systems where malnutrition is highest will enable families to stay in their […]

Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) was speaking as Israeli forces continue to attack Gaza, whilst preventing most Palestinians from leaving. “I witnessed many wars before in Gaza, but I did not see the magnitude of this tragedy before. It is a new Nakba (catastrophe) for the Palestinians. […]

(The Hague) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) order on November 16, 2023, directing Syria to take all measures within its power to prevent acts of torture and other abuses is a milestone toward protecting civilians in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 8, 2023, the Netherlands and Canada filed a case alleging that […]

More than half the population of Mali is under the age of 18. About a third of them live in areas affected by armed conflict. Children and youngsters are suffering disproportionately under the ongoing crisis. In 2022, the UN Secretary General reported being extremely concerned by the increase in the number of grave violations committed […]

Catherine Russell made the appeal in a statement to mark World Children’s Day, which commemorates the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – the most widely ratified human rights treaty in history.  “At no time since the CRC was adopted 34 years ago have children’s rights been in greater […]