ILO: Strengthen Global Rules to Protect Gig Workers

(New York) – Governments negotiating a new global treaty on gig work should strengthen the draft text to ensure fair wages and social security for these workers and protect them from exploitative management, Human Rights Watch said today, submitting a briefing with proposals for the treaty. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is currently developing the first […]

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Thailand: Vietnamese Refugees at Risk from Hanoi

Increased cooperation between Thai and Vietnamese authorities is putting Vietnamese refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand at heightened risk of forcible return to Vietnam. Vietnam and Thailand are cooperating more closely and exchanging information about Vietnamese exiles, particularly since early 2024 when the two countries began negotiating an extradition treaty. Thai police should stop arresting […]

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Australia: Afghanistan’s Taliban May Face New Sanctions

The Australian government’s proposed amendments to its sanctions regulations are an important step toward accountability for Taliban officials and others responsible for serious abuses in Afghanistan, Human Rights Watch said in a recent submission to the Australian government. The amended Autonomous Sanctions Regulations introduce new listing criteria that are specific to Afghanistan and will enable the […]

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Lebanon: Hannibal Gaddafi Free After Long Unlawful Detention

(Beirut) – Lebanese authorities released Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi, on November 10, 2025, ending nearly 10 years of arbitrary detention without trial, Human Rights Watch said today. While judicial authorities’ decision to end Gaddafi’s unlawful treatment is a long overdue step in the right direction, they should also formally drop all […]

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Rights Groups Allege Torture of Venezuelan Deportees from US to El Salvador

Summary: Human rights organizations have accused El Salvador of torturing Venezuelan nationals deported from the United States earlier this year. A new report details systematic abuse inside the country’s maximum-security prison, raising questions about U.S. complicity and international accountability. Human Rights Watch (HRW) and regional advocacy group Cristosal released an 81-page report this week alleging […]

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Türkiye: ‘Restriction Codes’ Harm Uyghurs Seeking Safety

Turkish authorities are increasingly restricting the legal residency of Uyghurs seeking safety from the Chinese government. Until recently, Uyghurs who escaped repression at home felt safe in Türkiye, but as China-Türkiye relations warm, and the Erdoğan government cracks down on refugees and migrants, many are growing fearful. The Turkish government should stop deporting Uyghurs to […]

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World News in Brief: Refugee boat tragedy in Andaman Sea, Gaza vaccinations, farmers’ lending scheme

Thirteen survivors have been rescued by Malaysian authorities, but dozens remain missing. Another vessel with about 230 people on board is reportedly still at sea, raising fears of further tragedy. Thousands of Rohingya refugees continue to attempt perilous journeys across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in search of safety, as conditions worsen in […]

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Trial of Ex-Congolese Warlord Important Step for Justice

The trial of Roger Lumbala Tshitenga, a former rebel leader and former minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo, begins on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, before the Paris Criminal Court. Lumbala is charged with crimes against humanity allegedly committed in North Kivu and Ituri provinces between 2002 and 2003, including summary executions, torture and other inhuman […]

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Latest deadly shipwreck highlights need for safer migration

They were among 49 migrants and refugees aboard a rubber boat that departed from Zuwara in northwest Libya around 3am on 3 November, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday, citing survivors. The vessel capsized roughly six hours later after high waves caused the engine to fail. All passengers, 47 men and two […]

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Rights Groups Urge US to Put Human Rights First During Saudi Crown Prince’s Visit

Summary: As Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in Washington, rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Democracy for the Arab World Now are pressing the US to prioritize human rights over strategic and economic interests, citing repression, executions, and the unresolved murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. 🏛️ Calls for Accountability Human Rights […]

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