Journalist, Rights Lawyer Brutally Attacked in Chechnya

Today, a group of armed thugs in Chechnya’s capital, Grozny, attacked Elena Milashina, a prominent journalist and a recipient of Human Right Watch’s award for extraordinary activism, and Alexander Nemov, a human rights lawyer. Both had been working on the case of Zarema Mussaeva, who was being tried on apparent politically motivated charges. Milashina and […]

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Tunisia must ‘change course’ amid media crackdown: UN rights chief

“It is troubling to see Tunisia, a country that once held so much hope, regressing and losing the human rights gains of the last decade,” Mr. Türk said, urging the country to “change course”. The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said that over the past three months, the Tunisian authorities have used security and counter-terrorism […]

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Jordan Should Take Social Protection All the Way

Governments around the world are increasingly recognizing the necessity of robust social protection programs, and Jordan is no exception. In 2019, Jordanian authorities introduced the Unified Cash Transfer Program (formerly Takaful) to supplement existing contributory schemes in the formal labor market, including pensions and benefits related to maternity, workplace injury, unemployment, and disability. The program […]

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Sudan: OHCHR calls for ‘urgent action’ to end militia attacks on people fleeing El Geneina

The explosion of ethnic violence in Darfur largely by nomadic “Arab” groups in alliance with the RSF who have been battling national army forces for control of the country since mid-April, has led tens of thousands to flee into neighbouring Chad. ‘Horrifying accounts’ In a statement, OHCHR Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said interviews with people fleeing […]

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Lebanon: Armed Forces Summarily Deporting Syrians

Lebanese Armed Forces have summarily deported thousands of Syrians, including unaccompanied children, back to Syria between April and May 2023. Syrians in Lebanon are living in constant fear that they could be picked up and sent back to nightmarish conditions, regardless of their refugee status. Lebanese authorities should enable Syrians to regularize their status in […]

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UN refugee agency predicts spike in resettlement needs next year

 According to the Projected Global Resettlement Needs Assessment for 2024, over 2.4 million refugees will be in need of resettlement, marking a 20 per cent increase compared to 2023. A woman leaves a refugee camp in Rwanda on her way to resettlement in Norway. Escalating challenges  With a deepening refugee crisis, security breakdowns and conflicts, urgent […]

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Burundi Government Walks Out on UN Review

This week, Burundian authorities once again displayed their contempt for human rights by walking out of the country’s review before the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. The Burundi delegation walked out shortly after the session began, saying it objected to the presence of members of civil society in attendance – people the government claimed […]

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Security in eastern DR Congo continues to worsen, Security Council hears

“So far, the ceasefire between the M23 and the FARDC has held up relatively well and has contributed to some security gains”, said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee. “The relative calm in Rutshuru territory, for example, allowed more than 45,000 people from the Bishusha group to return home”, she said.  She noted, however, that […]

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Nepal’s Historic Achievement on Marriage Equality

Hundreds of same-sex couples in Nepal will soon be able to legally register their marriages following a landmark Supreme Court ruling on June 28 which cleared the way for marriage equality in the country. Although Nepal’s civil code currently describes marriage as being between a man and a woman, Justice Til Pradad Shrestha ordered the […]

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Torture as a weapon of war must cease, rights experts demand

Today, more than 100 armed conflicts are raging worldwide, devastating communities, winding back development, and leading to grave violations of human rights.  Ranging from severe beatings to sexual humiliation and rape, torture is widely used as a means of war. And often, torture involves the use of tools or instruments, mock executions, and forcing victims […]

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