Bangladesh: New Government Should Prioritize Human Rights

(London) – Bangladesh’s recently elected prime minister, Tarique Rahman, and his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government face many urgent challenges but can use this opportunity to bring lasting protections of human rights, nine rights groups wrote in a letter to Rahman published today. Prime Minister Rahman came to office following a landslide election victory in […]

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Iranian Footballers Gain Asylum in Australia

The Australian government’s decision to grant asylum to five members of the Iranian women’s national football team and one official shows the importance of protecting courageous athletes who stand up for what they believe. The six Iranians sought protection in Australia after their final match of the Asian Women’s Cup on March 8. In their opening […]

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In the Shadow of War, Settler Violence against Palestinians Intensifies

While many Israelis are taking shelter from missile and drone attacks, armed settlers in the West Bank are taking advantage of the fog of war to seize land and advance Israel’s ongoing dispossession and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. On a daily basis, settlers are invading Palestinian communities, firing live ammunition, setting homes and cars on fire, and attacking families […]

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Landmark Court Ruling in Ukraine a Step Toward Equality

A ruling this week by Ukraine’s Supreme Court recognizing a same-sex couple as a de facto family marks a significant victory for equality. The case involves Zorian Kis, a Ukrainian diplomat, and his partner Tymur Levchuk. After years of legal struggle, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision recognizing that the couple constitutes a family under […]

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New OSCE Report Finds Sharp Democratic Backsliding in Georgia

A new report prepared under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) documents a significant deterioration in human rights and democratic standards in Georgia and calls for urgent reforms to protect fundamental freedoms. Published on March 12, the report was prepared by an OSCE fact-finding mission after 23 participating states invoked […]

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European Parliament Urges Niger to Free Detained Ex-President

Over two-and-a-half years after Niger’s military coup, the country’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, and his wife remain detained without legal basis. On March 11, the European Parliament unanimously adopted an urgent resolution condemning their arbitrary detention, as well as that of “other individuals detained in the coup,” and calling for their immediate release. Niger’s Foreign Affairs Ministry reacted sharply, […]

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Formula One: Put Human Rights in the Driver’s Seat

(Paris) – Formula One (F1) and its governing federation, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), should address the risk of governments using upcoming 2026 Grand Prix events to whitewash human rights abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The Formula 1 Grand Prix season in 2026 includes races in 22 countries, including in Bahrain, China, Saudi Arabia, […]

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Iran: US School Attack Findings Show Need for Reform, Accountability

(Washington, DC) – Reported findings that the United States is responsible for the recent deadly school attack in Iran, and that it was based on outdated targeting data, highlight the need for reform and accountability within the US military to minimize civilian harm during conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. The New York Times reported on March 11, […]

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EU brings over 8,000 European citizens home amid Middle East escalation

2 repatriation flights chartered directly by the European Commission have just landed in Warsaw, Poland, bringing back 303 European citizens that were stranded in the Middle East.  This adds to the more than 70 flights coordinated by the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. Over 8,000 European citizens are home today thanks to the EU mobilisation, bringing […]

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Thailand: Don’t Return Vietnamese Activist

The Thai authorities should immediately release Le Chi Thanh, a prominent Vietnamese anti-corruption activist, and ensure that he is not forcibly returned to Vietnam, Human Rights Watch said today. Le Chi Thanh’s lawyers told Human Rights Watch that the Vietnamese embassy in Bangkok has been pressing Thai authorities to deport him as soon as possible […]

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