Category: Human Rights

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the dismantling of civil liberties in Hong Kong since the introduction of China’s National Security Law on June 30, 2020. In a statement released Sunday, the organization criticized Beijing’s continued pressure on the region, warning of a profound deterioration in political and civil freedoms. “In just five years, the […]

Maseru, Lesotho – Tšolo Thakeli, a youth activist in Lesotho, was arrested after posting a video criticizing Prime Minister Sam Matekane for failing to address high unemployment. The video, shared widely online, questioned the government’s progress on job creation and resonated with many young citizens. Thakeli, a 31-year-old father of two, was detained by armed […]

Amnesty International has reported that over 80% of convictions under Hong Kong’s national security laws since 2020 involve individuals wrongfully criminalized for peaceful expression. In findings released Monday, the NGO cited official Hong Kong data showing that 332 people have been arrested, with 189 convictions under national security-related laws. Amnesty concluded that 84.6% of these […]

Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, High Commissioner Volker Türk asked Member States whether enough was being done to protect people from the escalating impacts of climate change. “Are we taking the steps needed to protect people from climate chaos, safeguard their futures and manage natural resources in ways that respect human rights […]

Russian courts have issued over 100 convictions for “extremism” for participating in the “International LGBT Movement” or displaying its alleged symbols. Russian authorities weaponize and misuse the justice system as a tool in their draconian crusade to enforce “traditional values” and marginalize and censor LGBT people. Russia’s international interlocutors should call on the Kremlin to […]

In a stark briefing to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk described a country gripped by war, repression and deepening suffering. Since the military coup in February 2021, nearly 6,800 civilians have been killed and over 22,000 remain arbitrarily detained, he said. Humanitarian needs have soared, with […]

In neighbouring Chad, children make up 61 per cent of the 860,000 Sudanese refugees and a staggering 68 per cent of the 274,000 Chadian returnees – that’s over 700,000 young lives uprooted by violence. Chad, already one of the world’s poorest countries, has the fourth-highest child mortality rate in the world, despite significant progress in […]

(Beirut) – The recent convictions of 24 defendants in the United Arab Emirates to life imprisonment were based on a fundamentally unfair mass trial, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 26, the Criminal Chamber of the UAE’s Federal Supreme Court overturned a prior judgment to dismiss the cases against 24 defendants, instead reconvicting and sentencing the defendants […]

“Definitely, people get shot,” said Gaza-based medic Dr. Luca Pigozzi, WHO Emergency Medical Team Coordinator. “They are victim of blast injuries as well and bodily injuries.” The WHO official’s comments follow reports of another mass casualty incident on Thursday, this time involving a strike on a market in the central city of Deir al Balah. More […]

“We are not meeting the minimum requirement to prevent women from being silenced, and support their participation and leadership in…building peace,” Mr. Türk said. 25 years ago, the UN Security Council passed a resolution which affirmed the vital role that women play in preventing and resolving conflict and emphasized the importance of ending impunity for sexual […]