Category: Human Rights

“The situation in the DPRK is a human rights crisis and it is high time the international community treats it as such,” Mr. Türk said. Ongoing gross human rights violations in the country – known more commonly as North Korea – some of which may amount to crimes against humanity, continue to be documented by […]

(Washington, DC) – The United States government’s abrupt cuts to nearly all US foreign aid in 2025 harmed the global human rights movement and countless people at risk, Human Rights Watch said in a 42-page paper issued today. “Every Autocrat’s Dream: A Global Snapshot of the Human Rights Harms of US Foreign Aid Cuts” examines the […]

The M23 armed group and Rwandan military forces carried out an abusive month-long occupation of an eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city beginning in December 2025. During this time, these forces shot fleeing civilians, summarily executed more than 50 people during door-to-door searches, raped at least 8 women, and forcibly disappeared at least 12 people. […]

Two female domestic workers, ages 15 and 18, jumped from the fourth floor of a Jakarta boarding house on April 22 in a desperate attempt to escape their employer. One died; the other was severely injured. The tragedy came just a day after Indonesia’s parliament finally approved the long‑awaited Domestic Workers Protection Law, granting domestic […]

(Johannesburg) – Angolan authorities should carry out an independent and credible investigation into the Cavaco River dike collapse and ensure that internally displaced communities receive immediate, adequate, and transparent assistance, Human Rights Watch said today. Official figures indicate that heavy rainfall and the collapse of the Cavaco River dike on April 12, 2026, triggered devastating floods […]

(The Hague) – The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) upcoming landmark hearing in the case of Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, suspected of crimes against humanity and war crimes, is a long-awaited breakthrough for victims of serious crimes in Libya, Human Rights Watch said today.  From May 19 to 21, 2026, ICC judges will hear evidence […]

(New York) – Gig workers around the world experience long hours, unpredictable and declining pay, and serious safety risks, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Governments negotiating a landmark treaty under the International Labour Organization (ILO) on platform work in June 2026 should adopt strong, binding standards to ensure fair pay, safe […]

HRP Awards 2026 Summer Fellowship HRP is delighted to announce its 2026 Summer Fellowship cohort: Brooke Beyer JD’28, Ideal Dowling JD’27, Alana Mitias JD’28, and Reina Patel JD’27 Summer fellowships for human rights internships are a central part of the Harvard Law School human rights experience and provide rich professional, personal, and intellectual opportunities. Many […]

“We’re seeing attacks become increasingly coordinated,” UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva. “Documented incidents include children shot, stabbed, children beaten, and children pepper-sprayed.” Some 70 children have been killed since January 2025 – at least one on average every week – and a further 850 injured, mostly by live ammunition, […]

Tunisian authorities on April 24 suspended operations of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, a longstanding refuge for human rights defenders.  Suspensions are a drastic measure that should only be taken as a last resort with clear justification. Founded in 1976 under a one-party state, the league has been repeatedly targeted since its inception. Many of its leaders […]