Rising Executions of Women in Iran: A Disturbing Trend in 2024

Iran has seen a sharp rise in the execution of women, with at least 31 women executed in 2024, marking the highest annual toll in 17 years. This surge, highlighted by Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), underscores a disturbing pattern in which female prisoners, often accused of crimes in the context of abusive relationships or coerced […]

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Sudan: Fighters Rape Women and Girls, Hold Sex Slaves

Rapid Support Forces fighters and allied militias have raped scores of women and girls, including in the context of sexual slavery, in Sudan’s South Kordofan state since September 2023. Conflict-related sexual violence is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, or the laws of war, and a war crime. Sexual violence may constitute crimes against humanity […]

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Over 115,000 Syrians have returned home since end of Assad dictatorship

The information is based on public statements by host countries, contacts with immigration services from inside Syria, and border monitoring by the agency and partners. UNHCR said the Turkish Minister of Interior reported that 35,113 Syrians have voluntarily returned home. Jordan returnees’ demographic shift For its part, Jordan noted that more than 22,000 people have […]

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Malawi Faces Food Crisis Amid Growing Refugee Influx from Mozambique

Malawi is confronting a dire humanitarian situation as it struggles to provide adequate food for its population, compounded by the influx of thousands of refugees fleeing escalating violence in neighboring Mozambique. The crisis, triggered by post-election unrest, has placed immense pressure on the country’s already strained resources, deepening the challenges for both local citizens and […]

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Kazakhstan Takes Steps to Enhance Human Rights Standards Amid Global Scrutiny

Kazakhstan, a Central Asian nation with a history of criticism from Western human rights organizations, is taking significant steps to improve its human rights record. The government has introduced new legislation aimed at addressing concerns related to civil liberties, political freedoms, and social justice, in a bid to align with international human rights standards. Since […]

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Family of Hostage Featured in Latest Hamas Video Urges Netanyahu to Pursue Ceasefire

The family of a hostage shown in a recent video released by Hamas has appealed directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire deal. In a statement, they expressed that the footage of their loved one, released by the militant group, had “torn our hearts to pieces,” […]

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Taliban’s Midwifery Ban Deepens Afghanistan’s Healthcare Crisis: ‘We Saw Women Die at Home’

As Afghanistan enters its fourth year without training new female doctors, the Taliban’s recent ban on women studying midwifery has compounded an already dire healthcare crisis. This policy not only closes one of the last remaining educational opportunities for women but also poses a significant threat to the nation’s healthcare system, particularly in rural areas […]

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Court Trials vs. Military Tribunals: Pakistan’s Ongoing Legal Dilemma

In the wake of Pakistan’s May 9, 2023 riots, which followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a growing legal controversy has emerged over the military’s jurisdiction to try civilians. In December 2023, military courts sentenced 25 individuals, including Khan’s nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, for alleged involvement in the attacks on military installations. […]

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UN Funding Uncertainty Threatens Rights Investigations

United Nations member countries should take urgent steps to end the UN’s financial troubles, which are hindering human rights investigations in Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Israel/Palestine, and elsewhere. This difficult situation will get even worse if the incoming US administration follows through on threats to stop funding key UN agencies that provide lifesaving aid and protection. […]

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Young Venezuelan refugees get a fresh start in Trinidad’s schools

When 11-year-old Venezuelan refugee Astrid Saavedra walked into her fourth-grade classroom in Trinidad and Tobago for her first day of school in September, she was eager to begin lessons in her favourite subject, mathematics. But the prospect of teaching fellow students about her homeland Venezuela was equally exciting. Astrid is one of the first refugee and […]

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