Singapore should drop a wave of charges against seven activists and human rights defenders. The charges relate to protests, vigils and other public advocacy concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza and opposition to the death penalty. Criminalizing such activities is a clear viol…Mostrar mais

Iranian authorities are unlawfully executing protesters and political dissidents on a weekly basis, a relentless attack on the right to life. Between March 18 and the end of August 2026, Iran’s authorities announced the executions of 29 people in connection with recent protests…Mostrar mais

Hezbollah unlawfully fired widely banned cluster munitions into a town in northern Israel on March 4, 2026, and again on March 15. Cluster munitions should not be used under any circumstances, and their use may amount to a war crime. www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/09/lebanon/israel...Mostrar mais

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have announced a trade ban with Israel’s illegal settlements, joining Norway, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, who already adopted such measures.  Other governments and institutions, including the European Union as Israel’s mai…Mostrar mais

Recent use of white phosphorus munitions by Israeli forces in Lebanon underscores the need for regulations. www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/09/white-phosphor... Just how harmful are these weapons? Watch to learn more ⤵️

NEW: Women in South Korea face systemic gender discrimination at every stage of their working lives. These adverse impacts accumulate as women get older. In a new report, HRW found that the older women get, the fewer work opportunities they have, and the worse their working cond…Mostrar mais

As schools in Ukraine opened for the new academic year on September 1, repeated air raid alerts in Kyiv and elsewhere have disrupted classes and sent children into shelters, sometimes for hours. In Kyiv alone since February 2022, 314 educational facilities have been damaged, acc…Mostrar mais

Five years on, the Taliban's repression continues in #Afghanistan. Women and girls are denied their rights. Critics face persecution. Accountability remains overdue. Renew the UN expert's mandate and urgently operationalize the new accountability mechanism. Learn more⤵️

Tunisia’s Court of Cassation is upholding the convictions and heavy sentences of 34 people for “conspiracy against state security” and terrorism offenses in November 2025. The earlier trial was unjust and a sham, with final sentences ranging from 5 to 45 years.

On August 28, Philippine police dispersed a barricade that Indigenous communities had erected in Nueva Vizcaya province and arrested 11 Indigenous protesters. Philippine authorities should drop criminal charges against community members exercising their right to peaceful assemb…Mostrar mais

This week, we're at the Venice International Film Festival (@la_Biennale) for the world premiere of "Solwata," a new immersive documentary spotlighting the climate crisis. What are the human rights consequences of climate change? Learn more about "Solwata" ⤵️

The Chinese government is trying to control the information reaching the public about the recent deadly flash floods and mudslides that struck both Nepal and Tibet. Following the disaster, media freedom and the free speech of survivors is critical to ensuring accountability. L…Mostrar mais

Today marks one year since the United States began an unlawful campaign of lethal military strikes targeting vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, claiming 227 lives. The US should immediately end its unlawful campaign of extrajudicial killings and guarantee access to…Mostrar mais

Tunisia was the birthplace of the Arab Spring. Now, the thriving civil society born from that uprising is under attack. In a new report, Human Rights Watch documents the Tunisian authorities’ escalating repression of local and international civil society groups, workers, members…Mostrar mais

Transporting viewers across oceans and time zones, “Solwata” provides a new way to engage audiences on the human story of climate relocation. HRW's Erica Bower is at the Venice International Film Festival, where amidst the cinematic glamour, "we are launching something raw and…Mostrar mais

The Chilean government has submitted a proposal for eight proposed constitutional amendments, with the stated objective of enhancing the fight against organized crime. The proposed amendments would threaten a broad range of human rights. The Chilean Congress should reject the pr…Mostrar mais

NEW: The Sri Lankan government’s prosecution of past grave abuses has lagged, raising concerns for future progress. Many cases of forced disappearance, torture, and killing remain stalled, while families of victims and human rights defenders face threats and intimidation. Lear…Mostrar mais

As people in Nepal and across the Chinese border in Tibet reel from horrific mudslides, the Chinese government has turned to censorship and control. Information controls can make it harder for families to locate loved ones, and hamper understanding of the disaster and any future…Mostrar mais

A proposed law to regulate foreign aid risks undermining the independence of civil society organizations and shrinking civic space in Nigeria. The National Assembly should reject provisions that would give authorities undue influence over independent organizations. www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/31/nigeria-foreig...Mostrar mais

Several women were killed, including by current or former partners, in Cameroon between August 6 to 26. These killings are the latest signs that women in Cameroon, including domestic violence victims and survivors, have little protection or access to justice. www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/28/cameroon-grapp...Mostrar mais

Experts say the devastating flash floods in Nepal were likely caused by a glacial collapse in the Himalayas, and that climate change increases the risk of such events. Once again, communities least responsible for climate change bear the brunt of its impacts. Sustained internat…Mostrar mais

Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb army commander found guilty of genocide, including the massacre of up to 8,000 Bosnian men and boys after the fall of Srebrenica, Bosnia in July 1995, has died. His death is a reminder of the ongoing need for justice, truth, and reparations…Mostrar mais

Ten years after the Chinese Communist Party sharply escalated abuses against Uyghurs in the far western Xinjiang region, the crackdown on rights remains severe. Governments should use all tools at their disposal to press Beijing to end its crimes. Read more:

The US administration is openly attacking the International Criminal Court, authorizing sanctions that pose an existential threat to the ICC. That’s why we decided to sue. HRW’s Executive Director Philippe @Bolopion shares why we're fighting back ⤵️

According to the UN, at least 47 people were killed in an attack on August 23 in Kenscoff, a commune near Haiti’s capital. Criminal violence continues to deepen Haiti’s already devastating human rights and humanitarian crisis. The international community should act urgently to…Mostrar mais

“This is the story of here and everywhere.” In just one week, "Solwata," created by NowHere Media, will premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. Narrated by @MarkRuffalo and co-produced by Human Rights Watch and Agog, the immersive documentary spotlights the human…Mostrar mais

The government shouldn't be in charge of deciding whether media outlets are doing their job well. Mexico’s government has proposed regulations on “rights of audiences” that pose a threat to freedom of expression. Learn more: www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/25/mexico-fix-rig...Mostrar mais

Nine years after the Myanmar military killed Rohingya and razed their homes, the Rohingya are still at grave risk. Rohingya have waited too long for justice, safety, and respect for their rights. Learn more:

Osman Kavala has spent nearly 9 years behind bars unlawfully. Today, the European Court of Human Rights called his treatment a flagrant denial of justice, deemed his conviction void, & ordered his immediate release for the third time. The Council of Europe should ensure Türkiye…Mostrar mais

A Damascus court has sentenced Ahmad Hassoun, Syria's former Grand Mufti, to life in prison on charges including incitement and abuse of office tied to the Assad era. It's the latest verdict in a fast-moving set of transitional justice trials. What do these trials look like u…Mostrar mais

NEW: Child recruitment by armed groups has risen sharply in Colombia in recent years. Since 2021, about 1,500 children have been recruited, according to Ombudsperson Office data. Armed groups are using promises of power, money and prestige to lure in children. Every child recrui…Mostrar mais

Hong Kong’s High Court has found Chow Hang-tung and Lee Cheuk-yan guilty of "inciting subversion of state power." The truth? They held peaceful vigils for victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. Each now faces up to 10 years in prison. Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan, and all unj…Mostrar mais

Good news! Bolivia has celebrated its first civil marriage between two women. This is a historic milestone for the rights of same-sex couples in a country where marriage equality is still not guaranteed nationwide. Bolivian authorities, including the Legislative Assembly, should…Mostrar mais

On July 10 at about 5 a.m., more than 100 Africa Corps’ fighters, accompanied by several Malian soldiers, stormed a village in Mali in pickup trucks and on motorbikes. They shot and killed six civilians who tried to flee. In early July, Russian government-controlled Africa Corps…Mostrar mais

Attacks by settlers in the occupied West Bank are increasingly driving the forced displacement of Palestinian communities, with dozens at risk of erasure. Israeli authorities are arming, funding, and granting impunity to the violent settlers responsible for these escalating dea…Mostrar mais

The US government sanctioned two additional International Criminal Court officials this week under an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in February 2025. ICC member countries should strongly condemn this misuse of sanctions and act to ensure that the court can con…Mostrar mais

The US Department of Homeland Security has indicated plans to purchase $10-20 million worth of electric shock gloves for ICE agents. Given ICE’s track record, its agents should not be armed with any technology that has a well-documented pattern of abusive use. www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/18/us-ice-to-depl...Mostrar mais

In Iraq, a 22-year-old man detained for drug use died in police custody in late June 2026, a day after Iraqi police removed him from a hospital in the southern city of Najaf while he was being treated for severe abdominal pain. www.hrw.org/news/2026/08/18/iraq-man-dies-...Mostrar mais

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed over 2,300 people, making it the deadliest outbreak in the country’s history. Mistrust, attacks on healthcare and lack of support for healthcare workers all contribute to the spread and lethality. Action is needed…Mostrar mais

The Chinese government is interrogating Uyghur Australians visiting Xinjiang, pressing them to collect information on Uyghurs in Australia. Chinese authorities demand daily reporting while in Xinjiang, and on their return, pressure them to inform on activists, and monitor commun…Mostrar mais

August 15, 2026, marks five years since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan. Over the last five years, the Taliban’s increasingly draconian policies have made Afghanistan one of the world’s gravest human rights crises, particularly for women and girls. See the timeline…Mostrar mais

Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have forcibly disappeared six staff members of the nongovernmental group Women and Children Legal Research Foundation for nearly a month. They should immediately provide information on the six staff members’ whereabouts and release them if held…Mostrar mais

In 2025, we published an episode of our Rights & Wrongs podcast asking if the International Criminal Court could survive the year. This week, HRW and partner organizations launched a lawsuit challenging US President Donald Trump’s executive order authorizing sanctions on ICC of…Mostrar mais

Russia apparently used cluster munitions contained in at least one ballistic missile in an attack on Kyiv early on August 5. The attack reportedly killed three people at a sorting center belonging to Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private courier and mail service, and endangere…Mostrar mais

NEW: The Trump administration has gutted federal civil rights enforcement in the United States, leaving the people the laws were built to protect without adequate remedies. In a new report, HRW documents the administration’s efforts to unravel the work of four key agencies betwe…Mostrar mais

This week marks fives year of the Taliban silencing voices in Afghanistan — but we must not stay silent. Brave Afghans spoke with Human Rights Watch about the abuses they’ve faced. Justice should not be further delayed. Governments should support accountability efforts for crim…Mostrar mais

A criminal court in Syria has convicted former security official Atef Najib, finding him guilty of murder, torture, and arbitrary detention amounting to crimes against humanity. This is the first such conviction in Syria since the fall of the Assad government in December 2024.…Mostrar mais

Türkiye has requested permission from the US to “retransfer” to Ukraine tens of thousands of cluster munition rockets, missiles, and artillery projectiles that have been in Türkiye’s stockpiles for decades. These types of cluster munitions are notorious for their record of not…Mostrar mais

Good news! Liberia will remove all school registration fees from kindergarten through grade 6, effective September 7, 2026. Human Rights Watch research showed that registration fees had kept many low-income and rural children from school. If fully implemented, this reform could…Mostrar mais

We're taking the Trump administration to court. Today, Human Rights Watch, @afsc_org, @theCCR, and the Open Society Institute (part of @OpenSociety) filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's Executive Order 14203 and ICC-related sanctions. No one is above the law…Mostrar mais