UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned on Friday of the significant risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to press freedom, noting that states increasingly “weaponize” AI to restrict the flow of information. In conjunction with World Press Freedom Day, which revealed increasing media repression, Türk stated: AI-based algorithms often dictate what we [...]

French police on on Monday arrested 25 people who were reportedly involved with coordinated attacks against several prisons and prison officers across the country since April 13. According to local media Franceinfo, the arrests follow an investigation conducted by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) into charges of “terrorist criminal association” and “organized gang-related damage [...]

UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen warned Friday of grave consequences for Syria’s future without genuine political inclusion and urgent economic support for a successful political transition. During a briefing to the Security Council, Pedersen noted the legacies of misrule, conflict and poverty in Syria, stating: This means that the situation is inherently still [...]

US District Judge Julia Kobick in Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction on Friday against President Donald Trump’s administration, finding that the administration’s passport policy is likely discriminatory against transgender and nonbinary individuals. Judge Kobick stated: The Executive Order and the Passport Policy on their face classify passport applicants on the basis of sex and thus [...]

Kyrgyzstan detained the prominent Kyrgyz human rights defender, Rita Karasartova without formal charges on Monday. Amnesty International denounced the detention as an “alarming sign of deepening repression.” Human rights activist Gul’shaiyr Abdirasulova and local media reported that the Main Department of Internal Affairs of the Chui region arrested and questioned Karasartova after conducting a search at her [...]

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday condemned the inaction of both the international community and the warring parties, as the conflict on civilians in Sudan continues into its third year. Türk stated, “Two years of this brutal and senseless conflict must be a wake-up call to the parties to lay down [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern on Tuesday over uncleared landmines and explosive remnants harming civilians returning to Syria. It urged the transitional government to take effective measures to prevent further harm. According to HRW, large parts of Syria, including agricultural lands, were extensively contaminated with anti-personnel landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive weapons by [...]

Amnesty International called on the Thai authorities on Monday to investigate and implement effective measures to halt malicious state-sponsored smear campaigns and cyberattacks targeting civil society — including Amnesty International itself. Amnesty’s Thailand researcher, Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong, stated: “These cyberattacks are an outrageous assault on Thailand’s civic space. Thai authorities must immediately end these malicious smear [...]

Amnesty International urged the Mexican Senate on Friday to renew the Citizen Council of the National Search System, which has been vacant since May 2024. Amnesty International stated that: the Council’s inability to operate effectively hinders the right of people searching for victims of disappearance to participate in decision-making and overseeing the government’s plans and [...]

UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan expressed deep concern on Friday over the shrinking space for civilians in Gaza, stating the Israeli army is forcibly displacing Palestinians from vast areas of land. Al-Kheetan stated: We call on all parties to reach a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible. [...]