A UN expert on Wednesday called on the French government to throw out a bill that would enshrine the presumption that police officers who use firearms are acting within the scope of their duties unless evidence proves otherwise, a decision that could legitimize and normalize violence against civilians. In commenting on the potential consequences if [...]

A UN Syria inquiry on Wednesday called on the international community to address Syria’s detainee and human rights crisis, which has persisted even after the downfall of the dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad, pressing the new authorities to account for thousands still missing, ensure fair trials, and put an end to the violence that continues to [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday urged Thai authorities to conduct criminal investigations into allegations that junior conscripts were routinely subjected to cruel and degrading treatment by their seniors in hazing rituals, a practice often defended as a way to “man up” recruits, but often results in lifelong trauma. HRW Asia director Elaine Pearson commented [...]

Amnesty International on Thursday warned that the recent move by Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to submit formal notifications of withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) paints a bleak future for thousands of conflict survivors, threatening their right to truth, justice and reparations. Commenting on the gravity of this decision for victims [...]

Human Rights Watch on Monday criticized insurgent armed groups, the Malian armed forces and allied militias, and Russian mercenaries, which have all committed “serious abuses of human rights against civilians” amid an insurgency fueled by long-standing ethnic tensions in the country. Commenting on the large scale of atrocities committed against civilians in Mali, senior Sahel [...]

Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Ugandan authorities to investigate the detention and subsequent deportation of prominent Kenyan human rights lawyer Martha Karua, which the organization described as politically motivated. Amnesty International’s regional director for East Africa, Tigere Chagutah, stated: “Martha Karua’s detention and subsequent deportation are unlawful and outrageous. They are not only a blatant [...]

A UN expert on Friday warned that the human rights landscape in Eritrea is continuing to deteriorate, as concerns grow regarding the ongoing use of enforced disappearances, indefinite military conscription, torture, and the government’s refusal to cooperate with international organizations to address these issues. In outlining the gravity of the human rights issues in the [...]

Amnesty International on Wednesday urged Tunisian authorities to “immediately and unconditionally release” anti-racism activist Saadia Mosbah and five of her colleagues, and called on the Tunis appellate court to overturn their convictions. Mosbah and her colleagues are affiliated with the anti-racism and rights organization Mnemty (“My Dream”), with Mosbah serving as president. In May 2024, [...]

A UN human rights expert called Thursday for the Pakistani government to strengthen its protection of individuals with albinism, a marginalized group whose life experiences are deeply shaped by discrimination and a lack of social awareness about their condition. Additionally, severe health vulnerabilities from intense sun exposure are now exacerbated by climate change. In emphasizing [...]

A UN expert on Wednesday called on the Colombian government to urgently address the ostracization faced by individuals suffering from leprosy, a neglected public health challenge that continues to affect thousands of people across the country, exacerbating poverty and social exclusion despite the availability of effective treatment. In remarking on the sheer gravity of the [...]