Amnesty International on Thursday condemned the Latvian government’s decision to leave the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. The statement warned that this move, which comes amid anti-rights groups’ attempted demonization of the idea of gender equality, sets a dangerous precedent [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday criticized the announcement of the new EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The agreement describes respect for democratic principles and the preservation of fundamental freedoms as “essential,” yet HRW said that it fails to properly address Uzbekistan’s deteriorating rights record. Europe and Central Asia advocacy director at HRW, Iskra [...]

The European Union on Thursday approved the 19th package of sanctions against Russia, the latest effort to hinder Russian aggression in Ukraine, adding new restrictions on individuals and sectors supporting Moscow’s war effort. The new sanctions aim to intensify strain on the Russian economy and debilitate important sectors such as energy, finance, the military industrial [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday condemned the adoption of a constitutional reform in Chad, stating that it could pose a significant setback to democracy and the rule of law by empowering current President Mahamat Idriss Déby to remain in power for generations to come. HRW Central Africa director Lewis Mudge commented on the severity [...]

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled on Tuesday that Russia must pay Georgia over 253 million euros as a result of severe human rights breaches that arose due to the Russian “borderisation” process between the breakaway regions of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and the territory controlled by the Georgian government. The court ordered Russia [...]

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday urged authorities in the United Arab Emirates to provide the reasons behind the detention of South Sudanese political commentator Samuel Peter Oyay, who has been outspoken on the issue of corruption and elitism in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. In commenting on the detainment, CPJ regional [...]

Amnesty International on Friday expressed concern over the campaign of repression in Georgia in the run up to its October 4 local elections, citing reprisals against opposition figures, the silencing of independent media and civil society, and the arbitrary detention of protesters. Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia deputy director Denis Krivosheev stated: “The [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday condemned the Mexican Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate requirements for consultation with people with disabilities prior to the enactment of law that may affect them, claiming the ruling risks further marginalizing a vulnerable community. HRW associate disability rights director Carlos Ríos Espinosa stated: “Consultation is not a bureaucratic formality, [...]

Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for Algerian authorities to put a halt to excessive control over civil society groups, and urged them to enact new laws based on accepted international standards for freedom of association. According to the group, a current proposed bill that seeks to update Law 12-06, enacted in 2012, fails to [...]

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday called for immediate reforms to the UN Security Council’s membership process, arguing for the inclusion of the African continent with at least two permanent seats, with veto power, and two non-permanent seats. Speaking on this topic before the UN General Assembly, President Ruto stated: “Reforming the Security Council is [...]