Two UN human rights experts, Fernand de Varennes and Ahmed Shaheed, Friday urged Saudi Arabia to abide by their non-refoulement obligations under international law and refrain from extraditing two Chinese nationals belonging to the Uyghur minority. The two individuals in detention in Saudi Arabia are Nuermaimaiti Ruze and Waili Aimidoula. Fearing arbitrary detention, torture and [...]

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Friday said that dozens of churches, historical sites and museums have been damaged amid hostilities in Ukraine. According to UNESCO, 53 cultural sites have been partially or totally damaged since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. This includes 29 religious sites, 16 historical buildings, four museums [...]

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday pleaded for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Ukraine “to allow for progress in serious political negotiations, at reaching a peace agreement based on the principles of the United Nations Charter.” Addressing the Ukrainian crisis Guterres said, “The war has led to the senseless loss of thousands of lives; the [...]

Russian communications watchdog Roskomnadzor Sunday issued a directive prohibiting all Russian media outlets from publishing an interview of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It also announced that the extent of responsibility of all Russian media outlets including those featured on Russia’s “foreign agent” list for conducting the interview will be scrutinised. “Roskomnadzor warns the Russian media [...]

The El Salvador Legislative Assembly approved a state of emergency Sunday at the request of President Nayib Bukele to deal with the increased number of killings by criminal gangs. As a result of this state of emergency, certain constitutional freedoms have been suspended. The emergency regimen adopted by the assembly seeks to dismantle criminal structures [...]

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Sunday confirmed that there have been 2,909 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia invaded the country on February 24. Of the 2,909 caught in the crossfire, 1,119 have been killed and 1,790 injured. The numbers reflect casualties that occurred between February 24 and March [...]

UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea, Tomas Ojea Quintana, in his presentation at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Monday urged the international community to revive engagement with North Korea because “leaving North Korea in isolation and maintaining the status quo offers no solutions to [...]

Citing martial law, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Sunday signed a decree combining all national tv channels into one platform in accordance with the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council’s decision to implement  a “unified information policy.” Around-the-clock information will run on the consolidated platform called “United News.” The decree also provides that privately-owned media companies [...]

The Biden administration Monday formally announced its determination that Myanmar’s military had committed acts of genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya Muslims. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ordered his own “legal and factual analysis” of the atrocities committed against the minority group. He announced the determination on Monday at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum [...]

The International Criminal Court (ICC) Monday said that former militiaman Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka (Mokom), who is suspected to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Central African Republic (CAR), has been surrendered by the Republic of Chad.  A warrant for Mokom’s arrest was issued on December 10, 2018, when the [...]