Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday urged national leaders to cease combative rhetoric as conflict continues in the Middle East, warning that further escalation could result in devastating civilian casualties and regional instability. Commenting on the destabilization of the region, Philippe Bolopion, executive director of HRW, stated: As the Middle East conflict has spread and [...]

The UN human rights chief on Wednesday called for the immediate and unconditional release of 73 humanitarian staff members arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities in Yemen. Some staffers have been detained in Houthi-controlled areas of the country for up to five years. Rights Chief Volker Türk called the level of suffering the staff members and their [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed concern on Thursday about a resurgence of violent attacks against civilians in Nigeria following recent bombings in the city of Maiduguri, Borno State capital, urging Nigerian authorities to strengthen civilian protection. Nigeria researcher at HRW, Anietie Ewang, alerted to the escalating violence, stating: These latest attacks show that civilians in [...]

The Australian Department of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced plans to restrict visitors from Iran for the next six months. The ban took effect Thursday and applies to individuals who used an Iranian passport when granted a subclass 600 visa, which allows for temporary visitation to Australia. Since the breakout of the conflict in Iran, [...]

On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution from Ghana declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity. In total, 123 countries voted in favor and 52 abstained, including the entire European Union, Canada, Australia and Japan. Only three countries voted against the resolution: the United States, Israel and Argentina. [...]

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned to the country. The individual, who had been held by Iranian authorities since last year, arrived in the country Sunday in good health. The confirmation followed an announcement by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who stated [...]

The highly anticipated Italian constitutional referendum was rejected on Monday, according to published results, with roughly 53 percent voting against and about 47 percent in favor. The referendum, known as the “Justice Reform,” was called by presidential decree on January 13 and scheduled for March 22-23. It was governed by Article 138 of the Italian [...]

A Thailand court on Tuesday held Akara Resources PLC, operator of the Chatree Gold Mine in northern Thailand, liable for environmental damage and adverse health impacts suffered by surrounding communities, in what stands as the nation’s first environmental class action suit. The case was brought by more than 300 villagers from Phichit and Phetchabun provinces, who [...]

The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) amended its National Security Law on Monday to expand law enforcement powers, giving police the ability to require suspects in “national security” investigations to reveal passwords to their electronic devices Failure to provide a password can be punished by up to one year in prison [...]

Amnesty International on Monday condemned the growing use of discriminatory legal frameworks by governments across the Americas to systematically target civil society organizations, a trend it described as regressive and alarming. In a new report, Amnesty noted that practices by governments in Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela imposed excessive restrictions on civil [...]