In anticipation of the UN gathering to draft a treaty that would formally allow international prosecution or extradition of alleged perpetrators of crimes against humanity, Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated Monday that it is “imperative that pay more attention to the issues affecting children.” HRW noted how the draft text only mentions children twice—once in [...]
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a series of defiant statements as tensions between Tehran and Washington intensify over the former’s crackdown on nationwide protests. On December 28, amid inflation and a currency collapse, protests erupted in Tehran before spreading across the country. A violent crackdown ensued, resulting in hundreds of deaths, according [...]
As of the time of writing, Iranian citizens have remained without internet or telecommunications access for 96 hours, according to online monitoring group NetBlocks. Amid the collapse of Iran’s currency, protests erupted in Tehran late last month and quickly spread across the country. Dozens of protesters and bystanders have been killed, according to human rights [...]
President Trump issued an executive order Saturday to block judicial processes from being instituted against Venezuelan oil funds held in the US, on the basis that it would “materially harm the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” The order states that any judicial proceedings against funds from “the sale of natural resources” [...]
US Assistant Secretary of State Michael George DeSombre announced Friday that the US will provide $45 million in aid to Thailand and Cambodia to bolster regional stability following the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords. The aid includes $15 million for border stabilization and community recovery, $10 million for demining and unexploded ordnance clearance, [...]
An alarming rise in abductions, sexual violence, and attacks on civilians in South Sudan prompted renewed condemnation from the United Nations on Friday. Officials warned that the scale and persistence of these violations may amount to grave breaches of human rights. According to the quarterly brief released by the United Nations Mission to South Sudan [...]
An Istanbul court on Friday acquitted the president and executive board members of the Istanbul Bar Association (IBA) of terrorism-related charges. The ruling marks a significant development amid sustained criticism of Türkiye’s use of criminal law against lawyers and professional associations. The case arose from a public statement issued by the IBA in December 2024 [...]
A US diplomatic team arrived in Venezuela Friday, marking the first such visit since the US military operation that resulted in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro last week. The Venezuelan government, now led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed the delegation’s presence and announced the initiation of an “exploratory process” aimed at re-establishing [...]
The Africa deputy director at Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday expressed concern over the arrest of well-known government critic Sarah Bireete in Uganda ahead of the country’s upcoming elections. Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz stated: “Sarah Bireete’s arrest is a demonstration of the Uganda government’s continuing intolerance of dissent. The Ugandan authorities should release Bireete, drop all [...]
Amnesty International, together with 13 civil society organizations, called on candidates in Benin’s upcoming legislative and presidential elections on Thursday to prioritize human rights protection within their political programs. The rights organization noted that the deteriorating human rights situation in Benin demands political action in order to align with international human rights standards. It also [...]
