Japan’s new government should prioritize human rights in its foreign policy, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Monday, calling on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to adopt stronger legal, diplomatic, and institutional measures to address abuses in Asia and globally. Japan is the only G7 country without sanctions targeting foreign officials implicated in serious human rights violations. [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Tuesday that Mayotte, a French island territory in the Indian Ocean and former French colony, is failing to provide education to all children. The 73-page report, titled “Exceptional Failure: France’s Persistent Education Shortcomings in Mayotte,” found that Mayotte’s municipalities not only impose significant barriers to school enrollment, but those who [...]
UN experts expressed alarm Monday over the repression of the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) by the Minsk government, denouncing its designation as an extremist group. On August 18, the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus designated BAHRL as an “extremist formation” and categorized its members as individuals “involved in extremist [...]
President Donald Trump praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as “incredible in terms of human rights” during an Oval Office meeting Tuesday, preemptively deflecting questions about the kingdom’s extensive record of abuses as the crown prince pledged $1 trillion in US investments. The comments came despite weeks of pressure from human rights advocates urging [...]
A Dutch court on Monday upheld the decision by the Netherlands government to deny asylum to US transgender woman Veronica Clifford-Carlos. The court acknowledged the worsening conditions for transgender persons in the United States, but held that she was not facing systematic denial of protection or essential services. Clifford-Carlos, 28, is said to be the first [...]
The UN Security Council passed a US-backed resolution on Monday, endorsing the 20-point Gaza peace plan by US President Donald Trump’s administration. The Security Council urged all parties to implement the peace plan “in good faith and without delay.” The resolution, passed by a vote of 13 members in favor, with China and Russia abstaining, [...]
New Zealand’s Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Uber’s appeal in Rasier Operations v E Tū Incorporated, holding that rideshare drivers are employees, not independent contractors. The decision grants drivers access to minimum wage protections, paid leave, and collective bargaining rights. The Supreme Court found that rideshare drivers must be considered employees under the Employment Relations [...]
In a decisive referendum held on Sunday, Ecuadorian citizens overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed foreign military bases on the country’s soil. Early counts show nearly two-thirds of ballots cast opposed the measure. President Daniel Noboa introduced the referendum, arguing that foreign cooperation, such as hosting bases for allied nations, was essential [...]
The Vatican on Saturday returned 62 Indigenous artifacts to Canada’s Catholic bishops, describing the transfer as “a concrete sign of dialogue, respect and fraternity” amid longstanding efforts by Indigenous nations to reclaim cultural property removed under colonial rule. In the joint statement, the Holy See and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops confirmed that Pope [...]
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday declared that the proposed Public System of Care, a new care and support system bill submitted by the Mexico City government, does not guarantee the rights and autonomy of people with disabilities and elderly people. Although the draft bill aims to address inequalities in caregiving, it overlooks elements critical [...]
