The Peruvian Congress approved Wednesday a controversial reform to the 2002 legislation that created the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and oversees international aid. The amendment received widespread criticism from human rights organizations, alleging that it hinders the ability of civil society groups to sue the government for human rights violations. The amendment expands [...]

A UN expert on Wednesday warned that Argentinian President Javier Milei’s temporary judicial appointment by presidential decree would undermine the country’s judicial independence, democracy, and gender equality. UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite urged the Argentinian government to comply with its binding international human rights obligations, stating: “The Executive [...]

A Guatemala appeals court has overturned the house arrest orders imposed on journalist José Rubén Zamora on March 4, according to a statement published by Amnesty International on Wednesday. Following the court’s ruling, Zamora was returned to jail on Monday. Amnesty International condemned the re-imprisonment of Zamora, calling his new arrest arbitrary and part of [...]

Russian Supreme Court upheld the 12-year imprisonment of a transgender anti-war activist Mark Kislitsyn, stated Amnesty International on Wednesday. The group said convicting the activist of high treason for sending US $10 to a Ukrainian bank account “defied common sense,” urging his immediate release. Natalia Prilutskaya, Amnesty International’s Russia researcher, reiterated that the real aim [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday urged Japan to stop retaliating against a UN committee for women’s rights . The development follows the committee’s recommendation that Japan revise its domestic law to allow female heirs to inherit the throne. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) recommended that Japan revise its [...]

Amnesty International stated Wednesday that Lebanon’s recent Shura Council ruling in actor Ziad Itani’s case signifies a pivotal moment in the battle against torture and impunity. Amnesty said the ruling, announced on December 5, 2024, is not only crucial for recognizing the Lebanese government’s accountability for the torture endured by Itani, but also for requiring [...]

Justice for Myanmar (JFM) released a statement calling on the United Nations to investigate possible conflicts of interest with its Special Envoy to Myanmar due to her possible links with Chinese state-owned entities. The Special Envoy, Julie Bishop, served as the Australian minister of foreign affairs from 2013-2018 and was appointed to her position as [...]

A Hong Kong District Court on Tuesday convicted social worker Jackie Chen of “rioting.” Chen mediated between the protesters and the police during the 2019 anti-government protests in Hong Kong, and urged the police not to fire non-lethal bullets. She also called on them to maintain peace. The judgment follows an appeal by the Secretary [...]

A human rights watchdog in the Philippines on Monday declared its “full support” for the passage of a proposed internet safety education bill protecting children from online sexual abuse and exploitation. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), an independent National Human Rights Institution, expressed its approval of the newly introduced Senate Bill (SB) 2934. The [...]

The Constitutional Court of Romania unanimously decided on Tuesday to deny the candidacy of independent leader Călin Georgescu in the upcoming election. This decision irrevocably rejects Georgescu’s appeal of the nullification of his candidacy by the Central Election Bureau (BEC) two days earlier. The reasoning cited by the court was a failure in his constitutional [...]