Human Rights Watch (HRW) Monday condemned the execution of three civilians by the Communist New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. The executions occurred in the province of Negros Occidental in the Philippines during August following a series of allegedly unfair trials. In a statement, Command of the NPA [...]

Since the February 2021 coup d’état in Myanmar, human rights conditions have continued to deteriorate throughout the country. While the current ruling military dictatorship is guilty of causing and/or perpetuating many rights violations, some — such as restrictions on labor rights — had started even before the coup. In this explainer I will look at [...]

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to former Indian Institutes of Technology professor and Dalit scholar Anand Teltumbde, an accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence case. Teltumbde was arrested by Mumbai police in April 2020 for his alleged role in the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case. [...]

The New Zealand Supreme Court Monday ruled in favor of lowering the country’s voting age from 18 to 16. The court stated that the voting age requirement of 18 violated the right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of age. Following the court’s decision, the New Zealand Parliament will consider the issue and decide [...]

The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the National Investigating Agency’s (NIA) application to vacate the order that allowed activist Gautam Navlakha’s shift to house arrest from Taloja prison in Mumbai, where he had been detained in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case since April 2020. On August 28, 2018, Navlakha was arrested by Mumbai [...]

The LGBTQ Equality Caucus of the US Congress released a statement Sunday condemning the “twin epidemics of hate and gun violence” following a deadly shooting at a queer club in Colorado Springs. Around midnight, a shooter entered Club Q, a “safe haven” for LGBTQ residents of Colorado Springs, killed 5 and wounded more than 25 [...]

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Norway-based Iranian human rights group, Sunday reported that Iranian forces continue to use lethal force against demonstrators protesting the death of 21-year-old Mahsa Amini. Hengaw follows the nationwide protest developments on the ground with instantaneous reports, photos and videos. A recent video showed Iranian forces opening fire at protesters [...]

The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 closed Sunday with a breakthrough agreement to establish a loss and damage fund for communities living on the frontlines of climate disasters. This decision follows three decades of climate-based negotiations. The agreement itself notes the “increasing urgency of enhancing efforts to avert, minimize and address loss and damage [...]

US Attorney General Merrick Garland Friday announced the appointment of a special counsel to oversee two criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump. Former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Jack Smith will oversee investigations into whether on January 6, 2021, “any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election [...]

Russia’s Ministry of Defense Friday accused Ukrainian armed forces of executing Russian POWs – a war crime under international law. However, news outlets like Reuters have been unable to verify the claims. Kyiv has not responded to requests for comment. The incident appears in a video circulating on social media that apparently shows Ukrainian servicemen [...]