(New York,) – The government of Sri Lanka’s proposed Anti-Terrorism Act would empower the authorities to systematically violate fundamental human rights, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should withdraw the bill and ensure through consulta…
Author Archives: Human Rights Watch
Weak UN Resolution on Libya Exposes EU Bias
The contrast between the resolution on Libya adopted this week at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the UN Fact-Finding Mission’s final report detailing violations and abuses in Libya is staggering.
On the one hand, UN experts documented in the re…
France Moves to Shut Down Environmental Group
France has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons the last few weeks.
The country has faced a social, political, and human rights crisis with rights groups and independent bodies criticizing French police for resorting to…
Ukraine’s New Health Rules Spotlight Barriers to Emergency Contraception
As of April 1, Ukraine’s Ministry of Healthcare introduced electronic prescriptions as an alternative to paper ones, which have been required for all prescription medicines until now.
Authorities say the change will help track and monitor prescription…
African Human Rights Commission Affirms Intersex People’s Rights
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) has passed a resolution affirming the rights of people born with variations of their sex characteristics – also known as intersex people.
“Intersex” refers to the estimated 1.7 percent of peo…
UAE Conference Attendees Warned against Criticizing Government
Speakers at a recent climate and health summitin Abu Dhabi were advised by the conference organizers not to “criticize Islam, the government, corporations or individuals” or protest while in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a recent investi…
India’s Hindu Festivals Bring Increasing Anti-Muslim Violence
The Hindu festival of Ram Navami in India, which this year coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was marred by violence sparked when Hindus in processions passed through Muslim neighborhoods brandishing weapons and shouting anti-Muslim sloga…
Turkey: Police and Gendarmerie Abuses in Earthquake Zone
(Istanbul) – Law enforcement officials sent to police the region devastated by Turkey’s February 6, 2023 earthquakes have beaten, tortured, and otherwise ill-treated people they suspect of theft and looting, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch…
Brazilian Company Moves to Shield Students from Data Surveillance
Yesterday, Escola Mais, an educational Brazilian company, took steps to protect its students’ data privacy. The change comes after media attention to Human Rights Watch’s report, which found that the website owned by Escola Mais, along with seven other…
Tajikistan: Free Autonomous Region Rights Defender
(Berlin) – Tajik authorities should release Manuchehr Kholiqnazarov, a human rights defender and lawyer from the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Region in Tajikistan unfairly convicted in connection with protests in May 2022, eight organizations including H…