• EU: Rights Abuse at Home Ignored
    Press release
    Jan 22, 2012
    The European Union and member governments proved unwilling to tackle human rights abuse at home during 2011, even as they proclaimed the issue’s importance in inspiring the Arab Spring, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2012.
  • Universal Periodic Review of South Africa
    Written statement
    Jan 20, 2012

    South Africa has failed to clarify its position on the 22 recommendations made during the first UPR cycle in 2008 – making the assessment of the implementation problematic.  South Africa should clearly communicate its responses and commitments on all recommendations made during its second UPR cycle. 

  • Cambodia/ Malaysia: Domestic Workers Face Abuse
    Press release
    Oct 31, 2011
    The Cambodian and Malaysian governments’ failure to regulate recruiters and employers leaves Cambodian migrant domestic workers exposed to a wide range of abuses. Tens of thousands of Cambodian women and girls who migrate to Malaysia have little protection against forced confinement in training centers, heavy debt burdens, and exploitative working conditions.
  • Cambodia: Overhaul Protections for Migrant Domestic Workers
    Press release
    Oct 14, 2011
    Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s proposed ban on sending domestic workers to Malaysia should be accompanied by a major overhaul in protections for these workers. On October 14, 2011, Hun Sen promised an opposition lawmaker, Mu Sochua, to halt migration in the wake of repeated complaints of abuse during recruitment in Cambodia and employment in Malaysia.
  • France: One Year On, New Abuses against Roma
    Press release
    Sep 28, 2011
    French authorities are carrying out mass evictions and expulsions of Eastern European Roma in France.
  • Jordan: Letter with Recommendations for Constitutional Revisions
    Letter
    Jul 5, 2011
    The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights welcome King Abdullah's initiative to form a royal committee to revise the constitution, in order to move towards a rights-respecting democracy. Our organisations urge the royal committee to pursue its efforts in a broadly inclusive manner, including in consultation with civil society, and on the full range of issues.
  • Australia: Human Rights Watch Statement on UPR Outcome Report
    Oral statement
    Jun 8, 2011
    Human Rights Watch welcomes the Australian government’s support for the recommendation by Sweden to safeguard the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. However, we remain deeply concerned that while Australia claims to protect these rights, the government’s current and prospective policies and practices may in fact run afoul of Australia’s international obligations.
  • Liberia: Protect Refugees Against Sexual Abuse
    Press release
    Apr 20, 2011
    Dozens of Ivorian refugee women and girls recently arrived in eastern Liberia say they have had to engage in sex to get adequate food, shelter, or money, Human Rights Watch said today. The Liberian government, the police, and United Nations agencies should take urgent measures to protect and assist vulnerable women and girls, including rapidly building protected shelter and helping them get sufficient and appropriate food, Human Rights Watch said.
  • With a Migrant Crisis Looming, the EU Should Learn from its Past Mistakes
    Commentary
    Apr 6, 2011
    I was not prepared to document torture and severe abuses when I started researching the human rights situation for migrants in Europe. After all, I was working on Western Europe, the developed world with a rule of law, independent judiciaries, functioning social services, and oversight bodies.
  • Libya: Allow Relief Aid In and Refugees Out
    Press release
    Mar 8, 2011
    The Libyan government and opposition forces should immediately grant aid agencies safe passage to violence-stricken areas of western Libya and allow civilians to flee the fighting.