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People standing in line to receive benefits at a South African Social Security Agency building in Cape Town, South Africa.

March 21, 2023

Covid-19: Lessons Learned for a Rights-Based Response

This month marks three years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic. I asked Human Rights Watch researchers covering the pandemic about its human rights costs and what should be done next time – and there will be a next time.

Feature: The Covid-19 Pandemic Three Years In

Asia

March 21, 2023
Dispatches
First Australian Soldier Charged over Alleged War Crime in Afghanistan

Daniela Gavshon

Australia Director
Middle East/North Africa

March 19, 2023
Dispatches
Twenty Years on, Iraq Bears Scars of US-led Invasion

Sarah Sanbar

Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division
Europe/Central Asia

March 20, 2023
Dispatches
Support Builds for ICC Ukraine Investigation

Maria Elena Vignoli

Senior Counsel, International Justice Program

Latest News

March 22, 2023 News Release

Turkey: Suspend Time Limit on Travel Outside Quake Zone
March 21, 2023 Dispatches

Russia Opens New Case against Memorial
March 21, 2023 Commentary

Countering El Salvador's Democratic Backsliding

Published In Americas Quarterly
March 21, 2023 Dispatches

G7 Letter Highlights Japan’s LGBT Rights Gaps
March 21, 2023 News Release

Pakistan: Drop Overbroad Terrorism Charges
March 21, 2023 News Release

Belarus: Don’t Return Activist to Tajikistan
March 21, 2023 News Release

Haiti/France: Journalist Sued for Exposing Sex Abuse in Haiti Soccer
March 20, 2023 Dispatches

UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Reforms in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
March 20, 2023 Commentary

Impunity is Contagious: Human Rights in Iraq 20 Years after the Fall of Saddam Hussein

Published In Chatham House
March 20, 2023 Dispatches

UN Warns of Climate Collapse
March 20, 2023 News Release

US: Urge TikTok to Enhance Transparency
March 20, 2023 Dispatches

Deportation of Tajik Activist From Germany Raises Concerns
March 20, 2023 Commentary

Women’s Day: Global South Leaders Should Stand By Iranians Fighting For Their Rights

Published In Outlook

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Videos

Reports

March 15, 2023 Report

UAE: Arbitrarily Detained Afghans Stuck in Limbo

Deprived of Freedom with Little Prospect of a New Life
March 13, 2023 Report

Bhutan: Free Long-Term Political Prisoners

Held for Decades After Torture, Unfair Trials
March 13, 2023 Report

“We Must Provide a Family, Not Rebuild Orphanages”

The Consequences of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine for Children in Ukrainian Residential Institutions
March 13, 2023 Report

Egypt: Dissidents Abroad Denied Identity Documents

Undermines Victims’ Access to Basic Rights

Most Viewed

February 21, 2023 News Release

Ukraine: New Light on Russia’s Rail Station Attack
March 21, 2023 News Release

Pakistan: Drop Overbroad Terrorism Charges
November 16, 2017 News Release

Burma: Widespread Rape of Rohingya Women, Girls
June 21, 2017 Report

“Just Let Us Be”
June 21, 2017 News Release

Philippines: LGBT Students Face Bullying, Abuse

Africa

Africa

March 17, 2023
Dispatches
Burkina Faso Acts to Tackle Armed Forces Abuses

Carine Kaneza Nantulya

Deputy Africa Director

March 17, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch submission to the Uganda Parliament Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill

March 16, 2023 News Release

Mozambique: Police Teargas Rapper’s Funeral Procession
Americas

Americas

March 21, 2023
Commentary
Countering El Salvador's Democratic Backsliding

Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Acting Director, Americas Divison

Noah Bullock

Executive Director of Cristosal

Published in: Americas Quarterly

March 21, 2023 News Release

Haiti/France: Journalist Sued for Exposing Sex Abuse in Haiti Soccer

March 13, 2023 Dispatches

Honduras Ends Ban on Emergency Contraception
Asia

Asia

March 21, 2023
Dispatches
First Australian Soldier Charged over Alleged War Crime in Afghanistan

Daniela Gavshon

Australia Director

March 21, 2023 Dispatches

G7 Letter Highlights Japan’s LGBT Rights Gaps

March 17, 2023 Dispatches

Forced from Home for Protesting Indonesia’s Mandatory Hijab Rules
Europe/Central Asia

Europe/Central Asia

March 22, 2023
News Release
Turkey: Suspend Time Limit on Travel Outside Quake Zone

March 21, 2023 Dispatches

Russia Opens New Case against Memorial

March 21, 2023 News Release

Belarus: Don’t Return Activist to Tajikistan
Middle East/North Africa

Middle East/North Africa

March 20, 2023
Commentary
Impunity is Contagious: Human Rights in Iraq 20 Years after the Fall of Saddam Hussein

Belkis Wille

Associate Director, Crisis and Conflict Division

Published in: Chatham House

March 20, 2023 Commentary

Women’s Day: Global South Leaders Should Stand By Iranians Fighting For Their Rights

Published In Outlook

March 19, 2023 Dispatches

Twenty Years on, Iraq Bears Scars of US-led Invasion
United States

Afghanistan

March 15, 2023
Report
UAE: Arbitrarily Detained Afghans Stuck in Limbo

March 15, 2023 Letter

Groups Tell New York Lawmakers: Don’t Undermine Bail Reform

March 8, 2023 Commentary

Want To Rate Your Government? Just Look at Women’s Rights

Arms

Costa Rica

March 6, 2023
Commentary
Latin America and Caribbean Nations Rally Against Autonomous Weapons Systems

Mary Wareham

Advocacy Director, Arms Division

Bonnie Docherty

Senior Researcher, Arms Division

Published in: Just Security

March 3, 2023 Dispatches

Digital Dehumanization Paves Way for Killer Robots

March 1, 2023 News Release

Cluster Munitions: Nigeria Ratifies Global Ban
Children's Rights

Americas

March 21, 2023
News Release
Haiti/France: Journalist Sued for Exposing Sex Abuse in Haiti Soccer

March 13, 2023 News Release

Ukraine: Perils of War for Children in Institutions

March 9, 2023 News Release

Zambia: ‘Green City’ Plan Should Focus on Lead Mine Remediation
Crisis and Conflict

Africa

February 28, 2023
Letter
Threats to Terminate the Mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia

February 28, 2023 Report

Trinidad and Tobago: Bring Home Nationals from Northeast Syria

February 24, 2023 Commentary

Ukraine: Human Cost of Brutal Russian Invasion

Published In Church Times
Disability Rights

European Union

March 17, 2023
Commentary
All Asylum Seekers Need Access to Mental Health Care

Adriana Masgras

Coordinator, Disability Rights Division

Published in: EUobserver

March 8, 2023 Commentary

Barriers Kill: Mexico Should Protect Women with Disabilities from Violence

Published In Animal político

March 6, 2023 Dispatches

Inquest Highlights Abuses in Canada’s Immigration Detention
Economic Justice and Rights

Middle East/North Africa

March 9, 2023
News Release
Lebanon: Electricity Crisis Exacerbates Poverty, Inequality

March 8, 2023 Dispatches

Key Moment for Scrutiny of Economic and Social Rights Record in the UK

March 7, 2023 Dispatches

Germany: Low-Income Households Struggle for Social and Economic Rights
Environment

Global

March 20, 2023
Dispatches
UN Warns of Climate Collapse

Katharina Rall

Senior Researcher, Environment and Human Rights

March 9, 2023 News Release

Zambia: ‘Green City’ Plan Should Focus on Lead Mine Remediation

March 9, 2023 News Release

Lebanon: Electricity Crisis Exacerbates Poverty, Inequality
Free Speech

Europe/Central Asia

March 20, 2023
News Release
Kyrgyzstan: Free the 22 ‘Kempir-Abad’ Protest Detainees

March 16, 2023 News Release

Thailand: Drop Charges Against Rights Defenders

March 14, 2023 News Release

Cambodia: Labor Leader, Activists Face Baseless Charges
Health

Global

March 21, 2023
Dispatches
Covid-19: Lessons Learned for a Rights-Based Response

Danielle Mulima

Coordinator, Health and Advocacy

March 6, 2023 Dispatches

Obstetric Violence Violates Human Rights

March 2, 2023 Letter

Letter to the UN Special Procedures on Abortion Rights in the US
LGBT Rights

Asia

March 21, 2023
Dispatches
G7 Letter Highlights Japan’s LGBT Rights Gaps

Kanae Doi

Japan Director

Kyle Knight

Senior Researcher, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program

March 17, 2023 Dispatches

FIFA Reverses Saudi Sponsorship of Women’s World Cup

March 17, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch submission to the Uganda Parliament Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Refugees and Migrants

Europe/Central Asia

March 22, 2023
News Release
Turkey: Suspend Time Limit on Travel Outside Quake Zone

March 17, 2023 Commentary

All Asylum Seekers Need Access to Mental Health Care

Published In EUobserver

March 16, 2023 Dispatches

UN Expert Slams Greece Over Civil Society Curbs
Rights of Older People

Global

November 7, 2022
Report
Leave No One Behind

November 10, 2022 Commentary

10-Rand Increase Won’t Keep Older People from Going Hungry

Published In Daily Maverick

November 3, 2022 News Release

Australia: Flood Response Failed to Protect Most at Risk
International Justice

Europe/Central Asia

March 20, 2023
Dispatches
Support Builds for ICC Ukraine Investigation

Maria Elena Vignoli

Senior Counsel, International Justice Program

March 6, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch Letter to the Justice Secretary of the United Kingdom

March 6, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch Letter to the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands
Technology and Rights

France

March 7, 2023
Commentary
France: Reject Surveillance in Olympic Games Law

Published in: Le Monde

February 28, 2023 Dispatches

Indian Government Moves to Remedy Its Violation of Children’s Privacy

February 28, 2023 Dispatches

Biden ‘Asylum Ban’ Rule Would Send Thousands to Danger
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

South Africa

December 21, 2022
Commentary
South Africa Should Bring Home Grandmother and Other Nationals from Northeast Syria

Letta Tayler

Associate Director, Crisis and Conflict Division

Published in: News 24

November 24, 2022 Commentary

Five Years On, Justice Still a Dream for Cabo Delgado Victims

Published In Cabo Ligado

November 10, 2022 Dispatches

Protect Freedom of Expression in Mali
Torture

Middle East/North Africa

March 17, 2023
News Release
Saudi Arabia: Jordanian Executed After Unfair Trial

March 21, 2023 News Release

Belarus: Don’t Return Activist to Tajikistan

March 6, 2023 News Release

Use Global Meeting to Highlight Bahrain’s Abuses
United Nations

Europe/Central Asia

March 20, 2023
Dispatches
UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Reforms in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Mihra Rittmann

Senior Researcher, Central Asia

March 20, 2023 Dispatches

UN Warns of Climate Collapse

March 16, 2023 Dispatches

UN Expert Slams Greece Over Civil Society Curbs
Women's Rights

Middle East/North Africa

March 17, 2023
Dispatches
FIFA Reverses Saudi Sponsorship of Women’s World Cup

Minky Worden

Director of Global Initiatives

March 17, 2023 Dispatches

Forced from Home for Protesting Indonesia’s Mandatory Hijab Rules

March 13, 2023 Dispatches

Honduras Ends Ban on Emergency Contraception