Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

Help us continue to fight human rights abuses. Please give now to support our work

Donate Now

Somali families, displaced after fleeing the Lower Shabelle region amid an uptick in US airstrikes, wait at an Internally Displaced Person camp near Mogadishu, Somalia, March 12, 2020.

May 20, 2022

Somalia: US Redeployment Should Stress Civilian Protection

The reported United States decision to redeploy several hundred US troops in Somalia as part of a joint operation with the Somali government and African Union forces should make civilian protection a priority, Human Rights Watch said today. Previous US military operations in Somalia resulted in the loss of life and property to Somali civilians that the US neither recognized nor provided with redress.

Asia

May 20, 2022
News Release
UN: Rights Chief’s Credibility at Stake in China Visit
Middle East/North Africa

May 20, 2022
News Release
Iran: Arrests Amid Economic Protests
Europe/Central Asia

May 19, 2022
News Release
Kazakhstan: Boost Rights Protection in Constitution Reform

Latest News

May 20, 2022 Commentary

Top Human Rights Tweets of the Week
May 20, 2022 Dispatches

Reimagine Global Food Systems to Prevent Hunger and Protect Rights
May 20, 2022 Commentary

The China Challenge for Olaf Scholz

Published In Internationale Politik Quarterly
May 20, 2022 Dispatches

Berlin Bans Nakba Day Demonstrations
May 20, 2022 Commentary

Will Zambia Protect Children from Kabwe’s Toxic Legacy?
May 20, 2022 Commentary

Ho21 Anniversary: Reflections on State-Sanctioned Violence Against LGBTI Ghanaians
May 20, 2022 Dispatches

EU Needs to Hold Hungary to Account
May 19, 2022 News Release

Guatemala: Attorney General’s Reappointment Threatens Rights
May 19, 2022 News Release

Quad Leaders: Spotlight Rights, Democracy in Asia
May 19, 2022 News Release

US/South Korea: Promote Rights in North Korea
May 19, 2022 News Release

US: Flawed Military Review of Civilian Casualties in Syria
May 18, 2022 News Release

FIFA: Pay for Harm to Qatar’s Migrant Workers
May 18, 2022 Dispatches

Opposition Leader, Supporters Arrested in Chad

Donate now to support human rights around the world

Make a One-time Gift

Videos

Reports

May 18, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation

Apparent War Crimes in Kyiv, Chernihiv Regions
May 18, 2022 Report

Burundi: Suspected Opponents Killed, Detained, Tortured

Security Force Abuses Deepen Insecurity
May 16, 2022 Report

Burkina Faso: Armed Islamists Kill, Rape Civilians

Army, Militia Respond with Summary Executions, Enforced Disappearances
May 12, 2022 Report

“I Became Scared, This Was Their Goal”

Efforts to Ban Gender and Sexuality Education in Brazil

Most Viewed

November 12, 2018 News Release

Pakistan: Girls Deprived of Education
April 3, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Apparent War Crimes in Russia-Controlled Areas
May 18, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation
May 20, 2022 Dispatches

Berlin Bans Nakba Day Demonstrations
November 12, 2018 Report

“Shall I Feed My Daughter, or Educate Her?”

Africa

Africa

May 20, 2022
Commentary
Will Zambia Protect Children from Kabwe’s Toxic Legacy?

May 20, 2022 Commentary

Ho21 Anniversary: Reflections on State-Sanctioned Violence Against LGBTI Ghanaians

May 20, 2022 News Release

Somalia: US Redeployment Should Stress Civilian Protection
Americas

Americas

May 19, 2022
News Release
Guatemala: Attorney General’s Reappointment Threatens Rights

May 15, 2022 Commentary

Political Rights for Cubans Should Not Start with a Marriage Equality Referendum

Published In Miami Herald

May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Honduras Recognizes Its Responsibility in Trans Killing
Asia

Asia

May 20, 2022
Commentary
The China Challenge for Olaf Scholz

Kenneth Roth

Executive Director

Published in: Internationale Politik Quarterly

May 20, 2022 News Release

UN: Rights Chief’s Credibility at Stake in China Visit

May 19, 2022 News Release

Quad Leaders: Spotlight Rights, Democracy in Asia
Europe/Central Asia

Asia

May 20, 2022
Commentary
The China Challenge for Olaf Scholz

Kenneth Roth

Executive Director

Published in: Internationale Politik Quarterly

May 20, 2022 Dispatches

Berlin Bans Nakba Day Demonstrations

May 20, 2022 Dispatches

EU Needs to Hold Hungary to Account
Middle East/North Africa

Europe/Central Asia

May 20, 2022
Dispatches
Berlin Bans Nakba Day Demonstrations

Omar Shakir

Israel and Palestine Director, Middle East and North Africa Division

May 20, 2022 News Release

Iran: Arrests Amid Economic Protests

May 18, 2022 News Release

FIFA: Pay for Harm to Qatar’s Migrant Workers
United States

Asia

May 19, 2022
News Release
Quad Leaders: Spotlight Rights, Democracy in Asia

May 19, 2022 News Release

US/South Korea: Promote Rights in North Korea

May 17, 2022 Letter

Groups Express Concerns Over Policing Bills

Arms

Russia

May 11, 2022
News Release
End Cluster Munition Attacks in Ukraine

April 27, 2022 Report

Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing Civilians

April 20, 2022 News Release

Sri Lanka: Police Fire on Protesters
Children's Rights

Africa

May 20, 2022
Commentary
Will Zambia Protect Children from Kabwe’s Toxic Legacy?

May 6, 2022 News Release

Lebanon: Credible Plans Needed on Education Crisis

April 20, 2022 Dispatches

A Bleak Future with Education Under Attack in Afghanistan
Crisis and Conflict

Canada

May 20, 2022
Letter
Human Rights Watch Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau

May 3, 2022 Report

Central African Republic: Abuses by Russia-Linked Forces

May 2, 2022 News Release

Ukraine: Russian Forces Fired On Civilian Vehicles
Disability Rights

Middle East/North Africa

May 10, 2022
Dispatches
Ensure People with Disabilities Can Vote in Lebanon Elections

Aya Majzoub

Lebanon and Bahrain Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division

May 5, 2022 Letter

Letter to California Senate Appropriations Committee

May 5, 2022 Dispatches

Costa Rica’s Mental Health Bill a Step Back for Human Rights
Economic Justice and Rights

India

May 20, 2022
Dispatches
Reimagine Global Food Systems to Prevent Hunger and Protect Rights

Lena Simet

Senior Researcher and Advocate, Poverty and Inequality

Sarah Saadoun

Senior Researcher, Business and Human Rights

May 20, 2022 Commentary

Will Zambia Protect Children from Kabwe’s Toxic Legacy?

April 29, 2022 Dispatches

Venezuelan Tainted Gold
Environment

India

May 20, 2022
Dispatches
Reimagine Global Food Systems to Prevent Hunger and Protect Rights

Lena Simet

Senior Researcher and Advocate, Poverty and Inequality

Sarah Saadoun

Senior Researcher, Business and Human Rights

May 20, 2022 Commentary

Will Zambia Protect Children from Kabwe’s Toxic Legacy?

May 18, 2022 Dispatches

Millions Dying Globally Because of Unabated Pollution
Free Speech

Europe/Central Asia

May 18, 2022
News Release
Tajikistan: Tensions Escalating in Autonomous Region

May 18, 2022 Report

Burundi: Suspected Opponents Killed, Detained, Tortured

May 16, 2022 Dispatches

Student in Nigeria Murdered Over Blasphemy Allegation
Health

Asia

May 16, 2022
Dispatches
North Korea Acknowledges Health Crisis amid Covid-19 Outbreak

Lina Yoon

Senior Researcher, Asia Division

May 9, 2022 Dispatches

Afghans Dying from Lack of Medicine

May 6, 2022 Dispatches

New Covid-19 Death Count Should Prompt Stronger Action
LGBT Rights

Africa

May 20, 2022
Commentary
Ho21 Anniversary: Reflections on State-Sanctioned Violence Against LGBTI Ghanaians

Rita Nketiah

Researcher, Women's Rights Division; Researcher, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program

May 15, 2022 Commentary

Political Rights for Cubans Should Not Start with a Marriage Equality Referendum

Published In Miami Herald

May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Honduras Recognizes Its Responsibility in Trans Killing
Refugees and Migrants

Africa

May 12, 2022
Dispatches
UK’s Rights Assessment of Rwanda Not Based on Facts

Lewis Mudge

Director, Central Africa

May 12, 2022 News Release

UK: Afghan Women Evacuees in Limbo

May 6, 2022 News Release

Lebanon: Credible Plans Needed on Education Crisis
Rights of Older People

Middle East/North Africa

May 10, 2022
Dispatches
Ensure People with Disabilities Can Vote in Lebanon Elections

Aya Majzoub

Lebanon and Bahrain Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division

May 3, 2022 Dispatches

Low Income Puts Older People’s Rights at Risk

May 2, 2022 Dispatches

Older People No Longer Invisible Casualties of War in Ukraine
International Justice

Europe/Central Asia

April 27, 2022
News Release
UN: Support Impartial Justice for War Crimes in Ukraine

May 12, 2022 Letter

Letter to the Honourable Minister Jallow

April 26, 2022 Dispatches

First German Trial on Crimes in Gambia Opens
Technology and Rights

European Union

May 10, 2022
Interview
Interview: Elon Musk, Twitter, and Human Rights

Frederike Kaltheuner

Director for technology and human rights

Amy Braunschweiger

Associate Director, Editorial

May 5, 2022 Dispatches

How Data Targets People Seeking Abortion

May 3, 2022 News Release

India: Media Freedom Under Threat
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

Canada

May 20, 2022
Letter
Human Rights Watch Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau

May 19, 2022 News Release

US: Flawed Military Review of Civilian Casualties in Syria

May 16, 2022 Report

Burkina Faso: Armed Islamists Kill, Rape Civilians
Torture

Europe/Central Asia

May 18, 2022
Report
Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation

May 18, 2022 Report

Burundi: Suspected Opponents Killed, Detained, Tortured

April 21, 2022 Commentary

Why China's 'diplomatic assurances' are not to be trusted

Published In Stuff
United Nations

Asia

May 20, 2022
News Release
UN: Rights Chief’s Credibility at Stake in China Visit

May 3, 2022 Dispatches

Low Income Puts Older People’s Rights at Risk

April 28, 2022 Commentary

Opening Stages in UN Cybercrime Treaty Talks Reflect Human Rights Risks

Published In Just Security
Women's Rights

Africa

May 20, 2022
Commentary
Ho21 Anniversary: Reflections on State-Sanctioned Violence Against LGBTI Ghanaians

Rita Nketiah

Researcher, Women's Rights Division; Researcher, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program

May 17, 2022 Commentary

Afghanistan Remains an Open Wound

Published In Inkstick Media

May 12, 2022 News Release

UK: Afghan Women Evacuees in Limbo