Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

Donate now

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

Donate Now

Displaced people in Ardamata camp in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, welcoming the start of proceedings in the case against “Janjaweed” militia leader Ali Kosheib at the International Criminal Court.

June 24, 2021

US: Bolster Justice for Grave Crimes Globally

The United States should reaffirm support for justice for victims of grave international crimes around the world, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

Read the Report: Essential Proposals to the Biden Administration to Advance International Justice

Africa

June 24, 2021
Report
Chad: Post-Déby Crackdown, Abuses
Europe/Central Asia

June 23, 2021
Report
Frontex Failing to Protect People at EU Borders
Children's Rights

June 23, 2021
Dispatches
UN Head Urges India to Join Safe Schools Declaration

Bede Sheppard

Deputy Director, Children's Rights Division

Latest News

June 24, 2021 Dispatches

Kremlin Endorses Another Term for Kadyrov and His Brutal Chechen Regime
June 24, 2021 Commentary

Climate Action Must Take into Account Women’s Right to Land

Published In Al Jazeera
June 24, 2021 Dispatches

Germany’s New Surveillance Laws Raise Privacy Concerns
June 23, 2021 Commentary

Safety Net Needs More Than Stimulus Checks

Published In The Progressive
June 23, 2021 Commentary

Tough Challenge for German Leadership in Libya Talks

Published In Zeit Online
June 23, 2021 Dispatches

Discrimination in Tanzania’s Schools Ruining Girls’ Lives
June 22, 2021 News Release

Cambodia: Free Environmental Activists
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

Malaysia Should Legally Recognize Transgender People
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

EU Should Hold Firm against the Kremlin’s 'Flywheel of Repression'
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

UN Rights Body Should Create New Role on Human Rights and Climate Change
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

Spate of Antisemitic Attacks in US During Recent Mideast Tensions
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

First Conviction for Dictatorship Crimes in Brazil
June 22, 2021 Dispatches

ILO Slams Kazakhstan for Long-Standing Labor Rights Abuses

Donate now to support human rights around the world

Make a One-time Gift

Videos

Reports

June 24, 2021 Report

Chad: Post-Déby Crackdown, Abuses

Investigate, End Excessive Force Against Protesters
June 23, 2021 Report

Frontex Failing to Protect People at EU Borders

Stronger Safeguards Vital as Border Agency Expands
June 22, 2021 Report

Critics Under Attack

Harassment and Detention of Opponents, Rights Defenders and Journalists Ahead of Elections in Nicaragua
June 22, 2021 Report

UAE: Arbitrary Targeting of Pakistani Shia Residents

Enforced Disappearances, Incommunicado Detention, Groundless Deportation

Africa

June 23, 2021
Dispatches
Discrimination in Tanzania’s Schools Ruining Girls’ Lives

Agnes Odhiambo

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

June 21, 2021 Dispatches

Sudan’s Planned Joint Force Threatens Rights-Abiding Transition

June 21, 2021 Letter

The EU Should Honor Its Commitments to Human Rights in Burundi
Americas

June 22, 2021
Dispatches
First Conviction for Dictatorship Crimes in Brazil

Maria Laura Canineu

Brazil Director, Americas Division

June 22, 2021 News Release

Guatemala: 3 Killings of LGBT People in a Week

June 22, 2021 News Release

Nicaragua: Crackdown on Critics Ahead of Election
Asia

Environment

June 24, 2021
Commentary
Climate Action Must Take into Account Women’s Right to Land

Juliana Nnoko-Mewanu

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

Published in: Al Jazeera

June 23, 2021 Dispatches

UN Head Urges India to Join Safe Schools Declaration

June 22, 2021 News Release

Cambodia: Free Environmental Activists
Europe/Central Asia

June 24, 2021
Dispatches
Kremlin Endorses Another Term for Kadyrov and His Brutal Chechen Regime

Tanya Lokshina

Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division

June 23, 2021 Letter

Joint NGO Letter to Michel and Von der Leyen over Rule of Law in Turkey

June 22, 2021 Dispatches

EU Should Hold Firm against the Kremlin’s 'Flywheel of Repression'
Middle East/North Africa

June 23, 2021
Commentary
Tough Challenge for German Leadership in Libya Talks

Hanan Salah

Senior Libya Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division

Published in: Zeit Online

June 19, 2021 News Release

Iran: Overseer of Mass Executions Elected President

June 18, 2021 News Release

Egypt: Commute Death Sentences for Rab’a Protestors
United States

June 23, 2021
Commentary
Safety Net Needs More Than Stimulus Checks

Lena Simet

Senior Researcher and Advocate, Poverty and Inequality

Amos Toh

Senior Researcher, Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

Published in: The Progressive

June 22, 2021 Dispatches

Spate of Antisemitic Attacks in US During Recent Mideast Tensions

June 21, 2021 Letter

Coalition Calls on Congress to End Qualified Immunity

Arms

June 11, 2021
Dispatches
Deadly Afghanistan Attack Shows Dangers to Humanitarian Workers

Stephen Goose

Executive Director, Arms Division

May 28, 2021 Q & A

Q&A: 2021 Hostilities between Israel and Palestinian Armed Groups

May 13, 2021 Dispatches

International Committee of the Red Cross Backs Killer Robot Ban
Business

June 23, 2021
Commentary
Safety Net Needs More Than Stimulus Checks

Lena Simet

Senior Researcher and Advocate, Poverty and Inequality

Amos Toh

Senior Researcher, Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

Published in: The Progressive

June 18, 2021 News Release

IMF: Make Cameroon Loan Contingent on Anti-Corruption

June 14, 2021 Commentary

Merkel Should Steer EU on Covid-19 Intellectual Property Waiver

Published In Mittelbayerische Zeitung
Children's Rights

Children's Rights

June 23, 2021
Dispatches
UN Head Urges India to Join Safe Schools Declaration

Bede Sheppard

Deputy Director, Children's Rights Division

June 23, 2021 Dispatches

Discrimination in Tanzania’s Schools Ruining Girls’ Lives

June 22, 2021 News Release

Afghanistan: Children Detained, Tortured for Insurgent Links
Crisis and Conflict

June 23, 2021
Commentary
Tough Challenge for German Leadership in Libya Talks

Hanan Salah

Senior Libya Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division

Published in: Zeit Online

June 14, 2021 News Release

Myanmar: Stop Holding Family, Friends Hostage

June 10, 2021 News Release

Syria: Russian Veto Would Shut Down Last Aid Lifeline
Disability Rights

June 17, 2021
Commentary
Canada Should Get on the Path to Abolishing Immigration Detention

Hanna Gros

Consultant

Samer Muscati

Associate Director, Disability Rights Division

Justin Mohammed

Published in: Ottawa Citizen

June 17, 2021 News Release

Canada: Abuse, Discrimination in Immigration Detention

June 16, 2021 News Release

Africa: Prioritize Education to Safeguard Children’s Rights
Environment

Environment

June 24, 2021
Commentary
Climate Action Must Take into Account Women’s Right to Land

Juliana Nnoko-Mewanu

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

Published in: Al Jazeera

June 22, 2021 News Release

Cambodia: Free Environmental Activists

June 22, 2021 Dispatches

UN Rights Body Should Create New Role on Human Rights and Climate Change
Free Speech

Environment

June 22, 2021
News Release
Cambodia: Free Environmental Activists

June 17, 2021 Commentary

New ‘Undesirables’ Law Expands Activists’ Danger Zone

Published In The Moscow Times

June 16, 2021 News Release

Armenia: Malicious Prosecution of Activist
Health

June 18, 2021
News Release
IMF: Make Cameroon Loan Contingent on Anti-Corruption

June 14, 2021 Commentary

Merkel Should Steer EU on Covid-19 Intellectual Property Waiver

Published In Mittelbayerische Zeitung

June 8, 2021 News Release

Cambodia: Lockdowns Hit Low-Income Families Hard
LGBT Rights

June 22, 2021
Dispatches
Malaysia Should Legally Recognize Transgender People

Neela Ghoshal

Associate Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program

June 22, 2021 News Release

Guatemala: 3 Killings of LGBT People in a Week

June 17, 2021 Dispatches

US Supreme Court Avoids Sweeping License to Discriminate
Refugees and Migrants

May 21, 2021
Commentary
How to Make the US Asylum System Efficient and Fair

Bill Frelick

Director, Refugee and Migrant Rights Division

Published in: The Hill

May 13, 2021 Commentary

Roadmap for Urgent Change in Immigration Detention

Published In Newsweek

May 5, 2021 News Release

France: Police Expelling Migrant Children
Rights of Older People

May 5, 2021
Dispatches
Time for Action to Protect Australia’s Older People

Nicole Tooby

Australia Senior Coordinator

March 30, 2021 Dispatches

Arizona Legislators Should Reject Immunity for Nursing Homes

March 19, 2021 Dispatches

New WHO Report Calls Out Global Impacts of Ageism
International Justice

June 24, 2021
News Release
US: Bolster Justice for Grave Crimes Globally

June 18, 2021 News Release

Liberia: Landmark Swiss Conviction for Wartime Atrocities

June 16, 2021 News Release

ICC: New Prosecutor Takes Up Mandate
Technology and Rights

June 24, 2021
Dispatches
Germany’s New Surveillance Laws Raise Privacy Concerns

David Fischer

Media Coordinator, Germany

June 23, 2021 Commentary

Safety Net Needs More Than Stimulus Checks

Published In The Progressive

June 15, 2021 News Release

South Korea: Internet Sexual Images Ruin Women’s Lives
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

June 17, 2021
Commentary
Foreign ISIS Suspects, Families: Why a Single “R” Word Matters at the UN

Letta Tayler

Associate Director, Crisis and Conflict Division

Alison Huyghe

Research and Advocacy Officer, Rights and Security International

Published in: Just Security

May 26, 2021 News Release

Nordic Countries: Repatriate Nationals from Northeast Syria

March 25, 2021 Letter

Joint Letter to EU Parliament: Vote Against Proposed Terrorist Content Online Regulation
Torture

June 22, 2021
News Release
Myanmar: Teenager Describes Torture, Mock Burial

April 15, 2021 Commentary

The European Bank Should Speak Out About Egypt’s Abuses

Published In Le Monde

February 22, 2021 News Release

Yemen: UAE-Backed Forces Torture Journalist
United Nations

June 22, 2021
Dispatches
UN Rights Body Should Create New Role on Human Rights and Climate Change

Lucy McKernan

United Nations Deputy Director, Advocacy

Katharina Rall

Senior Researcher, Environment and Human Rights

June 17, 2021 Commentary

Foreign ISIS Suspects, Families: Why a Single “R” Word Matters at the UN

Published In Just Security

June 8, 2021 Dispatches

UN Child Rights Body Moves to Protect Kids from Environmental Harm
Women's Rights

Environment

June 24, 2021
Commentary
Climate Action Must Take into Account Women’s Right to Land

Juliana Nnoko-Mewanu

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

Published in: Al Jazeera

June 23, 2021 Dispatches

Discrimination in Tanzania’s Schools Ruining Girls’ Lives

June 16, 2021 Dispatches

Progress on Domestic Workers’ Rights, but Gaps Remain