Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

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

Donate Now

Volodymyr Ivashchenko shows the basement where he sheltered in the initial days of the war, together with his wife, mother-in-law, daughter, and 3-year-old grandson, in Yahidne, April 17, 2022.

May 18, 2022

Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation

Russian forces controlling much of the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions in northeastern Ukraine from late February through March 2022 subjected civilians to summary executions, torture, and other grave abuses that are apparent war crimes, Human Rights Watch said today.

Russia, Ukraine & International Law: On Occupation, Armed Conflict and Human Rights

Middle East/North Africa

May 18, 2022
News Release
FIFA: Pay for Harm to Qatar’s Migrant Workers
United States

May 17, 2022
Commentary
Before Mass Shooting, Systemic Racism Affected East Buffalo Community

Laura Pitter

Deputy Director, US Program

Dreisen Heath

Researcher/Advocate, US Program
Europe/Central Asia

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

Latest News

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 18, 2022 Dispatches

Opposition Leader, Supporters Arrested in Chad
May 18, 2022 Report

Burundi: Suspected Opponents Killed, Detained, Tortured
May 17, 2022 Commentary

Afghanistan Remains an Open Wound

Published In Inkstick Media
May 16, 2022 Dispatches

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

As Sri Lanka’s Tamils Remember War Dead, Justice Remains Elusive
May 16, 2022 Dispatches

Student in Nigeria Murdered Over Blasphemy Allegation
May 16, 2022 Report

Burkina Faso: Armed Islamists Kill, Rape Civilians
May 15, 2022 Commentary

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

Published In Miami Herald
May 13, 2022 Commentary

Top Human Rights Tweets of the Week
May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Honduras Recognizes Its Responsibility in Trans Killing
May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Rio Police Tear Down Memorial about Police Violence

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
May 18, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation
May 18, 2022 News Release

Tajikistan: Tensions Escalating in Autonomous Region
May 11, 2022 Dispatches

Bangladesh Police Beating Rohingya Refugees
April 3, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Apparent War Crimes in Russia-Controlled Areas

Africa

Africa

May 18, 2022
Dispatches
Opposition Leader, Supporters Arrested in Chad

Ilaria Allegrozzi

Senior Central Africa Researcher

May 18, 2022 Report

Burundi: Suspected Opponents Killed, Detained, Tortured

May 16, 2022 Dispatches

Student in Nigeria Murdered Over Blasphemy Allegation
Americas

Americas

May 15, 2022
Commentary
Political Rights for Cubans Should Not Start with a Marriage Equality Referendum

Juan Pappier

Senior Researcher, Americas

Cristian González Cabrera

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

Published in: Miami Herald

May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Honduras Recognizes Its Responsibility in Trans Killing

May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Rio Police Tear Down Memorial about Police Violence
Asia

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 Commentary

Afghanistan Remains an Open Wound

Published In Inkstick Media
Europe/Central Asia

Europe/Central Asia

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

May 18, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Executions, Torture During Russian Occupation

May 12, 2022 Dispatches

UK’s Rights Assessment of Rwanda Not Based on Facts
Middle East/North Africa

Middle East/North Africa

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

May 17, 2022 Letter

HRW Letter to the EU on its New Partnership with the Gulf Countries

May 10, 2022 Commentary

Israel Welcomes Ukrainian Refugees. Why Can’t It Do the Same for Palestinians Married to Israelis, Like My Spouse?

Published In Forward
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

Middle East/North Africa

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

April 19, 2022 Letter

Letters to Humanitarian Donor Governments on Education for Rohingya Refugee Children in Bangladesh
Crisis and Conflict

Africa

May 3, 2022
Report
Central African Republic: Abuses by Russia-Linked Forces

May 2, 2022 News Release

Ukraine: Russian Forces Fired On Civilian Vehicles

April 21, 2022 Report

Ukraine: Russian Forces’ Trail of Death in Bucha
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

Americas

April 29, 2022
Dispatches
Venezuelan Tainted Gold

Tamara Taraciuk Broner

Acting Director, Americas Division

Martina Rapido Ragozzino

Research Assistant, Americas Division

April 28, 2022 News Release

European Union: Rules for Batteries Should Cover Bauxite, Copper, Iron

April 28, 2022 Report

Ukraine/Russia: As War Continues, Africa Food Crisis Looms
Environment

April 29, 2022
Commentary
A Human Rights Agenda for Ending Fossil Fuels

Richard Pearshouse

Director, Environment and Human Rights Division

Published in: Thomson Reuters Foundation News

April 25, 2022 News Release

Malaysia: End Secrecy on Major Land Deal in Sabah

April 20, 2022 Letter

Joint letter from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, WWF and Transparency International on Brazil's accession to the OECD
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

Americas

May 15, 2022
Commentary
Political Rights for Cubans Should Not Start with a Marriage Equality Referendum

Juan Pappier

Senior Researcher, Americas

Cristian González Cabrera

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

Published in: Miami Herald

May 13, 2022 Dispatches

Honduras Recognizes Its Responsibility in Trans Killing

May 12, 2022 News Release

Brazil: Attacks on Gender and Sexuality Education
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

Africa

May 16, 2022
Report
Burkina Faso: Armed Islamists Kill, Rape Civilians

May 4, 2022 Commentary

The high cost of Guantanamo’s ‘forever prisoners’

Published In Orlando Sentinel

April 5, 2022 Report

Mali: Massacre by Army, Foreign Soldiers
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

Global

May 3, 2022
Dispatches
Low Income Puts Older People’s Rights at Risk

Adriana Masgras

Coordinator, Disability Rights Division

April 28, 2022 Commentary

Opening Stages in UN Cybercrime Treaty Talks Reflect Human Rights Risks

Published In Just Security

April 27, 2022 News Release

UN: Support Impartial Justice for War Crimes in Ukraine
Women's Rights

Asia

May 17, 2022
Commentary
Afghanistan Remains an Open Wound

Sahar Fetrat

Assistant Researcher, Women's Rights Division

Published in: Inkstick Media

May 12, 2022 News Release

UK: Afghan Women Evacuees in Limbo

May 9, 2022 Dispatches

Afghans Dying from Lack of Medicine