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The mother of a schoolgirl who was among those killed in the brutal May 8, 2021 bombing of the Sayed ul-Shuhada girls' school stands inside a classroom with bouquets of flowers on empty desks as a tribute to the dead, in Kabul, Afghanistan, May 16, 2021.

July 2, 2021

UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

Human Rights Watch today joined Afghan and international human rights organizations calling for a United Nations-mandated fact-finding mission to investigate escalating attacks on civilians in Afghanistan to promote justice and accountability.

July 2, 2021
News Release
Myanmar: Security Forces Arrest Defense Lawyers
Americas

June 30, 2021
News Release
Cuba: Clampdown on Artists, Journalists
Asia

July 1, 2021
Dispatches
Indonesia Supreme Court Supports Mandatory Jilbab Rule

Andreas Harsono

Indonesia Researcher

Latest News

July 1, 2021 Commentary

Beijing Could Easily Encourage People to Have More Children, but Won’t

Published In The Lowy Institute
July 1, 2021 Commentary

Why Laws Are Needed to Avoid Corporate Rights Abuses

Published In Opinio Juris
July 1, 2021 Commentary

Online Gender-Based Violence is a Nightmare Without Borders

Published In Foreign Policy in Focus
July 1, 2021 Dispatches

#JusticePourLouise Rape Case Shakes Senegal
July 1, 2021 News Release

Philippines: Drop Proposal for New Militia
July 1, 2021 News Release

Kenya: Investigate Deportation of Turkish National
July 1, 2021 News Release

Eswatini: Respect Rights While Policing Protests
July 1, 2021 Report

Germany: Inaction on Heat Plans Threatens Health
July 1, 2021 Dispatches

Concrete Action Needed Against Islamophobia in Canada
June 30, 2021 News Release

Malaysia: Raids on Migrants Hinder Vaccine Access
June 30, 2021 News Release

US: Prioritize Home, Community-Based Services for Older People
June 30, 2021 Dispatches

'X' Passports in US Mark Shift Toward Respecting Gender Diversity
June 30, 2021 Commentary

Rohingya Refugees Facing Medical Crisis on Bhasan Char

Published In Asia Times

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Videos

Reports

July 1, 2021 Report

Germany: Inaction on Heat Plans Threatens Health

Pregnancy Risks Left Out of Climate Change Planning
June 30, 2021 Report

“They Don’t Understand the Fear We Have”

How China’s Long Reach of Repression Undermines Academic Freedom at Australia’s Universities
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

Africa

July 1, 2021
Dispatches
#JusticePourLouise Rape Case Shakes Senegal

Elin Martínez

Senior Researcher, Children's Rights Division

July 1, 2021 News Release

Kenya: Investigate Deportation of Turkish National

July 1, 2021 News Release

Eswatini: Respect Rights While Policing Protests
Americas

July 1, 2021
Dispatches
Concrete Action Needed Against Islamophobia in Canada

Insiya Mankani

Senior Coordinator, Development & Advocacy

June 30, 2021 Dispatches

Prisoners in Haiti Still Face Horrendous Conditions

June 30, 2021 News Release

Cuba: Clampdown on Artists, Journalists
Asia

July 2, 2021
News Release
Myanmar: Security Forces Arrest Defense Lawyers

July 2, 2021 Dispatches

UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

July 1, 2021 Commentary

Beijing Could Easily Encourage People to Have More Children, but Won’t

Published In The Lowy Institute
Europe/Central Asia

June 29, 2021
Commentary
France Lags in Workplace Protections Against Domestic Violence

Nisha Varia

Advocacy Director, Women’s Rights Division

Bénédicte Jeannerod

France Director

Published in: Mediapart

June 24, 2021 Dispatches

Kremlin Endorses Another Term for Kadyrov and His Brutal Chechen Regime

June 23, 2021 Letter

Joint NGO Letter to Michel and Von der Leyen over Rule of Law in Turkey
Middle East/North Africa

June 30, 2021
Dispatches
Disability Rights Defender in Gaza Addresses UN

Abier Almasri

Research Assistant, Middle East and North Africa Division

June 30, 2021 News Release

Yemen: Houthis Subject Model to Unfair Trial

June 28, 2021 Commentary

Egypt’s Execution Frenzy Has to Stop

Published In Middle East Eye
United States

June 30, 2021
Dispatches
'X' Passports in US Mark Shift Toward Respecting Gender Diversity

Kyle Knight

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

June 30, 2021 News Release

US: Prioritize Home, Community-Based Services for Older People

June 30, 2021 Letter

Over 100 Groups Urge Biden to Fully Rescind Title 42 Expulsions

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

July 1, 2021
Commentary
Why Laws Are Needed to Avoid Corporate Rights Abuses

Arvind Ganesan

Director, Business and Human Rights

Published in: Opinio Juris

June 30, 2021 Commentary

Does a New ‘Gold Standard’ Really Protect Miners?

Published In Inter Press Service

June 28, 2021 Dispatches

US Congress Closes Trump-Era Lending Loophole
Children's Rights

July 2, 2021
Dispatches
UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

Heather Barr

Interim Co-Director, Women's Rights Division

July 1, 2021 Dispatches

#JusticePourLouise Rape Case Shakes Senegal

June 30, 2021 Commentary

Does a New ‘Gold Standard’ Really Protect Miners?

Published In Inter Press Service
Crisis and Conflict

July 2, 2021
Dispatches
UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

Heather Barr

Interim Co-Director, Women's Rights Division

June 23, 2021 Commentary

Tough Challenge for German Leadership in Libya Talks

Published In Zeit Online

June 14, 2021 News Release

Myanmar: Stop Holding Family, Friends Hostage
Disability Rights

June 30, 2021
Dispatches
Disability Rights Defender in Gaza Addresses UN

Abier Almasri

Research Assistant, Middle East and North Africa Division

June 26, 2021 Dispatches

Britney Spears’s Conservatorship Mirrors Reality for Millions with Disabilities

June 17, 2021 Commentary

Canada Should Get on the Path to Abolishing Immigration Detention

Published In Ottawa Citizen
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

July 1, 2021
News Release
Eswatini: Respect Rights While Policing Protests

June 28, 2021 Commentary

Egypt Persecutes TikTok Women While Men Get Impunity for Sexual Violence

Published In The New Arab

June 25, 2021 News Release

Hong Kong: Beijing Dismantles a Free Society
Health

June 30, 2021
News Release
Malaysia: Raids on Migrants Hinder Vaccine Access

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
LGBT Rights

June 30, 2021
Dispatches
'X' Passports in US Mark Shift Toward Respecting Gender Diversity

Kyle Knight

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

June 30, 2021 Letter

Over 100 Groups Urge Biden to Fully Rescind Title 42 Expulsions

June 22, 2021 Dispatches

Malaysia Should Legally Recognize Transgender People
Refugees and Migrants

June 30, 2021
Letter
Over 100 Groups Urge Biden to Fully Rescind Title 42 Expulsions

June 28, 2021 Dispatches

Exceptions to US Border Expulsion Policy Fail to Address Flaws

June 18, 2021 Dispatches

How Countries Can Do Better on World Refugee Day
Rights of Older People

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

Nicole Tooby

Australia Senior Coordinator

June 30, 2021 News Release

US: Prioritize Home, Community-Based Services for Older People

March 30, 2021 Dispatches

Arizona Legislators Should Reject Immunity for Nursing Homes
International Justice

July 2, 2021
Dispatches
UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

Heather Barr

Interim Co-Director, Women's Rights Division

June 24, 2021 News Release

US: Bolster Justice for Grave Crimes Globally

June 18, 2021 News Release

Liberia: Landmark Swiss Conviction for Wartime Atrocities
Technology and Rights

July 1, 2021
Commentary
Online Gender-Based Violence is a Nightmare Without Borders

Heather Barr

Interim Co-Director, Women's Rights Division

Published in: Foreign Policy in Focus

June 28, 2021 Commentary

Egypt Persecutes TikTok Women While Men Get Impunity for Sexual Violence

Published In The New Arab

June 25, 2021 Dispatches

Facial Recognition Problems Denying US Workers Unemployment Lifeline
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

June 29, 2021
News Release
Sri Lanka: Pardons a Meager Response to Abusive Law

June 17, 2021 Commentary

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

Published In Just Security

May 26, 2021 News Release

Nordic Countries: Repatriate Nationals from Northeast Syria
Torture

June 29, 2021
News Release
Sri Lanka: Pardons a Meager Response to Abusive Law

June 26, 2021 News Release

Bangladesh: Hold Security Forces Accountable for Torture

June 22, 2021 News Release

Myanmar: Teenager Describes Torture, Mock Burial
United Nations

June 29, 2021
Dispatches
UN Security Council Should Impose Myanmar Arms Embargo

Louis Charbonneau

United Nations Director

June 29, 2021 News Release

UN Makes Landmark Call to Address Systemic Racism

June 22, 2021 Dispatches

UN Rights Body Should Create New Role on Human Rights and Climate Change
Women's Rights

July 2, 2021
Dispatches
UN Should Investigate Deadly Attacks on Afghan Civilians

Heather Barr

Interim Co-Director, Women's Rights Division

July 1, 2021 Commentary

Beijing Could Easily Encourage People to Have More Children, but Won’t

Published In The Lowy Institute

July 1, 2021 Dispatches

Indonesia Supreme Court Supports Mandatory Jilbab Rule