Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

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

Donate Now

Lawyers in Myanmar protesting the military coup in Mandalay, February 15, 2021.

June 8, 2023

Myanmar: Lawyers Face Harassment, Arrests

The Myanmar military junta has threatened and harassed lawyers trying to defend the rights of protesters and others arbitrarily detained since the February 1, 2021 coup.

United States

June 7, 2023
Dispatches
Wildfire Smoke in North America Threatens Pregnancy Rights

Skye Wheeler

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division
June 7, 2023
News Release
Saudi Arabia: Pro Golf Merger “Sportswashes” Abuses
Europe/Central Asia

June 7, 2023
News Release
Poland: New Law to Bar People from Public Office

Latest News

June 8, 2023 News Release

EU: Press Vietnam to End Rights Abuses
June 7, 2023 News Release

Olympics: Act on Sexual Abuse Complaints by Indian Athletes
June 7, 2023 Dispatches

Top Russian Human Rights Defender on Trial
June 7, 2023 Dispatches

American Churches Launch Initiative to End Israel’s Apartheid
June 7, 2023 Dispatches

Uzbekistan Should Free Imprisoned Lawyer
June 7, 2023 Dispatches

Germany, Namibia Need a Rights-Respecting Reparations Process
June 6, 2023 Dispatches

Angolan Police Fatally Fire on Fuel-Price Protest
June 6, 2023 Dispatches

Palestinian Forum Highlights Threats of Autonomous Weapons
June 6, 2023 Report

Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike
June 6, 2023 Dispatches

Migration Paranoia Jeopardizes EU Trade and Development Scheme
June 6, 2023 News Release

Iraq: Political Infighting Blocking Reconstruction of Sinjar
June 5, 2023 Dispatches

Role of Fossil Fuels Absent at Plastics Treaty Negotiations
June 5, 2023 News Release

Senegal: Violent Crackdown On Opposition, Dissent

Donate now to support human rights around the world

Make a One-time Gift

Videos

Reports

June 8, 2023 Report

“Our Numbers Are Dwindling”

Myanmar’s Post-Coup Crackdown on Lawyers
June 6, 2023 Report

Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike

Investigate Military Air Operations; Compensate Victims
June 1, 2023 Report

Ethiopia: Ethnic Cleansing Persists Under Tigray Truce

Rights Abusers in Western Tigray Zone Face No Accountability for Torture, Forced Expulsions
May 25, 2023 Report

Japan’s “Hostage Justice” System

Denial of Bail, Coerced Confessions, and Lack of Access to Lawyers

Most Viewed

March 22, 2023 News Release

Ukraine: Izium Apartment Victims Need Justice
January 25, 2022 Commentary

Lost Innocents
August 4, 2021 Dispatches

Indian Girl’s Alleged Rape and Murder Sparks Protests
March 11, 2019 Video

Video: Violence and Rape by Zimbabwe Gov't Forces After Protests
June 5, 2023 News Release

Senegal: Violent Crackdown On Opposition, Dissent

Africa

Africa

June 6, 2023
Dispatches
Angolan Police Fatally Fire on Fuel-Price Protest

Zenaida Machado

Senior Researcher, Africa Division

June 6, 2023 Report

Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike

June 5, 2023 News Release

Senegal: Violent Crackdown On Opposition, Dissent
Americas

Americas

May 30, 2023
Dispatches
Brazil’s Lula Misses Crucial Chance to Uphold Rights in Venezuela

Maria Laura Canineu

Brazil Director, Americas Division

Martina Rapido Ragozzino

Research Assistant, Americas Division

May 29, 2023 News Release

Brazil: Reject Harmful Bill on Indigenous Rights

May 24, 2023 News Release

Mexico: Public Accountability, Privacy Under Threat
Asia

Asia

June 8, 2023
News Release
Myanmar: Lawyers Face Harassment, Arrests

June 8, 2023 News Release

EU: Press Vietnam to End Rights Abuses

June 7, 2023 News Release

Olympics: Act on Sexual Abuse Complaints by Indian Athletes
Europe/Central Asia

Europe/Central Asia

June 7, 2023
Dispatches
Top Russian Human Rights Defender on Trial

Tanya Lokshina

Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division

June 7, 2023 Dispatches

Uzbekistan Should Free Imprisoned Lawyer

June 7, 2023 Dispatches

Germany, Namibia Need a Rights-Respecting Reparations Process
Middle East/North Africa

Middle East/North Africa

June 6, 2023
Dispatches
Palestinian Forum Highlights Threats of Autonomous Weapons

Susan Aboeid

Associate, Arms Division

June 6, 2023 News Release

Iraq: Political Infighting Blocking Reconstruction of Sinjar

June 5, 2023 News Release

COP28: Climate Talks Should Ensure Fossil Fuel Phaseout
United States

United States

June 7, 2023
Dispatches
Wildfire Smoke in North America Threatens Pregnancy Rights

Skye Wheeler

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

June 7, 2023 Dispatches

American Churches Launch Initiative to End Israel’s Apartheid

May 31, 2023 Letter

Support for California Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10

Arms

Middle East/North Africa

June 6, 2023
Dispatches
Palestinian Forum Highlights Threats of Autonomous Weapons

Susan Aboeid

Associate, Arms Division

May 30, 2023 Commentary

Cluster Munition Convention Offers Roadmap for New Autonomous Weapons Treaty

Published In Just Security

May 29, 2023 News Release

Cluster Munitions: Renew Global Momentum for Ban
Children's Rights

Asia

June 7, 2023
News Release
Olympics: Act on Sexual Abuse Complaints by Indian Athletes

May 25, 2023 Dispatches

US Sues Online Learning Company Over Students’ Data Privacy

May 25, 2023 Dispatches

Fresh Details on Russia’s Forcible Transfer of Ukrainian Children
Crisis and Conflict

Africa

June 2, 2023
Interview
Interview: Stories of Abuse, Suffering From People Fleeing Fighting in Sudan

Anthony Gale

Senior Media Officer

Laetitia Bader

Director, Horn of Africa

May 30, 2023 Commentary

The True Toll of the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border Conflict

Published In Open Democracy

May 30, 2023 News Release

Yemen: Houthis Forcibly Disappear Baha’is
Disability Rights

Americas

May 18, 2023
News Release
Mexico: States’ Inaction on Legal Capacity

May 17, 2023 Letter

Letter to Mexico Federal Congress Regarding Full Legal Capacity Recognition

May 16, 2023 Dispatches

People with Disabilities Push for Access to Personal Assistance in Poland
Economic Justice and Rights

Europe/Central Asia

June 6, 2023
Dispatches
Migration Paranoia Jeopardizes EU Trade and Development Scheme

Claudio Francavilla

Senior EU Advocate

May 25, 2023 News Release

Universal Social Security Can Reduce Poverty, Inequality

May 25, 2023 Q & A

Questions and Answers on the Right to Social Security
Environment

United States

June 7, 2023
Dispatches
Wildfire Smoke in North America Threatens Pregnancy Rights

Skye Wheeler

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

June 5, 2023 Dispatches

Role of Fossil Fuels Absent at Plastics Treaty Negotiations

June 5, 2023 News Release

COP28: Climate Talks Should Ensure Fossil Fuel Phaseout
Free Speech

Africa

June 5, 2023
News Release
Senegal: Violent Crackdown On Opposition, Dissent

May 31, 2023 Dispatches

No Joking Allowed in Vietnam

May 31, 2023 News Release

Kenya: End Abusive Policing of Protests
Health

Europe/Central Asia

April 6, 2023
Dispatches
Ukraine’s New Health Rules Spotlight Barriers to Emergency Contraception

Hillary Margolis

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

Kseniya Kvitka

Assistant Researcher

April 6, 2023 Dispatches

African Human Rights Commission Affirms Intersex People’s Rights

April 3, 2023 Commentary

Zambia’s ‘Green Kabwe’ Plan Should Prioritize Mine Cleanup

Published In Daily Nation
LGBT Rights

Europe/Central Asia

June 2, 2023
Dispatches
Russia Moves to Ban Trans Health Care

Kyle Knight

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

June 2, 2023 Commentary

Africa: Independent judiciaries can defend rights

Published In The World Today

June 1, 2023 Dispatches

Marriage Equality Gets a Boost in South Korea
Refugees and Migrants

Africa

June 5, 2023
News Release
Malawi: Refugees, Including Children, Forcibly Relocated

June 2, 2023 Interview

Interview: Stories of Abuse, Suffering From People Fleeing Fighting in Sudan

June 2, 2023 Dispatches

UN Slashes Food Rations for Rohingya in Bangladesh Camps
Rights of Older People

Americas

May 18, 2023
News Release
Mexico: States’ Inaction on Legal Capacity

May 17, 2023 Letter

Letter to Mexico Federal Congress Regarding Full Legal Capacity Recognition

March 30, 2023 Dispatches

Swiss 'Senior Women' Take Government to Court over Climate Change
International Justice

Africa

June 2, 2023
News Release
Rwanda: Alleged Genocide Mastermind Arrested

May 26, 2023 News Release

Chad: Still No Reparations for Hissène Habré’s Victims

May 12, 2023 News Release

France: Court Ruling Win for Syrian Victims
Technology and Rights

United States

May 25, 2023
Dispatches
US Sues Online Learning Company Over Students’ Data Privacy

Hye Jung Han

Researcher and Advocate, Children's Rights Division

May 12, 2023 Dispatches

How Social Media Became Key in Turkey’s Elections

May 10, 2023 Q & A

Questions and Answers: Turkey's Control of the Internet and the Upcoming Election
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

Africa

June 6, 2023
Report
Nigeria: No Justice for Civilians Killed in Airstrike

June 2, 2023 Dispatches

Saudi Arabia Executes Two Shi’a Bahrainis on Terrorism Charges

May 26, 2023 News Release

Egypt: Pretrial Detention Renewals by Video
Torture

Middle East/North Africa

April 25, 2023
Report
Iran: Security Forces Kill, Torture, Abuse Children

April 13, 2023 News Release

Ukraine: Russian Torture Center in Kherson

March 21, 2023 News Release

Belarus: Don’t Return Activist to Tajikistan
United Nations

Africa

June 1, 2023
News Release
Sudan: Concrete UN Security Council Action Needed

May 18, 2023 Dispatches

In Praise of Competitive UN Elections

May 15, 2023 Dispatches

Hard Choices in Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
Women's Rights

United States

June 7, 2023
Dispatches
Wildfire Smoke in North America Threatens Pregnancy Rights

Skye Wheeler

Senior Researcher, Women's Rights Division

June 7, 2023 News Release

Olympics: Act on Sexual Abuse Complaints by Indian Athletes

June 2, 2023 Dispatches

Angola Police Violently Disperse Street Traders’ Protest