Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

Human rights abuses are happening right now – start a monthly gift today.

Donate Now

A group of uniformed police with riot gear stand on the street

September 20, 2023

How Brute Violence Became Egypt’s Answer to Virtually Everything

The government makes almost no effort to restrain the security forces or force them to act within the law. It’s clear to them that abuse is greenlighted in the name of “security.”

Europe/Central Asia

September 21, 2023
Dispatches
Woman’s Brutal Assault Highlights Police Failures in Kyrgyzstan

Syinat Sultanalieva

Researcher, Europe and Central Asia Division
Global

September 20, 2023
Dispatches
Governments Should Step Up on Public Health Care Spending

Matt McConnell

Researcher, Economic Justice and Rights Division
Europe/Central Asia

September 19, 2023
Dispatches
Europe’s Lack of New Ideas on Migration is the Real Crisis

Judith Sunderland

Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division

Latest News

September 19, 2023 Dispatches

EU Advances on Treaty to End Violence and Harassment at Work
September 19, 2023 News Release

Cambodia: Dissident, Wife Brutally Assaulted
September 18, 2023 Commentary

Spanish Women’s World Cup Champions Win Again: Time’s Up For Rubiales

Published In Forbes
September 18, 2023 News Release

Central Asia/US: Put Rights At Heart of Talks
September 18, 2023 News Release

Algeria: Freedom of Association, Assembly Under Attack
September 18, 2023 News Release

Uganda: Carry Out Treaty to Protect Everyone at Work
September 18, 2023 News Release

Colombia: Ensure Justice for Army Killings
September 18, 2023 Dispatches

New UN Guidance on Children’s Rights and the Environment
September 18, 2023 News Release

EU: Harmful ‘Prostitution’ Resolution Passes
September 18, 2023 News Release

Sri Lanka: Abuses Undercut Proposed ‘Truth Commission’
September 17, 2023 Commentary

Access to Justice Remains Elusive for Mqhekezweni Women

Published In The Mail & Guardian
September 17, 2023 Dispatches

Continuing the Fight for Jailed Rights Defenders in Belarus
September 15, 2023 News Release

Egypt: US to Provide Security Assistance Despite Repression

Donate now to support human rights around the world

Make a One-time Gift

Videos

Reports

September 18, 2023 Report

“If We Raise Our Voice They Arrest Us”

Sri Lanka’s Proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission
September 14, 2023 Report

“I Felt So Stuck”

Inadequate Housing and Social Support for Families Seeking Asylum in the United Kingdom
September 14, 2023 Report

Bangladesh: Social Audits Shortchange Workers

Shahidul Islam’s Killing Underscores Heightened Risks for Independent Unions
September 14, 2023 Report

Poland: Abortion Witch Hunt Targets Women, Doctors

Criminalization, Pursuit of Alleged Offenders Violates Rights

Most Viewed

August 21, 2023 Report

“They Fired on Us Like Rain”
August 29, 2023 News Release

Saudi Arabia: Man Sentenced to Death for Tweets
November 12, 2018 News Release

Pakistan: Girls Deprived of Education
June 9, 2015 News Release

Bangladesh: Girls Damaged by Child Marriage
March 21, 2019 News Release

Myanmar: Women, Girls Trafficked as ‘Brides’ to China

Africa

Africa

September 18, 2023
News Release
Uganda: Carry Out Treaty to Protect Everyone at Work

September 17, 2023 Commentary

Access to Justice Remains Elusive for Mqhekezweni Women

Published In The Mail & Guardian

September 13, 2023 News Release

Kenya: Ban Use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides
Americas

Americas

September 18, 2023
News Release
Colombia: Ensure Justice for Army Killings

September 12, 2023 News Release

Brazil: Prosecutors Should Lead Police Killings Inquiries

September 12, 2023 Letter

Brazil: letter to the attorney general, Augusto Aras
Asia

Asia

September 19, 2023
News Release
Cambodia: Dissident, Wife Brutally Assaulted

September 18, 2023 News Release

Sri Lanka: Abuses Undercut Proposed ‘Truth Commission’

September 14, 2023 News Release

Bangladesh: Quash Conviction and Release Rights Defenders
Europe/Central Asia

Europe/Central Asia

September 21, 2023
Dispatches
Woman’s Brutal Assault Highlights Police Failures in Kyrgyzstan

Syinat Sultanalieva

Researcher, Europe and Central Asia Division

September 21, 2023 Letter

Letter to the Minister of Health of Ukraine: Access to Emergency Contraception

September 19, 2023 Dispatches

EU Advances on Treaty to End Violence and Harassment at Work
Middle East/North Africa

Middle East/North Africa

September 18, 2023
News Release
Algeria: Freedom of Association, Assembly Under Attack

September 15, 2023 News Release

Egypt: US to Provide Security Assistance Despite Repression

September 15, 2023 News Release

Iran: Crackdown on Dissent Ahead of Protest Anniversary
United States

Middle East/North Africa

September 15, 2023
News Release
Egypt: US to Provide Security Assistance Despite Repression

September 15, 2023 Commentary

The US Is Not Protecting Its Children

Published In Newsweek

September 7, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch’s Continued Opposition to AB 645

Arms

Global

September 14, 2023
News Release
Cluster Munitions: Gains in Stockpile Destruction, Clearance

September 6, 2023 Dispatches

Russia Denies Its Widespread Use of Cluster Munitions

September 5, 2023 News Release

Cluster Munitions: New Use, Transfers Challenge Total Ban
Children's Rights

Global

September 18, 2023
Dispatches
New UN Guidance on Children’s Rights and the Environment

Bede Sheppard

Deputy Director, Children's Rights Division

September 15, 2023 Commentary

The US Is Not Protecting Its Children

Published In Newsweek

September 14, 2023 News Release

UK: Children and Families Seeking Asylum Face Dire Conditions
Crisis and Conflict

Africa

September 7, 2023
Letter
54th session of the UN Human Rights Council: Ethiopia – Renew the mandate of the ICHREE

September 4, 2023 Q & A

Q&A: Justice for Serious International Crimes Committed in Ethiopia

September 1, 2023 Letter

Sudan: Joint Letter Calling for Independent UN Mechanism To Advance Accountability For International Crimes
Disability Rights

Asia

September 11, 2023
Commentary
Picture-Postcard Broome is Home to Australia’s ‘Worst Prison’

Kriti Sharma

Disability Rights Division

Daniela Gavshon

Australia Director

Published in: The West Australian

September 5, 2023 Dispatches

Breaking Educational Barriers for Children with Albinism

August 28, 2023 Letter

Letter to President Lula on Brazil’s Candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council
Economic Justice and Rights

Global

September 20, 2023
Dispatches
Governments Should Step Up on Public Health Care Spending

Matt McConnell

Researcher, Economic Justice and Rights Division

September 18, 2023 Dispatches

New UN Guidance on Children’s Rights and the Environment

September 15, 2023 Dispatches

An Opportunity to Embrace a Human Rights Economy
Environment

Global

September 18, 2023
Dispatches
New UN Guidance on Children’s Rights and the Environment

Bede Sheppard

Deputy Director, Children's Rights Division

September 13, 2023 News Release

Kenya: Ban Use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides

September 11, 2023 Commentary

Biden Should Press Climate Activist Rights in Vietnam

Published In Asia Times
Free Speech

Middle East/North Africa

September 18, 2023
News Release
Algeria: Freedom of Association, Assembly Under Attack

September 14, 2023 News Release

Algeria: Halt Assault on Fundamental Freedoms

September 13, 2023 Dispatches

Hong Kong Unleashes Courts against Children’s Sheep Fiction
Health

Global

September 20, 2023
Dispatches
Governments Should Step Up on Public Health Care Spending

Matt McConnell

Researcher, Economic Justice and Rights Division

September 14, 2023 News Release

UK: Children and Families Seeking Asylum Face Dire Conditions

September 13, 2023 News Release

Kenya: Ban Use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides
LGBT Rights

Europe/Central Asia

September 12, 2023
Dispatches
Setting the Record Straight on Chechnya’s Anti-Gay Purge

Tanya Lokshina

Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division

September 8, 2023 Dispatches

Court Rules Bulgaria Must Recognize Same-Sex Relationships

September 5, 2023 News Release

Lebanon: Attack on Freedoms Targets LGBTI People
Refugees and Migrants

Europe/Central Asia

September 19, 2023
Dispatches
Europe’s Lack of New Ideas on Migration is the Real Crisis

Judith Sunderland

Associate Director, Europe and Central Asia Division

September 21, 2023 Letter

Letter from Human Rights Watch to President Xi Jinping

September 14, 2023 News Release

UK: Children and Families Seeking Asylum Face Dire Conditions
Rights of Older People

Americas

July 11, 2023
Interview
Interview: Victory for People with Disabilities and Older Persons in Mexico

Carlos Ríos Espinosa

Associate Director, Disability Rights Division

June 30, 2023 Dispatches

Extreme Heat Signals Need for Inclusive Climate Action

June 27, 2023 Commentary

Imagination Needed to End Loneliness in Older Age

Published In Daily Maverick
International Justice

Asia

September 8, 2023
News Release
Afghanistan: Taliban’s Gender Crimes Against Humanity

September 8, 2023 Dispatches

Rearrest Sparks Hope in Central African Republic

September 4, 2023 Q & A

Q&A: Justice for Serious International Crimes Committed in Ethiopia
Technology and Rights

Asia

September 6, 2023
Commentary
India’s Digital Governance ‘Model’ Fails on Rights

Jayshree Bajoria

Associate Director, Asia Division

Published in: Just Security

September 6, 2023 Dispatches

No Consensus on Proposed Global Cybercrime Treaty

August 4, 2023 Letter

Human Rights Watch and 5Rights Foundation: Submission to the US National Institute of Standards and Technology
Terrorism / Counterterrorism

Africa

July 24, 2023
Report
Mali: New Atrocities by Malian Army, Apparent Wagner Fighters

July 13, 2023 Report

Mali: Mounting Islamist Armed Group Killings, Rape

June 30, 2023 Dispatches

UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali to End
Torture

Egypt

September 20, 2023
Commentary
How Brute Violence Became Egypt’s Answer to Virtually Everything

Amr Magdi

Senior Researcher, Middle East and North Africa Division

Published in: Foreign Policy in Focus

September 1, 2023 News Release

Bahrain: Address Hunger Strike Grievances

September 1, 2023 News Release

Iran: Suspicious Death of Imprisoned Protester
United Nations

Europe/Central Asia

September 18, 2023
News Release
Central Asia/US: Put Rights At Heart of Talks

September 18, 2023 Dispatches

New UN Guidance on Children’s Rights and the Environment

September 14, 2023 News Release

UN: World Leaders Should Spotlight Global Crises
Women's Rights

Europe/Central Asia

September 21, 2023
Dispatches
Woman’s Brutal Assault Highlights Police Failures in Kyrgyzstan

Syinat Sultanalieva

Researcher, Europe and Central Asia Division

September 21, 2023 Letter

Letter to the Minister of Health of Ukraine: Access to Emergency Contraception

September 19, 2023 Dispatches

EU Advances on Treaty to End Violence and Harassment at Work