Best of Dispatches: Top News Posts This Week

Russia continues its pattern of intimidating civil society groups; South Sudan had an anniversary this week - but there wasn't too much celebrating; and protests have begun again in Afghanistan as there is still no justice for the murder of Farkhunda Malikzada - these were among the most popular posts to Dispatches, our daily forum for breaking human rights news and commentary.

Dispatches: The Witch Hunt Against 'Undesirables'

Tanya Lokshina
Today, the Russian parliament’s upper chamber took a step toward banning 12 nongovernmental organizations – including some leading American philanthropic institutions active in Russia for many years – under the brand new law on “undesirable organizations.”...

Dispatches: Unhappy Birthday, South Sudan

Iain Levine
I read my first Human Rights Watch report in 1994...More than 20 years later, on the 4th anniversary of its independence from the north, South Sudan is experiencing another conflict. Arguably even more brutal than the 1990s war of independence...

Dispatches: 11th Hour for #JusticeforFarkhunda

Heather Barr
Protesters have once again filled the streets of Kabul, outraged by an appeals court decision to dismiss death sentences against four men convicted of brutally murdering Farkhunda Malikzada...

Dispatches: Broken Promise to Colombia's Women

Amanda Klasing
In 2011 an unknown attacker raped “Monica,” a human rights defender supporting victims displaced by the country’s protracted armed conflict. She immediately reported the rape to authorities, but they didn’t help her get access to health care...

Dispatches: Smuggling? Trafficking? Does it Matter? Yes!

Bill Frelick
Despite sensational headlines, smuggling and trafficking of persons are not synonymous...