News | Human Rights Watch

February 4, 2026 News Release

Ukraine: Civilians Perennial Targets of Russian Attacks

Prioritize Accountability for War Crimes, Strengthen Rule of Law

A girl on a swing looks at an apartment building in the Industrialnyi district of Kharkiv, Ukraine, damaged by a Russian drone attack that killed 7 people (including children) and injured 23, on August 18, 2025.

February 4, 2026 News Release

North Korea: Unrelenting Repression, Hunger, Inequality

Pyongyang Further Restricts Trade, Movement, Access to Information

People in North Korea participate in a mass rally.

February 4, 2026 News Release

Thailand: Government Backsliding on Rights

New Administration Fails to End Repression, Undertake Serious Reforms

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a press conference

February 4, 2026 News Release

Indonesia: Perks for Military, Lawmakers Spark Dissent, Protests

President Prabowo Should End Security Forces’ Abusive Involvement in Economy, Social Issues

Activists wave the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger flag from the anime One Piece.

February 4, 2026 News Release

Americas: Trump’s Influence Prompts Abuses

Affects Migrant Rights, Security Policies, Human Rights Work

A person sits inside a cell while a guard with a riot shield stands outside

February 4, 2026 News Release

Brazil: Revamp Public Security Policies

Police Abuses Undermine Public Safety

Penha favela residents protest in front of the Guanabara Palace against a deadly police operation on alleged drug traffickers of the Comando Vermelho gang, in Rio de Janeiro, October 29, 2025.

February 4, 2026 News Release

Russia: Crackdown on Dissent Escalates

New Harmful Laws; Persecution of Critics Intensifies

Journalists Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, Antonina Favorskaya and Artem Kriger, accused of taking part in the activities of an "extremist" organization founded by late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, attend a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, April 15, 2025.

February 4, 2026 News Release

US: Trump Administration’s Pervasive Attacks on Rights

Democratic Norms and Anti-Discrimination Remedies Rejected; Rights Undermined Globally

February 4, 2026 News Release

China: Repression Deepens, Extends Abroad

Severe Suppression of Rights of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Unofficial Churches

Prisoner transport vehicles outside the court in Hong Kong

February 4, 2026 News Release

Nepal: Protests Over Corruption, Inequality, and Social Media Ban

Impunity and Failures to Uphold Rights Contributed to Lethal Violence that Toppled Government

Nepali Gen Z activists hold banners which read "Don't Forget the Blood of Martyrs"

February 4, 2026 News Release

UK Government Repeatedly Undermined Rights in 2025

Damning Verdict for Labour’s First Full Year in Power

People opposing the housing of asylum seekers (front) confront anti-racism group members (back) with police officers forming a line between them in London, UK, on September 13, 2025.

February 4, 2026 News Release

Japan: New Prime Minister Should Address Rising Xenophobia

Support Anti-Discrimination Law, National Rights Body

Demonstrators take part in a “protest rave” against racism ahead of the upper house election, in Tokyo, Japan, on July 13, 2025.

February 4, 2026 News Release

EU: Rights Failings Undermine Democracy, Rule of Law

Faltering Support for Rights Weakens European Union, at Home and Abroad

A protester holds up an EU flag with "help" written on it, during a demonstration in Budapest on May 18, 2025 against a bill empowering the government to sanction civil society organizations and media it deems threats to the country's sovereignty.

February 4, 2026 News Release

Southern Africa: Grave Rights Abuses, Impunity Persist

Regional Bodies Should Press Governments to Respect Rights, Promote Accountability

Angola's Rapid Intervention Force faces demonstrators during a protest

February 4, 2026 News Release

Yemen: Arbitrary Detention; Forced Disappearance

Warring Parties Crack Down on Rights Amid Humanitarian Crisis

A Houthi rebel next to a destroyed plane at the Sanaa International Airport on May 7, 2025, a day after Israel's military warplanes struck Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa.

Keyword

Country

Topic

Africa
-African Union
-Angola
-Benin
-Botswana
-Burkina Faso
-Burundi
-Cameroon
-Cape Verde
-Central African Republic
-Chad
-Comoros
-Congo (Brazzaville)
-Côte d'Ivoire
-Democratic Republic of Congo
-Djibouti
-Equatorial Guinea
-Eritrea
-Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
-Ethiopia
-Gabon
-Gambia
-Ghana
-Guinea
-Guinea-Bissau
-Kenya
-Lesotho
-Liberia
-Madagascar
-Malawi
-Mali
-Mauritius
-Mozambique
-Namibia
-Niger
-Nigeria
-Rwanda
-Senegal
-Seychelles
-Sierra Leone
-Somalia
-South Africa
-South Sudan
-Sudan
-Tanzania
-Togo
-Uganda
-Zambia
-Zimbabwe
Americas
-Antigua and Barbuda
-Argentina
-Bahamas
-Barbados
-Belize
-Bolivia
-Brazil
-Canada
-Chile
-Colombia
-Costa Rica
-Cuba
-Dominican Republic
-Ecuador
-El Salvador
-Falklands/Malvinas
-Grenada
-Guatemala
-Guyana
-Haiti
-Honduras
-Jamaica
-Mexico
-Nicaragua
-Panama
-Paraguay
-Peru
-Saint Kitts and Nevis
-Saint Lucia
-Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
-Suriname
-Trinidad and Tobago
-Uruguay
-Venezuela
Asia
-Afghanistan
-Australia
-Bangladesh
-Bhutan
-Brunei
-Cambodia
-China and Tibet
-Cook Islands
-Federated States of Micronesia
-Fiji
-India
-Indonesia
-Japan
-Kiribati
-Laos
-Malaysia
-Maldives
-Marshall Islands
-Mongolia
-Myanmar (Burma)
-Nauru
-Nepal
-New Zealand
-Niue
-North Korea
-Pakistan
-Palau
-Papua New Guinea
-Philippines
-Samoa
-Singapore
-Solomon Islands
-South Korea
-Sri Lanka
-Taiwan
-Thailand
-Timor-Leste
-Tonga
-Tuvalu
-Vanuatu
-Vietnam
Europe/Central Asia
-Albania
-Andorra
-Armenia
-Austria
-Azerbaijan
-Belarus
-Belgium
-Bosnia and Herzegovina
-Bulgaria
-Croatia
-Cyprus
-Czech Republic
-Denmark
-Estonia
-European Union
-Finland
-France
-Georgia
-Germany
-Greece
-Holy See
-Hungary
-Iceland
-Ireland
-Italy
-Kazakhstan
-Kyrgyzstan
-Latvia
-Liechtenstein
-Lithuania
-Macedonia
-Malta
-Moldova
-Monaco
-Montenegro
-Netherlands
-Norway
-Poland
-Portugal
-Romania
-Russia
-San Marino
-Serbia/Kosovo
-Slovak Republic
-Slovenia
-Spain
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Tajikistan
-Türkiye
-Turkmenistan
-Ukraine
-United Kingdom
-Uzbekistan
Global
Middle East/North Africa
-Algeria
-Bahrain
-Egypt
-Iran
-Iraq
-Israel/Palestine
-Jordan
-Kuwait
-Lebanon
-Libya
-Mauritania
-Morocco/Western Sahara
-Oman
-Qatar
-Saudi Arabia
-Syria
-Tunisia
-United Arab Emirates
-Yemen
United States
-Criminal Justice
-Immigrants’ Rights and Border Policy
-National Security
-US Foreign Policy
-Democracy
-Economic Justice
-Racial Justice

Arms
-Cluster Munitions
-Killer Robots
-Landmines
-Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
-Incendiary Weapons
Children's Rights
-Education
-Attacks on Education
-Children Separated from Families
-Children and Armed Conflict
-Child Labor
-Youth Justice
-Migrant and Refugee Children
-Intersex Children
Crisis and Conflict
Disability Rights
-Shackling
Economic Justice and Rights
-Corporate Accountability
-Oil, Mining, and Natural Resources
-Poverty and Inequality
-World Bank, IMF
Environment and Human Rights
-Climate Change
-Deforestation
-Fossil Fuels
Free Speech
-Press Freedom
-Religious Freedom
Health
-Sexual and Reproductive Health
-Detention Centers
-Disasters and Displaced Populations
-Environment and Health
-Health Care Access
-HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis
-Palliative Care
-Attacks on Health
LGBT Rights
Refugees and Migrants
-Asylum Seekers
-Internally Displaced People
-Exploitation, Forced Labor & Trafficking
-Migrants
Rights of Older People
International Justice
-Charles Taylor
-International Criminal Court
-Joseph Kony - Lord's Resistance Army
-Peace and Justice
-Bosco Ntaganda
-Universal Jurisdiction
Sport and Human Rights
Technology and Rights
-Digital Investigations Lab
Terrorism / Counterterrorism
-CIA Activities
-Detention without Trial
-Edward Snowden
-Guantanamo
-Guantanamo - Military Commissions
-Targeted Killings and Drones
Torture
United Nations
-Human Rights Council
Women's Rights
-Forced Marriage
-Gender Based Violence
-Domestic Workers
-Gender Equality
-Reproductive Rights
-Sexual Violence
-Labor Rights
-Sex Work
-Women and Armed Conflict
-Women’s Health

#MeToo
'Remain in Mexico'
2026 FIFA Men's World Cup
Azerbaijan Natural Resources and Human Rights
Beijing Winter Olympics 2022
Boko Haram
Brexit
Chechnya
China's Global Influence
Climate Talks 2017
COP27 - Climate Change Conference
COP28 - Climate Change Conference
COP29 - Climate Change Conference
COP30 - Climate Change Conference
Coronavirus
Crimes Against Humanity Treaty
Crisis in the Middle East
Daily Brief
Disappearances in Yemen
Drugs and Human Rights
Duterte
Education for Syrian Refugee Children
Egypt Crackdown on Civil Society
Encryption
Ethiopian Protests
Europe: Refugees & Migrants’ Rights
Ferguson
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Free Education for all Children
Gender-based Violence at Work
German Election
Global Supply Chains
Guinea's 2009 Stadium Massacre Trial
Hissène Habré
Hong Kong
Honor Killings
Iraq War 20 Years Later
ISIS
Kafala (Visa Sponsorship) System
Kashmir
Land Rights
Liu Xiaobo
Los Angeles Film Club
Mass Surveillance in China
Mediterranean Crisis
Mexico: Lessons from a Human Rights Catastrophe
Middle East Uprising
Nagorno-Karabakh
Philippines’ ‘War on Drugs’
Rabaa Massacre
Refugee Summits
Reparations in the United States
Right to Social Security
Rights of Persons with Albinism
Rohingya
Russia-Ukraine War
The Trial of Hissène Habré
Tigray Conflict
Transnational Repression
Trump Administration and Human Rights
Uganda Elections 2016
US: Trump Presidential Transition
Uyghurs
World Cup 2018
World Humanitarian Summit
World Report 2024 News Releases
World Report 2025 News Releases
World Report 2026 News Releases
Xenophobia
Yahya Jammeh

Protecting Rights, Saving Lives