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March 22, 2022 News

UN rights body should do more to address abuses in Russia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China

HRW Statement - Item 4 General Debate - HRC49

Russia's continued assault on human rights both in Ukraine and nationally highlights the importance of ensuring Council scrutiny of country situations not formally on its agenda. We welcome the creation of a Commission of Inquiry on the Ukraine…

Delegates sit at the opening of the 41th session of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 24, 2019.

December 2, 2021 News

Civil Society Groups Demand Urgent UN Action Against Impunity for Yemen Crimes

For nearly seven years the people of Yemen have been victims of innumerable war crimes and human rights abuses. Until last month the fact that the UN Human Rights Council’s Group of Eminent Experts (GEE) was documenting crimes by all parties to the…

People stand in front of a damaged building

September 15, 2020 News

UN rights body should monitor abuses, ensure accountability in Philippines, Saudi Arabia, China

Item 2 General Debate on High Commissioner's Update - HRC45

Thank you Madam President, High Commissioner, Today’s joint statement by Denmark on behalf of 29 countries highlights that Saudi Arabia should heed your call, High Commissioner, for the release of women’s rights defenders. We urge the council to…

July 9, 2020 News

Human Rights Council should urgently address impunity for summary executions

Item 3 interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on summary executions - 9 July 2020

Thank you, Madam President. Human Rights Watch welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur and the recommendation to adopt a strong political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the harm arising from the use of explosive…

March 11, 2020 News

Human Rights Council Should Take Action on Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and India

Item 4 General Debate – Oral Intervention

Under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government, Egyptians continue to face some of the worst human rights abuses in decades. The government’s zero-tolerance policy to peaceful dissent means that civil society organizations are under continuous attack,…

October 18, 2019 News

UN Human Rights Council should bring increased attention to grave rights violations by members China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt

Human Rights Watch Oral Intervention under Item 4: General Debate

At the recent June session of the Human Rights Council, 25 states sent a joint letter to the President of the Human Rights Council and to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressing deep concern at widespread rights violations against ethnic…

March 14, 2019 News

Saudi Arabia should release defenders, undertake meaningful rights reform

Adoption of Saudi Arabia's UPR report

A large number of human rights concerns were raised during the UPR of Saudi Arabia, such as the detention of Saudi human rights activists – including women driving activists – jailed solely for peacefully advocating reform, as well as systemic…

March 8, 2019 News

Joint statement on Saudi Arabia significant step forward; High Commissioner highlights need for action on Xinjiang, the Philippines; OHCHR’s reporting on Nicaragua, Kashmir should trigger Council action

Item 2 Interactive Dialogue with High Commissioner for Human Rights

Thank you, Mr. President, and congratulations, High Commissioner, on your first annual report. The broad range of human rights concerns you have identified is a sobering reminder of the challenges faced in all regions of the world and the heavy…

June 7, 2017 News

States should address non-cooperation with Human Rights Council & ensure competitive elections

Item 2 General Debate on High Commissioner’s report

We appreciate the High Commissioner’s call for an international investigation on the Kasais unless DRC agrees to a joint investigation by tomorrow. The High Commissioner has rightly brought attention to cases of non-cooperation with UN mechanisms. We…

The seat of Burundi delegation is pictured before a special session of the Human Rights Council on the situation in Burundi in Geneva, Switzerland December 17, 2015.

June 29, 2016 News

Suspend Saudi Arabia from the UN Human Rights Council

We call upon the United Nations General Assembly to immediately suspend the membership rights of Saudi Arabia in the UN Human Rights Council. General Assembly Resolution 60/251, which created the Human Rights Council, provides that…

Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman greets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters in New York on June 22, 2016.

June 22, 2016 News

UN Human Rights Council: Item 4 General Debate

Human Rights situations that require the Council's attention

Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned about several human rights situations that have either been inadequately addressed by this Council, or on which the Council has remained largely silent. Bangladesh has taken an ever-increasing turn to…

April 26, 2016 News

UN Committee against Torture: Review of Saudi Arabia

57th Session of the Committee against Torture

Introduction This memorandum, submitted to the United Nations Committee Against Torture ahead of its upcoming review of Saudi Arabia, highlights areas of concern Human Rights Watch hopes will inform the Committee’s consideration of…

Members of the Saudi advisory Shura Counci

June 15, 2015 News

29th Human Rights Council: General debate following High Commissioner’s update

Statement delivered under Item 2

We appreciated the High Commissioner’s recent briefing to the Council and look forward to today’s enhanced interactive dialogue on the human rights of migrants. We are particularly concerned at recent reports that Australia has actually paid migrant…

March 20, 2014 News

UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the UPR Outcome of Malaysia

Statement Delivered Under Item 6

The recommendations addressed to Malaysia reflect the broad concerns about its unwillingness to sign and ratify core UN human rights conventions and bring its domestic legislation into conformity with international law, in particular concerning the rights…

March 19, 2014 News

UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the UPR Outcome of Saudi Arabia

Delivered Under Item 6 - HRC 25

The Human Rights Council’s review of Saudi Arabia comes at a time of serious concern about the rights situation in the country. Authorities have intensified efforts to repress and silence peaceful dissidents and human rights activists, continue to…

September 30, 2013 News

Saudi Arabia: UPR Submission September 2013

Summary Saudi Arabia continues to commit widespread violations of basic human rights. The most pervasive violations affect persons in the criminal justice system, women and girls, migrant workers, and religious minorities. Persecution of political and…

February 27, 2012 News

Statement on sports and human rights at the UN Human Rights Council

Oral statement at the panel on sporting events

We welcome the convening of this panel discussion on how major sporting events can contribute to human rights. Human Rights Watch has long taken the position that there cannot be successful sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, in an environment…

March 7, 2011 News

Malaysia: Repeal Laws Permitting Arbitrary Detention

Oral statement at the 16th Human Rights Council session - February 7th, 2011

Human Rights Watch commends the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) for its incisive critique of conditions in Malaysia. We urge Malaysia to promptly implement the recommendations of the WGAD. Malaysia cannot present itself as a responsible…

February 4, 2009 News

List of recommendations for the Universal Periodic Review of Saudi Arabia at the UN Human Rights Council

Human Rights Watch calls on UN member states to raise the following issues with the Saudi delegation: I. Transparency Toward Rights Bodies Issue a standing invitation to UN special rapporteurs. The rapporteurs on Torture, on Trafficking, on…

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