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September 19, 2024 Audio

Afghanistan’s Women Judges, Three Years After the Taliban Takeover

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, one of their early actions was to ban women from the legal profession. In this conversation, HRW’s Macarena Sáez is joined by Judge Marzia Babakarkhail, Justice Mona Lynch, Judge Basira Qazizada, and Judge Bahida Rahimi to discuss this crisis.
Women gather to demand their rights under Taliban rule during a protest in Kabul, Afghanistan, September 3, 2021.
audio content
September 19, 2024

Foreign Agent Laws in the Authoritarian Playbook

From Russia to Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia to Hungary, “foreign agent” style laws have become a preferred instrument for authoritarians to extinguish critical voices, shield their rule from scrutiny and strengthen their hold on power.
On the night before the infamous “foreign agents” law came into force back in 2012, unknown individuals sprayed graffiti reading, “Foreign Agent! ♥ USA” on the buildings hosting the offices of three prominent NGOs in Moscow, including Memorial. 
September 18, 2024

“If It’s Not Racism, What Is It?”

Discrimination and Other Abuses Against Papuans in Indonesia

The 80-page report, “‘If It’s Not Racism, What Is It?’: Discrimination and Other Abuses Against Papuans in Indonesia,” finds that the protests, built around the Papuan Lives Matter social media campaign, were centered on human rights violations against Papuans, including denial of the rights to health and education, and peaceful calls for sovereignty for West Papua, where most Indigenous Papuans live. The report profiles cases of Papuan activists convicted for their role in the protests and the baseless charges brought against them.

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English report cover
September 18, 2024

Over 75 Organizations Urge Biden Administration to Implement Protection Measures for CBP One Users, Changes to CBP One, and Restore Asylum

We, the undersigned human rights, humanitarian, civil society, and faith-based organizations, are writing to you in response to the recent announcement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that—as of August 23—non-Mexican individuals will be able to request appointments through the CBP One mobile application from the states of Tabasco and Chiapas to present at U.S. ports of entry.
A protest against the "Remain in Mexico" policy in front of the US Supreme Court
September 18, 2024

South Africa Strengthens the Right to Education

Last Friday, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law making, among other provisions, one year of pre-primary education compulsory, further strengthening the right to education for South Africa’s children.
A teacher gives lessons to children at an early learning center in De Aar Town, South Africa, August 11, 2023.