World Report 2022 and Justice for Syria: Daily Brief

Today, Human Rights Watch published our World Report 2022, describing the human rights situation in nearly all of the approximately 100 countries where Human Rights Watch works. In his introductory essay, executive director Kenneth Roth challenges the common view that autocracy is ascendent and democracy is on the decline. But democrats need to rise to the occasion and continue to stand up for human rights across the world.

The World Report 2022 sheds a light on human rights defenders who have resisted autocrats, even when they were met with violence and suppression. In Russia, authorities unleashed a full-fledged witch hunt on civic groups, independent media and journalists, political opposition and other critics in the run-up to the parliamentary election in September 2021.

The human rights and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia deteriorated further in 2021, with civilians impacted by a devastating conflict in Tigray, security force abuses, attacks by armed groups, and deadly ethnic violence in other regions. The government’s actions in Tigray contributed to growing international pressure to address accountability for rights abuses.

If democracies are to prevail in the global contest with autocracy, their leaders must do more than spotlight the autocrats’ inevitable shortcomings. They need to make a stronger, positive case for democratic rule. That means doing a better job of meeting national and global challenges—of making sure that democracy delivers on its promised dividends. In the European Union, where the commitment to human rights often falter when the going gets tough, leaders need to do more live up to expectations.

In other news, the conviction of a former Syrian intelligence officer for crimes against humanity by a German court is a ground-breaking step toward justice for serious crimes in Syria. Anwar R., the most senior former Syrian government official to be convicted for serious crimes in Syria, was sentenced to life in prison. The court in Koblenz found him guilty of crimes against humanity in the form of killing, torture, aggravated deprivation of liberty, rape and sexual assault. The judgment is a meaningful moment for civilians who survived torture and sexual abuse in Syria’s prisons. 

Follow all the developments around the historic trial as they unroll with Human Rights Watch's Whitney Nosakhare, who is on live on location in Koblenz.