Human Rights

Iraq: ISIS Executed Civilians in Village Uprising

The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, summarily executed at least 13 people including two boys following a village uprising in October 2016, Human Rights Watch said on Dec 27. The executions, which are war crimes, took place in the neighboring...

South Sudan: Arms embargo, sanctions fail at UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council’s failure to approve a 23 December, 2016, resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and placed a travel ban and asset freeze on three senior South Sudanese leaders was deeply disappointing,...

European Union Funding Helps World Food Programme Save Lives In South Sudan

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) says that during 2016, funding from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) has been critical to WFP’s support for hundreds of thousands of people affected by...

Libya: Provide Medical Care, Safety for Civilians Fleeing Sirte

Libyan authorities should ensure the safety of and urgently provide medical care for more than 120 women and children being held in a Misrata prison after recently fleeing fighting in Sirte, Human Rights Watch said on December 24. The authorities...

Egypt: Mass Attack on Prisoners

Egyptian Interior Ministry security forces stormed into prison cells attacking and injuring hundreds of political prisoners at Borg al-Arab Prison in Alexandria during the week of November 13, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today. The attacks came...

BANGLADESH: Mahmudur Rahman should be allowed to travel for medical treatment

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has so far refused to grant journalist Mahmudur Rahman, recently released from 1,322 days in arbitrary detention, the right to travel abroad for urgent surgery, despite the serious risk of irreversible neurological damage he...

South Sudan: Arms Embargo, Sanctions Fail At UN Security Council

The United Nations Security Council’s failure to approve a December 23, 2016, resolution that would have imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan and placed a travel ban and asset freeze on three senior South Sudanese leaders was deeply disappointing,...

Bangladesh: Gender Recognition Process Spurs Abuse

Bangladesh’s steps in recent years to recognize hijras as a third legal gender are leading to further abuses due to widespread prejudice and lack of clear rights-based procedures, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Dec 23. In recent years...

DR Congo: ‘Heavy-handed and irresponsible response’ to protests could lead to further conflict, warns UN rights chief

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Security forces standby in Kinshasa during demonstrations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)...

Burma: Protect Civilians in Northern Fighting

The Burmese military and ethnic armed groups in northern Burma should commit to protecting civilians and expediting aid in the face of escalating rights abuses and civilian displacement, Human Rights Watch said on Dec 22.