Kyrgyzstan: “False Information” Law Threatens Free Speech

(Bishkek) – Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov should veto the new law on “false information” when it reaches him for signature, Human Rights Watch said today.

5 Reasons Why Intelligent People Are Bound by Insecurities

Some of the brightest people happen to have insecurities and suffer from psychological complexes.

Still No Justice for Zimbabwe’s 2018 Post-Election Violence

After Zimbabwe’s August 2018 presidential election, I witnessed violent abuses on the streets of Harare, the capital, when uniformed soldiers indiscriminately fired live ammunition at people protesting delayed election results. In a Twitter post, President Emmerson Mnangagwa called for “an independent investigation into what occurred in Harare” and said

Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh at Risk During Monsoon

Heavy rains over the past week have displaced more than 21,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Cameroon: New Abuses by Both Sides

(Nairobi) – New abuses in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions by both government security forces and armed separatists highlight the urgent need to protect communities at risk and to hold those responsible for abuses to account, Human Rights Watch said today. Cameroonian security forces killed two civilians, raped a 53-year-old woman, destroyed

Why Hugging Is Powerful: Especially When We’re So Isolated

When’s the last time you had a good hug? Can you even recall a time when one lasted longer than 10 or 15 seconds? Hugging releases oxytocin, a bonding hormone, as well as serotonin and endorphins.

Myanmar: Coup Leads to Crimes Against Humanity

(Bangkok) – Myanmar’s military junta has committed numerous abuses against the population that amount to crimes against humanity in the six months since the February 1, 2021 coup, Human Rights Watch said today. Since the military takeover, millions of people have taken to the streets across the country and peacefully

Egypt: Renewed Judicial Harassment of Rights Defenders

(Beirut) – Egyptian authorities have summoned at least five prominent human rights defenders during July 2021 for questioning as part of a decade-old criminal investigation, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities have used Case 173 of 2011 to arbitrarily prosecute leading rights defenders and organizations over allegations of receiving foreign

5 Truths about People Who Give Others Advice They Didn’t Ask for

We all know those kinds of people who just can’t help themselves.

Arrest of Afghan Journalists Highlights Larger Concerns

The arrests this week of four journalists in Kandahar underscore rising concerns the Afghan government is trying to shield itself from media criticism.

The Latest on the Crisis in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

What do we know about the situation in Tigray now? June saw heavy fighting between Tigrayan and Ethiopian government forces, including Ethiopia’s allied forces from its Amhara region and neighboring Eritrea. On June 28, Tigrayan forces recaptured the regional capital, Mekelle, taking thousands of Ethiopian soldiers prisoner. That same

Unchecked Spyware Industry Enables Abuses

(New York) – Recent reports that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware has been used for surveillance of dozens of journalists, human rights activists, and others demonstrate the urgent need for governments to suspend the trade in surveillance technology until rights-protecting regulatory frameworks are in place, Human Rights Watch said today. Governments

Le Ciel: What is an Adventure?

Something exciting such as a trip or an experience? And what could be a bigger adventure than leaving your home for the first time and surrendering yourself to a journey where you have no idea where it will take you? This is what the two Kalahari Bushmen from The Council

Nepal: New Government Should Address Rights

(New York, July 29, 2021) – Nepal’s newly installed prime minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, should ensure that his administration focuses on upholding the rights of citizens and strengthening the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said this week in a letter outlining several key human rights issues. The Covid-19 pandemic

Greece: Stop Denying Refugee Children an Education

(Athens) – The Greek government should urgently reform discriminatory policies so that children seeking asylum can go to school when the new year begins on September 13, 2021, Human Rights Watch said today. Only 1 in 7 children living in camps was able to attend school in the last school year,