The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues to worsen, despite the country disappearing from the media spotlight. With two-thirds of the population now considered food insecure, including a staggering 875,000 children facing acute malnutrition, the crisis has forced the United Nations to balance the responsibility of keeping aid flowing to those […]
Day: May 15, 2023
“Is the Philippines’ Justice System Under Siege by Politics? Latest de Lima Acquittal Raises Concerns”
Opinion: Latest De Lima Acquittal Exposes the Politicization of Philippines’ Justice System The recent acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima from the second of three drug cases against her highlights the political nature of charges brought against her and the sad state of the Philippine justice system. Her likely […]
Israel’s Denial of Palestinian Refugees’ Return Continues 75 Years Later
Israel‘s continued repression of Palestinian refugees and denied return on the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (May 15) highlights the ongoing human rights violations in the conflict. As highlighted by Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine Director for the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch, “about […]
“Will the Council of Europe prioritize the right to a healthy environment as a litmus test for progress?”
The Council of Europe is on the brink of a historic milestone in the protection of human rights: the recognition and protection of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. While several human rights systems across the globe recognise this right, the European human rights convention still lags […]
Lebanon’s Judiciary Continues to Undermine Freedom of Expression and Judicial Independence
Beirut Court’s decision to dismiss an appeal challenging the Beirut Bar Association’s (BBA) amendments to the lawyers’ code of ethics is a setback for the rule of law and human rights of lawyers in Lebanon. Thirteen lawyers had submitted two appeals asking the Court of Appeals to cancel the amendments […]
The Global Ban on Chemical Weapons: Preserving Its Integrity
Preserving the integrity of the global ban on chemical weapons is crucial to maintaining a peaceful and humanitarian world. In anticipation of the upcoming Review Conference of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged governments to reaffirm their commitment to the treaty and demand accountability for […]
Global Leaders Agree to Plastics Treaty, Calling for Phasing Out Fossil Fuels to Combat Pollution
Plastic pollution has become so rampant globally that governments, businesses, and civil society organizations are in negotiations to create an international legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. The second round of talks will take place in Paris beginning on May 29, 2023. This treaty is aimed at ensuring that both […]
Human Rights Watch’s Digital Innovations Recognized with Double Webby Win
Human Rights Watch, the leading global non-profit organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights, has won two 2023 Webby Awards recognizing their excellence in digital innovation and social media campaigns. The organization won the first Webby Award for a series of social media videos that highlight human rights abuses […]
Opinion: Strengthening EU’s New Business Sustainability Law to Uphold Human Rights
Amnesty International has expressed concern over the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, a piece of legislation intended to govern the human rights and environmental obligations of businesses in the European Union (EU). In a report titled “Closing the loopholes: Recommendations for an EU corporate sustainability law which works for rights […]