Themes
US Sanctions 2 More International Criminal Court Officials
The US government has designated two additional International Criminal Court officials for sanctions, drawing criticism from Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch
Staff reporter at Voice and Witness, covering Human Rights.
Themes
US ICE to Deploy Electric Shock Gloves Amid Concerns Over Safety and Abuse
The US Department of Homeland Security plans to purchase electric shock gloves for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, sparking concerns over the potential health risks and abuse of the technology.
Groups at risk
Ethiopia's Assault on Independent Media Escalates
Ethiopian authorities are intensifying their crackdown on independent media, detaining and harassing journalists and media outlets.
Themes
Thai Authorities Face Criticism Over Deportation of Ethnic Karen Villagers
Human Rights Watch has called on Thai authorities to halt the deportation of 26 ethnic Karen villagers from Phetchaburi province to Myanmar, citing concerns over their safety and potential human rights violations.
Rights
Iraq: Man Dies in Police Drug Unit Custody
A 22-year-old man detained for drug use died in police custody in Najaf, Iraq, after being removed from a hospital while receiving treatment for severe abdominal pain.
Themes
Technology Expands ICE's Capacity for Abuse, Human Rights Advocates Warn
US Congress members express concern over ICE's use of surveillance technology and access to personal data, raising fears of increased abuse and human rights violations.
Groups at risk
Indigenous Farmer in Indonesia Acquitted in Coal Mining Case
A Supreme Court in Indonesia has upheld the acquittal of an Indigenous Dayak farmer who was charged with stabbing other protesters in a coal mining protest.
Themes
Australia Should Press Vietnam on Rights, HRW Says
Human Rights Watch calls on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise concerns about Vietnam's poor human rights record during a meeting with the country's leader.
Themes
US Military Faces Criticism Over Alleged Unlawful Killings and Lack of Compliance with International Law
The US Department of Defense has submitted a report to Congress highlighting its record of compliance with the law of war, but human rights groups argue that the report masks the reality of unlawful and abusive operations.
Rights
Liberia Ends Primary School Registration Fees
Liberia's government has announced the elimination of school registration fees for kindergarten through grade 6, aiming to make primary education more accessible and equitable for all.
Themes
Türkiye Seeks to Transfer US Cluster Munitions to Ukraine
Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over Türkiye's proposal to transfer tens of thousands of cluster munition rockets, missiles, and artillery projectiles to Ukraine, citing the humanitarian risks and indiscriminate nature of these weapons.
Themes
Vietnam Urged to Reject Repressive Penal Code Revisions
Human Rights Watch calls on Vietnamese authorities to reject proposed revisions to the penal code that violate basic rights and instead amend the law to comply with international human rights standards.
Themes
US Activates Long Unused Deportation Court, Raising Human Rights Concerns
The US government has filed its first application with the Alien Terrorist Removal Court (ATRC), a specialized federal court created in 1996 to hear deportation proceedings against noncitizens suspected of terrorism.
Themes
Rights Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Targeting ICC
Four human rights groups have filed a lawsuit in US federal court challenging the Trump administration's sanctions against ICC prosecutors and judges, a UN human rights expert, and three Palestinian human rights groups.
Themes
Taliban Forcibly Disappears Six Human Rights Workers in Afghanistan
Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have forcibly disappeared six staff members of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF) since July 18, 2026. The detained individuals have not been charged, and their whereabouts remain unknown. This incident follows a broader pattern of repression against women's rights defenders and activists under Taliban rule.
Themes
Russia's Cluster Munition Attack on Kyiv Raises War Crime Concerns
Human Rights Watch has accused Russia of using cluster munitions in an attack on Kyiv, potentially committing a war crime. The attack killed three people and endangered civilians in the surrounding area.
Themes
Pakistan Urged to Probe Deaths of Woman and Girl in Police Custody
Human Rights Watch calls for an independent investigation into the deaths of a woman and a 17-year-old girl in police custody in Lahore, highlighting concerns over torture and accountability failures in Pakistan.
Themes
US Federal Agencies Abandon Civil Rights Duties, Leaving Vulnerable Communities Without Remedies
Human Rights Watch reports that the Trump administration has gutted federal civil rights enforcement in the US, leaving people without adequate remedies.