https://voiceandwitness.com/2026-08-21https://voiceandwitness.com/share-home.svg https://voiceandwitness.com/news/hong-kong-convictions-underline/2026-08-21https://voiceandwitness.com/share-hong-kong-convictions-underline.svgHong Kong Convictions Underline Campaign to Erase Chinese HistoryAmnesty International condemns convictions of Tiananmen vigil organizers under Hong Kong's National Security Law (Source: Amnesty International) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/hamas-must-end-extrajudicial/2026-08-21https://voiceandwitness.com/share-hamas-must-end-extrajudicial.svgHamas Must End Extrajudicial Executions in GazaAmnesty International calls on Hamas to stop extrajudicial executions and ensure justice for victims in the occupied Gaza Strip (Source: Amnesty International) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/israel-opt-siege-palestinian/2026-08-21https://voiceandwitness.com/share-israel-opt-siege-palestinian.svgIsrael/OPT: Siege of Palestinian Homes in Qusra Marks Escalation in Settler ViolenceAmnesty International condemns the siege of Palestinian homes in Qusra by Israeli settlers, highlighting the relentless escalation of state-backed settler violence in the occupied West Bank. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/azerbaijan-jails-journalist-denies/2026-08-21https://voiceandwitness.com/share-azerbaijan-jails-journalist-denies.svgAzerbaijan Jails Journalist, Denies Medical CareAzerbaijani authorities are refusing medical care to a jailed journalist with a serious breathing disorder (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/americas-regional-conference-urged/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-americas-regional-conference-urged.svgAmericas Regional Conference Urged to Uphold Gender Equality CommitmentsThe Regional Conference on Population and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean must prioritize gender equality and uphold international commitments (Source: Amnesty International) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/young-activists-leading-charge/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-young-activists-leading-charge.svgYoung Activists Leading the Charge for Human RightsThree young activists, Pablo, Dina, and Christopher, are making a difference in their communities through Amnesty International's Digital Disruptors project, addressing issues such as LGBTIQ+ rights... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/ecuador-sanctions-against-yasun/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-ecuador-sanctions-against-yasun.svgEcuador: Sanctions Against Yasuní Defenders Highlight Deterioration of Civic SpaceThree years after a referendum to protect Yasuní National Park, Ecuadorian authorities have yet to implement the results, while defenders face sanctions and harassment. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/italy-offshore-detention-agreement/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-italy-offshore-detention-agreement.svgItaly's Offshore Detention Agreement with Albania Raises Human Rights ConcernsAmnesty International has criticized Italy's offshore detention agreement with Albania, citing human rights violations and unnecessary cruelty towards migrants and asylum seekers. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-sanctions-icc-president/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-sanctions-icc-president.svgUS Sanctions ICC President Tomoko AkaneThe US government has designated two additional International Criminal Court officials for sanctions, including the ICC president, Tomoko Akane, from Japan. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/israel-opens-tender-illegal/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-israel-opens-tender-illegal.svgIsrael Opens Tender for Illegal E1 Settlement in West BankThe Israeli government has opened a new tender for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement project, a move that has been condemned by human rights groups and other countries. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/mali-russia-africa-corps/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-mali-russia-africa-corps.svgMali: Russia's 'Africa Corps' Accused of Massacring VillagersHuman Rights Watch reports that Russian government-controlled Africa Corps forces have summarily killed nine civilians, including four children, and beaten dozens of others in central Mali. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/west-bank-israel-backed/2026-08-20https://voiceandwitness.com/share-west-bank-israel-backed.svgWest Bank: Israel-Backed Settler Violence Drives DisplacementEscalating settler attacks in the West Bank have led to the displacement of 107 communities, with many more at risk of erasure, according to Human Rights Watch. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-sanctions-international-criminal/2026-08-19https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-sanctions-international-criminal.svgUS Sanctions 2 More International Criminal Court OfficialsThe US government has designated two additional International Criminal Court officials for sanctions, drawing criticism from Human Rights Watch. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/argentina-surveillance-state-expands/2026-08-19https://voiceandwitness.com/share-argentina-surveillance-state-expands.svgArgentina's Surveillance State Expands Under Javier Milei's AdministrationAmnesty International reports that Argentina's government has expanded its surveillance capabilities, creating a chilling effect on rights to privacy and freedom of expression. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/russia-sentences-anti-war/2026-08-19https://voiceandwitness.com/share-russia-sentences-anti-war.svgRussia Sentences Anti-war Politician to 11 Years in Prison Amid Mounting Pressure on Yabloko PartyAmnesty International condemns the sentencing of Lev Shlosberg, deputy chair of the Yabloko party, to 11 years and one month in prison for participating in an anti-war debate and sharing a social... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/iraq-government-must-deliver/2026-08-19https://voiceandwitness.com/share-iraq-government-must-deliver.svgIraq's Government Must Deliver on Human Rights Commitments, Says Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International has called on Iraq's government to end impunity for human rights violations, uphold women's and girls' rights, and guarantee fundamental freedoms. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/bangladesh-war-crimes-tribunal/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-bangladesh-war-crimes-tribunal.svgBangladesh War Crimes Tribunal Issues Fresh Warrants for 3 JournalistsThe International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has issued fresh warrants for three journalists, Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Babu, and Farzana Rupa, over their questions at a press conference. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/drc-internet-mobile-shutdown/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-drc-internet-mobile-shutdown.svgDRC Internet and Mobile Shutdown in East Persists Amid ConflictAuthorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have maintained a month-long shutdown of mobile and internet services in Fizi Territory, South Kivu, restricting communication and press operations... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/brazilian-journalism-coalition-calls/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-brazilian-journalism-coalition-calls.svgBrazilian Journalism Coalition Calls for Source Confidentiality ProtectionThe Committee to Protect Journalists and nine other organizations condemn the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court's decision to violate a journalist's constitutional right to source confidentiality. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-ice-deploy-electric/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-ice-deploy-electric.svgUS ICE to Deploy Electric Shock Gloves Amid Concerns Over Safety and AbuseThe 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/ethiopia-assault-independent-media/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-ethiopia-assault-independent-media.svgEthiopia's Assault on Independent Media EscalatesEthiopian authorities are intensifying their crackdown on independent media, detaining and harassing journalists and media outlets. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/thai-authorities-face-criticism/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-thai-authorities-face-criticism.svgThai Authorities Face Criticism Over Deportation of Ethnic Karen VillagersHuman 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/iraq-man-dies-police/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-iraq-man-dies-police.svgIraq: Man Dies in Police Drug Unit CustodyA 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. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/technology-expands-ice-capacity/2026-08-18https://voiceandwitness.com/share-technology-expands-ice-capacity.svgTechnology Expands ICE's Capacity for Abuse, Human Rights Advocates WarnUS 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. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/indigenous-farmer-indonesia-acquitted/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-indigenous-farmer-indonesia-acquitted.svgIndigenous Farmer in Indonesia Acquitted in Coal Mining CaseA 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. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/australia-should-press-vietnam/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-australia-should-press-vietnam.svgAustralia Should Press Vietnam on Rights, HRW SaysHuman 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. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-military-faces-criticism/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-military-faces-criticism.svgUS Military Faces Criticism Over Alleged Unlawful Killings and Lack of Compliance with...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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/liberia-ends-primary-school/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-liberia-ends-primary-school.svgLiberia Ends Primary School Registration FeesLiberia'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. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/rkiye-seeks-transfer-us-a47d9c/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-rkiye-seeks-transfer-us-a47d9c.svgTürkiye Seeks to Transfer US Cluster Munitions to UkraineHuman 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/vietnam-urged-reject-repressive-924b14/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-vietnam-urged-reject-repressive-924b14.svgVietnam Urged to Reject Repressive Penal Code RevisionsHuman 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-activates-long-unused-1f0a7a/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-activates-long-unused-1f0a7a.svgUS Activates Long Unused Deportation Court, Raising Human Rights ConcernsThe 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/rights-groups-sue-trump-a9592b/2026-08-17https://voiceandwitness.com/share-rights-groups-sue-trump-a9592b.svgRights Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Targeting ICCFour 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/russia-cluster-munition-attack-c20224/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-russia-cluster-munition-attack-c20224.svgRussia's Cluster Munition Attack on Kyiv Raises War Crime ConcernsHuman 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/pakistan-urged-probe-deaths-baa1f4/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-pakistan-urged-probe-deaths-baa1f4.svgPakistan Urged to Probe Deaths of Woman and Girl in Police CustodyHuman 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/us-federal-agencies-abandon-fd055d/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-us-federal-agencies-abandon-fd055d.svgUS Federal Agencies Abandon Civil Rights Duties, Leaving Vulnerable Communities Without RemediesHuman Rights Watch reports that the Trump administration has gutted federal civil rights enforcement in the US, leaving people without adequate remedies. (Source: Human Rights Watch) https://voiceandwitness.com/news/taliban-forcibly-disappears-six-1e2176/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-taliban-forcibly-disappears-six-1e2176.svgTaliban Forcibly Disappears Six Human Rights Workers in AfghanistanTaliban 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... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/un-urged-keep-international-877f26/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-un-urged-keep-international-877f26.svgUN Urged to Keep International Force in Lebanon to Protect CiviliansHuman Rights Watch has called on the United Nations Security Council to extend the mandate of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) beyond its planned withdrawal at the end of 2026, citing... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/russia-supreme-court-bars-343816/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-russia-supreme-court-bars-343816.svgRussia's Supreme Court Bars Pro-Peace Party from ElectionsRussia's Supreme Court has canceled the registration of the opposition party Yabloko for the upcoming State Duma elections, citing intellectual property rights violations and foreign funding. https://voiceandwitness.com/news/south-africa-urged-champion-74a9e6/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-south-africa-urged-champion-74a9e6.svgSouth Africa Urged to Champion Gender Apartheid as Crime Against HumanitySouth Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the Taliban's systematic oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan as gender apartheid. Human Rights Watch and Afghan activists call for... https://voiceandwitness.com/news/chinese-interrogations-uyghur-australians-23d86d/2026-08-16https://voiceandwitness.com/share-chinese-interrogations-uyghur-australians-23d86d.svgChinese Interrogations of Uyghur Australians Visiting Xinjiang Raise Transnational Repression...Human Rights Watch reports that Chinese authorities are questioning Uyghur Australians during trips to Xinjiang and demanding information on community members back in Australia, prompting calls for... https://voiceandwitness.com/rights/2026-08-21 https://voiceandwitness.com/themes/2026-08-21 https://voiceandwitness.com/about/ https://voiceandwitness.com/sources-and-methods/ https://voiceandwitness.com/corrections/