Human rights watch

Sectarian violence, divides on display in Lebanon as Beirut moves on General Amnesty Law

The drafted law, which aims to tackle Lebanon’s overwhelmed judicial systems and severely overcrowded prisons, would see sentences reduced and potentially thousands of prisoners released.

Members of the Lebanese police gather outside Baabda prison, Lebanon, November 21, 2020.
An Iranian missile with cluster munitions flies towards Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in central Israel, March 5, 2026.

Iran's use of cluster munitions against Israel may be a war crime - Human Rights Watch

Önder Sığırcıkoğlu, in the custody of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization.

Turkey’s rearrest of fugitive revives mystery of Syrian defector’s disappearance

Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a  protest to mark Al-Quds Day, in London, Britain, March 15, 2026

The Jewish passion for freedom and human rights was hijacked by the West - opinion


Human Rights Watch urges Ukraine to investigate landmine use accusations

Ukraine could be in violation of international humanitarian law if they are found to have been using rocket-fired antipersonnel landmines against Russia.

View of a mine-warning sign as a Ukrainian service member demonstrates clearing a minefield using a remote control for the Armtrac 400 demining machine, capable of clearing 2,400 square metres per hour, amid Russia's invasion, in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine October 27, 2022.

Harvard offers fellowship to Israel critic Ken Roth after controversy

Harvard initially vetoed the decision to offer Roth the fellowship, allegedly because of Roth’s 'anti-Israel bias.'

 Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, attends an interview with Reuters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 12, 2021.

Ex-HRW head Ken Roth denied Harvard fellowship due to 'anti-Israel bias' - report

During Roth's tenure as the head of HRW, the watchdog NGO was often criticized for its statements and publications against Israel, including accusing the Jewish state of apartheid.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, gestures during an interview with Reuters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 12, 2021. Picture taken January 12, 2021.

Apartheid slander is latest verbal weapon against Israel - opinion

Two reports, one by Amnesty International and the other by Human Rights Watch add to the slander accusing Israel of apartheid.

 COPIES OF Amnesty International’s report named ‘Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians’ are put on display at a news conference in Jerusalem last year.

Russian forces killed hundreds of civilians early in Ukraine war, UN report says

"The acts in question were committed by Russian armed forces in control of these areas and led to the deaths of 441 civilians (341 men, 72 women, 20 boys and 8 girls)," the report said.

 A firefighter works to extinguish fire at market stalls hit by shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, December 6, 2022.

Iran-backed hackers targeting activists, journalists, politicians - HRW

The hackers gained access to emails, cloud storage drives, calendars and contacts and exported data from victims' accounts.

Iranian flag and cyber code [Illustrative]

Russia approves ban on ‘foreign agents’

Several rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, called for the initiative to be dropped as it was being approved by lawmakers.

 (R-L) Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, who was nominated as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister, walk before a session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in Moscow Russia May 8, 2018.

Iran situation 'critical' with more than 300 killed -UN rights chief

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that more than 300 people had been killed so far, including more than 40 children.

 Austria's Volker Turk takes office as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Geneva

Why didn’t human rights groups give Israel’s center-left a break? - analysis

What worries human rights groups and critics in the West the most is an Israeli center-left government that is inclusive of Arabs and which might actually come to an agreement with the Palestinians.

Outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid during the swearing-in ceremony for the new Israeli parliament on the 25th Knesset in Jerusalem, 15 November 2022.

Qatar has detained and mistreated LGBT people ahead of World Cup -HRW

Homosexuality is illegal in the conservative Muslim country, and some soccer stars have raised concerns over the rights of fans traveling for the event, especially LGBT+ individuals and women.

 A view of the World Cup Trophy during an event marking "200 Days To Go" ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, in Doha, Qatar May 6, 2022.