Human rights watch

Torture, sexual violence, forced confessions: Experts reveal mass human rights violations in Iran

As part of its campaign of suppression, Tehran has arrested people in mass, detaining individuals in unofficial facilities where they cannot communicate with the outside world.

A bus burned during protests, on a street in Tehran, Iran, January 16, 2026
 L to R: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump. (illustration)

Tehran must be confronted: Trump, Netanyahu should lead the West's moral stand - editorial

US President Donald Trump (C), Vice President JD Vance (L) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) pictured in the White House, November 6, 2025; illustrative.

Trump declines to take sides between Vance, Rubio in 2028 successor debate

US President Donald Trump sits at his desk, behind a hat that reads "America is back" at the White House in Washington, DC, US, February 3, 2026.

Trump has attacked pillars of democracy, Human Rights Watch alleges


'Calling Israel 'apartheid' is plain antisemitic' - VP of European Parliament

At a conference by the Combat Antisemitism Movement. the WZO and NGO Monitor, world leaders discussed the misappropriation of the term "apartheid" and its use against Israel.

 Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold candles during a protest in front of Catalan Government in Sant Jaume quarter in central Barcelona January 16, 2009 against Israel's attacks on Gaza. The sign reads: "Boycott Israel, boycott apartheid".

Israeli-American legal expert, activist promoted to HRW Program Director

Sari Bashi has a strong background in international humanitarian law and wrote about her personal life, her marriage to a Palestinian man, their two children and their life in Ramallah

 Sari Bashi.

Kenneth Roth to resign from Human Rights Watch after 30 years at the helm

The child of Jewish parents, whose father fled Nazi Germany as a teenager, Roth was outspoken on human rights abuses by or in many countries.

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.

Ukraine-Russia War: Russia bans Human Rights Watch website - report

Russia took issue with an article accusing Russian forces of killing fleeing Ukrainian civilians.

 A Russian flag is seen on the laptop screen in front of a computer screen on which cyber code is displayed, in this illustration picture taken March 2, 2018.

Malian troops, Russian mercenaries suspected of killing hundreds - HRW

The killings took place between March 27 and 31 in Moura, a rural town in the Mopti region, a hotspot of jihadist activity.

 Malian soldiers patrol in Bamako, Mali July 27, 2018. Picture taken July 27, 2018.

Russian soldiers accused of growing list of atrocities

Civilians in cities that were occupied by the Russian Army reported looting, the use of children as human shields, rape and murder.

 A shot car with inscriptions "Children" is seen on the street, amid Russian invasion on Ukraine, in Bucha, Kyiv region, Ukraine April 3, 2022.

Human Rights Watch warn Ukraine against posting videos of POWs

A Telegram account with close to 870,000 subscribers operated by the Ukrainian government's main security arm has taken to posting videos of captured Russian soldiers revealing personal information.

 A Ukrainian serviceman is seen, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in the Sumy region, Ukraine, March 7, 2022.

Human Rights Watch staff targeted using Israeli NSO spyware

“Governments are using NSO Group’s spyware to monitor and silence human rights defenders, journalists and others who expose abuse,” said Deborah Brown, senior digital rights researcher at HRW.

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Biden criticized for weak defense of democracy by Human Rights Watch

Roth also said that during key summits Biden "seemed to lose his voice when it came to the public denunciation of serious human rights violations."

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol during a ceremony on the first anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., US, January 6, 2022.

Letters to the Editor December 27, 2021: Shocking atrocity

Readers of The Jerusalem Post have their say.

Letters