China’s concerning new strategy on human rights: unite the world behind a ‘selective’ approach

For more than three decades, China has struggled to contain criticism of its human rights record. It faced a storm of outrage over the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 and condemnation of its mass incarceration of Muslim Uyghurs in recent years. Each time, the Chinese government has had to deal with the diplomatic fallout of its own repression.

UN ‘concerned’ by harassment of human rights defenders in Bangladesh

UN human rights chief Volker Turk calls on Dhaka to create a ‘safe’ environment for activists and civil society leaders.

Top Mexican court decriminalizes abortion nationwide

Mexico’s Supreme Court on Wednesday decriminalized abortion across the conservative Latin American country, moving in contrast to the United States where federally guaranteed abortion rights were overturned last year.

Prioritizing Human Rights in Relations With Saudi Arabia

There is a refugee trail that goes from the Sahel drought region in Africa, into war-ravaged Yemen, and up through Saudi Arabia towards Iraq and Turkey. It’s known as “the Eastern route,” or sometimes “the Yemeni route.”

Queensland to create watch house for children amid fears of looming ‘human rights disaster’

The Queensland government is quietly planning to convert a suburban police watch house into a central holding block for dozens of children on remand, amid fears of a looming “human rights disaster” in the state.

UN chief spotlights worsening rights in Myanmar as journalist jailed for 20 years over cyclone coverage

Myanmar’s already dire human rights situation is deteriorating and the junta should release all political prisoners, the United Nations’ chief said Wednesday, as a leading local news outlet revealed one of its journalists had been jailed for 20 years for covering the aftermath of a cyclone.

Ukrainians Embrace Cluster Munitions, but Are They Helping?

The weapons, banned by most countries over human rights concerns, are “not a magic wand,” but some Ukrainian troops say they are making a difference in fighting Russian forces.

Arab League Council Supports Morocco’s 2024 Human Rights Council Presidency Bid

Rabat - The Council of the League of Arab States, comprising foreign ministers from member countries, expressed its support for the Kingdom of Morocco’s candidacy for the presidency of the 18th session of the Human Rights Council in 2024.

Defending human rights: Navi Pillay

What does it take to go from being a young woman of colour, growing up in 1950s apartheid South Africa, to leading the UN’s human rights work? And along the way to be the first woman of colour to open a legal practice in South Africa, and to serve on the international tribunal for the Rwandan genocide?

EU tells Turkey to address democracy before membership

The European Union’s enlargement commissioner told Turkey on Wednesday to address issues around democracy and the rule of law if it wants to boost its drive to join the bloc.