Latest Human Rights Watch News
Burkina Faso Suspends BBC and Voice of America after covering report on mass killings
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Burkina Faso suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio stations for their coverage of a report by Human Rights Watch on a mass killing of civilians carried out by the country's armed forces. Burkina Faso's communication spokesperson, Tonssira Myrian Corine...
Burkina Faso's army massacred over 200 civilians in a village raid, Human Rights Watch says
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Military forces in Burkina Faso killed 223 civilians, including babies and many children, in attacks on two villages accused of cooperating with militants, Human Rights Watch said in a report published Thursday. The mass killings took place on Feb. 25 in the...
Rights group says Israeli strike on Gaza building killed 106 in apparent war crime
JERUSALEM (AP) — A Human Rights Watch investigation published Thursday said an Israeli attack on a Gaza building in October had no apparent militant target, but killed 106 civilians, including 54 children, making it an “apparent war crime.” International law prohibits attacks...
Panama and Colombia fail to protect migrants on Darien jungle route, Human Rights Watch says
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Colombia and Panama are failing to protect hundreds of thousands of migrants who cross the Darien jungle on their way to the U.S. and have become increasingly vulnerable to robberies and sexual violence, Human Rights Watch said in a report published on Wednesday. ...
In Mali, Russian Wagner mercenaries are helping the army kill civilians, rights groups say
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The Russian mercenary group known as Wagner is helping government forces in central and northern Mali carry out raids and drone strikes that have killed scores of civilians, including many children, rights groups said in reports published this week that span the period from...
Turkey bears responsibility for possible war crimes in Syria, Human Rights Watch says
BEIRUT (AP) — Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that Turkey bears responsibility for some of the abuses and possible war crimes committed in Syria, mostly against Kurdish residents in northern Syria. The New York-based watchdog said the abuses were committed by Turkish forces and...
Biden hopes cease-fire, hostage deal to pause Israel-Hamas war can take effect by next Monday
NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that would pause hostilities and allow for remaining hostages to be released can take effect by early next week. Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: “Well...
St. Vincent upholds laws criminalizing gay sex in Caribbean island nation in setback for activists
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A top court in St. Vincent and the Grenadines upheld laws on Friday that criminalize gay sex, a blow to activists who have long decried the violence the LGBTQ+ community has faced on the conservative Caribbean archipelago. The ruling by St. Vincent’s...
Foreign aid drops sharply as Taliban abuses jeopardize the Afghan health system, group says
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Human Rights Watch said Monday that Afghanistan’s public health system has been hit hard following a sharp reduction in foreign assistance, coupled with serious Taliban abuses against women and girls, jeopardizing the right to healthcare of millions of Afghans. ...
Rights group sees retaliation as the motive for jailing an Egyptian presidential challenger
CAIRO (AP) — A leading human rights group dismissed on Thursday the conviction of a prominent Egyptian political activist as an act of retaliation for his decision to challenge President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in last year’s presidential election. On Tuesday, a Cairo misdemeanor...
