Human Rights

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for de-escalation in Ethiopia as fighting intensifies across the country. The appeal urges all parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access amid rising violence. Observers say the renewed hostilities risk worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, drawing renewed international attention to Ethiopia's deteriorating security situation.

An activist addressing the United Nations dismissed an interjection from Pakistan's delegation while highlighting human rights violations. The exchange, caught on video and circulating widely, shows the speaker refusing to yield when Pakistan raised a point of order, drawing significant attention online and renewed debate over Pakistan's stance on rights abuses it is accused of raising selectively.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, citing alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. The updated list names businesses across sectors including construction, finance and tourism. The move is expected to draw sharp criticism from Israel and its allies, while Palestinian advocacy groups have welcomed the listing as a step toward corporate accountability.

The UN human rights office has added 61 more companies to its blacklist of firms accused of violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements. The move expands a list first published in 2020 and is expected to draw criticism from Israel and its allies, while rights groups welcomed the step.

Pope Leo opened his trip to France with a warning that an overreliance on technology, which he called a 'paradise of machines,' could undermine humanity. He urged people not to let machines diminish human dignity and relationships, adding his moral voice to the growing global debate over artificial intelligence and automation.

Venezuela has released dozens of prisoners, according to Newsday. The move follows a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Venezuela's interim leader. The release is being read in the context of ongoing political tensions over Venezuela's leadership and Washington's pressure campaign, though details on the prisoners' identities and the terms of the release have not yet been made clear.

Canada has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, citing human rights abuses. The measures were reported on CTV National News for September 23, 2026. Further details about the individuals or entities targeted and Iran's response were not provided in the available coverage.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, over alleged violations of Palestinian human rights. The updated list names businesses across sectors including construction, technology and finance that the UN says are linked to settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel and the United States have long rejected the list, while rights groups welcomed the move as accountability for corporate involvement in the occupation.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced new Canadian sanctions targeting Iranian officials during the UN General Assembly, framing the move as Canada standing for human rights. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the gathering in New York and signals Ottawa's continued pressure on Tehran over human rights concerns. The measure adds Canada to international efforts holding Iranian officials accountable.

An evening news roundup from NTD reports two notable confrontations on September 24: a clash between Chinese media personnel and White House staff, and delegates walking out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address. The bulletin ties both incidents to ongoing diplomatic tensions at a high-profile international gathering, with the walkouts drawing particular attention amid debate over the Gaza conflict.

The United Nations has added more than 60 companies to its blacklist of firms doing business in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The move, reported by outlets including the New York Post, is expected to draw strong reactions from Israel and its allies, who have previously condemned the listing as biased, while human rights groups welcomed it.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, alleging they are involved in violations of Palestinian rights. The published list of businesses faces sharp criticism from Israel and pro-Israel groups, while human rights organisations have welcomed the move as a step toward corporate accountability in the occupied territories.

Calls to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement are gaining renewed momentum among activists and progressive groups. Supporters argue the agency has fostered widespread abuses in detention and deportation practices, and growing protests and organizing are pushing the idea further into mainstream political debate.

Yemen's leader has publicly urged citizens to enlist and announced an amnesty for Houthi members who defect. The call comes amid ongoing conflict in Yemen and signals an attempt to weaken the Houthi movement from within while mobilising public support. The amnesty offer could encourage defections, though the group's response and any wider impact on the war remain to be seen.

The United Nations has added several major Israeli companies to a blacklist of firms linked to Israeli settlements, a move condemned by Israel and closely watched internationally. The listings concern companies operating in or tied to settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UN considers illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pushed back against fellow Democrats who have begun questioning the party's support for transgender rights, saying she has "never wavered" on the issue. Her remarks come as some in the party debate whether trans rights are politically costly, making her a prominent voice defending the party's position on LGBTQ protections heading into future elections.

Peru is appearing before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights over its failure to adequately protect isolated Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon. The case examines whether the state has met obligations to safeguard territories from incursions such as logging and drug trafficking. Rights groups say the outcome could set a precedent for how governments protect peoples in voluntary isolation across the region.

Several Iranian opposition groups have signed a joint declaration of shared human rights principles at a gathering in Oslo. The agreement, reported by the group Iran Human Rights, commits the disparate movements to common standards on fundamental rights. Observers see it as an attempt to present a more unified front among forces opposing the Iranian government.

A coalition of human rights organisations has issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of Palestinian photojournalist Hamdi El-Zaeem, ahead of a scheduled trial hearing. The groups say he has now been deprived of liberty for ten years, and are pressing for his freedom after a decade in detention.

Dozens of political and civil society activists are calling on the international community to formally recognise the killings of the Hazara people as a genocide. The appeal seeks official acknowledgment of persecution suffered by the Hazara minority, and supporters argue that international recognition would be a step toward justice and protection for the community.

Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa delivered an address at a forum under the title 'Rethinking Human Rights', arguing for a re-examination of the international human rights framework. The speech is drawing significant attention and debate online, with viewers split between support for his critique of Western-led rights discourse and criticism of his record in office.

Front Line Defenders has issued a joint statement urging the government of Bahrain to ensure human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja receives adequate medical treatment while in detention. The statement also demands that he be granted access to respond to allegations made against him by Bahraini authorities. Advocacy groups are pressing for international attention to his conditions behind bars.

James Becket, an American lawyer and human rights advocate known for defending democracy and documenting political persecution, has died, prompting tributes in Greek media. Kathimerini marks his passing with a farewell piece recalling his career as a defender of democratic principles and opponents of authoritarian rule. Details of his age, cause of death and funeral arrangements were not given in the report.

An Iranian youth conference took place in New York, focusing on freedom, human rights, and the prospects for democracy in Iran. Young Iranians gathered to debate the country's political future and the promotion of basic rights. The event drew attention as discussions about Iran's democratic path continue to resonate among the diaspora and international observers.

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has drawn attention to the human rights situation of Tibetan children. The Central Tibetan Administration highlighted concerns over the treatment and rights of Tibetan minors, adding to ongoing international scrutiny of conditions in Tibetan areas.

The Palestinian cause featured prominently at the "Writers for Human Rights" events held in Valencia, Spain. The gathering of writers focused on human rights issues placed Palestine at the heart of its programme, drawing attention from Arabic-language media covering the cultural and advocacy scene around the Palestinian question.

Residents of Waterloo, Iowa are voicing concern that the city could go backward on civil rights if it does not fill the position of human rights director. Local discussion, reported by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, centers on fears that decades of progress on discrimination complaints and equal treatment could stall or reverse without dedicated leadership in the role.