Human Rights

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Iranian opposition groups have signed a set of joint human rights principles at a gathering in Oslo. The agreement is intended to establish shared commitments to fundamental rights among Iran's disparate opposition movements. The signing is being reported by Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based organisation, though details of which groups took part and the specific principles adopted remain limited.

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.

Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa delivered an intervention at a forum titled "Rethinking Human Rights," arguing for a reconsideration of how human rights are framed and defended. His remarks have drawn wide attention, with tens of thousands engaging with coverage of the speech, as supporters welcome his critique and critics question his record on press freedom and judicial independence while in office.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has held a meeting with the country's prime minister. The talks come as part of the UN's ongoing engagement with national governments on human rights concerns. Details of what was discussed have not been made public, and observers are watching to see whether the meeting produces any concrete commitments.

A group of legal experts and human rights advocates has publicly endorsed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's sanctions regime targeting the International Criminal Court. The challenge argues the sanctions threaten the court's independence and the work of its officials. Human rights organisations have voiced support, framing the measures as an attack on international justice and accountability for war crimes.

Representative Jim McGovern and allied lawmakers are calling on President Trump to make human rights a central issue when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The appeal, reported by Well News, presses the administration to raise concerns over political prisoners and rights abuses in China during the visit rather than focusing solely on trade and strategic ties.

Pope Leo opened his trip to France with a stark warning that a growing reliance on artificial intelligence and technology could turn the world into a 'paradise of machines' at the expense of human dignity. He urged leaders and citizens not to let technological progress erode what makes people human.

The International Campaign for Tibet, together with Tibetan communities, human rights organisations and partners in the US Congress, is calling on President Trump to put Tibet and broader human rights concerns on the agenda during his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The coalition wants Washington to press Beijing directly on its policies in Tibetan areas rather than focusing solely on trade and strategic issues.

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has drawn attention to the human rights situation of Tibetan children. Organisers highlighted concerns over education policies and family separation in Tibetan areas, urging UN member states to press China on the issue. The Central Tibetan Administration publicised the event, calling for international scrutiny.

Senators questioned ambassadorial nominees on human rights, pressing the candidates on their positions and record during confirmation hearings. The exchanges signal that a nominee's stance on rights issues is being treated as a key test for diplomatic appointments. The specific country, nominees and outcomes of the hearings were not detailed.

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.

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.

Nigeria has started a review of its Child Rights Act, the landmark law adopted in 2003 to protect children's rights, including education, health and protection from exploitation and abuse. After more than two decades, officials and child-rights advocates are examining whether the legislation still reflects current realities, enforcement gaps and the challenges facing Nigerian children today.

Iran has put forward a six-point initiative aimed at upholding international law, presented during a United Nations meeting. The proposal was reported by Iranian state media, which framed it as a call for stronger adherence to legal norms in international affairs. Details of the six points and international reaction have not yet been widely reported.

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.

Writers for Human Rights events in Valencia, Spain, have put the Palestinian cause at the center of their programme, according to Jaffa News Network. The gatherings bring writers together under a human rights framework, with Palestine given prominent focus. The reports drew attention across Arabic-language media, reflecting continued international cultural and literary engagement with the Palestinian issue amid the ongoing conflict.

Security forces have arrested Sardar Ramin in the city of Naqadeh in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, according to the Hana Human Rights Organization, which first reported the detention. No details have been released on the reasons for the arrest, the charges against him, or his current whereabouts. Human rights groups routinely report such detentions of Kurdish residents in the region.

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.

A coalition of faith, labor and civil rights organizations has announced a campaign to mobilize voters across the American South for the November elections and beyond. The effort aims to increase turnout among communities that these groups historically represent. The long-term focus suggests the coalition plans sustained organizing beyond a single election cycle.

Pope Leo arrived in Paris, where he called on French leaders to protect the right to life. The appeal, made at the start of his visit to France, puts issues of human dignity and life at the center of his trip. The visit is drawing attention from both religious communities and French political circles, with observers watching how officials respond to the pontiff's message.

Milwaukee Public Schools is navigating a difficult balance between maintaining school discipline and meeting federal civil rights obligations, according to Urban Milwaukee. The district's approach to student discipline has drawn scrutiny over whether disciplinary practices disproportionately affect protected groups, and officials are working to comply with civil rights requirements while keeping classrooms orderly.