human rights groups

Amnesty International USA is calling on US senators to demand answers from the Israeli government over human rights abuses in the occupied West Bank, including the killing of American citizens. The advocacy group argues that US lawmakers have a responsibility to seek accountability when US citizens are killed and to scrutinise Israel's conduct in the territory. The appeal adds to mounting pressure on Washington over its ally's actions in the Palestinian territories.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Canadian investment summit included investors from the United Arab Emirates, prompting criticism because the UAE has been accused of supplying weapons, logistics, training and foreign personnel to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group widely blamed by human rights organisations for atrocities in Sudan's civil war.

The Council of Europe is hosting a roundtable in Strasbourg focused on Russia's State Duma elections, which the organisation has described as fake. The discussion forms part of the Council's continued scrutiny of Russia's political system and electoral integrity, amid broader tensions between Moscow and European institutions over democracy and human rights standards.

A human rights organisation has warned against careless redevelopment in Syria, pointing to billions of dollars' worth of reconstruction deals being struck without adequate legal safeguards. The group says the agreements risk rights violations for residents, including displaced Syrians unable to claim property, and is urging stronger legal protections before large-scale rebuilding proceeds.

Iraq is facing renewed concern over the erosion of women's rights, with human rights observers highlighting a regression in legal protections and freedoms for women in the country. The issue is drawing attention from rights groups who warn that gains made in recent decades risk being rolled back, placing Iraqi women's access to education, work, and personal freedoms at risk.

Greenpeace is facing criticism after issuing a statement praising a data release by the Chinese government on cleantech exports without mentioning labour or human rights concerns in Chinese supply chains. Critics, including observers active on labour issues, say the group's response was 'nothing but praise' and have called the omission deeply disappointing, raising questions about how advocacy organisations balance environmental goals against human rights scrutiny.

Posts are reporting that Israel's military campaign in Gaza is ongoing and describing it as genocide against Palestinians. The claim reflects ongoing international debate, with human rights groups and several governments accusing Israel of genocide, while Israel denies the charge and says it is acting in self-defence following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Discussion continues as civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen.

An exhibition has been held in Bucharest condemning the Iranian government's executions and broader human rights violations. The event, promoted by Iran-focused opposition and advocacy groups, highlights alleged abuses by authorities in Tehran and calls attention to political prisoners. The exhibition is part of ongoing campaigns by Iranian diaspora organisations to keep international pressure on the Iranian regime over its rights record.

Amnesty International is calling on El Salvador to end the prolonged pre-trial detention of a human rights defender, arguing the person is being held without due process. The appeal adds to wider criticism of the country's mass detentions and emergency measures, which rights groups say have swept up activists and ordinary citizens alike while courts postpone hearings indefinitely.

Iran has executed two men on drug-related charges at a prison in Karaj, according to human rights monitors. The Kurdistan Human Rights network reported the hangings, adding to a documented pattern of executions for narcotics offences in Iran, which rights groups say fall short of fair-trial standards and are frequently carried out without international attention.

Mahboubeh Shabani, an Iranian protester sentenced to death, has been transferred to solitary confinement, according to Iran Human Rights. The group says the move raises fears her execution could be imminent, as authorities often isolate prisoners shortly before carrying out death sentences. Activists are calling for urgent international pressure on Iran to halt the sentence.

Amnesty International says war crimes have been committed by Malian armed forces and the Russian Wagner Group, prompting concern from the human rights organisation. The allegation centres on abuses attributed to the two forces in Mali, where Wagner personnel have been operating alongside government troops. Amnesty is calling for accountability over the reported violations.

Malaysia has started sending asylum seekers back to Myanmar, a move widely described as controversial because of the risks returnees face there. The BBC reported that the repatriation has begun, drawing criticism from rights groups who say those returned may include refugees fleeing persecution and conflict. Human rights organisations are calling on Malaysia to halt the deportations.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has accused Israel of turning Gaza into what it calls the largest ghetto in modern history, saying residents are being killed one after another as the war reaches the three-year mark. The group describes the campaign as a genocide, language that is sharply contested by Israel and its allies.

Human rights reports indicate a dangerous escalation of sexual violence against women in Sudan, as armed conflict and lawlessness continue to grip the country. Rights groups warn that women are increasingly targeted, with survivors facing widespread impunity and little access to protection or justice. Advocates are calling for urgent international attention and accountability for the perpetrators.