human rights groups

Amnesty International has documented cases of murder and torture committed by the Malian army and the Wagner paramilitary group in Mali, according to a report by RFI. The findings add to growing scrutiny of Wagner's operations in Africa's Sahel region, where the Russian-linked force has been deployed alongside government troops against armed insurgents.

The human rights group Monitor has accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians in its military campaign in Gaza, according to a report carried by Shafaq News. The allegation adds to ongoing international scrutiny of civilian casualties in the territory and is likely to fuel debate over compliance with international humanitarian law.

Civil society groups warn that the Houthi movement is forcing children to fight on Yemen's battlefields, a long-standing concern documented by human rights monitors during the country's decade-long war. Yemeni civil society organisations are renewing calls for accountability and international attention to child recruitment as fighting continues across the country.

United Nations experts have warned that the Trump administration's practice of deporting migrants to third countries violates international human rights law. The warning, reported by the Guardian, adds to mounting international criticism of US immigration policy, with rights groups arguing that removals to countries with which deportees have no connection expose people to serious harm.

Human Rights Watch reports a sharp rise in US immigration arrests that is leaving children in anguish, with families separated or fearing separation during enforcement operations. The group highlights the psychological toll on children affected by detentions and deportations, drawing attention to the human cost of intensified immigration enforcement across the United States.

At least 186 students and teachers have allegedly been killed in Iran, prompting human rights organizations to call for an independent investigation into the deaths. The reported toll has drawn international attention and condemnation, with advocacy groups urging accountability and transparency from Iranian authorities. Details about the circumstances of the killings remain limited as calls for a formal probe grow.

Immigration arrests are rising sharply, and the impact on children is at the centre of the concern. Human Rights Watch reports children experiencing anguish as families are detained or separated during the enforcement sweep. Rights groups warn the crackdown is inflicting serious psychological harm on minors caught up in arrests, and the surge is drawing scrutiny over the treatment of children in immigration enforcement.

Amnesty International USA is calling on U.S. 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 wants lawmakers to press for accountability and transparency regarding cases in which U.S. nationals have died at the hands of Israeli forces or settlers in the territory.

Mahboubeh Shabani has been sentenced to death in Iran in connection with protests that broke out in January. The sentence was reported by the Kurdish human rights group Hengaw, which monitors executions and repression in the region. Rights advocates say the ruling adds to a growing list of death sentences handed down over participation in demonstrations, and are calling for the verdict to be overturned.

A new report documents war crimes committed by the Malian army and foreign allied forces along Mali's border with Mauritania, in an area affected by the decade-long conflict with armed groups. Witnesses describe killings of civilians regardless of age or status, summed up in the finding that 'no one is spared'. The allegations renew scrutiny of Mali's military and its foreign partners.

Yemen's Human Rights Commission has condemned Saudi-led airstrikes, denouncing them as aggression and calling attention to civilian harm in the conflict. The statement adds to ongoing international debate over the Saudi-led coalition's air campaign in Yemen, with rights groups repeatedly urging accountability and protection of civilians as the war continues.

Reports from southern Lebanon say Israeli artillery shelled the town of Al-Mansouri, with claims that white phosphorus munitions were used. White phosphorus is restricted under international law because of the severe burns it causes, and its alleged use has drawn repeated condemnation from human rights groups. The report comes amid ongoing cross-border exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah-linked areas of Lebanon, which have displaced residents and raised fears of a wider conflict.

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.

Israel is using artificial intelligence systems to select and accelerate demolitions of Palestinian homes in the West Bank, according to a report by Al Jazeera. The story alleges that AI tools help identify structures for demolition and streamline the process, raising concerns among rights groups about automated targeting, displacement and the lack of human oversight in decisions affecting Palestinian residents.

Amnesty International says Türkiye is intensifying its crackdown on LGBTI organisations and activists, framing the repression as part of a broader deterioration of human rights in the country. Rights groups warn that bans on Pride events, detentions and pressure on civil society signal a widening assault on fundamental freedoms under the current government.

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.

The Taliban's governance of Afghanistan continues to draw attention over the combination of harsh repression and worsening economic hardship. Restrictions on women's rights and basic freedoms are compounding widespread poverty, leaving much of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. Advocacy groups are highlighting the plight of ordinary Afghans and urging the international community to keep the crisis in focus.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's Canadian investment summit included investors from the United Arab Emirates, drawing criticism because the UAE is accused of supplying weapons, logistics, training and foreign personnel to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces. Human rights groups have repeatedly linked the paramilitary group to atrocities in Sudan's war, and critics are questioning Canada's decision to welcome Emirati money while such allegations stand.

The Trump administration has refused to allow external election observers to monitor United States elections, a decision criticized by Human Rights Watch. The group says blocking independent observers undermines electoral transparency and accountability. Critics argue international observation is a standard practice that helps assure voters of fair processes, while supporters of the decision frame it as protecting sovereignty. The move has drawn condemnation from human rights organizations.

Anti-trafficking organisation Freedom United is warning that human traffickers are using social media platforms to groom and sell children, while major technology companies avoid legal accountability. The group says Section 230 of the US Communications Decency Act allows platforms to evade liability for hosting content that enables trafficking, and is calling attention to gaps in US law that leave children unprotected online.

A rights group says Iran has executed Iraqi nationals convicted of espionage for Israel, without any official announcement of the executions. The report is drawing attention to Iran's treatment of foreign prisoners on espionage charges and to the lack of transparency around death penalty cases in the country. It may also strain ties between Tehran and Baghdad.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt is pushing ahead with deportations of Afghan refugees, a move critics say violates the UN Refugee Convention. The deportations, carried out with federal police support, have drawn sharp criticism from refugee and human rights groups, who accuse Germany of sending people back to a country under Taliban rule where they face serious danger.

Niger has rejected a number of key human rights recommendations made during its review before the United Nations. The decision has drawn criticism from rights groups, who say the country is refusing accountability on serious concerns. Human Rights Watch has highlighted the rejections, arguing that Niger should engage with UN member states' recommendations rather than dismiss them.