rights group

At least 35 people were killed in Darfur, Sudan, when a drone strike hit a court gathering, according to a rights group that blames the army. The attack adds to the mounting civilian toll of Sudan's war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has devastated Darfur since fighting broke out in 2023.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The US Department of Education has rescinded Title IX guidance protecting LGBTQ students from discrimination, drawing swift backlash from civil rights groups and education advocates while conservative groups welcomed the move. Critics say the rollback leaves transgender and gay students without federal safeguards in schools, and legal challenges are expected as states and advocacy organisations weigh their response.

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.

Malaysia has started sending Myanmar refugees back home, a move that has drawn criticism from rights groups who say conditions in Myanmar remain unsafe for returnees. The decision affects refugees who had been sheltering in Malaysia after fleeing conflict and persecution. Advocates argue the deportations breach international protection obligations and could put returnees at serious risk.

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.

Migrant children are appearing before US immigration judges without legal representation, raising concerns among advocates who say unrepresented minors cannot navigate complex deportation proceedings on their own. Reports from immigration courts highlight the scale of the problem, and rights groups are calling for guaranteed access to counsel for children in removal cases.

The U.S. Department of Education has moved to end Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students, according to a report from EdSource. The decision means federal sex-discrimination safeguards under Title IX will no longer be interpreted to cover sexual orientation or gender identity, prompting concern among education advocates and civil rights groups about the impact on students in schools and colleges nationwide.

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.

Colombia has withdrawn from the Equal Rights Coalition, an intergovernmental body dedicated to protecting LGBTI people, prompting warnings from rights groups that hard-won protections could be weakened. Advocates say the move raises fears for the future of LGBTI rights in the country and question the government's commitment to equality commitments made internationally.

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.

Social media users are voicing sharp criticism of police unions, with some calling them 'groups of thugs' while framing their opposition with the slogan ACAB, short for 'All Cops Are Bastards'. The posts pair anti-police messaging with labour and workers' rights hashtags, placing police unions in tension with broader labour movement discussions.

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.

The Open Rights Group is calling live facial recognition in the UK a 'waste of time', reviving a familiar complaint about new technology. The post, tagged with UK politics and privacy hashtags, reflects ongoing civil liberties concerns about police and public-sector use of the surveillance tool, with privacy campaigners pushing back against its expanding deployment.