The Latest Breaking News from Human Rights

UN Human Rights Council Extends Mandate of Iran Rapporteur on Human Rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council extended Tuesday the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, for an additional year. The extension was passed with 23 of the council's 47 members, as 16 members abstained from voting, and eight were against, including…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 5, 2023

Family of Australian man jailed in Vietnam calls on governor-general to raise his case during visit marking 50 years of diplomatic ties

The governor-general is in Vietnam at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, and human rights groups are calling on him to raise the plight of political prisoners in the communist South-East Asian nation.

ABC News · Apr 5, 2023

Greater human rights protection sought in government procurement

A clause requiring efforts to respect human rights will be included in the bidding instructions and contracts used when the government purchases products and services from businesses, it has been decided.

The Japan News/Yomiuri · Apr 4, 2023

Public executions and torture: ‘The Taliban have reverted to their true nature’

In the latest example of public punishments carried out by the Taliban, two men were publicly humiliated and forced to wear a chador, a full-length hijab traditionally worn by women. But other punishments meted out by the Taliban have been far more violent, including flagellations and public executions. While Afghan…

France 24 · Apr 4, 2023

Rights groups urge UN not to adopt IHRA anti-Semitism definition

A letter to UN secretary-general says the definition is often used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.

Al Jazeera · Apr 4, 2023

Top lawyer Aamer Anwar speaks out as child rapist spared jail

A TOP human rights lawyer has intervened amid outrage after a child rapist was spared jail for his “horrific” crime.

The National (Scotland) · Apr 4, 2023

Rights Report Accuses Houthis of Committing War Crimes through Child Recruitment

The Yemeni Coalition for Monitoring Human Rights Violations, or Rasd Coalition, accused the Iran-backed Houthi militias of committing war crimes for their forced recruitment of children under 15. In a report, “Children Not Soldiers”, it also accused them of committing serious crimes against children and violating the rules of warfare…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Apr 4, 2023

Almost half of human rights defenders killed last year were in Colombia

The county was the deadliest for rights activists in 2022, and Latin America and Ukraine together accounted for 80% of the 401 deaths

The Guardian - US · Apr 4, 2023

Rights groups welcome Malaysia's move on death penalty

Human rights groups have applauded Malaysia’s move to scrap the mandatory death penalty as a major step forward in the push for the abolition of capital punishment in Southeast Asia

The Independent UK · Apr 4, 2023

Prominent Perth doctor Anthony Bell cleared of assaulting wife, former human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique

Dr Anthony Bell is acquitted of assaulting his wife during an argument over another woman last year, as the judge suggests Rabia Siddigue had "engaged in a vendetta" against her husband.

ABC News · Apr 4, 2023