The Latest Breaking News from Human Rights Watch

China urged to tackle online racism targeting Black people

Human Rights Watch says racist tropes ‘common’ across Chinese social media, and that platforms and government must act.

Al Jazeera · Aug 17, 2023

Chinese social media filled with anti-black racist content, says watchdog

Analysis by Human Rights Watch finds the country’s major platforms ‘do not routinely address’ pervasive online racism

The Guardian - UK · Aug 16, 2023

What are cluster bombs and why are they banned in some countries?

The US has sent the weapons to Ukraine – even as human rights groups oppose their use

The Independent UK · Aug 16, 2023

Jordan’s king approves ‘draconian’ cybercrime law

Fourteen rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, previously said in a joint statement the law is ‘draconian’.

Al Jazeera · Aug 12, 2023

King of Jordan approves a bill to criminalize online speech. Human rights groups call it draconian

The Jordanian state news agency reports that the King of Jordan has approved a bill to punish online speech deemed harmful to national unity

The Independent UK · Aug 12, 2023

Allies of Niger president overthrown by military are appealing to the US and others: Save his life

Supporters of Niger's deposed President Mohamed Bazoum have pleaded with the United States and others for weeks to restore the democratically elected leader to power

The Independent UK · Aug 12, 2023

El Salvador’s controversial crackdown on gangs

Human rights groups may be raising the alarm over El Salvador’s brutal crackdown on gang violence, but the policy is winning huge support for the country’s young president both at home and abroad.

The Week · Aug 9, 2023

Zimbabwe's opposition leader tells AP intimidation is forcing voters to choose ruling party or death

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of violating the law and tearing apart independent institutions to cling to power

The Independent UK · Aug 4, 2023

Ukraine war: reports suggest the deaths of some journalists have been deliberate – which is a war crime

In a conflict like the war in Ukraine, many journalists risk their lives to report the truth and reveal war crimes committed by both sides. But when journalists themselves are targeted, these war crimes almost always go unpunished. Research from Human Rights Watch has found that a de facto impunity…

The Conversation · Aug 3, 2023

Rights groups, opposition slam proposed cyber crime law in Jordan

The government says law will punish online attackers, but critics fear it will expand state control over social media.

Al Jazeera · Jul 28, 2023