human rights groups

A survivor of the massacre of political prisoners in Iran addressed the United Nations, denouncing the Iranian regime directly and accusing it of trying to silence him. UN Watch, the group behind the address, has amplified the moment, drawing wide attention. Viewers are sharing it as a rare instance of a victim confronting Iranian officials in an international forum, with debate focused on human rights abuses in Iran and the UN's treatment of Iranian dissidents.

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.

Channel 4 News reports on people deported by the Trump administration to Liberia, a country many had no connection to. One deportee says they did not even know Liberia existed before being sent there. The deportations to African nations, rather than migrants' countries of origin, have drawn criticism from rights groups and raised questions about the legality and humanity of the policy.

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.

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.

Human Rights Watch reports that children are suffering acute distress as immigration arrests increase sharply. The organisation says enforcement operations are separating families and leaving minors in anguish, warning of lasting psychological harm. The report comes amid rising deportation drives and has prompted concern from rights groups and calls for authorities to reconsider tactics that target households with children.

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.

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.

Amnesty International is calling for the abolition of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after documenting what it describes as widespread human rights violations. The human rights organization's demand puts it directly at odds with the US immigration enforcement system and is likely to fuel ongoing political debate over detention and deportation practices in the United States.

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.

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 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.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's investment summit included investors from the United Arab Emirates, drawing criticism because the UAE has been accused of supplying weapons, logistics, training and foreign personnel to Sudan's Rapid Support Forces, the paramilitary group implicated in widespread atrocities. Human rights groups have repeatedly documented the RSF's abuses, prompting questions about why Canada is courting Emirati capital while the war in Sudan continues.

Trade unions and human rights organisations across the European Union are calling on national governments to cut ties with Palantir, the US data analytics firm, arguing it is 'not just another tech company'. The campaign targets public contracts involving the company's surveillance and data-processing services, citing concerns over privacy, civil liberties and the outsourcing of sensitive government work to a foreign military-linked contractor.

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.

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.

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.

The head of the Human Rights Campaign has compared US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to lynch mobs, invoking the legacy of the civil rights movement in the criticism. The remarks add to ongoing controversy over ICE enforcement tactics, with civil rights groups voicing alarm while supporters of the agency's operations push back sharply.

Colombia has withdrawn from the Equal Rights Coalition, a group of governments committed to protecting LGBTI rights worldwide. Human rights advocates say the move raises fears of weakening protections for LGBTI people in the country, which has been one of Latin America's leaders on such rights, and are urging the government to reverse the decision.

Human rights groups are raising alarm over the deteriorating health of a Kurdish political prisoner held in Evin Prison in Tehran. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reports growing concern about his condition and is calling for urgent medical attention and accountability from Iranian authorities.