Human Rights Watch

On July 17, 1998, countries around the world adopted the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, a day now recognized as #InternationalJusticeDay. In the face of attacks on justice, crucial efforts are being undertaken, often led by survivors, to protect and advance the international justice system. hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

A milestone for justice in Libya. This week, a panel of three pretrial judges unanimously confirmed charges for 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri. The ICC’s decision to move its first Libya case to trial opens a long-awaited door to justice. Learn more: hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

Recent US attacks on the International Criminal Court are a concrete example of the "all-out assault" on the systems protecting democracy and human rights. HRW's Executive Director Philippe @Bolopion spoke to @FRANCE24 on these dangerous attacks ⤵️

On July 17, 1998, countries came together to found the #ICC, a court of last resort for victims seeking justice for the most serious crimes. This year, on International Justice Day, victims' access to justice is under threat as the #US escalates its attack on the rule of law.

3 years after #EU-#Tunisia deal, no end to violations of migrants rights & deepening of repression on critics. CSOs urge @vonderLeyen to reverse course. 🛑End abusive support 🌐Prioritize respect for rights 🆓Press for release of all detained critics hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

Today, Lebanon’s parliament is set to vote on a law abolishing the death penalty, putting Lebanon on the precipice of becoming the first country in the Middle East region to formally end capital punishment. hrw.org/news/2026/07/1… @hrw

Suppression of Ukrainian identity, promotion of anti-Ukraine propaganda, illegally compelling boys to register for the draft. Russian authorities in occupied Ukrainian territories are forcing Ukrainian children into a school system that violates their right to education and seems designed to destroy their Ukrainian national identity. New from HRW: bit.ly/4yow4lx

China is pressuring Thai authorities to turn over Chinese dissidents living in Thailand as Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visits China this week. The dissidents facing deportation are UN-recognized refugees. Concerned governments should press the Thai authorities to protect the rights of people seeking safety in Thailand.

"The targeting and arrests of booksellers in Hong Kong expose what the Chinese government fears most: free thinking. Beijing is trying to impose a world where people think only what the authorities permit." - HRW @YalkunUluyol france24.com/en/live-news/2…

📣 It's been three years since the EU and Tunisia signed a Memorandum of Understanding, largely motivated by seeking Tunisia’s cooperation in migration control. This partnership has fueled and normalized serious human rights violations. Read more: bit.ly/4fn1BeZ

Last week, thousands of Eritrean secondary school students graduated from Sawa military training center, marking the start of yet another generation entering into cruel indefinite national service. New @hrw hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

What happens when your island disappears? Academy Award–nominated actor and human rights advocate @MarkRuffalo has joined forces with Human Rights Watch, NowHere Media, and Agog to narrate "Solwata," a new immersive documentary spotlighting the human consequences of climate change in the Pacific nation of Solomon Islands. Drawing on Human Rights Watch research and the lived experiences of coastal communities confronting rising seas, displacement, and planned relocation, the 25-minute immersive experience invites audiences to walk alongside the communities of Solomon Islands as they grapple with the effects of devastating tides and rising sea levels. "Solwata," or "saltwater," in Solomon Islands Pidgin, was created by NowHere Media and co-produced by Agog and Human Rights Watch. The film will premiere at Venice Immersive, the immersive section of the Venice International Film Festival (September 2–12). Learn more: solwata.com

The expulsion of two officials from the EU Embassy in Burkina Faso is regrettable. The move appears aimed at shielding the junta from engaging on legitimate human rights issues. The junta has long stopped being accountable to its own people. It now refuses to be reliable with its international partners.

The Chinese government may be escalating its efforts to control Hong Kong people’s minds, but in a city where freedom is more than a memory, many remain steadfast in refusing silence. HRW's response to the recent targeting and arrests of booksellers: hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

The abuses documented at Fort Bliss are the predictable outcome of the Trump administration’s mass deportation agenda, its brutal expansion of immigration detention, and the erosion of federal oversight mechanisms. Read the full report: hrw.org/report/2026/07…

NEW: People held in the immigration detention camp at the US Army’s Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas have experienced serious abuse. In a new report, Human Rights Watch and the ACLU document conditions at the largest immigration detention facility in the United States. Read more: hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

Today, @FreedomHouse's @Gorokhovskaia & I are briefing @EP_HumanRights on needs of strong EU response to challenges #TransnationalRepression creates on #HumanRIghts globally. 🗓️ Today ⏲️ 5pm CET 📺multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstreamin… @HRW's 2024 report on TNR: hrw.org/report/2024/02…

🚨 @hrw: Governments should disregard the statement from Pres. Trump's Board of Peace that “@UNRWA has no place in the new Gaza,” the latest salvo in the US & #Israel government’s long-running campaign to destroy the life-saving Palestinian refugee agency. hrw.org/news/2026/07/1…

Note: Our original post uses the incorrect spelling of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero’s name, due to a misspelling in numerous media reports. We apologize for the error.

On July 13, Joan Sebastian Guerrero, a 26-year-old immigrant from Colombia with US work authorization, was shot dead by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in front of his toddler in Biddeford, Maine. Authorities should immediately carry out a comprehensive, transparent investigation into Guerrero's killing.