Human Rights Watch

Working With Your Rapist as Your Supervisor? The Widespread Sexual Abuse of Women in Farm Work

Michelle Chen | Posted 05.29.2012

Michelle Chen

It should be no surprise that on America's farms, so many women are treated as less than human, since not even the government sees them as worthy of respect under the law.

Accessorizing Hate

Sarah O'Leary | Posted 05.29.2012

Sarah O'Leary

When we choose silence in the face of bigotry, we threaten the lifeblood of our Union. We've all experienced more than a few bigots in our lives. Th...

Congo M23 Rebels Tell Their Story

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.27.2012

Georgianne Nienaber

Is the Congolese government of Joseph Kabila using the international press to wage a propaganda war against the new rebel fighters in eastern Congo? This is possible and probable given the amount of disinformation disseminated by the foreign press in recent days.

Female Farmworkers Commonly Suffer Sexual Assault, Harassment

AP | TRACIE CONE | Posted 05.16.2012

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Female farmworkers across the United States are commonly sexually harassed and assaulted, in part because their immigration st...

Secret Prison Still Open In Baghdad, Human Rights Group Claims

Reuters | Posted 05.15.2012

By Barry Malone BAGHDAD, May 15 (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday Iraqi authorities were still running a jail they said ...

NATO Reportedly Underplayed Civilian Deaths In Libya

Reuters | Posted 05.14.2012

By Sebastian Moffett BRUSSELS, May 14 (Reuters) - NATO air strikes killed 72 civilians in Libya last year, Human Rights Watch said on ...

1500 Prisoners on Hunger Strike for Basic Rights: Could Hillary Say Boo?

Robert Naiman | Posted 05.10.2012

Robert Naiman

More than 1,500 prisoners are currently observing an open-ended hunger strike in defense of basic human rights. Is it possible that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton could say a few words about this situation?

U.S. and Rwanda Caught With Diplomatic Pants Down in Congo

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.05.2012

Georgianne Nienaber

Diplomacy is one thing; enabling is another. It seems Rwanda and the United States have been caught with their diplomatic pants down. Congolese and i...

Putting Women on the Agenda in Cartagena

Amanda Klasing | Posted 04.13.2012

Amanda Klasing

Several weeks ago, I was in Cartagena speaking with women who have suffered unspeakable acts of violence mere miles from where the region's heads of state will gather in lavish style.

Afghan Women, Culture, and Development

American Anthropological Association | Posted 04.09.2012

American Anthropological Association

As an anthropologist conducting research in Afghanistan, I find that whenever the gaze of the international media falls on Afghan women I feel uncomfortable.

Syrian Forces Shoot At Refugees In Turkey

AP | ZEINA KARAM | Posted 04.10.2012

By ZEINA KARAM -- The Associated Press KILIS, Turkey (AP) - Syrian forces fired across the border Monday into a refugee camp in Turkey, wounding at...

Seeing Signs of Progress in Cook County's Response to Sexual Assault

Rachel Durchslag | Posted 04.03.2012

Rachel Durchslag

According to Human Rights Watch, the arrest rate for sexual assault in Illinois is only 11 percent. There's good news to report on the law enforcement front.

Opposition Torturing And Executing Prisoners

Reuters | Posted 05.20.2012

By Oliver Holmes BEIRUT, March 20 (Reuters) - Armed opposition groups in Syria have kidnapped, tortured and executed members of the s...

Can Business Uphold Children's Rights?

David Mepham | Posted 05.15.2012

David Mepham

Despite a plethora of international initiatives on corporate social responsibility, none has focused exclusively on the impact of business on children's rights.

UN Implicates Obama Donor in Congo Gold Smuggling Scheme

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 05.13.2012

Georgianne Nienaber

The United Nations' accusations against Kase Lawal and CAMAC deserve a complete investigation. Congressional hearings might be a good place to begin.

Corporate Crime and Punishment

Arvind Ganesan | Posted 04.29.2012

Arvind Ganesan

Should corporations have immunity for human rights abuses? Today, the Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that will decide whether corporations will be exempted from a crucial law that allows foreign victims of serious human rights abuses to sue them in US courts for civil damages.

Bradley Manning, Solitary Confinement and Occupy 4 Prisoners

Bill Quigley | Posted 04.24.2012

Bill Quigley

One of the major complaints of prisoner human rights activists is the abuse of solitary confinement in prisons across the U.S.

Human Rights Watch: 65 Executed In Iraq So Far In 2012

AP | SAMEER N. YACOUB | Posted 04.10.2012

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi authorities executed at least 65 people in the first 40 days of 2012 for various offenses, including 14 on a single day, Human ...

The Dark Side of Côte d'Ivoire's Recovery

Matt Wells | Posted 04.01.2012

Matt Wells

It is high time for Côte d'Ivoire's international partners to show that in addition to standing with the Ouattara government, they stand with all the Ivorian crisis' victims.

Aging Prison Population Strains Tight State Budgets

AP | DAVID CRARY | Posted 03.28.2012

NEW YORK — In corrections systems nationwide, officials are grappling with decisions about geriatric units, hospices and medical parole as elder...

Is Isolation a Form of Torture? U.N. Expert Says It Is

Evelyn Leopold | Posted 03.27.2012

Evelyn Leopold

A lengthy solitary confinement can cause serious mental and physical damage and be considered torture, according to Juan Mendez, the United Nations rapporteur into torture.

U.S. Fueling Human Rights Abuses in Colombia in Violation of Its Own Laws

Dan Kovalik | Posted 03.26.2012

Dan Kovalik

Thus, Human Rights Watch just released its annual human rights report on Colombia, and it is not pretty. The punch line of the report is most damning of the United States and its role in that country's abysmal practices -- undoubtedly, the very worst of this hemisphere.

The Unfinished Revolution: We Must Stand Shoulder to Shoulder With the Egyptian Protesters

Bianca Jagger | Posted 03.26.2012

Bianca Jagger

The Egyptian peoples' revolution that began a year ago today must not be allowed to be hijacked by the military. The Egyptians, more than ever, need the support of the international community during this critical period, to achieve their goals.

World Report 2012: Strengthen Support for 'Arab Spring'

Human Rights Watch | Posted 03.23.2012

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch said that firm and consistent international support for peaceful protesters and government critics is the best way to pressure the autocrats in the Middle East and North Africa to end abuses and enhance basic freedoms.

What Happened to Congolese General Laurent Nkunda?

Georgianne Nienaber | Posted 03.21.2012

Georgianne Nienaber

Why is the U.S. propping up the regime of Rwanda's Paul Kagame as it continues to trample on the free speech of those opposing his rule? Look no further than the new state of the art embassy in Kigali.