North Korea: ‘lost decade’ of rights abuses
16/9/2025: A new UN report finds that the North Korean government has increased the use of surveillance, forced labor, and severe punishments over the past decade, maintaining “total control” over its population. The majority of the 19 recommendations made by a Commission of Inquiry in 2014 have not been implemented.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Democracy weakened as press freedom hits 50-year low
11/9/2025: The Global State of Democracy report for 2025 reveals a global trend of democracy under threat, with 54 per cent of countries falling in at least one key indicator in 2024. Freedom of the press suffered its most far-reaching fall in 50 years.
Source: International IDEA
UN human rights chief denounces “glorification of violence”
10/9/2025: Mr Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has warned that the long-established rules of war “are being shredded”, with virtually no accountability, coupled with a troubling erosion of international law. He reaffirmed that human rights are a beacon of hope in the search for a better world.
Source: Third World Network
No progress in Afghanistan without women’s freedom
8/9/2025: In recent weeks, the walls of the Afghan capital have been plastered with government reminders about its strict interpretation of Islamic rule, replacing colourful murals promoting women’s rights. After four years of Taliban rule women continue to live with fear, deprivation, and many restrictions.
Source: Inter Press Service
Anti-gay law shocks community in Burkina Faso
6/9/2025: Burkina Faso’s minister of justice and human rights has amended a law in order to impose a prison sentence of 2-5 years for those who “promote homosexuality”. The amendment is seen by many as part of a wider push across Africa to promote what are called “family values”, but which oppose abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.
Source: The Guardian
Iran unleashes wave of internal oppression
3/9/2025: Iran is waging a terrifying crackdown under the guise of national security in the aftermath of hostilities with Israel. Since 13 June, Iranian authorities have arrested over 20,000 people, including dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, social media users, and foreign nationals.
Source: Amnesty International
Afghan journalism under siege
28/8/2025: Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban government has imposed a wide range of media restrictions, including a ban on women appearing on state-run television and radio, prohibitions on covering protests or interviews critical of the government. Most Afghan women journalists have fled the country.
Source: Inter Press Service
Saudi Arabia: executions surge in 2025
11/8/2025: Saudi authorities have executed at least 241 people in 2025. The annual figure is likely to exceed all prior records if executions continue at the same rate. It is highly unlikely that any of those executed in 2025 received a fair trial.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Afghanistan: relentless repression 4 Years into Taliban rule
5/8/2025: The Taliban have deepened their repression since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, by intensifying restrictions on the rights of women and girls, detaining journalists, and silencing all dissent, according to Human Rights Watch. The country's humanitarian crisis is exacerbated by donor governments’ aid cuts and the return of 1.9 million refugees expelled from Iran and Pakistan.
Source: Human Rights Watch
UN funding crisis threatens work of Human Rights Council
11/7/2025: The UN Human Rights Council has expressed concern that certain activities mandated by the Council cannot be delivered due to a lack of funding. Virtually all the Council’s work has been affected, with investigations into rights abuses—for example in Sudan, Palestine, and Ukraine—reportedly operating at approximately 30-60 percent of capacity.
Source: Inter Press Service