UN-backed team focusing on human rights in Palestinian areas announce resignations

Three independent experts working for the UN’s top human rights body who focus on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories have announced their resignations, citing personal reasons and a need for change.

North Korea’s Benidorm-style resort welcomes first Russian tourists

A new beach resort in North Korea, criticised by human rights groups for the harsh treatment of construction workers, has welcomed its first group of Russian tourists this week.

UN human rights office urges ceasefire after Russia attacks kill dozens in Ukraine

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an urgent ceasefire on Tuesday, following a series of large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks on densely populated Ukrainian cities, which resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to protected infrastructure.

Brazil passes ‘devastation bill’ that drastically weakens environmental law

President has 15 days to approve or veto legislation that critics say will lead to vast deforestation and destruction of Indigenous communities.

Rights groups say the ban of YouTube channels in Pakistan is an attack on press freedom

The current government in Pakistan has been accused of cracking down on all forms of dissent and political opposition in the country by misusing state institutions.

Caster Semenya did not get fair hearing in sex eligibility case, human rights court rules

The original case between Semenya and World Athletics was about whether athletes like herself, who have specific medical conditions, a typical male chromosone pattern and naturally high testosterone levels, should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

Sweden Summons Georgian Diplomat Over Human Rights Concerns

On July 11, the Georgian chargé d’affaires was summoned to the Swedish Foreign Ministry, “where a senior official expressed serious concern regarding the human rights situation in Georgia,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard wrote in a social media post.

Germany’s top court throws out complaint about US drone attacks via Ramstein base

Satellite infrastructure in southwestern Germany is used in American strikes.

Violence in the Name of Cows: The ‘Animal Welfare’ Groups That Beat Up Truck Drivers in India

They describe themselves as “cow protectors” or “gau rakshaks” in Hindi. On social media, they often post about carrying out charitable work such as operating ambulances for sick or injured cows, feeding stray animals and distributing food to people.

Saudi takeover of gaming industry leaves little room for dissent

Saudi Arabia’s takeover of the gaming industry was on full display this week at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The tournament, which sees thousands of players compete in dozens of video games for a share of a $70m prize pot, is the latest of more than 100 major sporting events staged by the Gulf state in the past six years.

How movements to redress colonial harms can work better together

Initiatives to redress the lasting impacts of colonialism, operate in many and varied social and political contexts. Cira Palli Aspero, Elke Evrard and Tine Destrooper present a new project, RedressHub, which aims to utilise the scale of machine learning tools and careful co-creation to create shared resources and networks for redress movements across Europe.