Navi Pillay, former UN human rights chief, wins Nobel Peace Prize

Former UN human rights chief and International Court of Justice judge Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

US unveils sanctions on ICC in move court condemns as ‘assault on rule of law’

The Trump administration has unveiled sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a significant acceleration of its attempt to “dismantle” what it sees as a “rogue” institution.

Tunisian journalists fear jail again as freedoms erode

Journalists in Tunisia who enjoyed a burst of press freedom after the 2011 Arab Spring are once again looking over their shoulders in the knowledge their work may land them in prison.

Human rights groups criticize uncontested election of 15 countries to top UN human rights body

Human rights groups sharply criticized Tuesday’s uncontested election of 15 members of the United Nations’ premier human rights body, saying it resulted in countries with poor rights records winning seats.

Iranian woman handed death sentence for ‘blasphemy’ in social media post

Human rights groups have raised the alarm over the growing number of death sentences and executions in Iran, after reports that a 23-year-old woman, Najmeh Amini, has been sentenced to death for blasphemy over a social-media post.

New UK sanctions powers will enable action against supporters of illegal Israeli settlements

The UK is expanding its sanctions powers to freeze assets and target entities enabling illegal Israeli settlements, obstructing humanitarian aid or unlawfully holding prisoners.

French policing under scrutiny as student protest injuries mount

Fourteen-year-old Eden suffered a broken jaw and multiple smashed teeth when he was struck by a tear gas canister directed towards him at close range by a police officer last week during student protests in France.

LGBTQ+ people go into hiding in Senegal as hundreds are arrested

Mass arrests, forced HIV testing and barriers to legal representation are part of an escalating crackdown against LGBTQ+ people in Senegal, according to a new report.

Cambodian Supreme Court Maximizes Sentence for Opposition Activist

Cambodia’s Supreme Court on October 14 denied opposition activist Voeung Samnang’s request to serve his two sentences concurrently, meaning he will spend 11 years in prison. Samnang had been convicted on charges of “plotting an attack on the state” and received sentences of five and six years.

India: UN rights office urges release of ‘arbitrarily detained’ protesters

The UN human rights office has voiced concern over reports of mass detentions in India of demonstrators, protest leaders, civil society members, lawyers and journalists, before and during large-scale protests in Delhi on Saturday.

‘At least 72’ miners killed in airstrike on Sudan-Egypt border

Sudanese human rights group Emergency Lawyers said at least 72 people have been killed in the attack, which happened on Saturday morning.

Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his wife appear in court on new torture charges

Prosecutors say Maduro directed officials to torture politicians and military personnel accused of plotting against him.

Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for man over Facebook comment, Sri Lanka says

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence handed to a Sri Lankan migrant worker over a comment he made on Facebook.

Israeli plan to reopen settler ‘Route 463’ threatens to isolate Ramallah

The move to open Route 463 for Israeli settlers threatens to isolate Palestinian villages and severely fragment the Ramallah governorate.

It’s time for Thailand to amend its controversial lese-majeste law

Jail terms for insulting a monarch have no place in a democracy.