Statements

The Washington Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the exclusion of Afghan women from public life and the continued violation of their human rights. As the world marks International Women’s Day, it is critical to remember the plight of Afghan women who are facing increasing oppression and marginalization in their country. The Taliban’s […]

The Washington Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of Kem Sokha, the former president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Mr. Sokha has been held in pre-trial detention since September 2017, on charges of treason. His detention is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing opposition to the ruling party. […]

The Washington Center for Human Rights is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Nicaragua. We believe that the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) should renew the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua and the reporting mandate on Nicaragua of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights […]

Sheikh Turki bin Al-Hamidi Al-Dawish, a prominent member of the Otaiba tribe in Saudi Arabia, has been under arbitrary arrest since 14 May 2019. The arrest came shortly after he posted a tweet on his official Twitter account in which he expressed his protest against the detention of Sheikh Issa bin Salman Al-Ajmi, another member […]

Washington Center For Human Rights strongly condemns the Emirati authorities’ refusal to release 40 prisoners of conscience and their intentional determination to keep them detained notwithstanding the completion of their sentences. Many of them are members of the UAE94, a group of detainees who were detained in 2012 and convicted to jail terms ranging from […]

On June 21, 2017, Mohammed bin Salman became Crown Prince and de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia on behalf of his father, King Salman. In contrast to his claims of liberal reform, his highly centralised and dictatorial reign has been distinguished by ruthless repression and significant human rights violations. Since King Salman took the throne […]

Greetings, Mr. President. Given recent media reports that you would be visiting Saudi Arabia and meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we write to voice our great concern. Attempts to repair the United States’ relationship with the Saudi government without a genuine commitment to prioritize human rights are not only a betrayal of your […]

Thousands of protestors came to the streets of Tunis on Saturday to oppose President Kais Saied’s request for a vote on a new constitution, which would consolidate his hold on power. The rally was headed by Abir Moussi, the leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and mirrored rising resistance to Saied since he took executive […]

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken blasted efforts to stifle press freedom in numerous Latin American countries on Tuesday, saying the US wants to strengthen media safety in the area with the highest number of journalist deaths. Speaking at a press freedom event before of the Summit of the Americas, a regional conference aimed at […]

A mass shooter indoctrinated into bigotry and antisemitism on the internet committed another act of domestic terrorism yesterday at a Buffalo market. This brutal hate crime, which left 10 people dead and three injured, is just another illustration of how networks of racial fanatics influence one other, encouraging murder and domestic terrorism. Hate-based communities on […]

Israeli and Palestinian authorities must undertake an early, thorough, and open inquiry into the assassination of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the West Bank today. According to an Al-Jazeera report, a video of the aftermath of the shooting posted on Twitter by Al-Jazeera, and multiple news outlets, Abu Akleh, a prominent Palestinian-American correspondent for […]

At a time when democracy is under attack all across the world, American politicians should be concerned about the assault on Tunisia’s democratic institutions. The Biden administration should do a lot more to send a message to President Saied that international recognition and help would be conditional on democratic conduct. The United States and its […]

In March 2021, the Human Rights Council voted Resolution 46/2, which strengthened the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s monitoring mandate on the human rights situation in Nicaragua. On March 7, Bachelet delivered to the Council her Office’s (the OHCHR) written report, in which she concludes to a ‘pattern of egregious abuses of civil […]

The General Assembly has required that members of the Human Rights Council respect human rights and has created criteria and a mechanism to protect the Council. The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 member states chosen by the UN General Assembly’s 193 members. Members of the HRC are obligated by UN General Assembly […]

In view of the current humanitarian crises and violent conflicts in Cameroon, Washington Center for Human Rights encourages President Biden and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to grant Cameroon Temporary Protected Status (TPS). If compelled to return to their home country, an estimated 40,000 Cameroonians living in the United States face horrific violence, displacement, and death. […]

The House of Representatives passed House Bill No. 10576, known as the Human Rights Defenders Act, on its third and final reading on January 17, 2022. The proposed legislation was passed by 200 members of the House, with no abstentions or votes against it.  The House had previously accepted the Bill in 2019, but the […]

The Biden administration is contemplating an extended home detention and curfew pilot program for immigrants seeking asylum or other protection in U.S. immigration courts, according to Axios.  National Immigration Project (NIPNLG), National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), Detention Watch Network, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Black Alliance […]

Afghans who are at risk of being persecuted by advancing Taliban troops require immediate evacuation and international protection. Foreign countries should make obtaining visas and assisting in the safe transit of civilians who may be targeted for abuse by the Taliban due to their former employment or status, as well as their close family members, […]

In a case generally perceived as retaliation for Canada’s detention of a senior Huawei executive wanted by the US, a Chinese court sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in jail on Wednesday. Spavor was sentenced to prison for espionage and exporting state secrets overseas, according to the Dandong City Intermediate People’s Court. The […]

I n a case generally perceived as retaliation for Canada’s detention of a senior Huawei executive wanted by the US, a Chinese court sentenced Canadian businessman Michael Spavor to 11 years in jail on Wednesday. Spavor was sentenced to prison for espionage and exporting state secrets overseas, according to the Dandong City Intermediate People’s Court. […]

In response to the spiralling violence in Southeast Nigeria, security forces have committed a slew of human rights violations and crimes under international law, waging a repressive campaign that has included sweeping mass arrests, excessive and unlawful force, torture, and other ill-treatment since January. The armed group known as the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the […]

On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken talked with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, repeating a plea for human rights progress. Blinken and the Saudi minister discussed regional security, the attack last month on the tanker Mercer Street in the Arabian Sea, which Washington blames on Iran, and other regional matters, […]

With the parliamentary elections in Russia scheduled for September 19, every day brings new stories of arbitrary arrests, interrogations, and other attacks on critical voices. The Kremlin’s war on free expression claimed three fresh lives lately. After Roskomnadzor, the government’s communications regulatory organization, suspended their websites, independent news groups MBKh-Media, Open Media, and Open Rights […]