Human rights violations
Australian lawmakers call for Julian Assange’s release ahead of extradition appeal

The motion in parliament, which was supported by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has called for the return of imprisoned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to his family in Australia. Assange is days away from a final court hearing in the UK against his extradition to the US.

“Don’t vote for a kidnapper!”: Indonesians demand justice and an end to impunity

The legacy of the bloody Suharto dictatorship and its victims still marks political life in Indonesia, especially as the country gears up for elections in early 2024

Palestinian prisoners in Israel Israel escalates violence against Palestinian prisoners, rights groups warn of “campaign of assassination and torture”

Occupation forces are conducting mass arrest campaigns in the West Bank and Jerusalem and escalating horrific abuse of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails

El Salvador authorizes mass trials of up to 900 prisoners

The country’s congress approved a reform to the Law Against Organized Crime which human rights organizations say creates an “arbitrary justice system”

UNHRC Res against sanctions UN Human Rights Council condemns impact of unilateral sanctions

The resolution presented by Azerbaijan on behalf of Non-Aligned countries noted the impact of sanctions on key rights related to life, health, and freedom from hunger. It was predictably rejected by the US and its allies

Ghana military violence Brutal military raid in Accra suburb spurs calls for accountability in Ghana 

One person is reported to have died days after Ghanaian soldiers invaded Taifa, brutalizing residents and arresting 184 people. The military claimed that the raid was an “intelligence-led operation” in response to the alleged killing of a soldier in the area 

Rohingya refugee camp fire Bangladesh Thousands of Rohingya refugees rendered homeless in Bangladesh after massive fire

At least 2,000 makeshift houses were damaged in the blaze, forcing thousands to flee from the refugee camp in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar

US sanctions against Venezuela renewed US renews “national emergency” against Venezuela, keeping brutal sanctions in place

President Joe Biden has renewed the Obama-era Executive Order 13692 against Venezuela, citing an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security. The measure has been used to impose an illegal sanctions regime targeting the socialist country, its people, and its economy

Aviation fuel sold to Myanmar junta Myanmar’s junta is acquiring new supplies of aviation fuel despite war crimes, says report

A new report by rights groups has identified more companies—including India’s Reliance Industries Ltd and Greece’s Sea Trade Marine—involved in aviation fuel transactions to Myanmar’s junta

Indonesian court convicts soldiers for killing and mutilation of West Papuans

The rare conviction by a military court for the gruesome killing of four Papuans in August was welcomed by civil society groups and rights advocates

Syria earthquake Cuba, Venezuela and China are rushing aid to earthquake-hit Syria. US can’t even fully withdraw sanctions

The US Treasury has issued a 180-day waiver on certain sanctions imposed on Syria to allow for earthquake relief. However, the US and its allies have yet to offer meaningful assistance to Syria even as Venezuela, China, Palestine, and others have dispatched aid and specialists

IACHR declares Colombian State responsible for extermination of left party

This follows the Special Jurisdiction for Peace from 2022 determining that during the genocide perpetrated against the party, nearly 6,000 people were murdered or disappeared