Human Rights Watch warns global human rights system is at risk

Human Rights Watch Releases Annual Report Highlighting Global Human Rights Concerns

The non-governmental organization (NGO) Human Rights Watch has released its annual World Report 2026, which warns that the global system of human rights is facing significant challenges. According to the report, 72 percent of the world’s population lives under “autocracy,” and the rules-based international order is being threatened by the actions of major powers.

The report highlights the United States, China, and Russia as countries with leaders who have expressed disdain for human rights norms. The US government has been accused of undermining key pillars of democracy and the global rules-based order, including the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers in detention facilities. The report also notes that the Trump administration has been marked by blatant disregard for human rights and egregious violations.

The report specifically mentions the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns about acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity committed by Israeli forces. The organization has also criticized the US government’s plans for Gaza, which it says would be tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

In addition, the report highlights human rights abuses in Ukraine, including indiscriminate bombing, coercing Ukrainians into serving in the Russian military, systematic torture of prisoners of war, and the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. The report notes that these actions have not been met with sufficient condemnation from the international community.

Human Rights Watch is calling on governments, social movements, civil society, and international institutions to form a strategic alliance to push back against the trend of human rights abuses.

Source: Al Jazeera