Rights suppressed, threatened worldwide, group says

Human Rights says human rights are being suppressed and challenged around the world last year as a series of wars began, climate disasters increased, economic inequality worsened and discrimination against marginalized communities continued.・Watch (HRW) declared.

In a new report, the global human rights-focused non-governmental organization calls for “the urgency, vigor and tenacity needed to address the existential challenges posed to people around the world.” He called on governments to protect and defend human rights.

“We only need to look at the human rights agenda of 2023 to see what needs to change in 2024.” said the report.

The report highlighted the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people as Israel continues its operations in the lead-up to the October 7 attack on Hamas. The conflict has killed more than 23,000 people and displaced civilians, putting them at risk of infectious disease and starvation.

The report condemns governments that have spoken out against certain international crises, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine, and blames crimes committed by other governments, including China's “crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.” Didn't criticize.

“When governments choose which duties to enforce, they perpetuate inequities against those whose rights have been sacrificed, not only now but in the future.” HRW wrote.

The report criticizes the actions of various governments around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Vietnam, Australia, and European countries, targeting climate activists and creating “vague laws” that prevent them from fighting. It was criticized for causing “abuse of the public.” crisis.

Deadly wildfires ripped through parts of Canada and Europe as governments struggled to cope with the world's hottest year on record. The storm wreaked havoc on millions of people in Bangladesh and Libya, HRW wrote.

Despite the deterioration of human rights last year, HRW said progress had been made on many fronts, thanks to institutions “challenging those who wield political power.” The group called on international governments to increase support for organizations that strengthen human rights protections.

“These human rights crises demonstrate the urgency for all governments to apply the long-standing and mutually agreed principles of international human rights law everywhere,” HRW wrote. “Consistently defending human rights, no matter who the victim is or where the violation occurs, is the only way to build the world we want to live in.”