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Human Rights Watch released its annual World Report yesterday, which looks at the state of human rights in nearly 100 countries. But how do you sum up the condition of the world?
The answer: Carefully and with reams of research. It takes us four-plus months to create the World Report, following numerous discussions and debates about the most serious issues we face.
A great way to browse the World Report: country chapter by country chapter. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, you can read our summary of the human rights situation for scores of countries over the past 12 months. |
But it’s not just about what happened in 2022. It’s about how we can apply what we learned to 2023. And while the litany of human rights crises that unfolded in 2022 – from Ukraine to China to Iran – left behind a sea of human suffering, it also opened new opportunities for human rights leadership from countries around the world. And that’s where the hope comes in.
In her powerful introductory essay, “A New Model for Global Leadership on Human Rights,” HRW’s Acting Executive Director Tirana Hassan writes how 2022 revealed a “fundamental shift in power in the world that opens the way for all concerned governments to push back against…abuses by protecting and strengthening the global human rights system.”
As new crises arise or authoritarian governments deepen their assault on rights, new leaders have emerged. “The past year has demonstrated that all governments bear the responsibility of protecting human rights around the world,” Hassan said. “Against a backdrop of shifting power, there is more space, not less, for states to stand up for human rights as new coalitions and new voices of leadership emerge.”
We can see this theme play out across several crises over the past year. |
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“Pacific Island nations as a bloc have demanded more ambitious emissions reductions from those countries that are polluting the most,” Tirana wrote. Also, in Brazil, “President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has pledged to reduce Amazon deforestation to zero and defend Indigenous rights, and his ability to deliver on his climate and human rights commitments is critical for Brazil and the world.” |
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WATCH: Tirana Hassan on the launch of our 2023 World Report |
The United States Supreme Court may have stuck down the country’s federal protection for reproductive rights, but Latin America’s “Green Wave” – most notably in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico – has moved their governments towards protecting women’s rights. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, which has targeted civilian infrastructure and resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, captured the world’s attention. But one positive outcome was that Putin’s moves triggered the human rights system’s full arsenal, from the UN General Assembly suspending Russia from the Human Rights Council to the International Criminal Court opening an investigation into the conflict. Yes, the fighting continues. But now it’s clear that when the political will is available, the world can mobilize. |
As Tirana writes, “The protests in cities across China against the Chinese government’s strict ‘zero Covid’ lockdown measures show that people’s desires for human rights cannot be erased despite Beijing’s efforts to repress them.” |
The magnitude, scale, and frequency of human rights crises across the globe demonstrate the urgency of a new framing and new model for action. Centering our greatest challenges and threats to the modern world around human rights reveals not only the root causes of disruption but also offers guidance to address them.
Every government has the obligation to protect and stand up for human rights. It’s time they did so.
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Want to learn more? What is the state of human rights in your country? You can download a copy of the 712-page World Report here. And it’s free. |
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