Human Rights Watch Calls for New International Law on White Phosphorus Weapons
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (HRNW) — Human Rights Watch and the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School have called for stronger international law regulating white phosphorus munitions, warning of their devastating consequences for civilians. In a report released September 9, the organizations documented 23 verified incidents of Israeli use of white phosphorus in…
UNICEF Warns Digital Technology Is Enabling Widespread Sexual Exploitation of Children
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (HRNW) — UNICEF has warned that technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse is affecting millions of children, urging governments, technology companies and communities to strengthen protections for children online. A UNICEF report published September 3 estimated that 20 million children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced at least one form…
MSF Decides Not to Launch Emergency Medical Mission in Nepal as Immediate Needs Stabilize
KATHMANDU, NEPAL (HRNW) — Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has decided not to launch a major emergency medical response in Nepal after assessing communities and health facilities affected by the country’s devastating August flash floods. MSF said on September 8 that its teams had assessed Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, among the areas worst affected by the…
Human Rights Watch Calls for Global Action as Cluster Munition Civilian Casualties Rise
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (HRNW) — Human Rights Watch is calling for renewed international action to protect civilians from cluster munitions, warning that rising civilian deaths and injuries demonstrate the continuing humanitarian danger posed by the weapons. In a September 8 statement, Human Rights Watch said the increase in civilian casualties from cluster munitions should prompt the…
Human Rights Watch Urges Germany to Confront UAE Role in Sudan and Rights Concerns at Home
BERLIN, GERMANY (HRNW) — Human Rights Watch has called on Germany’s leadership to confront alleged abuses connected to the United Arab Emirates’ role in Sudan while also addressing human-rights concerns inside Germany. In a statement published September 8, Human Rights Watch urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and other German officials to address the…
Amnesty Says Meta Failed to Stop Anti-LGBTI Content Targeting Hungarian Users
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (HRNW) — Amnesty International has accused Meta of failing to adequately protect Hungarian users from anti-LGBTI content on Facebook, warning that online platforms continue to play a major role in enabling discrimination and hostility against marginalized communities. In a new report published September 8, Amnesty said it investigated anti-LGBTI content on Facebook and…
Republic of Congo Faces Dual Public-Health Threat From Cholera and Ebola Risk
The Republic of the Congo is confronting a dual public-health challenge, with an ongoing cholera outbreak alongside heightened preparedness for the potential spread of Ebola. A UNICEF humanitarian flash update published in September said the country continues to face the two threats simultaneously, placing additional pressure on health services and emergency-response systems. UNICEF is supporting…
WHO Warns Smoking May Reduce Chances of Having a Baby
The World Health Organization has issued a new public-health warning that tobacco smoking may reduce the chances of conception, highlighting reproductive health as another major area affected by tobacco use. WHO’s new knowledge summary says smoking can harm reproductive health and may affect fertility among people trying to conceive. The agency is using the new…
WHO South-East Asia Ministers Adopt Dili Declaration on Health Workforce
Health ministers from the WHO South-East Asia Region have adopted the Dili Declaration on Human Resources for Health, calling for stronger action to improve access to specialized healthcare and address shortages of health professionals. WHO said the declaration focuses on improving equity in specialized care and strengthening health-workforce capacity across the region. The agreement comes…
IAEA Chief Urges Iran to Restore Nuclear Cooperation Amid UN Referral Pressure
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is facing renewed pressure over access to Iran’s nuclear programme, with Director General Rafael Grossi urging Tehran to restore effective cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. The warning comes as Western governments push for renewed international action over what they describe as Iran’s failure to provide sufficient information and…