Human Rights

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for de-escalation in Ethiopia as fighting intensifies across the country. The appeal urges all parties to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access amid rising violence. Observers say the renewed hostilities risk worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, drawing renewed international attention to Ethiopia's deteriorating security situation.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, citing alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. The updated list names businesses across sectors including construction, finance and tourism. The move is expected to draw sharp criticism from Israel and its allies, while Palestinian advocacy groups have welcomed the listing as a step toward corporate accountability.

An activist addressing the United Nations dismissed an interjection from Pakistan's delegation while highlighting human rights violations. The exchange, caught on video and circulating widely, shows the speaker refusing to yield when Pakistan raised a point of order, drawing significant attention online and renewed debate over Pakistan's stance on rights abuses it is accused of raising selectively.

Pope Leo opened his trip to France with a warning that an overreliance on technology, which he called a 'paradise of machines,' could undermine humanity. He urged people not to let machines diminish human dignity and relationships, adding his moral voice to the growing global debate over artificial intelligence and automation.

Venezuela has released dozens of prisoners, according to Newsday. The move follows a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Venezuela's interim leader. The release is being read in the context of ongoing political tensions over Venezuela's leadership and Washington's pressure campaign, though details on the prisoners' identities and the terms of the release have not yet been made clear.

Canada has announced a new round of sanctions against Iran, citing human rights abuses. The measures were reported on CTV National News for September 23, 2026. Further details about the individuals or entities targeted and Iran's response were not provided in the available coverage.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, over alleged violations of Palestinian human rights. The updated list names businesses across sectors including construction, technology and finance that the UN says are linked to settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel and the United States have long rejected the list, while rights groups welcomed the move as accountability for corporate involvement in the occupation.

The United Nations has added more than 60 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The move targets businesses deemed to be involved in activities supporting the settlements, which Israel disputes and much of the international community considers illegal. The decision is expected to draw strong reactions from Israel, the United States and human rights groups.

The United Nations has added 61 companies to its blacklist of firms operating in Israeli settlements, alleging they are involved in violations of Palestinian rights. The published list of businesses faces sharp criticism from Israel and pro-Israel groups, while human rights organisations have welcomed the move as a step toward corporate accountability in the occupied territories.

An evening news roundup from NTD reports two notable confrontations on September 24: a clash between Chinese media personnel and White House staff, and delegates walking out during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address. The bulletin ties both incidents to ongoing diplomatic tensions at a high-profile international gathering, with the walkouts drawing particular attention amid debate over the Gaza conflict.

Yemen's leader has publicly urged citizens to enlist and announced an amnesty for Houthi members who defect. The call comes amid ongoing conflict in Yemen and signals an attempt to weaken the Houthi movement from within while mobilising public support. The amnesty offer could encourage defections, though the group's response and any wider impact on the war remain to be seen.

Calls to abolish US Immigration and Customs Enforcement are gaining renewed momentum among activists and progressive groups. Supporters argue the agency has fostered widespread abuses in detention and deportation practices, and growing protests and organizing are pushing the idea further into mainstream political debate.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer pushed back against Democrats who have begun questioning the party's support for transgender rights, telling them plainly that she has 'never wavered' on the issue. Her comments put her at odds with voices in the party calling for a softer line, and position her as a firm defender of trans rights ahead of the next election cycle.

A coalition of human rights organisations has issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of Palestinian photojournalist Hamdi El-Zaeem, ahead of a trial hearing in his case. The groups say he has now spent ten years deprived of liberty, and are pressing for his freedom ahead of the court session.

Dozens of political and civil society activists are calling on the international community to formally recognise the killings of the Hazara people as a genocide. The appeal seeks official acknowledgment of persecution suffered by the Hazara minority, and supporters argue that international recognition would be a step toward justice and protection for the community.

Iranian opposition groups have signed a set of joint human rights principles at a gathering in Oslo. The agreement is intended to establish shared commitments to fundamental rights among Iran's disparate opposition movements. The signing is being reported by Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based organisation, though details of which groups took part and the specific principles adopted remain limited.

Former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa delivered an intervention at a forum titled "Rethinking Human Rights," arguing for a reconsideration of how human rights are framed and defended. His remarks have drawn wide attention, with tens of thousands engaging with coverage of the speech, as supporters welcome his critique and critics question his record on press freedom and judicial independence while in office.

Nigeria has started a review of its Child Rights Act, the landmark law adopted in 2003 to protect children's rights, including education, health and protection from exploitation and abuse. After more than two decades, officials and child-rights advocates are examining whether the legislation still reflects current realities, enforcement gaps and the challenges facing Nigerian children today.

Front Line Defenders has issued a joint statement calling on the government of Bahrain to ensure detained human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja receives adequate medical treatment and is granted access to respond to allegations made against him by Bahraini authorities. The statement urges compliance with the defender's basic rights while in custody.

An Iranian youth conference took place in New York, focusing on freedom, human rights, and the prospects for democracy in Iran. Young Iranians gathered to debate the country's political future and the promotion of basic rights. The event drew attention as discussions about Iran's democratic path continue to resonate among the diaspora and international observers.

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has drawn attention to the human rights situation of Tibetan children. Organisers highlighted concerns over education policies and family separation in Tibetan areas, urging UN member states to press China on the issue. The Central Tibetan Administration publicised the event, calling for international scrutiny.

Writers for Human Rights events in Valencia, Spain, have put the Palestinian cause at the center of their programme, according to Jaffa News Network. The gatherings bring writers together under a human rights framework, with Palestine given prominent focus. The reports drew attention across Arabic-language media, reflecting continued international cultural and literary engagement with the Palestinian issue amid the ongoing conflict.

Security forces have arrested Sardar Ramin in the city of Naqadeh in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, according to the Hana Human Rights Organization, which first reported the detention. No details have been released on the reasons for the arrest, the charges against him, or his current whereabouts. Human rights groups routinely report such detentions of Kurdish residents in the region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand announced new Canadian sanctions targeting Iranian officials during the UN General Assembly, framing the move as Canada standing for human rights. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the gathering in New York and signals Ottawa's continued pressure on Tehran over human rights concerns. The measure adds Canada to international efforts holding Iranian officials accountable.

Peru is appearing before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights over its failure to adequately protect isolated Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon. The case examines whether the state has met obligations to safeguard territories from incursions such as logging and drug trafficking. Rights groups say the outcome could set a precedent for how governments protect peoples in voluntary isolation across the region.

The UN human rights office has added 61 more companies to its blacklist of firms accused of violating Palestinian human rights through business ties to Israeli settlements. The move expands a list first published in 2020 and is expected to draw criticism from Israel and its allies, while rights groups welcomed the step.

The United Nations has added several major Israeli companies to a blacklist of firms linked to Israeli settlements, a move condemned by Israel and closely watched internationally. The listings concern companies operating in or tied to settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the UN considers illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects.

Pope Leo arrived in Paris, where he called on French leaders to protect the right to life. The appeal, made at the start of his visit to France, puts issues of human dignity and life at the center of his trip. The visit is drawing attention from both religious communities and French political circles, with observers watching how officials respond to the pontiff's message.