Worrying developments on civic space in France, where the govt is set to introduce a bill to address so-called "entryism." If adopted, it would further erode the country’s already shrinking civic space, giving authorities greater powers to dissolve NGOs and freeze assets www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...

Important intervention 👇

Young women who call Sweden home are being deported to countries where their rights, autonomy, and safety may be at risk. Sweden should halt these deportations and ensure return decisions comply with its human rights obligations. More from @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/news/2026/07... #WomensRights

#Germany's government plans to gut 🇩🇪's Freedom of Information Act. The right to seek & receive information, incl. civil society's & the media's access to public records, is an essential democratic safeguard which ensures political transparency & accountability. @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...

Hungary's new government is taking its first steps to address low pension levels and rising poverty among older people. I argue here that these announcements are positive, but that deeper pension reform should follow. Thanks @mercehu.bsky.social for the HU version. www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...

As NATO leaders meet in Ankara on 7-8 July, they will be greeted by a president who is using the courts to quash the main opposition party in ways that threaten democracy & human rights. That should matter to the alliance, my @hrw.org colleague Emma Sinclair-Webb explains www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...

Hungary’s parliament has voted to abolish the Sovereignty Protection Office, a Fidesz body that targeted independent journalists & civil society. It is a positive step towards restoring the rule of law and a rights-respecting culture in Hungary, @hrw.org says www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...

Around the world, authoritarian governments and illiberal leaders are targeting LGBT people to build popular support for their erosion of individual rights. https://bit.ly/4eyhDUi

Hungary's new government has made some positive strides to roll back the negative legacy of 15 years of Fidesz. But its rushed constitutional changes to force out the country's president and constitutional court chief undermine the rule of law, @hrw.org says www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

The arrest of at least 209 people in the Turkish capital, Ankara, ahead of the July 7-8, 2026 NATO summit there highlights Türkiye’s ruthless intolerance of freedom of speech and assembly, @hrw.org says www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

*New report by @hrw.org, (RE)CLAIM & MCDS* Did you know that French police use fixed penalty fines to harass & evict particularly boys perceived as Black/Arab/North African from public spaces in their neighborhoods & they end up trapped in debt before they turn 18? 👉🏽 www.hrw.org/report/2026/...

UK Home Office plans to experiment with facial age estimation technology on child refugees should be scrapped www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

The rule of law can seem abstract & disconnected from human rights protection. But it is vital for all of us to protect our rights from executive overreach. Read this helpful explainer from @commissionerhr.coe.int @fra.europa.eu, UN human rights and others fra.europa.eu/sites/defaul...

#TransnationalRepression has become a threat to human rights globally. @eudiplomacy.bsky.social & member states should step up efforts to: 🗺️Maps states responsible 🧰Use all foreign policy tools to hold them into account, suspend cooperation affected by TNR Our take: www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

Hungary's decision to stay in the ICC is a key moment in restoring rule of law in the country. It should also serve as a catalyst for consistent, unwavering support for international justice and the ICC in EU Council conclusions. @aliceautin.bsky.social for @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

In a vote on Wednesday, the European Union adopted deportation policies that portend ramped up racial profiling, lengthy detention, and deportations to third countries with terrible human rights records.

Human Rights Watch, (RE)Claim et la Maison communautaire pour un développement solidaire appellent les autorités françaises à supprimer trois contraventions utilisées à des fins de « harcèlement policier » contre des « jeunes Noirs et Arabes en France ».  Par @camillepolloni.bsky.social

#France : La police verbalise des infractions présumées à la tranquillité publique pour harceler des garçons et jeunes hommes perçus comme Noirs, Arabes ou Nord-Africains et les évincer de l'espace public dans leurs propres quartiers. Nouveau rapport de MCDS, (RE)CLAIM & HRW ⤵️

French police are using overbroad powers to issue on-the-spot fixed penalty criminal fines as a new tool for racial profiling, trapping young people in debt, @hrw.org, (RE)CLAIM, & Maison Communautaire pour un Développement Solidaire said in new research released today www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

Tom Bell, acting UK Director @hrw.org, reacts to today's Court of Appeal's ruling on the proscription of Palestine Action.

1/n Response below from @hrw.org to today's Court of Appeal judgment that the UK Home Secretary's proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was lawful: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026... The thread also has links to the judgment, @hrw.org research, and some legal commentary.

As Hungary begins to close the chapter on its anti-LGBT era by dropping criminal charges against Pride March organizers, Türkiye is moving in a sharply opposite direction with proposals to jail LGBT people. New from @denizbayram.bsky.social www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

Wondered why so much disorder recently had stemmed from social media posts? Wonder no more after reading my piece, with @judewebber.bsky.social, on how the loss of social media moderation has left officers scrambling to cope with the speed and reach of rightwing activists: as.ft.com/r/778f724a-b...

Fritware tile panel, painted in blue, turquoise, and moss green under a transparent glaze. Turkey, Iznik; c. 1540

🧵1/5 The appalling scenes of xenophobic violence that broke out on June 9 in #Belfast are a frightening reminder of how normalized racism & organized racist violence have become in the UK. A devastating knife attack should never be used to justify more violence. HRW's thoughts are with all victims.

More good news from Hungary as prosecutors announced on June 4 that they dropped charges against a mayor and a civic activist for their roles in organizing 2025 Pride events in Budapest and Pécs, citing an EU Court of Justice ruling on a Fidesz-era anti-LGBT law www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

This DIY collective punishment is all kinds of wrong. Solidarity with British Sikhs. Yours, a British Jew.

The recent decision by a Turkish court to remove Özgür Özel & the entire CHP leadership is part of a broader efforts by authorities to sideline the main opposition party in ways that profoundly undermine political rights and Türkiye’s democratic process, @hrw.org says www.hrw.org/news/2026/05...

Good news from #Hungary. Charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and #Pride organiser Géza Buzás Habel have been dropped after the EU Court ruled Hungary's "Child Protection Act" violates #EU law. A victory for democracy, courage, and the power of EU institutions

Glad to have been able to contribute to this important discussion.

1/4 Good news from Hungary. Prosecutorial authorities have dropped charges against people linked to organizing Pride 2025 events in Budapest and Pécs, who were facing prosecution including on evidently spurious "child protection" grounds. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤍🤎 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Important thread 👇

Turkish court removes leader of main opposition party CHP www.ft.com/content/c1dc...

We @hrw.org support this initiative led by friends at @justfairuk.bsky.social and the UK ESCR Network to draw attention to unfulfilled economic, social, and cultural rights promises in the UK. The UK government ratified the ICESCR 50 years ago. It is still not incorporated in domestic law.

The decision by a Norwegian appeals court on May 15 to block the extradition of a human rights defender, Tommy Olsen, to Greece is a victory for human rights, @hrw.org says. Greece should now revoke the warrant and drop all charges against Olsen and Panayote Dimitras www.hrw.org/news/2026/05...

Participated in of the better traditions of British (local) democracy today #dogsatpollingstations

In Britain, Jews are demonised—and too few care. Oped by @aloner.bsky.social in @prospectmagazine.co.uk The recent antisemitic attacks make plain what many already feared: Jews have become dehumanised as symbols of Israel’s actions www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/argument/731...

Very helpful analysis. Situating antisemitism in the UK (and beyond) in the wider context of racism is critical to ensuring effective responses to it, including from within civil society

Hungary's new government should follow through on its commitment to remain in the ICC, reversing the damaging course set by Viktor Orban, my @hrw.org colleague @aliceautin.bsky.social writes. Doing so would underscore its commitment to the rule of law. www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...

Environmental Activist’s Detention Undermines Türkiye’s Role as COP31 Co-Host www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...

"In Hungary, the independent media played a key role in bringing down the Orbán regime" Thoughtful analysis from @jpmarthoz.bsky.social and AL Kennedy voxeurop.eu/en/hungary-e...

Ahead of Chișinău declaration, @pace.coe.int committee calls on states to preserve the integrity of the ECHR system pace.coe.int/en/news/1026...

We’re sending our solidarity and support to Jewish communities after a frightening series of targeted antisemitic attacks. Jewish people, like everyone else, have the right to safety and belonging where they worship, work and live.

Proud to publish this view on Hungary from a Polish colleague. "As we learned, PiS left a staggering amount of traps and landmines for its successors — and many have proved impossible to defuse. Fidesz, which ruled for twice as long, has done the same in Hungary." www.occrp.org/en/feature/a...

Hungary: New Government Needs to Restore Rule of Law - Suspend Sovereignty Protection Office - End rule by decree - Restore assembly rights - Repeal laws used to target critics Latest from @hrw.org @lydsg.bsky.social A rights agenda for the incoming government www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...

Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power has ended in Hungary. The new government should act fast: end rule by decree, suspend Sovereignty Protection Office, drop politically motivated cases, guarantee peaceful protest, restore judicial independence, & meet EU rule of law milestones. Rights can’t wait.

A global majority adopted a landmark UN resolution to advance reparations for injustices linked to enslavement legacies. Who didn't vote in favor of the resolution? Many Global North countries facing calls for reparatory justice. The time for action is now. www.hrw.org/news/2026/03... @hrw.org

🚨My latest opinion piece on the conviction of 2 fellow UK civil society leaders Ben Jamal & Chris Nineham over peaceful protest 4 Gaza @thenewarab.bsky.social This is a warning sign for us all. If peaceful Gaza protest is criminal, what’s left of UK freedom? www.newarab.com/node/6906059

173 countries agree via the Child Soldiers Treaty that children should not be conscripted/used in wars. Good progress but more work to do. Here's why the future #CrimesAgainstHumanity Treaty should criminalize child recruitment and use: hrw.org/news/2026/04... #CAHTreatyNow

The SRA and over 100 organizations called on the IOC to abandon these plans