Author: Nayan Bansal September 22, 2026 HRRC stands with the victim and adheres to the human rights principles of equality and dignity of the individual. HRRC also reaffirms its commitment to protect the rights of women and eliminate all forms of violence based on gender and sex, as enshrined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Village of Bansara, India [Image credit: Roshan Bhagora/Wikimedia Commons] On September 1st, a

Author: Kaitlyn V. Andres, MS, MPH September 22, 2026 An unhoused individual looks for their belongings as the City of Knoxville bulldozer approaches to start an encampment sweep underneath the I-40 viaduct in Knoxville, TN. [Image credit: Shawn Griffith] Introduction Housing insecurity is on the rise in the United States. The 2025 Point-In-Time (PIT) count estimated about 745,000 homeless individuals, with about 266,000 of them unsheltered. These figures have increased subst

Author: Maya Mortenson September 21, 2026 HRRC condemns the continued use of torture, arbitrary detention, and repression found in Venezuela. We call on the government of Venezuela to end all uses of torture, shut down state facilities that are sites of human rights abuses, hold officials associated with human rights abuses accountable, and dismantle armed civilian groups that surveil and repress communities. [Image credit: Renan Braz/Pexels] A fact-finding mission establish

Author: Srijita Mukherjee September 21, 2026 HRRC believes that visitors must respect the laws, cultural norms and local communities when visiting Thailand. HRRC acknowledges the four demands made during the public protest which stress the importance of following the law, working with law enforcement, investigating properties and respecting international law. HRRC urges the Israeli Embassy and other relevant authorities to meet their responsibilities by setting clear guidelin

Author: Pragya Verma September 20, 2026 HRRC supports the right of people with disabilities to have an adequate standard of living and access to social protection and financial assistance. HRRC recognises the importance of equality and social inclusion for people with disabilities. [Image credit: Dibikar Roy/Unsplash] People with disabilities held a statewide protest across Tamil Nadu in southern India on September 7, 2026. In Chennai, over 400 people protested at the Commiss

Author: Maria Fe Mendoza September 19, 2026 HRRC condemns the killing of Ecuadorian journalist and fixer René Cobos and calls for a prompt, independent, and effective investigation into his murder. His death highlights the risks faced by journalists and media workers covering organized crime in Latin America, particularly in areas where criminal groups exert significant influence. Ensuring accountability and strengthening mechanisms to protect journalists are essential to pre

Author: Aahana Nagwekar September 18, 2026 HRRC condemns the blatant suppression of freedom of speech by high-level institutions in response to criticism by their citizens. Crimes like persecution and wrongful imprisonment must be directly addressed, with Belarusian institutions taking accountability for unjust actions. [Image credit: Wikimedia Commons] A panel of independent United Nations experts has concluded that Belarusian state institutions, such as courts, police, sec

September 18, 2026 Note: The writer prefers to use the lower case “c” and “p” to challenge the authorities of the Chinese communist party. HRRC condemns the detention of Minnie Chan and expresses deep concern about her safety and wellbeing. HRRC urges China to follow its laws and reveal her status, location, and the nature of any charges. Portrait of Minnie Chan from her Facebook [Image Credit: Voice of America] On September 14, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published a ne

Author: Sheikh Sibghat Ullah September 17, 2026 The 2024 Bangladesh protest movement at Central Shaheed Minar. [Image creidt: Nahidhasan027/Wikimedia Commons] I. The Internet as Human Rights Infrastructure Internet access is not generally recognized as a standalone human right. It is, however, a major instrument for the enjoyment of freedom of expression and other such rights. Nowadays, digital connectivity is essential for daily life, such as communication, education, employ

Author: Ryan Kemp, JD September 16, 2026 [Image credit: Jim Pennucci/Flickr] Introduction The City of Fontana in the state of California enacted two ordinances that directly affected street vendors in the city. These new ordinances disproportionately affected individuals in the immigrant and low-income street vendor communities. The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (the coalition) brought suit against the City of Fontana and 4LEAF Inc., arguing that these ordinances vio

September 15, 2026 Podcast Host: Nick Van Zandt, Founder and Executive Director, Unruled Masses Podcast Guest: Deanna Wilken, Founder and President, Human Rights Research Center In observance of International Day of Democracy, Human Rights Research Center and Unruled Masses team up for a special podcast episode unpacking global democratic backsliding, systemic human rights rollbacks, and the fight to take democracy back. [Image credit: Beth Fitzpatrick via Pexels] Summary Glo

Author: Bashir Wako September 15, 2026 HRRC calls on Zambian authorities to provide the affected individuals with the specific reasons for each passport cancellation and ensure that any restrictions are based on clear legal grounds and subject to the safeguards provided by law. National security should not be used as a blanket justification for restricting fundamental rights without clear reasons and due process. [Image credit: Global Residence Index/Unsplash] Zambia has canc

Author: Maria Fe Mendoza September 12, 2026 HRRC recognizes the Trujillo attack as a serious indication of the erosion of state authority in Peru. The ability of criminal groups to impersonate state agents, alongside persistent weaknesses in police oversight and the justice system, highlights growing challenges to public trust and accountability. Addressing this crisis requires strengthening institutions, ensuring effective oversight, and restoring the state’s capacity to pro

September 11, 2026 The writer prefers to use lower case "n" to. challenge the authority of north Korea. HRRC calls on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to stop the mistreatment of its people and to shut down the detention facilities. HRRC also urges China to grant refugee status to north Koreans under the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. North Korean students [Image Credit: Roman Harak via Flickr] On August 28, the Seoul District Court ruled in favour

Author: Aahana Nagwekar September 10, 2026 HRRC condemns the spike in ethnic violence that has resulted in the death of innocent civilians. The local state government must take action to protect ethnic communities and enforce the rule of law. [Image Credit: Jakfoto Productions/Flickr] Over the weekend, Human Rights Watch confirmed revived ethnic violence in Manipur, India over the past two months. In August of 2026, seven people were killed during inter-tribal conflict betwee