Lena Simet

As the US government shutdown drags on, SNAP—the country's largest food assistance program—is set to halt benefits Saturday, cutting off benefits for 42 million people.

My @hrw.org colleague @jackspehn.bsky.social explains what’s at stake and why Congress must act.👇

Welfare cuts are fuelling far right rise, warns UN expert NEW YORK – The rolling back of protections for people living in poverty has created fertile ground for far-right movements across the world, warned the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human ...

Social protection is a human right.

In a new report, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights @deschuttero.bsky.social warns that weakening social protection fuels the rise of far-right populism.

Read more:

This new report couldn’t be more timely as we see austerity and welfare cuts drive anger and division. UN expert @deschuttero.bsky.social warns that weakening social protection fuels the rise of far-right populism. 👇

Yet another Gen Z–led protest over #inequality, unemployment, and economic policies that fail the majority — this time in #Morocco. Demands are clear: better healthcare, education & social protection. Morocco spends billions on stadiums for the 2030 #FIFA World Cup, while social spending lags.

📢 EU Billionaires’ wealth surges by over €400bn in first half of 2025.

That’s over €2bn a day.

🔗https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/eu-billionaires-wealth-surges-over-eu400-billion-first-half-2025

#TaxTheRich

Morocco: Protests Met with Repression, Violence Moroccan authorities have cracked down on youth-led protests demanding sweeping reforms to public services, resulting in deaths and mass arrests.

Morocco's youth have clear-cut demands for better healthcare, education & end to corruption. If the government can fund state-of-the art stadiums, it can afford to fund its healthcare.

Calls for reform should not be met with repression, lethal force @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Happening today!

Join us in person at @hrw.org's DC office — or online — for a discussion on Alternatives to Austerity, held on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings.

🕔 5pm ET
📍 RSVP to join in person: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

💻 Join online: bit.ly/494BZ51

Low tax revenues helped drive Sri Lanka to economic crisis. New report by @hrw.org’s @sarahsaadoun.bsky.social on how tax policies favoring companies & the wealthy have for decades been undermining human rights, including to education www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Sri Lanka: Ruinous Tax Policies Stoke Inequality Sri Lanka’s tax policies played a driving role in the country’s devastating 2022 economic crisis and have contributed to the chronic underfunding of education and other public services.

Today, @hrw.org released the 1st major report on tax, documenting how policies that favor the rich drove Sri Lanka into economic crisis & starved its public education system. UN tax treaty negotiations are historic chance to address a root cause. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

As the 2025 World Bank #AnnualMeetings open today, a new @hrw.org report finds IFC-backed microfinance in #Cambodia has driven millions—mostly people living in poverty—into debt through predatory lending, leading to land loss, child labor, and debt-driven suicides.

www.hrw.org/report/2025/...

Rights Should Guide Welfare ‘Reform’ Debate in Germany The partners in Germany’s governing Christian Democrat-Social Democrat coalition have been sparring over the contents of a planned replacement of the Citizen’s Income social security benefit, with a “...

I am reading reports that the German coalition has agreed the main parts of its welfare "reform" package. Details still emerging.

This shift toward a more punitive logic and harsher sanctions will come at the cost of human rights.

I explain more in this recent piece.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

QUOTE CARD with text “The German government’s plans to punish some social security recipients with severe cuts to support demonstrates contempt for their human rights. This harsh approach will increase poverty, erode social cohesion, and push many into destitution." Kartik Raj, Senior Europe Researcher

The German government's plan for social security "reform" is bad news for #humanrights.

I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

One to watch for the ESCR nerds out there.

The first complaint from Germany to the UN CESCR, since the country relatively recently (Apr 2023) accepted the Optional Protocol to the ICESCR.

Focused on withdrawal of benefits from some asylum-seekers.

⬇️

The new rush on minerals carries massive human rights risks and has already caused harm to people and planet.

Colombia’s initiative at #UNEA7 is a chance to change course. With 50+ partners, we @hrw.org encourage Colombia to pursue its goal for a global binding agreement on mineral supply chains.

A single mother in low-wage work shows her monthly household budget to Human Rights Watch during an interview, Baden-Württemberg, February 2023. © 2023 Kartik Raj/ Human Rights Watch

Germany’s government is set to make major social security cuts, and replace the only recently-created “Citizen’s Income” with a more punitive “New Income for Jobseekers”.

These plans will increase poverty.

Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

New Jersey's proposed rule codifying the ABC test is a critical step toward addressing worker misclassification - including in the platform economy, where millions are denied their rights.

@hrw.org strongly supports the rule by @njlabordept.bsky.social. Read our letter: www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

YouTube video by SEIU California With These Hands / Intro

Whether they perform surgery, pick fruit or tobacco, teach children, play music, or pack meat, immigrants' hands deserve dignity: not human rights violations.
#ConEstasManos #WithTheseHands

HRW shares this video in solidarity: www.youtube.com/watch?v=REXq...

Un nuevo proyecto de ley podría frenar la explotación laboral en el trabajo a través de plataformas en EE. UU La economía gig se rige por reglas ocultas. Cada día, millones de trabajadores en Estados Unidos se conectan a aplicaciones como Uber, DoorDash y Amazon Flex para ganarse la vida, sin saber cuánto se ...

⚖️ Justicia laboral para los trabajadores de plataforma.

Cada día, millones de trabajadores en EEUU se conectan a aplicaciones como @Uber, @DoorDash y @AmazonFlex para ganarse la vida, sin saber cuánto se les pagará, cómo se asignan los trabajos o si pueden ser expulsados
www.hrw.org/es/news/2025...

The new bill would require weekly pay statements & per-job receipts. It also:
🛑 Bans discriminatory pay based on demographic data.
💻 Limits algorithmic control.
📊 Mandates transparency to the Dept of Labor.
💪 Preserves stronger local/state protections.

Congress should support it.

In a survey with platform workers in Texas, @hrw.org found that workers make $5.12/hr after expenses, that's 70 percent below a living wage. Some make nothing at all. No health care, paid leave, or unemployment protections. Many are laid off without notice, explanation, or recourse.

The Empowering App-Based Workers Act, introduced by @schatz.bsky.social & Senator Chris Murphy, would require platform companies to disclose how they use algorithms to manage, pay, assign, and suspend workers. It would guarantee ridehail drivers at least 75% of each fare.

The gig economy runs on hidden rules. A new bill in the US Congress could help change that and start protecting the workers powering platforms like #Uber, #DoorDash & #AmazonFlex.

Read more @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/news/2025/07....

A 🧵

Check out @nelp.org's new piece on #AmazonFlex's labor model - yet another reminder of what happens when platform workers are misclassified and subject to algorithmic management: sub-minimum wages, inadequate benefits, and virtually no job protections.
www.nelp.org/insights-res...

Revised UK Social Security Bill Still Harms Rights The UK government’s draft law to cut spending on disability-related social security triggered major opposition from within the ruling party, forcing the government to roll back some of the legislation...

As the #UCBill (without PIP) returns to UK Parliament for its third (and final?) reading, my post for @hrw.org

www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

The watered-down version of the Bill will still negatively affect many with disabilities and long term health conditions. The government should scrap it.

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu" 🍽️.

Why is #FFD4 important for human rights - and how can human rights contribute to reshaping global economic rules to make it fairer?

Our very own @mcconnell_m makes it very clear just 1️⃣ minute below.

40% of Guatemalans don’t have running water in their homes. Our new @hrw.org report shows deep inequalities in access, disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities. A water law is a first step toward tackling the crisis—& advancing justice 👉 www.hrw.org/report/2025/...

We can’t ignore the human rights impacts of budget cuts & austerity.

As Attiya Waris put it: “There’s blood on the budget lines.”

Check out her new think tank working to reimagine global financial governance: house-of-fiscal-wisdom.com

Powerful @endausterity.bsky.social panel at #FFD4 on alternatives to budget cuts for investing in universal social protection & public services.

The most common austerity measure? Slashing social protection—replacing universal programs w narrow, means-tested safety nets. @isabelortiz.bsky.social

UK accused of hypocrisy at landmark UN foreign aid conference Experts at the fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) say the UK cannot talk up its role in helping developing nations while cutting aid commitments

The UK government hasn’t really covered itself in glory over the past couple of weeks in terms of human rights in the domestic political agenda.

Let’s see how things are going on the international stage …

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

US: Budget Would Benefit Wealthiest at Expense of Rights The budget reconciliation bill passed by the United States Senate today would extend tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the country’s wealthiest families while reducing spending on health and ot...

“It’s appalling that President Trump ran on a campaign to fix the economy but is delivering a budget that makes ordinary people pay with their health for tax breaks for millionaires” @mattcconnell.bsky.social @hrw.org on the catastrophe of a budget the senate just passed www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...