Philippe Dam

Burkina Faso Releases Conscripted Journalists, Activist Earlier in July 2025, Burkina Faso authorities released five journalists and a human rights activist who had been unlawfully conscripted into the military after criticizing the country’s military junt...

#BurkinaFaso
5 journalists+1 activist released after they had been unlawfully conscripted into the military for criticizing the junta. Positive step, but also a stark reminder of others still missing, some since 2024, with no hint as to their whereabouts, @hrw.org

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

🚨 Israeli forces have killed hundreds of starving Palestinians seeking food in Gaza. These are not isolated incidents; these are war crimes. Our latest investigation lays out the evidence. #Gaza #WarCrimes
🔗 www.hrw.org/news/2025/08...

2️⃣On July 10, the #ICC Deputy Prosecutor will brief the UN Security Council on the Office of the Prosecutor’s work on #Darfur.

The briefing comes as horrific atrocities continue with devastating consequences for civilians in Sudan’s Darfur: www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

EU Should Act Against El Salvador’s Dismantling of Democracy In June, the European Union, for the first time, raised concerns about El Salvador’s deteriorating situation at the UN Human Rights Council. The European Parliament then held a debate on President Nay...

For the first time, the #EU raised concerns about #ElSalvador at the Human Rights Council, spotlighting President Bukele's escalated crackdown.

But more is needed. EU should use its human rights toolbox strategically to foster positive change & ensure accountability. 🧵

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

EU’s Rights Dialogue with China Still Going Nowhere This year marks some big numbers for the European Union-China relationship: it is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations and the 40th iteration of the annual human rights dia...

The EU and China hold their annual “human rights dialogue” tomorrow. It’s a yearly meeting of meaninglessness, a way to demote the topic of China’s extreme human rights abuses & separate them from bilateral talks on trade & other issues where the EU might have leverage.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

36 years on, and the Chinese government still seeks to erase the memory of the June 1989 #TiananmenMassacre.

World leaders should renew pressure on Beijing to acknowledge the Tiananmen Massacre and provide reparations to victims' families. bit.ly/3FjDLD6

Sudan: Armed Forces Airstrikes in South Darfur The Sudanese Armed Forces used unguided air-dropped bombs to carry out attacks in residential and commercial neighborhoods in Nyala, South Darfur in early February 2025, Human Rights Watch said today....

New @hrw.org research: Airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces using unguided bombs killed and injured scores of civilians, including children, in residential areas of Nyala, South Darfur, in February. Five strikes in 40 minutes on Feb 3 alone. www.hrw.org/preview-link...

The EU faces a moment of truth. Will it follow through on trade sanctions on Israel – or slide into irrelevance? | Martin Konečný A human rights review of EU-Israel ties is under way. The results will be significant for both the war and Europe’s reputation, says Martin Konečný, head of the European Middle East Project

Europe's pressure-free dialogue with #Israel has completely failed

To step out from self-imposed irrelevance and try to prevent ethnic cleansing and annexation, the #EU must impose real costs on Israel's crimes, suspend the bilateral deal

@martinkonecny.bsky.social: theguardian.com/commentisfre...

American Far-Right Views Are Welcome in China Racists in the United States and Chinese nationalists share common ground.

There's "a fragile but emerging global coalition that joins far-right elements in the United States, Russia, and China". New piece by @masonlwong.bsky.social and me on rising far-right in China + cross-fertilization between them & those elements in Russia, US foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/29/c... THREAD

DR Congo: Rwanda-backed M23 Executed Civilians in Goma The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group summarily executed at least 21 civilians and most likely many more in Goma, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, on February 22-23, 2025.

#Rwanda backed #M23 armed group summarily executed at least 21 civilians and most likely many more in Goma, eastern #DRCongo, on February 22-23, 2025. New @hrw.org report:

www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

The EU's Rwanda raw materials deal — profits before Congolese lives The EU’s attempt to thread the diplomatic needle by denouncing Rwanda’s support for M23 while refusing to suspend the critical raw materials agreement without adequate safeguards to ensure that this a...

In eastern DRC, Rwanda-backed M23 fighters gang-raped women, tortured detainees, attacked rights defenders

Amnesty International's Tigere Chagutah wrote in
@euobserver.com how the EU critical raw minerals deal with Rwanda risks putting profits before Congolese lives

euobserver.com/eu-and-the-w...

“Undesirable” Human Rights : Daily Brief #Russia’s attack on Amnesty International is both a government confession of guilt in human rights abuses and high praise for Amnesty’s work. Read Andrew Stroehlein in Human Rights Watch’s Daily Brief...

When a government attacks Amnesty International, you can pretty much guarantee that government has been up to no good.
www.hrw.org/the-day-in-h...

My @usnews.com op-ed on the UN funding crisis: "How to Save the UN from #Trump; Washington is withholding billions of dollars it owes the UN -- Europe must step in & lead."

@hrw.org: The UN should cut costs, but wealthy democracies can also find ways to pay more.
👉 www.usnews.com/opinion/arti...

Burkina Faso: Army Directs Ethnic Massacres The Burkina Faso army led and participated in the massacre of more than 130, possibly many more, ethnic Fulani civilians by pro-government militias in the western Boucle du Mouhoun region in March 202...

#BurkinaFaso: Army Directs Ethnic Massacres
The videos of atrocities by VDPs near Solenzo sent shock waves but only told part of the story. New research found the army was responsible for these killings of Fulani ppl, followed by reprisals by JNIM, @hrw.org

www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

Mali: UN Experts say Mali should not hinder or suspend the activities of political parties GENEVA – The adoption of a bill repealing basic protections to political participation by the Council of Ministers on 30 April 2025 and the signature of a decree on 7 May 2025 suspending the activitie...

#Mali's suspension of all political parties should be repealed - say @un-spexperts.bsky.social.

Malian authorities' crack-down on media, civil society & political opposition has crushed the country's civic space at time of rampant impunity for crimes on civilians.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

🔴 Portugal joins the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain & Ireland in demanding a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement: www.tsf.pt/3393729451/s...

The tide is turning. How much longer will @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu continue to grant #Israel impunity for its intensifying atrocities in #Gaza?

Justice Vital for Durable Peace in Africa’s Great Lakes Region United States-led efforts to end the current armed conflict in Africa’s Great Lakes region appear oblivious to one of the key drivers of the hostilities: the region’s history of failing to punish thos...

US-led peace efforts in #GreatLakes shouldn't ignore decades of impunity have fueled serious crimes.

Congolese victims call for justice. @eudiplomacy.bsky.social: Accountability & end of support to abusive groups should be core to EU's engagement on #DRCongo conflict.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

Has the EU abandoned human rights in #Tunisia? @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social: #EU's silence betrays those fighting for democracy in Tunisia & EU's own principles.

My colleague @khawaja.bsky.social 's take in @euobserver.com 👇

euobserver.com/migration/ar...

Hong Kong: 87 Groups Condemn Arrests of Activist’s Relatives Hong Kong authorities’ unjust arrests of the father and brother of the prominent US-based activist Anna Kwok is an escalation of the Chinese government’s use of cross-border repression, 26 internation...

#HongKong authorities arrested father & brother of US-based activist Anna Kwok in reprisal for her activism.

@eudiplomacy.bsky.social: #China s transnational repression also hits many residing in Europe. Not taking it seriously threatens their rights & EU's security

www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

Syria: Statement by the Spokesperson on the recent wave of violence in Southern Syria The EU strongly condemns the violent attacks and ensuing clashes which have resulted in a significant number of casualties in Southern Syria over the last days. The EU calls for an end to violence acr...

Impartial investigation into recent brutal attacks against civilians, with key role for UN & civil society investigators, is utterly necessary for future of #Syria.

Glad to see transitional justice calls reflected in @eudiplomacy.bsky.social's statement today.

www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/syria-s...

UN Needs to Protect its Vital, Yet Underfunded, Human Rights Work Major-power cutbacks and delayed payments amidst conflict and insecurity are testing the very principles and frameworks upon which the international human rights infrastructure was built nearly 80 yea...

🚨 New from @hrw.org: UN Needs to Protect its Vital, Yet Underfunded, Human Rights Work

#Russia & #China have lobbied to defund UN human rights work. There's a risk the US under #Trump, which is gutting US support for human rights, will become their enabler. www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

#Israel s plans to forcibly displace & threats to deport Palestinians of #Gaza would only compound misery & suffering of civilians.

EU leaders seem to only discover this reality. Time to call out crimes committed against civilians & press for genuine accountability.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Hong Kong: Targeting of Exiled Activists’ Families Escalates The Hong Kong police arrested the father of a prominent US-based activist, Anna Kwok, on April 30, 2025, and charged him with a national security crime.

The Chinese government has increased its appalling use of collective punishment against relatives of peaceful activists from HK. The authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Anna Kwok’s father and cease harassing families of activists.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...

China to lift sanctions on EU lawmakers to unlock trade talks Donald Trump’s trade war is pushing China and the EU closer together despite their differences.

#EU's 2021 sanctions targeted Chinese officials involved in serious crimes in Xinjiang. #China s sanctions retaliated on EU officials who had only denounced Beijing's crimes.

@president.europarl.europa.eu: any quid pro quo would be a blow to victims & to EU values.

www.politico.eu/article/chin...

US administration's use of 227-year old law erodes due process & rights protections and leads to summary removals & enforced disappearances.

Congress should challenge abusive use of Alien Enemies Act & repeal it.

@hrw.org 's new report 👇

www.hrw.org/report/2025/... @sophiewilmes.bsky.social

Don't worry if you've had trouble understanding why EU's Forced Labor Regulation can be an effective tool to curb human rights violations.

Check this extra-clear Q&A my colleague @hderengerve.bsky.social & Cornell's Samira Rafaela put together 👇

www.hrw.org/news/2025/04... @ec.europa.eu

Mozambique: No Arrests in Post-Election Political Killings Mozambican authorities have failed to conduct credible investigations into the wave of political killings following the October 2024 general elections.

When meeting with #Mozambique's Foreign Minister today, EU's top diplomat @kajakallas.bsky.social should press for credible investigations into political killings by security forces following Oct 2024 elections.

Our latest report 👇

www.hrw.org/news/2025/04... @eudiplomacy.bsky.social

NEW from #HRW: Interactive feature cataloguing 100 human rights harms in Trump administration's first 100 days. www.hrw.org/feature/2025...

Harsh sentences in "Conspiracy case" are major setback to justice & rule of law - @unhumanrights.bsky.social Chief.

www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Meanwhile, deeply shocking that @eudiplomacy.bsky.social sticks to a posture of silence & leniency towards #Tunisia 's return to repressive rule.