The current state of human rights worldwide is concerning, as leaders neglect their responsibilities to uphold global laws, according to Human Rights Watch's (HRW) yearly report.
According to the 2024 world report released by HRW, there is a concerning escalation of human rights crises worldwide. Wartime atrocities are on the rise, human rights defenders are facing more suppression, and governments are attacking and weakening universal human rights principles and laws.
The report states that there has been a growing lack of respect for international human rights laws among political leaders. The report points out the use of "selective government outrage and transactional diplomacy" and inconsistent application of international human rights laws, which has endangered many lives.
According to Tirana Hassan, the executive director of HRW, there is a widespread attack on human rights occurring globally, as governments prioritize short-term political gains over fulfilling their legal responsibilities towards human rights and strive to strengthen their control.
The issue of double standards is becoming concerning, and it extends beyond the obvious instance of the Israel-Hamas conflict. While there is a lack of attention towards the Chinese government's human rights violations, there is also a noticeable silence regarding allegations of US abuses in Afghanistan, despite the previous strong demand for accountability and prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine.
Hassan says that it is evident that this sends a clear message that human rights laws can be selectively enforced for specific groups of individuals, undermining the institutions responsible for upholding them.
In 2023, the report presents a detailed analysis of the human rights situation in different countries. The Taliban's continued suppression of women's rights in Afghanistan remains a pressing issue, while the international community has not taken sufficient action to stop the widespread and brutal mistreatment of civilians in Sudan, specifically in the region of Darfur. Survivors have given harrowing testimonies of the atrocities that occurred in Sudan in 2023.
Several nations, such as Saudi Arabia, India, and Egypt, who are considered allies of the United States, are still disregarding the rights of their citizens without facing any consequences. Additionally, the European Union has been accused of collaborating with the Libyan coastguard to prevent asylum seekers from entering their borders, as reported by The Guardian (November 30, 2022). Furthermore, the EU has also made agreements with Libya and Turkey to send back migrants attempting to enter Europe.
According to Hassan, in the upcoming year, as many countries hold elections, it is crucial that we take action to safeguard our human rights institutions and ensure that our political leaders fulfill their international duty to uphold and defend the rights that protect all individuals.
From Vietnam to El Salvador, it has been observed that repressive governments often utilize state security and traditional values as a means to oppress LGBTQ+ communities, women's rights, and refugees. This is often followed by attacks on the judicial systems and courts, leading to a rapid decline towards authoritarian rule.
The UK government is heavily criticized in the report for their actions that are described as causing a "poor year for human rights." This includes ongoing attacks on basic rights, including the right to demonstrate and pursue refuge.