Human rights

This is what happens when you lock up children

This picture is worth a thousand words [more]

This is what happens when you lock up children

One billion rise to end violence against women

The world has reached a tipping point. This Valentine's Day, join the global party and make your voice heard ...

Can the UN police drone warfare?

A special investigator looks into the costs of these deadly, unaccountable killing machines ...

Gay marriage: the world is starting to grow up

France and Britain have just done the right thing. Which country will be next? ...

5 questions for America's next spymaster

Today, Obama's choice for CIA chief must come clean about torture, targeted killings and more ...

Don't make gay men marry your girlfriends!

A darned good reason for everyone – gay and straight – to support same-sex marriage ...

Oil showdown in the Amazon

Ecuador's Kichwa will 'fight to the death' to protect their pristine rainforest home ...

More stories

Is this the beginning of the end for Assad? Rebel advances and diplomatic setbacks signal big trouble for the Syrian regime ...	Sudan's opposition grows more active, 'hopeful' Cracks are beginning to show after 23 years of Omar al-Bashir's bloody autocratic rule ...
Understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 3 min 59 secs It's not as complicated as you think ...	Bradley Manning speaks of ordeal in US jail Suspected Wikileaks source testifies publicly for the first time since arrest ...
Justice on trial in Venezuela Ordeal of imprisoned judge shows the risks of displeasing Hugo Chavez ...	Hands off our underpants! Chinese women protest mandatory vaginal exams for public employees ...
Riot police break up Burma protest Tear gas and water cannon used on demonstrators objecting to land grab at copper mine ...	More Tibetans burn as thousands protest China's policies Four more self-immolations are a desperate signal to China's leadership to change course ...
Trolling for brides in Syrian refugee camps Assad's displaced victims now have yet another thing to worry about ...	Deep trouble in Sao Paulo Wave of violence threatens Brazil's rise to global power ...
UK moves to end female circumcision Prosecutors to crack down on horrific practice, which has mutilated up to 100,000 women and girls ...	Obama writing 'rulebook' for drone strikes Say what? US administration makes a mockery of international law ...
United States: 'land of the free'? The US pushes other countries to adopt indefinite detention. They're the 'good guys'? ...	Uganda's horrifying anti-gay bill is back Vile law could be passed any day now ...
Rimsha's victory! Blasphemy charges against disabled girl in Pakistan finally dropped after global outcry ...	Karzai orders Afghan forces into 'Guantanamo's evil twin' The US still won't let go of the notorious Bagram prison. What have they got to hide? ...
MPs to Cameron: boycott Sri Lanka! British PM urged to join Canadians in avoiding Commonwealth summit in protest of human rights abuses ...	China's new leaders must end 'cultural genocide' Tibetan and Uighur people are demanding respect. Time for China's leadership to listen ...
Uganda's draconian anti-gay bill is back and still horrifying Parliament hopes to pass the hateful bill by year's end as a 'Christmas gift' ...	Beat up by security forces, Bahraini activist barred from seeing doctors Human rights organisations are concerned for the life and wellbeing of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja ...
Iran kills Facebook activist Regime critic arrested for 'actions against national security' dies in custody ...	Malawi suspends anti-gay laws Thanks to bold leadership from the president, Malawi lifts penalties for gays pending vote on repeal of laws ...
Nigeria's deadly cycle of violence New Amnesty report details shocking abuses by both Islamist insurgents and police ...	Beijing is in no mood for dissent A Chinese man is jailed for 8 years for trying to start an opposition party ...
13 countries doing the right thing on gay marriage See who's in the club, and how your country fares ...	Is this the darkest day for Russia under Putin yet? Putin regime can now block 'offensive' websites without trial – and charge anyone with treason ...
Rwandan opposition leader sentenced to 8 years Verdict adds to worries about human rights under 'aid darling' President Kagame ...	Bahrain bans all protests Who is letting this brutal regime get away with murder? Find out here ...
Hard truths about the sex trade Drawing the line between the rape trade and prostitution ...	Is the US-Cuba standoff finally thawing? Fifty years after the Cuban missile crisis, the Castro government loosens travel restrictions ...
More than 28,000 Syrians have 'disappeared' The Assad regime has made thousands of Syrians vanish, says a new report. Here are a few of their stories ...	6 things the EU can do to make the world better As leaders meet for crisis talks, here's what Europe can do get its global leadership mojo back ...
A race to reform? Or a race to profit? Why we should be cautious about the big Burma gold rush ...	Saudis try to threaten UK out of human rights probe Keep your nose out, Gulf kingdom tells Brits – using lucrative trade deals as a threat ...
Breaking news: one Pussy Riot member freed Judge suspends sentence for Yekaterina Samutsevich, but two others remain behind bars ...	Five places where it's dangerous to tell the truth Outrage at draconian new censorship bill in the Philippines. But it's not the only place ...
The five most dangerous places to be a blogger Vietnam has launched a new crackdown on dissident netizens, but wait! It gets worse ...	Can't afford a plane ticket? No children for you Victims of Costa Rica's fertility treatment ban are challenging the law in court ...
Horror as the Gambia starts to execute prisoners Thirty-eight to die within weeks as autocrat tries to crush opposition. Help stop it ...	Pakistani girl released after 1m join father's call for help Court grants bail to girl facing death for blasphemy – but she's still in danger ...
America's ally continues brutal crackdown Jailed Bahraini activists lose appeal – but the fight continues. Here's how you can help ...	Lies, waterboarding and the CIA The US and the UK tortured opponents of Gaddafi, then sent them back to Tripoli for more ...
Tibetan teens die after setting themselves alight in protest The teenagers chanted against Chinese rule in Tibet as their bodies burned ...	Turkey worries for Syrian civilians (and itself) Support for a buffer zone grows ahead of UN security council meeting ...
Another step on Burma’s path to reform? President Thein Sein shakes up his cabinet. What does this mean? ...	Say what? Rachel Corrie's death was her own fault? Peace activist's case was just the latest baffling ruling– learn about the others ...
Sex strike for democracy! Togolese activists call on all women to withhold love for a week to oust the president ...	Free press for Burma? Not quite – but lifting of censorship rule is a positive step ...
Need a wife? Your cab driver can help! Central Asian custom of bride kidnapping is still alive and kicking in Kyrgyzstan ...	The People v Vladimir Putin Russians defy fine and night raids to protest against their bullying president ...
Sesame Street goes to Gitmo Composer of children's show theme tune learns his music has been used for torture ...	Towns erupt in violence State of emergency threatens to undo democratic reforms ...
Euro 2012 kicks off – with a boycott Racism and human rights abuses dominate Europe's biggest sporting event ...	Sri Lanka: is the war really over? New report: the government is torturing Tamil refugees sent home by Britain ...
Banning gay marriage is expensive See why it's bad for couples – and governments ...	Democracy under threat South Africa's secrecy bill would punish press and whistleblowers – and give despots an excuse ...
While the world waits With Annan's peace plan in tatters, millions need help now. Join our call ...	UK launches 'anti-rape unit' Team of experts to investigate rapes in war zones. It's a first. Now others must join ...
Russia approves huge fines for protests Putin tightens the screws, but opponents aren't going away quietly ...	Death from above US drone war gains momentum, but at what price? ...
Still fighting Tiananmen Beijing continues to censor its history, while blocking global action on Syria ...	Rubbernecking the Syria crisis The world is focused on Syria: that doesn't mean global action to end the violence is coming soon ...
Montreal erupts in protest, pots and pans Hundreds of thousands of 'casseroles' defy new anti-protest law ...	Ban them from the Olympics UK ponders barring Assad's henchmen from London 2012. But why stop there? ...
Saudi woman stands up to religious police You go girl! 'I'll polish my nails if I want to' ...	For a warm welcome, visit Robert Mugabe Zimbabwe's president gets the thumbs up from UN tourism supremo ...
You've been landgrabbed! Cambodian government steals women's homes, then throws them in jail when they protest ...	Have a vagina? No passport for you! Immigration officials in a Chinese province hit on a novel approach to public health concerns ...
Licence to kill Who should die this week? Obama and his top counter-terrorism adviser decide ...	Turkey prefers its critics behind bars Freedom to speak under assault as Kurdish MP faces prison again ...
Will the world look away? Dozens of children butchered in the town of Houla. This massacre the world cannot ignore ...	Minorities: the new majority New census figures show more than half of babies born in 2011 were non-white ...
Power before people in dam disaster New hydroelectric project: same old story – thousands displaced, wilderness wrecked ...	What's left behind Nato has a firm timetable for getting out of the unwinnable war. And after that? ...
Lights! Camera! Repression! Welcome to Eurovision! Please don't allow the screaming to put you off the songs ...	Where is it worst – and best – to be a mother? New list shows Niger and Afghanistan have lowest childbirth survival rates – but US does badly too ...
First person: a doctor at war 'Being caught with patients is like being caught with a weapon,' says surgeon in Idlib ...	Traditional marriage is... what? The religious right often invokes the Old Testament to oppose gay marriage. Big mistake ...
Insult the king, die in jail Government of Thailand takes king's dignity very, very seriously ... ...	Don't ban gay rights, says preacher Powerful film from African American clergy urges North Carolina's voters to back equality in crucial vote ...
Censorship, kleptocracy, sex scandal – and Eurovision! Why is Europe's annual kitschfest glossing over Azerbaijan's grim dictatorship? ...	Cruel cuts Did you think that female genital mutilation only happened in Africa? Think again ...
The best military homecoming you'll ever see Enjoy the beautiful moment when a returning soldier asks his partner a special question ...	Blind lawyer wants to leave with Hillary After daring escape, hospital-bound Chinese dissident fears for his safety and seeks real sanctuary ...
No food. No football Ukrainian opposition leader's hunger strike sparks threat of Euro Cup boycott ...	Steal a Palestinian home. Post pic on Facebook After family is made homeless, smiling MPs pose on couch to celebrate ...
Blind activist makes mystery escape Dissident outwits 90 guards, may be hiding in US Beijing embassy ...	What, our women? Work as maids?! Qataris livid at ad suggesting their own women would stoop to domestic labour ...
Haunting call of hunger striker's wife Ominous silence from Abdulhadi al-Khawaja on 77th day of refusing food; daughter also trapped in jail ...	Rape – a tool for repression Untold story of Assad's use of sexual violence to quell democratic uprising ...
The UN to investigate US Special rapporteur to chronicle situation of North America's indigenous underclass ...	Death penalty: too expensive for California? Campaigners win referendum, saying it's financially ruinous (as well as barbaric) ...
Ugandan women take off shirts to protest against police sex assault Share this bold video and shame police who groped female politician ...	No PR victory for Bahrain or Formula 1 Regime's brutality on full display as daughter of hunger striker arrested and Anonymous hackers take down racing website ...
Save a mother's life? Not in Ireland Baffling: lawmakers strike down law that would allow abortions to stop women dying ...	Why is Bahrain getting away with murder? Russia backs Syria, so who backs Bahrain? Not the USA, surely? ...
High-speed twit of the day Some Formula 1 drivers show wisdom and sensitivity over Bahrain race dilemma. Not Sebastian Vettel ...	Free Palestine – for real this time The peace process has fallen flat. Is there a new way forward? ...
Licence to torture – but don't introduce yourself US supreme court rules only individuals, not corporations or foreign political bodies, can be sued for torture ...	Mass arrests and more violence ahead of F1 weekend As expected, regime smooths way to Grand Prix – and promises to 'deal with' protest ...
Libyan rebel leader sues UK over torture Victim of Gaddafi says British foreign minister personally signed off his rendition ...	Democracy hero can travel at last After 24 years, Aung San Suu Kyi permitted to leave country ...
UK government funded forced sterilisation in India How did £166m of British aid bankroll this brutal programme? ...	Violence ahead of big race Bahrain Grand Prix gets green light, driving protests across nation ...
Legalise it, don't criticise it This weekend's summit is world's best chance to end catastrophic drug war ...	Global citizens say, 'No jail for contraception' A new law for Honduras would criminalise the morning-after pill – but you can help stop it ...
Another Trayvon Martin? Months before vigilante killed black teen, police took down Kenneth Chamberlain's door and shot him in the chest ...	Secret sterilisation of poor women in Uzbekistan BBC report uncovers horrifying evidence of forced population reduction programme ...
Gentlemen, cool your engines Will Formula 1 reward the repressive island kingdom of Bahrain for its ongoing crackdown? ...	The crisis bleeds on UN deadline expires as Assad's relentless crackdown spreads over the borders ...
800,000 join Amina's family against the 'rape escape clause' Our call goes in to stop forced marriage of rape victims in Morocco ...	Sanctions lifted, now what? Aung Sang Suu Kyi's election win persuades US to ease trade restrictions. But there's a long way to go ...
Big Brother would like to watch you British government wants new powers to snoop on citizens ...	'We are all radioactive now' Radical crowd-funded film follows fishermen and surfers in post-meltdown Fukushima ...
Hypocrisy rules while young Tibetans burn China's language crackdown sparks unprecedented wave of teen deaths ...	Oh my, what an expensive vagina you have! Women forced to pay £1bn more than men every year for healthcare ...
Can New York impose peace? UN security council finally condemns Assad with one voice, but violence continues ...	Groundhog day in Beijing? Outgoing premier makes emotional call for reform, but we've been here before ...
The 9mm defence Still no arrest after neighbourhood watchman kills unarmed black teen in Florida ...	Raped, married, dead – a girl's short life in Morocco Can world's horror over Amina al-Filali's suicide help other women? ...
Shocking abuse of Ethiopian maid filmed Young woman killed herself days after brutal video sparked global outrage ...	Which way for women in 2012? Aftermath of Arab spring brings new freedoms, new dangers for women ...
Maids finally get a break (sort of) Life gets better for overseas workers in Singapore – but there's a long way to go ...	Pakistan's test \| Google: don't be evil \| Real rights council? Democracy, privacy, human rights – everything to play for in next few days ...
Separate and unequal in new Libya As a free nation takes shape, black Africans face terrible persecution ...	Assad hunts down brave bloggers Syrian regime opens new front in its war on democracy ...
Those pesky immigrants! Sinister Dutch website targets east Europeans In Netherlands, xenophobia moves into digital age ...	Should we ban Saudi Arabia from the Olympics? If women don't get chance to compete, why should men? ...
Sham election win for crackpot despot 'Dentist-dictator' Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov keeps his grip on Turkmenistan ...	Another Valentine's Day trapped in Bagram Yunus Rahmatullah is one of 3,000 imprisoned in America's notorious Afghan prison ...
One year on, Bahrainis still demand freedom Brave citizens continue to take to streets against repressive Gulf regime ...	Caught in the crossfire of pistachio wars Sanctions hurt Iran's middle class, not its rulers ...
Victory against hate crime in South Africa Four men jailed for murder of lesbian, in landmark ruling ...	24 hours to stop Uganda's anti-gay attack We must act again after frightening move to impose jail terms on persecuted community ...
America: land of the not-quite-as-free-as-you-thought South Africa, El Salvador and Jamaica are just some of the countries where the media is freer ...	Sri Lanka's disappearing activists Two campaigners go missing en route to anti-government rally. They're not the only ones ...
Avaaz exclusive: Assad forces kill baby in front of activist father The regime tortures a four-month girl to death to crush her parent ...	The Palestinian children in Israel's prisons Detained minors face windowless cells, abusive interrogations and forced confessions ...
Why is Orange playing ball with African dictators? The phone company sponsors a tournament in the brutal kleptocracy of Equatorial Guinea ...	Double-punished: how British justice fails trafficked women The legal system is ignoring the harrowing backgrounds of foreigners forced into crime ...
Guantánamo by the numbers After 10 years, 89 detainees are cleared for release – but still being held ...	America refuses to compensate medical experiment victims Researchers infected Guatemalans with syphilis in the 1940s, but the US won't pay up ...
The great sandal scandal Simple but potent new symbol of people's anger is piling up outside police stations ...	Inside Guantánamo's evil twin Ten years on, Guantanamo still a stain on US: but there are much worse places ...
A little death in Gaza Palestinian baby dies, because Israeli bureaucrat cannot be bothered to help ...	Avaaz exclusive: inside Assad's secret prisons Security forces are electrocuting and mangling activists in makeshift jails ...
The optimists' guide: what to look forward to in 2012 From Cairo to Oakland, 2011 was a game-changer. What's coming next? ...	War less lethal to journalists than corruption The real dangers to a free press: governments, drug gangs and other bad actors ...
Are Egypt's generals killing the Arab Spring? Today's rulers are killing protesters, torturing detainees, and blaming a foreign conspiracy ...	Are 'conflict-free' diamonds a fraud? Global Witness says the process of certification is so flawed that they must quit the scheme ...
Clinton speaks up for Burma's freedom As first US Secretary of State to visit in over 50 years, she maintains pressure ...	Avaaz exclusive: Syria's hell hospitals Assad's militias are torturing medics and snatching wounded citizens from treatment facilities ...

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