According to Human Rights Watch’s (HRW) yearly report, leaders are neglecting their duties to uphold international law, resulting in a precarious state of human rights globally.
In their 2024 global report, HRW cautions about the growing number of human rights crises occurring worldwide. They note a rise in wartime atrocities, increased suppression of human rights activists, and governments undermining and attacking universal human rights principles and laws.
According to the report, political leaders are showing a growing lack of respect for international human rights laws. The report points out that the use of “selective government outrage” and “transactional diplomacy”, as well as double standards in acknowledging international human rights laws, has endangered the lives of many individuals.
According to Tirana Hassan, the executive director of HRW, there is a continuous attack on human rights occurring globally. This is due to governments prioritizing short-term political gains over fulfilling their legal responsibilities towards human rights and attempting to strengthen their authority.
”
There is a concerning pattern of hypocrisy present, not just in the obvious case of the Israel-Hamas conflict. We observe a lack of condemnation for the Chinese government’s acts of inhumanity, while there was a strong call for responsibility and punishment for war crimes in Ukraine. However, there is also a lack of discussion about potential abuses committed by the US in Afghanistan.
“The statement is a clear indication that human rights laws can be selectively enforced for specific groups, weakening the institutions responsible for protecting them,” she stated.
The document presents a breakdown of the human rights situation in various countries in 2023. In Afghanistan, the Taliban continued to suppress women’s rights, while the international community has not taken action to prevent widespread and appalling mistreatment of civilians in Sudan, particularly in Darfur.
The United States’ partners, such as Saudi Arabia, India, and Egypt, persist in disregarding the human rights of their citizens without consequence. Additionally, the European Union has been rejecting asylum seekers and refugees, and making agreements with Libya and Turkey to repatriate migrants attempting to enter Europe.
Hassan stated that with half of the world participating in elections this year, it is crucial to take action in safeguarding our human rights institutions. It is also important for our political leaders to fulfill their international duties in upholding and preserving human rights, which ultimately benefits all individuals.
From Vietnam to El Salvador, we have witnessed a pattern where oppressive governments resort to using state security or traditional values as a means of oppressing LGBTQ+ communities, women’s rights, and refugees. This is often followed by attacks on the judicial system and the courts, leading to a rapid decline towards authoritarianism.
The report also heavily criticizes the UK government for its actions that are referred to as a “poor year for human rights,” including ongoing attacks on basic rights like the right to protest and seek refuge.
Source: theguardian.com
