The Rise of Populism and its Threat to Human Rights

THE WEEK IN RIGHTS | JANUARY 12, 2016 World Report 2017: Demagogues Threaten Human Rights

Photo © 2016 Reuters Today, Human Rights Watch released its World Report, an annual reviewing human rights practices in more than 90 countries. Last year, The rise of populist leaders in the United States and Europe poses a dangerous threat to basic rights protections while encouraging abuse by autocrats around the world. Donald Trump’s election as US president after a campaign fomenting hatred and intolerance, and the rising influence of political parties in Europe that reject universal rights, have put the postwar human rights system at risk. The populist-fueled passions of the moment tend to obscure the longer-term dangers to a society of strongman rule, from Turkey to Russia to China. This global attack needs a vigorous reaffirmation and defense of the human rights values underpinning the system. Read the World Report 2017 now. READ MORE » Keynote: The Dangerous Rise of Populism »

European Union's Inward Turn Puts Rights at Risk The EU as a whole failed to show leadership and solidarity in the face of the largest global displacement crisis since World War II. READ MORE »   North Korea's Rights Catastrophe Deepens Under its leader Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean government exerted control over the population by using arbitrary arrest and torture, detention, and forced labor in a range of prison camps, and public executions for a variety of ‘crimes.’ READ MORE »   No Accountability for War Crimes in Yemen The Saudi Arabia-led coalition has carried out military operations, supported by the United States and United Kingdom, that have unlawfully attacked homes, markets, hospitals, schools, civilian businesses, and mosques. READ MORE »   Brazil Police Abuses Feed Cycle of Violence Torture and extrajudicial killings by police contribute to a cycle of violence in Brazil, undermining public security and endangering the lives of police officers. READ MORE »   Ethiopia's Year of Brutality, Restrictions Torture and extrajudicial killings by police contribute to a cycle of violence in Brazil, undermining public security and endangering the lives of police officers. READ MORE »

2016: The Year in Numbers It was a volatile year around the world. Let us help set the stage for 2017. WATCH »

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