Human Rights

India's ruling against 'sodomy' laws is first step to equality

The historic decision by the high court in Delhi on Thursday to decriminalize homosexuality, has been welcomed by Amnesty International.

"The decision is a significant step toward ensuring that people in India can express...
Togo: Fifteenth country in Africa to abolish the death penalty
Togo today decided to abolish the death penalty following a unanimous vote by the national assembly.

Togo has thereby become the 15th member of the African Union and the 94th country in the world to abolish the...
Indian doctor Binayak Sen released from prison on bail

Dr Binayak Sen, who spent two years in an Indian prison as a Prisoner of Conscience, was released on Tuesday after being granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Welcoming Dr Sen's release on bail,...

Thailand: latest on Karen villagers from Myanmar
UNHCR staff have visited five sites in northern Thailand where Karen villagers are taking shelter after fleeing eastern Myanmar since 3 June. We have now verified the presence of 2,000 recent arrivals....
Stitching up a new life: Afghan refugees learn to support themselves in Iran
With fewer Afghan refugees going home, UNHCR is concentrating on giving those staying in Iran skills to earn support their families.
Pakistan Update
This morning in Islamabad, UNHCR and other UN staff held a special ceremony to pay homage to colleagues killed in the bombing of the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar on Tuesday night. Representatives...
Iraqi refugees release captivating album online
Three Iraqi refugees produce an album with UNHCR's help and release it on music-sharing sites. The profits will help other refugees in Syria.
UNHCR mourns loss of staff member killed in Pakistan bombing
UNHCR staff mourn their colleague, Aleksandar Vorkapic, who was killed in the bombing of the Pearl Continental Hotel in the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
More and more Pakistani displaced move to camps as needs grow
As increasing number of people are displaced by violence in north-west Pakistan, UNHCR is ramping up efforts to accommodate fresh arrivals in camps.

Tell President Obama to Stand Up for Human Rights in Colombia

This coming Monday, June 29, 2009, President Barack Obama will meet in Washington D.C. with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, their first official private meeting since President...
End Government Harassment of Pakistani Champion of Women's Rights

In 2002, Mukhtar Mai was gang-raped on orders of a traditional village council as punishment for acts allegedly committed by her younger brother. Instead of suffering...
Release Ill Cuban Activist from Isolation Cell

Tony Diaz, an instrumental organizer of a civic initiative known as the Varela Project in Cuba, was thrown in jail for his human rights...