News

Bahrain and Egypt’s National Human Rights Institutions failing to protect human rights

Led by MENA Rights Group, 17 civil society organisations urged the Sub-Committee on Accreditation not to grant Bahrain and Egypt's National Human Rights Institutions status "A" given that they fail to comply with the Paris principles.

Joint statement: Restore telecoms and internet connectivity in Gaza now!

MENA Rights Group joins 100+ civil society organisations in calling on Israeli authorities to restore crucial telecommunication infrastructure, internet connectivity and other essential services in Gaza in the wake of the escalating conflict, and to ensure that international and humanitarian law are respected.

Open call for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza, and for Palestinians globally

MENA Rights Group joins 80+ civil society organisations in calling for an immediate physical and digital ceasefire in Gaza in the context of the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis.

Mauritanian civil society speaks up about the Passif humanitaire at the UN in Geneva

Thanks to the support of the city of Geneva, MENA Rights Group facilitated the testimony of relatives of disappeared Mauritanians before the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances in September 2023.

Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression in Lebanon demands investigation into the assault on the Freedoms Protest

MENA Rights Group joins 9 organisations in condemning and calling on Lebanese authorities to investigate the assault on protesters and journalists on September 30, 2023.

UAE reject 40% of the recommendations made during its Universal Periodic Review

This press release highlights the UAE's response to recommendations made by UN member states during its Universal Periodic Review before the Human Rights Council. The UAE rejected 40% of recommendations, including a total rejection of recommendations related to freedom of expression/association and the ratification of the UN Convention against Torture.

Joint statement: truth and justice for the disappeared in Algeria

MENA Rights Group joins 30+ signatories (civil society organisations and relatives of the disappeared) in condemning the Algerian authorities' use of the Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation as a means of impunity for those disappeared during the 1990's conflict. Furthermore, we recommend the creation of a Charter for Truth, Peace and Justice.

Four years on, peaceful Iraqi protesters remain missing

Led by MENA Rights Group, 14 civil society organisations mark the four-year anniversary of the "Tishreen Movement" by calling on Iraqi authorities to address the widespread practice of enforced disappearance and to clarify the fate of disappeared protesters.

Continued reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA: UN Secretary-General’s 2023 report

MENA Rights Group summarises the most pressing reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA raised by the UN Secretary General's annual report on intimidation and reprisals against those cooperating with the UN.

UN Human Rights Council must hold Saudi Arabia accountable for enforced disappearances

With Right Livelihood and ALQST for Human Rights, we delivered a joint oral statement during the 54th session of the Human Rights Council to the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. In this statement, we raised the case of Saudi human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani, who has been forcibly disappeared since October 2022, and called on Saudi Arabia to end its widespread practice of enforced disappearance.

Joint statement denouncing the use of drug charges to repress freedoms and liberties

MENA Rights Group joins 11 international and Lebanese civil society organisations in condemning the Lebanese authorities' use of drug charges as a tool to repress freedoms and liberties, particularly the recent interrogation and procedural violations against investigative journalist Mariam Lahham.

Twitter must ensure user safety as Saudi Arabia issue first death sentence for social media activity

MENA Rights Group joins 15 civil society organisations in condemning Saudi Arabia's use of X (formerly Twitter) as a surveillance tool to crack down on free speech and calling on X to respect human rights, including the right to free expression and the right to privacy, and mitigate any adverse human rights impacts linked to the platform's services and products –including protecting users’ safety and even lives, the right to anonymity.