Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Belkis Wille @belkiswille.bsky.social · 23m

Despite decades of growth, Sri Lanka’s economy collapsed and its once-vaunted public school system is struggling. New @hrw.org report on how a UN tax treaty can help governments uphold human rights www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Sri Lanka: Ruinous Tax Policies Stoke Inequality

Sri Lanka’s tax policies played a driving role in the country’s devastating 2022 economic crisis and have contributed to the chronic underfunding of education and other public services.

www.hrw.org

Belkis Wille @belkiswille.bsky.social · 24m

Low tax revenues helped drive Sri Lanka to economic crisis. New report from @hrw.org on how tax policies favoring companies & the wealthy have for decades been undermining human rights, including to education www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Sri Lanka: Ruinous Tax Policies Stoke Inequality

Sri Lanka’s tax policies played a driving role in the country’s devastating 2022 economic crisis and have contributed to the chronic underfunding of education and other public services.

www.hrw.org

1 1

Belkis Wille @belkiswille.bsky.social · 24m

Sri Lanka was once a global leader in education. New @hrw.org report documents low tax revenues starved schools of funding and squandered this lead www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Sri Lanka: Ruinous Tax Policies Stoke Inequality

Sri Lanka’s tax policies played a driving role in the country’s devastating 2022 economic crisis and have contributed to the chronic underfunding of education and other public services.

www.hrw.org

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Sarah Saadoun @sarahsaadoun.bsky.social · 2h

Today, @hrw.org released the 1st major report on tax, documenting how policies that favor the rich drove Sri Lanka into economic crisis & starved its public education system. UN tax treaty negotiations are historic chance to address a root cause. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Sri Lanka: Ruinous Tax Policies Stoke Inequality

Sri Lanka’s tax policies played a driving role in the country’s devastating 2022 economic crisis and have contributed to the chronic underfunding of education and other public services.

www.hrw.org

7 9

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Ida Sawyer @idasawyer.bsky.social · 4d

🚨 Job Alert! 🚨

We’re hiring a deputy director for Arms in the Crisis, Conflict & Arms Division at @hrw.org to help us advance humanitarian disarmament & protect civilians from weapons like landmines, cluster munitions & killer robots. To learn more, visit: job-boards.greenhouse.io/humanrightsw...

2 3

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 5d

The German government's plan for social security "reform" is bad news for #humanrights.

I tried to set out why for @hrw.org here, a couple of weeks back, as we awaited details of these plans:

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

QUOTE CARD with text
“The German government’s plans to punish some social security recipients with severe cuts to support demonstrates contempt for their human rights. This harsh approach will increase poverty, erode social cohesion, and push many into destitution."
Kartik Raj, Senior Europe Researcher

1 19 25

Reposted by Belkis Wille

HRW_AR @hrwarabic.bsky.social · 5d

يوفر وقف إطلاق النار أملا للمدنيين الفلسطينيين في غزة بعد عامين من القتل والتجويع والتهجير، وكذلك للرهائن الإسرائيليين والمعتقلين الفلسطينيين وعائلاتهم، ولكن ستستمر الانتهاكات ما لم تتخذ الحكومات إجراءات لدعم الإغاثة والمحاسبة.
بيان "هيومن رايتس ووتش" كاملا: https://bit.ly/3L3XI2X

غزة: وقف إطلاق النار لا يُغني عن إجراءات الإغاثة والعدالة

اتفقت الحكومة الإسرائيلية و"حماس" في 9 أكتوبر/تشرين الأول 2025 على المرحلة الأولى من "الخطة الشاملة لإنهاء النزاع في غزة" التي وضعتها الحكومة الأمريكية، والتي تشمل وقف إطلاق النار، وإطلاق سراح الرهائن...

bit.ly

4 2

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Joey Shea @joeyshea.bsky.social · 5d

🚩On @jimmykimmellive.bsky.social, Aziz Ansari said he would donate part of his Riyadh Comedy Fest fee to @hrw.org

While HRW cannot accept the donation, it's not too late for him to call for the release of detained Saudi activists Manahel al Otaibi & Waleed Abu al Khair
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...

Saudi Arabia: Comedians Silent on Detained Activists

Comedians performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival did not use their public platform to urge Saudi authorities to free unjustly detained Saudi dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists

www.hrw.org

1 11 17

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Myrto Tilianaki @myrtotilianaki.bsky.social · 6d

5 questions you might have about #COP30 and why it’s a pivotal moment for climate action & human rights.

Governments should phase out fossil fuels, ensure a just transition, and protect forests & communities. hrw.org/news/2025/10/09/qa-united-nations-climate-change-conference-cop30

Q&A: United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30)

The 30th annual United Nations climate change conference, COP30, will bring together states that are party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as thousands of experts, journalists...

hrw.org

3 2

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Jan Kooy @kooyjan.bsky.social · 8d

🚨Judges of the International Criminal Court in The Hague have just convicted Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman (also known as Ali Kosheib) for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Jan Kooy @kooyjan.bsky.social · 8d

🚨BREAKING Sudan news via Elizabeth Evenson, International Justice Director @hrw.org ⤵️

“The ICC’s long-awaited landmark conviction for serious crimes in Darfur provides the first opportunity for victims and communities terrorized by the Janjaweed to see a measure of justice before the court."

1 9 9

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 12d

Country-wide protests initiated by the youth group GenZ212 have gripped Morocco, as protesters criticize the government over corruption and spending.

Morocco’s government should hear protestors’ demands. Learn more ⤵️

40 80

Reposted by Belkis Wille

HRW_AR @hrwarabic.bsky.social · 15d

دافع العديد من الكوميديين المشاركين في "مهرجان الرياض للكوميديا" عن حرية التعبير.

هل سيدافعون الآن عن هذا الحق في #السعودية؟

2 1

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Bassam Khawaja @khawaja.bsky.social · 18d

Trump’s memorandum directing law enforcement to investigate a sprawling, imaginary conspiracy to foment political violence in the US is a serious threat to human rights and democratic institutions: www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

US: Trump Targets Opponents in Sweeping Memorandum

United States President Donald Trump’s September 25, 2025, memorandum directing law enforcement to investigate a sprawling, imaginary conspiracy to foment political violence in the United States is a ...

www.hrw.org

2 1

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Just Security @justsecurity.org · 20d

US Servicemembers’ Exposure to Criminal Liability for Lethal Strikes on Narcoterrorists

By Daniel Maurer, former career judge advocate officer and former court-martial prosecutor

#MilitaryJustice #SouthCom #LOAC

www.justsecurity.org/121167/us-se...

US Servicemembers' Exposure to Criminal Liability for Lethal Strikes on Narcoterrorists

Former career judge advocate officer and former court-martial prosecutor writes that order to kill suspected narcoterrorists in Caribbean exposes servicemembers to criminal liability.

www.justsecurity.org

2 24 50

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Ida Sawyer @idasawyer.bsky.social · 20d

“A Call for Meaningful Action to Support Justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo”

My remarks at a UN General Assembly side event in New York this week, on the climate of impunity driving cycles of violence and abuse in DRC & concrete steps that can be taken now: hrw.org/news/2025/09...

1 1

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Joey Shea @joeyshea.bsky.social · 21d

🚩Saudi govt is using the Riyadh Comedy Fest to deflect attention from its brutal repression

The festival takes place on the 7th anniversary of Khashoggi's murder

Lineup includes: Jimmy Carr, Pete Davidson and others

@mazjobrani.bsky.social

@sammorril.bsky.social

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Comedy Festival Whitewashes Abuses

The Saudi government is using the Riyadh Comedy Festival 2025 from September 26 to October 9 to deflect attention from its brutal repression of free speech and other pervasive human rights violations.

www.hrw.org

8 33 47

Reposted by Belkis Wille

HRW_AR @hrwarabic.bsky.social · 22d

خلال الاجتماعات الرفيعة في دورة "الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة" هذا الأسبوع، على قادة الدول اتخاذ إجراءات عاجلة لوقف الإبادة والجرائم الإسرائيلية الأخرى بحق الفلسطينيين في #غزة.

1

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Lou Charbonneau @loucharb.bsky.social · 22d

🚨 As world leaders gather in NYC for #UNGA80, the atmosphere is grim amid attacks by powerful countries (incl. US) on multilateral institutions, human rights & international accountability. See @hrw.org's overview & recommendations below.

#Gaza #Sudan #Haiti #Ukraine #ICC #Myanmar #Afghanistan etc

UN: World Leaders Should Commit to Human Rights, International Justice

World leaders gathering at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23-29 should commit to protecting the UN from powerful governments seeking to defund and undermine the organization’s capaci...

www.hrw.org

1 7 7

Reposted by Belkis Wille

HRW_AR @hrwarabic.bsky.social · 25d

منذ انهيار حكومة الأسد في ديسمبر/كانون الأول 2024، توغلت إسرائيل في المنطقة المنزوعة السلاح التي تشرف عليها "الأمم المتحدة" والتي تفصل هضبة الجولان – وهي أراضٍ سورية تحتلها إسرائيل منذ 1967 – عن الجزء الذي ظل تحت السيطرة السورية من محافظة القنيطرة، وأنشأت تسعة مواقع عسكرية.

1 1 1

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 26d

Germany’s government is set to make major social security cuts, and replace the only recently-created “Citizen’s Income” with a more punitive “New Income for Jobseekers”.

These plans will increase poverty.

Human rights can help guide the debate back to what matters.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

A single mother in low-wage work shows her monthly household budget to Human Rights Watch during an interview, Baden-Württemberg, February 2023.
© 2023 Kartik Raj/ Human Rights Watch

2 33 47

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Human Rights Watch auf Deutsch @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social · 26d

Während sich Schwarz-Rot um die geplanten Sozialreformen und das #Bürgergeld zankt, geht die tägliche Realität vieler Menschen mit geringem Einkommen in #Deutschland unter.
Viele kommen schlichtweg nicht über die Runden.

Ein Kommentar von @kartikraj.bsky.social:
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...

Streit um Sozialreformen: In Deutschland drohen die Menschenrechte auf der Strecke zu bleiben

Die Koalitionspartner der schwarz-roten Bundesregierung in Deutschland streiten sich derzeit um die Inhalte der geplanten großen „Sozialreform”, bei der das Bürgergeld durch eine neue „Grundsicherung ...

www.hrw.org

8 9

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · 26d

Germany’s chancellor: “No one in our country falls into poverty because they become unemployed.” („Niemand fällt in unserem Land in die Armut, weil er arbeitslos wird.”)

Lived experience of unemployment benefits strongly suggests otherwise.

Screengrabs via @sanktionsfrei.bsky.social

1 7 14

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Ben Ward @bpward.bsky.social · 27d

When politicians undermine the European Court of Human Rights, we all lose. With Europe facing some of the gravest threats since the end of WW2, European governments should be bolstering regional institutions, not undermining them.
Read my new analysis for @HRW
www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

When Politicians Undermine Europe’s Rights Court, We All Lose

The European Court of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights are under attack again.

www.hrw.org

12 8

Reposted by Belkis Wille

Almaz Teffera @almazteffera.bsky.social · 27d

#UK's @phsombudsman.bsky.social finds:
1/ deep flaws in management of Home Office's #Windrush Compensation Scheme
2/ compensation offers should account for private pension losses. #WindrushScandal

@hrw.org will say it again: Windrush claimants need access to legal aid.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

1 5 6

Belkis Wille @belkiswille.bsky.social · 27d

The US maritime attacks on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels violate international human rights law and amount to extrajudicial killings www.hrw.org/news/2025/09...

5 6