April 16 marks an important step in the struggle for justice for children in Kabwe, Zambia.
Today, a complaint has been filed before the AU child rights body ACEWRC on behalf of children exposed to toxic lead from a former mine in Kabwe.
#LeadFreeKabwe
www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
The mass lead poisoning of children in Kabwe, Zambia, over decades is a catastrophe I saw with my own eyes
- Families and NGOs are now asking the African Union to demand a clean-up
@hrw.org
1/2
www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
‼️Important development on toxic lead contamination in Kabwe, Zambia‼️
Today, a complaint has been filed before the African Union child rights body ACEWRC on behalf of children exposed to toxic lead from a former mine in Kabwe.
#LeadFreeKabwe
www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
Toxic lead from a Zambian mine has poisoned generations of children. This week @hrw.org & IHRDA will spotlight the case & call for justice:
PANEL: Spotlight on Kabwe
🗓 16 April 09h00 – 10h40
📍 ACERWC CSO Forum, Lesotho
With experts, activists & Kabwe residents
Join online tinyurl.com/458yy5kd
While Zambia's mining disasters in #Kabwe and #Copperbelt poison people & environment, the government as well as China, the US & EU rush to get access to "critical" minerals:
e360.yale.edu/features/zam...
The UN’s call for urgent action at the Lega Dembi mine in #Ethiopia underscores what residents have said for years: children are getting sick, pregnancies are being lost, & pollution persists. It’s time for the government and Midroc to deliver.
Read @jkippenberg.bsky.social :
https://bit.ly/4rqmYzS
Children near Ethiopia's largest gold mine suffer chronic health conditions, women have miscarriages & stillbirths.
In response, the UN child rights body just urged Ethiopia to tackle the mine's pollution. The govt should do so, promptly:
www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez (R) and her two children, aged five and six, were detained by ICE in San Francisco, California, US, on March 3, 2026. © 2026 Nikolas De Bremaeker/Centro Legal de la Raza
A child with a hearing disability was deprived of his hearing aids during a deportation process in the United States. Without them, he could not communicate or understand what was happening. No child should face immigration detention. www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
Important investigation into Venezuelan gold mined under abusive conditions, and how it can reach the global gold market:
Deutschland: Gesetzesentwurf zur Grundsicherung untergräbt Recht auf soziale Sicherheit Reform dürfte Kinderarmut und Armut bei Alleinerziehenden verschärfen Photo: Zwei Frauen auf dem Weg in ein Jobcenter in Berlin, Deutschland, 25. Juni 2025 © 2025 Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images
Deutschland: Gesetzesentwurf zur Grundsicherung untergräbt Recht auf soziale Sicherheit
Reform dürfte Kinderarmut und Armut bei Alleinerziehenden verschärfen
Weiterlesen: www.hrw.org/de/news/2026...
Two women visit a Jobcenter in Berlin, Germany, June 25, 2025 © 2025 Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images
The German government’s social security bill has its second reading in the Bundestag today. The plans run counter to Germany’s human rights obligations, and will leave more people, including children in low-income families and single mothers, at risk of poverty.
@hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
A Small Change in Egypt’s Tax Code, A Big Opportunity for Rights www.hrw.org/news/2026/02... My colleague @sarahsaadoun.bsky.social & I write on the gov't announcement that billions were generated in tax revenue from previously exempted military-owned enterprises long-shielded from scrutiny.
Wer Prinzipien nur verteidigt, wenn es nichts kostet, hat keine.
Gemeinsam mit Aisling Reidy und @philippedam.bsky.social habe ich aufgeschrieben, was wir von der heuchlerischen Doppelmoral Europas bei der Verteidigung des Völkerrechts halten. Spoiler: Nicht viel.
www.hrw.org/de/news/2026...
Wer denkt, dass es bei Sorgfaltspflicht in Lieferketten nur um Bürokratie geht, sollte diesen Fall ansehen. Es geht um Menschenleben und nicht weniger.
The German supply chains law has improved human rights. So why weaken it, as the German government is planning to??
Good to see new @Germanwatch @Misereor report on the impact of Due Diligence Legislation: www.germanwatch.org/en/93384
Today, the UN Child Rights Committee meets to review the situation of children in Ethiopia. Here are our recommendations to the Committee to protect the environmental health rights of children living near the country's largest gold mine, Lega Dembi:
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Did you know that a historic case is being pursued in a Belgian court seeking individual criminal responsibility for colonial crimes in the court of a former colonial power?
The court's decision on whether to pursue a criminal trial is expected on March 17.
Learn more: www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Children living near Ethiopia's largest gold mine have been exposed to toxic pollution. Next week, the UN Child Rights Committee, at its Ethiopia session, should push for the mine's suspension and an independent assessment.
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
My latest for @hrw.org: - The UN has problems but it’s better than a global Politburo of leaders of abusive governments. Rather than paying billions to join #Trump’s "Board of Peace", states shld strengthen the UN’s ability to uphold human rights.
The Board charter doesn't mention human rights🫤
While many face abysmal public services + tax hikes, huge companies & the uber-rich game a tax system designed 100 yrs ago. My new oped in @opiniojuris.bsky.social on why the first-ever UN tax treaty is a historic chance for public budgets that can fund human rights opiniojuris.org/2026/01/13/a...
US retreat from global climate cooperation threatens human rights.
Withdrawing from international climate agreements & institutions, such as the UNFCCC and the IPCC weakens global efforts to limit emissions, share scientific knowledge, and respond to climate impacts.
www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Last week's UN Environment Assembly fell short of supporting an ambitious proposal by the Colombian government. But binding rules for mining & mineral supply chains are needed. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Yesterday, the EU parliament sold out to corporate interests and gutted its flagship corporate accountability law.
A tragic day for human rights, environment, and the credibility of the EU.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Die EU knickt angesichts der aggressiven Einflussnahme der Industrie - insbesondere der Fossilindustrie - ein und verabschiedet ein stark ausgehöhltes Lieferkettengesetz.
Wo bleiben Menschenrechte, Umwelt und die Werte der EU?
www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
8 months of intense corporate lobbying, untransparent processes and foreign interference lead to the adoption of a gutted #CSDDD.
✊But a due diligence obligation remains and even if weaker, #Victims will still demand #Justice for #HumanRights abuses.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Today is the start of the UN Environment Assembly, where States will consider the Colombian proposal for a treaty, and in the immediate, a working group.
This is a bold initiative that deserves support from all govts!
Mineral extraction should not happen at the cost of people and planet.
Governments meeting at the UN Environment Assembly this week should support Colombia’s initiative for a binding minerals treaty. #UNEA7
🚨 Trilogabschluss: Massive Abschwächung der #CSDDD - unter Einfluss fossiler Großkonzerne
Unser Pressestatement⬇️
lieferkettengesetz.de/pressemittei...
🚨Omnibus I Political agreement
Early this morning, EU institutions reached a political agreement that marks a turning point:
👉 The first rollback of an adopted due diligence law in history
👉 The first major file pushed through via an EPP–far right alliance
www.linkedin.com/posts/europe...
Today is the start of the UN Environment Assembly, where States will consider the Colombian proposal for a treaty, and in the immediate, a working group.
This is a bold initiative that deserves support from all govts!
