#Human Rights41

12 Mar 2026

Violence in West Asia and the threat to international law

Violence across Gaza, Lebanon and Iran has raised warnings that international law is eroding. Attacks on civilians, infrastructure and humanitarian personnel, plus harsh political rhetoric, worry critics about a dangerous new precedent.

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Photo by aref sarkhosh, Unsplash

6 Mar 2026

Women use collage art in a Lima prison

In 2024–2025 a collage workshop ran in a women's prison in Lima. Women used images to tell stories and keep bonds, while in 2025 Peru moved toward tougher prison controls and more visible surveillance.

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28 Feb 2026

Ashgabat’s White City and the Problems Behind the Facade

Ashgabat is covered in white marble and grand monuments paid for with gas money. Behind the shiny buildings, Turkmenistan faces water and food shortages and tight limits on information and movement.

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27 Feb 2026

Iran’s long internet shutdown and new censorship model

Protests in December 2025 and January 2026 caused a near-complete internet shutdown in Iran. Authorities later moved to a white-listed model, and reports and company documents link deep packet inspection tools and a firm called Protei to the controls.

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22 Feb 2026

Netflix series revives search for Oesterheld

A Netflix adaptation of the 1957 comic El Eternauta has renewed attention to Héctor Germán Oesterheld and his missing family. The show led to more searches for disappeared people and more contacts with Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo.

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21 Feb 2026

Internet blackout and protests in Iran

Protests began in late December 2025 and the Iranian authorities shut down internet services in January 2026. When connections returned, videos and reports suggested wide state violence and many arrests and deaths.

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20 Feb 2026

Pakistani human rights lawyers sentenced over social media posts

Two Pakistani human rights lawyers, Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, were sentenced to 17 years on 24 January 2026 for social media posts about alleged military abuses. The fast trial and use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act drew wide criticism.

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19 Feb 2026

Red‑tagging and renewable energy in the Philippines

The Philippine government has opened renewable energy projects to more foreign investment while authorities have intensified "red‑tagging" of activists. Local NGOs that deliver disaster relief and clean technology say they have been targeted, hindering aid work.

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28 Dec 2025

Verse: filmmaking for women's rights in Myanmar

After the 2021 coup, Exile Hub grew to support journalists and rights defenders. Filmmaker Verse left reporting after gender bias and now makes films about women’s lives, winning grants and screening work at festivals.

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26 Dec 2025

Tomorrow Club: young writers share voices from Asia

PEN International’s Tomorrow Club connects young writers with mentors and publishes personal and political stories. The latest Asia edition brought together many young contributors and highlighted censorship, exile and calls for more support and mentorship.

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9 Dec 2025

Transgender group in Karachi links rights and climate action

Pakistan’s transgender community faces social exclusion and legal setbacks. In Karachi, the trans‑led group GIA provides services and has added climate projects like EcoDignity and a public mural to increase visibility and create safe work.

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8 Dec 2025

Elizabeth: a Myanmar doctor in exile, music and feminism

After the 2021 military coup, Exile Hub and others supported people forced into exile. Elizabeth, a doctor who fled to Mae Sot in 2022, now uses music and a feminist residency to support women from Myanmar.

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7 Dec 2025

Year of Protests in Georgia

From November 2024 to November 2025 Georgians held daily protests after the disputed October 2024 elections and a government pause on EU integration. Authorities used heavy policing, courts issued sentences, and the movement’s future is unclear.

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