UN Commission on Human Rights Stories

300,000 flee South Sudan as Kiir–Machar conflict escalates, UN warns of civil war return
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Oct 13, 2025

The resurgence of fighting has triggered mass displacement and deepened what the UN calls one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises.

Claris Ogangah sworn in as new KNCHR chair, vows to defend rights of all Kenyans
Barack Oduor  |  Oct 13, 2025

Ogangah, in her acceptance speech, announced that she'll ensure that all Kenyans, especially the marginalised and voiceless, are protected and heard.

Somalia approves independent Human Rights Commission in historic milestone
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 11, 2025

Family Affairs and Human Rights Minister Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi praised Parliament for its decisive support, calling it a victory for both the S...

UN Rights Chief appalled by continued killing of civilians in Sudan
Mary Wambui  |  Oct 11, 2025

The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that at least 46 civilians were killed in artillery and drone strikes in the Abu Shouk and Daraja Oula neighb...

UK supports Somalia’s shift from UN oversight to homegrown human rights leadership
Mary Wambui  |  Oct 08, 2025

The resolution aims to enhance technical assistance and capacity-building for Somalia’s justice and security institutions.

Families demand immediate release of Kenyan activists missing in Uganda
Barack Oduor  |  Oct 06, 2025

In a statement read by representatives of the three organisations and family spokesperson Nobert Ochieng, they said eyewitness accounts indicate the t...

Mombasa activists demand immediate release of Kenyans allegedly detained in Uganda
Farhiya Hussein  |  Oct 05, 2025

The Mombasa Comrades and Activists Forum claims that Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, both well-known human rights defenders, were abducted and are being...

Tanzania slams Human Rights Watch report as “false and misleading” ahead of 2025 elections
Mwangi Maina  |  Oct 02, 2025

Tanzania reaffirmed its "unyielding commitment to protecting and promoting human rights" as enshrined in its Constitution and international treaties.

Somalia ratifies African Charter on Child Rights in landmark vote
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Oct 02, 2025

The decision was reached on Wednesday during a parliamentary sitting in Mogadishu, chaired by Speaker of the Lower House Sheikh Adan Mohamed Noor Mado...

Pressure mounts on Kenya to permit visit by UN special rapporteur
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Oct 01, 2025

Kenya’s refusal to allow the UN special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association to conduct a visit has become a point...

KNCHR launches advisory on situation of human rights defenders in Kenya
Barack Oduor  |  Sep 30, 2025

The advisory calls on the government to strengthen law enforcement, review protection mechanisms, and foster stronger partnerships with non-state acto...

Civil society groups warn restrictive laws forcing millions into unsafe abortions in Africa
Lucy Mumbi  |  Sep 28, 2025

The organisations highlighted that adolescents, people living with disabilities, those in rural or underserved communities, survivors of sexual violen...

Tanzania’s social media clampdown and the elections – what’s at risk
The Conversation  |  Sep 27, 2025

The law has been condemned for provisions which limit political expression through blogs, online media and mobile platforms like WhatsApp. People have...

Rights groups welcome moving of Baby Pendo's case to Kisumu, push for speady prosecution
Mary Wambui  |  Sep 26, 2025

They added that unless the Judiciary now takes firm control of the timetable and resists further attempts to stall, survivors will continue to wait wi...

30 years of advancing gender equality: Achievements, setbacks, and the road ahead
UN News  |  Sep 23, 2025

Some 708 million women are excluded from the labour market by unpaid care work. Even those who work are pushed into lower paid jobs. Women are exclude...

Trilateral meeting of AU, EU, UN reiterates support for multilateralism
XINHUA  |  Sep 22, 2025

The three organisations expressed support for ongoing international and regional peace initiatives in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, reaffi...

IPOA reviews 20,000 complaints, inspects 5,000 police facilities in five years
Mary Wambui  |  Sep 18, 2025

This year, IPOA’s report on police response to protests held between June and July 2025 revealed serious violations of constitutional policing standar...

Three years of William Ruto: The successes and failures shaping his legacy as president
Barack Oduor  |  Sep 18, 2025

While there are many hits and misses, The Eastleigh Voice highlights three key successes and three major shortcomings of his "bottom-up" leadership.

Rights group sounds alarm over surge of gender-based violence on digital platforms
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Sep 17, 2025

The coalition explains TFGBV as any harmful act committed, worsened, or amplified through online channels such as social media, messaging apps, or oth...

UN rights chief condemns Israeli strike in Doha as ‘shocking breach of international law’
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Sep 16, 2025

According to reports, the Israeli military struck residential compounds in Doha on 9 September, reportedly housing members of Hamas’ political bureau

UN Human Rights Council to debate Israel's recent military aggression against Qatar
Mary Wambui  |  Sep 15, 2025

The meeting, set to take place in Geneva, will be the 10th urgent debate convened by the Council since its establishment in 2006.

Human rights activists, lawyers condemn surge in violence, want insecurity declared national disaster
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Sep 13, 2025

Human rights defenders have emphasised that the combined threats to lawyers, activists, politicians, and ordinary citizens make it imperative for the...

Tana River residents rage after 47-year-old man killed by elephant, MUHURI blames KWS
Issa Hussein  |  Sep 10, 2025

According to MUHURI, Muhamed was chased to the river and killed on the spot around 3 pm on Monday in what residents described as a horrifying and prev...

127 civilians killed by IS Sahel in Niger since March - Human Rights Watch
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Sep 10, 2025

One of the deadliest incidents, HRW says, took place on June 21 in Manda village, where gunmen stormed a mosque and opened fire on worshipers, killing...

DCI refutes harassment claims by Human Rights Watch official Otsieno Namwaya
Barack Oduor  |  Sep 09, 2025

DCI dismissed the claims a day after Otsieno Namwaya, the Associate Director of Human Rights, spoke to The Eastleigh Voice about his alleged harassmen...

Human Rights Watch official Otsieno Namwaya says police target him instead of rights abusers
Barack Oduor  |  Sep 09, 2025

Speaking exclusively to The Eastleigh Voice on Monday, Namwaya alleged he was facing harassment and intimidation because of his work.

Rwanda calls Human Rights Watch's count of new graves at military cemetery "disrespectful"
XINHUA  |  Sep 06, 2025

According to the HRW, 1,171 new graves were recorded between 2022 and 2025, the increase coinciding with the M23 armed group's offensive on Goma and B...

Rights groups demand KNCHR to take charge of compensation plan for protest victims
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Aug 30, 2025

The group noted that the panel that was created through a Presidential Proclamation on August 6, 2025, and a gazette notice published on August 25, 20...

KHRC raises alarm over police surveillance of Human Rights Watch official
Mary Wambui  |  Aug 30, 2025

According to HRW, on the evening of August 23, a group of six men, believed to be plain-clothes officers, parked three vehicles at a local police stat...

KNCHR nominee admits victims’ compensation panel encroaches on commission
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 29, 2025

President William Ruto this week gazetted a panel of experts, led by constitutional adviser Makau Mutua, to oversee compensation for victims of public...

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