The Dutch Council of State has advised against a proposal to explicitly outlaw ethnic profiling, stating it offers insufficient added value as the practice is already prohibited. The advisory body believes the bill would complicate the existing legal framework rather than clarify it, despite acknowledging that ethnic profiling still occurs.
UNESCO has officially marked December 15 as the first World Turkic Languages Day, a decision adopted during its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The day highlights the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of over 200 million Turkic-speaking peoples and commemorates the decipherment of the Orkhon Inscriptions.
Denmark, backed by 26 other European nations including the UK and Italy, is advocating for a 'modernisation of the interpretation' of the European Convention on Human Rights. The initiative, formalized in a joint statement signed in Strasbourg, aims to ease the deportation of criminal foreign nationals by re-evaluating Articles 3 and 8, which concern the prohibition of inhuman treatment and the right to private and family life.
A coalition of United Nations special rapporteurs has accused the Turkish government of systematically criminalizing young women and children through broad counterterrorism operations. The UN experts cited the use of secret evidence and coerced interrogations, particularly targeting individuals perceived to be linked to the Gülen movement, in raids conducted in 2024 and 2025.
European nations, members of the Council of Europe, met in Strasbourg to consider changes to migrant protection frameworks, including reinterpreting the European Convention on Human Rights. This move, influenced by mainstream parties adopting stricter policies and rising far-right sentiment, has drawn criticism from rights advocates concerned about weakened protections.
Eswatini observed International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, with a key event in Mbabane. Stakeholders emphasized justice, dignity, and addressing social injustices such as land disputes, abuse of power, gender-based violence, and LGBTQ+ rights, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to advance human rights in the nation.
Europe's top human rights court has faulted Turkey for jailing former Kurdistan Workers' Party fighter Ayhan Aykaç based on a confession given without a lawyer present, deeming it a violation of his right to a fair trial. The ruling highlights the critical importance of legal assistance during initial interrogations.
Russia's Supreme Court has formally voided the European Convention on Human Rights, eliminating its application within the country's legal framework. This move, following Russia's 2022 withdrawal from the Council of Europe, signifies a complete disengagement from European human rights oversight and shifts emphasis to domestic law and alternative international instruments.
Former Senate President Kerryann Ifill has been appointed as Barbados' inaugural Human Rights Commissioner, with her tenure officially commencing on December 1, 2025. This historic appointment establishes an independent office aimed at strengthening national human rights protections and addressing various forms of discrimination across the island nation.
Human Rights Watch and the College of Notaries of Mexico City have released a comprehensive 70-page guide, 'Roadmap for Change,' to facilitate the implementation of a landmark Civil Code reform. This reform, effective December 2024, recognizes the full legal capacity of all adults, including people with disabilities and older persons, ensuring their right to make independent decisions and access support without forced guardianship.
Russia's Ministry of Justice has officially labeled the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) as an 'undesirable organization,' effectively criminalizing its activities within the Russian Federation. The move, reported in early November 2025, bans the global human rights watchdog from operating in the country and carries severe penalties for those who cooperate with it.
Victoria Police have been granted expanded powers for six months, allowing warrantless pat-downs, car searches, and move-on directions in Melbourne's CBD and surrounding areas. The move, effective until May 29, 2026, is aimed at combating rising crime but has drawn strong criticism from human rights and legal groups over civil liberties and racial profiling concerns.
Experts are raising human rights concerns regarding Australia's involvement in the F-35 global supply chain, following former US President Donald Trump's decision to sell advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Critics fear Australian-made components could implicate the nation in potential abuses given Saudi Arabia's human rights record and its role in the Yemeni conflict.
A new report from the House of Lords Constitution Committee, titled 'Rule of law: holding the line between anarchy and tyranny,' states that the rule of law in the UK is being weakened. The report, released today, highlights institutional failings in the justice system, political attacks on judges, and social erosion as key threats, urging urgent government action to protect this fundamental constitutional principle.
A landmark UK employment tribunal has ruled that the right to criticize Islam is a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010. The decision, involving actuary Patrick Lee, marks the first time a British court has explicitly recognized such protection, impacting free speech debates and the definition of 'Islamophobia'.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) today launched its 2025 'State of Schools Report' in Johannesburg. The report details systemic challenges in basic education, including poor infrastructure, overcrowding, and sanitation issues, based on visits to over 150 schools across all nine provinces. It aims to hold departments accountable for improvements before the 2026 academic year.
Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, have been released after 38 days in Ugandan detention. President Yoweri Museveni confirmed their arrest, accusing them of working with the opposition. Their release followed diplomatic efforts by Kenya.
Three prominent human rights organizations, Human Rights Watch, the Turkey Human Rights Litigation Support Project, and the International Commission of Jurists, have called on a Turkish parliamentary commission to recommend extensive legal and institutional reforms. The groups advocate for changes to protect human rights for Kurds and all other communities, aiming for a durable, rights-based peace following the PKK's announced intention to disarm.
In a significant shift, Turkish nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli advocated for the release of former pro-Kurdish party leader Selahattin Demirtas, following a final European Court of Human Rights ruling. Demirtas has been imprisoned since 2016 on terrorism-related charges.
Belarus's Deputy Foreign Minister, Igor Sekreta, met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and ILO Assistant Director General Beate Andrees in Geneva on November 3, 2025. Discussions focused on human rights, cooperation with OHCHR in the context of the Universal Periodic Review, and the state of Belarus's relations with the International Labour Organization, emphasizing non-politicized engagement.
