the time. governments, when they can't defend their record, try to attack the messenger and human rights watch. trust me, extremely careful. we are objective and meticulous in our fact finding in then as carefully in his principal way as possible. we apply human rights for governments don't like that. we're checking, i've been personally sanctioned by the chinese and the russian governments. you know, we're attacked by that. we're one of the open, i go on on. that's just what happens. and governments have nothing to say for themselves. they attacking rights. and speaking of china today, the chinese foreign ministry had some words offered some words of advice for the united states regarding gun violence and human rights. take a listen to what was said. may huh. in terms of the us needs to face up to its poor human rights conditions regarding gun violence and take concrete action on gun control to stop the violence and protect the american people's rights to life. rather than go around criticizing other countries and using human rights as a pretext to metal in their internal affairs. obviously t

and so helsinki rock, which is the precursor of human rights watch, was really an effort to protect them. and that, you know, spoke to an era where being a human rights activist was still relatively rare. there were activists around the world, but they were a week in battle bunch. and i think the biggest evolution i've seen in the 3 plus decades that i've been involved in the human rights movement is that today there are human rights defenders in almost every country. you know, maybe the most repressive ones, like north korea, there's no one who can survive there, but even in that case operate an exile. and so we are, we have a movement that really is able to push back against this inevitable tendency of governments to, by winning wise when you couple that with the fact that today it's very difficult for governments to hide their progression. you know, there are smartphones and access to social media virtually every place on it does mean that the human rights movement is able to generate very significant pressure on government supply with human rights. we don't always win by any means, b

human rights abuses committed by russian forces during the invasion of ukraine. it is just one piece of a larger picture of people on the planet who were in peril. human rights watch exposes violations of human rights and it pushes to hold those offenders accountable. for the past 3 decades, kenneth roth have stood at the helm of human rights watch this week. he is stepping down and tonight he's joining us. can it's good to have you on the program as it is it, as it is in the news business we, we have breaking news and we need to report and we're get a reports now out of russia that former soviet president mikhail gorbachev has died . i, i don't know if you've heard that, but we just got the report and i wanted to ask you, he was seen at least in the west as a symbol of, of hope in change for more human rights behind the iron curtain. your thoughts on the news of his passing he was really a visionary leader on his so called colossus represented a 1st and foremost study. he really began the process of free speech that i think ultimately led to the end of the soviet union in that together with his perestroika, which was his economic liberation from the state control

human rights. ok on here too long with human rights watch africa. thank you. ah. you're watching did of the news africa still to come? we meet the residents in the car synagogue, inspiring others to help tackle pollution in the country. fest elder it in western canyon stands for a tragic chapter in canyon history in the post election violence in 2007, dozens of people were killed there in clashes between 2 ethnic communities. the memory is still fresh in people's minds, no matter what the outcome of the elections. they want to prevent. a repetition of those events did abuse. mario miller reports out and about on behalf of piece helen currency and collins barava walked through the neighborhood and elder. it in western kenya, one day ahead of kenya's general election, they talk to neighbors and ask if they feel safe, whichever the outcome i'd be ready to like. make my cell, sir. the scenes that unfolded in 2007 are still fresh in everyone's memory. here, after the elections violent clashes broke out between different ethnic groups, dozens of people including childre

can attract attention is by wanting to these people, and this is not the 1st time you know, human rights watch in 2014 report that the use of class can munitions by the gradient forces. i'm close to 2014 ukrainian government was use class to munitions . this is from human rights watch. this is again the was a war and may amount to crimes. this was documented at least 14 times in the nav. this was documented by the international committee there at ross who was killed in october, all the use of class to be sure. so i remember when this report came out, how the western media try to talk, you know, cause you know, people who don't yes, were very enthusiastic about it because of jesus. for the 1st time the western meet a stallion now and then the media. there was a lot of criticism. and as you know, human rights watch, just like amnesty international, try to balance it, you know, with a lot of reports on, you know, crimes committed by the other side. so, i mean for me, the most frustrating thing is that this is something, this is something obvious. something that you don't have to be a specialist.

and this is not the 1st time you know, human rights watch in 2014 report that the use of class can munitions by the bringing forces. i'm closure. 2014. ukrainian government was use class to munitions . this is from human rights watch. this is against the was a war and may amount to crimes. this was documented at least 14 times in the nav. this was documented by the international committee. their growth was killed in october with the use of cost of munitions. so i remember when this report came out, how the western media try to push it up. you know, of course, you know, people who don't, yes, were very enthusiastic about it because jesus, for the 1st time, the western media stand out and, and the media. there was a lot of criticism. and as you know, human rights watch, just like amnesty international, had to balance it, you know, with a lot of reports on, you know, crimes committed by the other side. so, i mean for me, the most frustrating thing is that this is something, this is something obvious, something that you don't have to be a specialist to see if you see them anywhere in your grade

we have her statement from human rights watch or the i commission is damning findings. explain why the chinese government fought tooth and nail to prevent the publication of this report. james base our diplomatic editor at the you and thanks very much, the update that james will. let's speak to human rights watch and you are to wang, as a senior researcher for the organization. joys been our lie from sky that you heard james just saying there, obviously the chinese fighting tooth and nail or over the detail of this particular report from what you're hearing. you're pats haven't got a copy of the per report right in front of you. but what's your reaction to the initial findings? well, it's a sigh of relief known to say, i mean the report says, ah, the crimes the government has can. and these, his government has committed. i may amount to, ah, crimes against humanity as i think that families and victims feel at least you know their sufferings and had been recognized by the un. and i think we really need to focus on the next steps, which are, you know, the way if you ask c

lasting damage and suffering to hundreds of civilians, this is stated in the report of the human rights watchrganization human rights watch published today, the report also states that ukraine it seems that it also used cluster munitions at least twice . ukraine strictly adheres to the norms of international humanitarian law, but what is the special danger of cluster shells, how are they used by the russian troops and do the armed forces of ukraine resort to their use? why is the peculiarity of cluster shells, we talked about them in our broadcasts, but let's now summarize how they work and why they are especially dangerous if to compare with other types of weapons and the fact is that a-a cluster shells are cluster ammunition and they use the principle of a-a a large number of so-called sub-munitions a personal munition that this means what it is, that is, if we imagine a standard munition some kind of outfit , for example, and it is generally used, for example, a container, some kind of power plant, for example, an acceleration unit as an option, but the combat part, the combat part of this

since the government led by hard flaws took off in 2009 according to the human rights watch. therefore, 9 human rights organizations ought to populate to publicly call for an immediate and too serious abuses. in bunger this, however, the government denies delegate sons of disappearances and extended the shell killings with one minister saying that some of those who went missing in fact flit . one of this activist also raised a strong concerns about bunger this digital security laws enacted in 2018 with international rights group, say, have been used to silence descent call, freedom of expression, and target journalists. now again, going back to that same question, then what is the power of the un high commissioner for human rights in order to effect change? especially when you have a situation where the government is denying these disappearances the right steve as if it is spar full mandate on anything related to human rights within the un system. but this expects that boss alerts visit will play an active role in the week and say if you pick to your son of the ruling at the f

human rights watch has been documenting abuses under the taliban in the past year. in its most recent report it says the taliban have broken multiple pledges to respect human rights and women's rights, suppressed media and arbitrarily detained, tortured, and executed its critics. heather barr is the associate director of the women's rights division at human rights watch. thank you forjoining us on the programme. you and i have been speaking for a year about this, almost on a regular basis. we were just listening to general mcmaster and to a women's rights activist. this is quite a grim assessment of the situation on the ground? that is riuht. what the situation on the ground? that is right. what was _ the situation on the ground? that is right. what was described _ the situation on the ground? that is right. what was described matches | right. what was described matches our research. i think she said, we have no rights. that is a fair description of the situation for afghan women today. general mcmaster and i, we know each otherfrom our daysin and i, we know each oth

human rights watch has been documenting abuses under the taliban in the past year. d media and arbitrarily detained, tortured, and executed its critics. heather barr is the associate director of the women's rights division at human rights watch. thank you forjoining us on the programme. you and i have been speaking for a year about this, almost on a regular basis. we were just listening to general mcmaster and to a women's rights activist. this is quite a grim assessment of the situation on the ground? that is riuht. what the situation on the ground? that is right. what was _ the situation on the ground? that is right. what was described _ the situation on the ground? that is right. what was described matches | right. what was described matches our research. i think she said, we have no rights. that is a fair description of the situation for afghan women today. general mcmaster and i, we

in its 2022 world report human rights watch said, the tie government for the repressed basic rights and crack down on the youth, lead democracy movement in 2021. what is the overall situation in thailand right now when it comes to human rights? well, let's not forget that thailand is still under emergency decree, enforced by general graham. and this emergency decree can be aware of it. to the extent that all exist, all form of the exercise upon the mental freedom. freedom expression assembly association can be totally ban and dissemination information. so fashion or report by my watch can also be ban, hadn't, and unleash, as follows, information on this information. so he has a fairy point him too, which is jacqueline, in nature, in his hand, already. and he has been using that, that explain why we have hundreds and hundreds of use the high bars our being charged for expressing that opinions. and that is sending wise against the government as, as k. a just say that they had 3 demands. not only those 3 demands about credit resignation in new constitution and reform when i get not only th

that was sophie richardson, china directorfor human rights watch, speaking to us a little earlier righton newsday, what we just talking about in fact, i am on twitter. i'm looking forward to hearing from you. now to some good environmental news. it was on the brink of extinction in britain more than a0 years ago, but thanks to conservation work, the large blue butterfly has now had a bumper summer. thousands have been recorded this year, with the restoration of wild meadows, and south—west england now has the world's greatest concentration. helen briggs reports. this the vibrant flash of the large blue butterfly, declared extinct in the uk in 1979, it had to be rescued by bringing caterpillars in from sweden. and now decades of conservation work's paying off, with more large blue recorded this summer than at any time in 150 years. for one scientist, it's a dream come true. it's been a great thrill to see the butterfly back in such large numbers again. i, alas, was present when the large blue went extinct in this country, many years ago, and, at the time, i never thought i'd see it back.

coming up on the program. nigeria has been battling insecurity for years and it's getting worse. human rights watch says recent attacks close out to nigeria, seat of government, i cause and fear and anxiety amongst what's also increasing this kid nothing's around. so that 3 i give my opinion. nigeria have become a lucrative business much more than the or and business and i want to tell you it is explained is call bye bye the.

that china director for human that china directorfor human rights watch.nes. us senator marsha blackburn has arrived in taiwan, the third visit by a us dignitary this month. the trip went ahead despite pressure from beijing. a spokesman for china's embassy in washington said that beijing would take unspecified " countermeasures" in response to what he called u.s. "provocations." french presdient emmanuel macron is in algeria, on a trip aimed at repairing ties and boosting energy supplies. at a new conference mr macron said that the two countries should move beyond their painful shared history and look to the future. he laid a wreath at a monument to algerians killed during the independence war, which brought french colonial rule to an end 60 years ago. a former british ambassador to myanmar and her husband have been arrested in yangon. vicky bowman — who is no longer a diplomat — has been accused of breaking visa rules. and finally, it was on the brink of extinction in britain more than a0 years ago — but thanks to conservation work, the large blue butterf

the commerce engine, or human rights watch, has accused his government of using the state of emergency to intimidate, harass, and arrest demonstrators. is mr. become a single result into the same kind of high handedness that the previous regime was accused of. yes, there is that element where he has said that look as long as the out of the layer behaved within the law. they are fine. but those who are broken the law by taking all the public buildings and all of that, that they are going to be prosecuted by the manner in which it has been done is what is radia unfortunate? you know, overnight they came in and the army dispersed, the people at goldfish. then there have been people who have been sort of taken off basses. indeed one person was taken off a plane. you know, the manner in which it was done seems to be rather brutal and rather authoritarian and that's what needs to be addressed. the article. busy there he himself said that data the live was peaceful and that the article here should be protected. but since he has become president to the cracked out, seems to be suggesting other

you're doing you've without woody teleaccount. joining me now for more is fin robertson from our human rights watch fil, an extension? of emergency room for another 6 months. what does this mean for the people of myanmar? well, it means more violence. it means you're more human rights abuses. it means more suffering. i mean, there's no real surprise here that the state of emergency has been a standard for another 6 months in myanmar. ah, the original structure of the qu, announcement back in february 2021, was one year state of emergency with the possibility of to 6 month extensions. and we always thought that the generals would try to use that whole time period and, and quite clearly, they're going to do that. and he's also talking about her talks with a rebel groups as well. does that mean that the army is perhaps on the back foot when it comes to dealing with these armed groups? well, there's been discussions by a senior gentleman online about various different cease fire discussions. even rolled that out when who and send went to visit back in january. or the reality is that there is no real ce

up on the program. nigeria has been battling insecurity for years, but it's getting worse. human rights watch says recent that's ox. close out to nigeria, seat of government, i call cynthia anons, i to young sits. what's also increasing is kidnappings around so that 3 i.

up on the program. nigeria has been battling insecurity for years, but it's getting worse. human rights watch says recent attacks close out to nigeria, seat of government, i call cynthia on, on the side to get mom. what's also increasing is kid, nothing's around. so that's a have become a lucrative business much more than the or in the business. and i want to tell you .

well, us lawyer, dumb colic feels it's strange to criticize a human rights watch dog for reporting on alleged human rights violations. i think it's absurd. you know, i don't understand petitioning and human rights group because you don't like the fact that they're reporting on human rights abuses. let's face it, people, you know, amnesty international job, which honestly i don't see them largely carrying out is to be neutral. to tell, you know, both sides of the story of the one time they report truthfully, on the, you know, ukraine's violations that's appropriate, that people should not be lobbying them to, to change how they're reporting or to buy, or people who report on things that you know, they find inconvenient, the whole point of a human rights group is to tell truth. people don't want to hear, right? that's why they, these groups exist. so if they want to keep their integrity, they should stand by the report not given to public pressure, not fire people because of the report done cover like now the dust has burly, settled on nancy pelosi exclusive visit to taiwan. but now ano

in its 2022 will report, human rights watch said the thai government further clamped down on the pro-democracyent. what is the overall situation in thailand right now when it comes to human rights? sunai: well, let's not forget that thailand is still under emergency decree enforced by general prayut. this emergency decree can be actuated to the extent that all forms of exercise of fundamental freedoms, simply association, can be totally banned. this information can also be banned, calling it disinformation. he has a draconian view in his hand and he's been using that. that explains why we have hundreds and hundreds of youth behind bars being charged for expressing their opinions against the government. as jade just said, they have three demand. not only those three demands about prayut's resignation and reform, none of these demands of been met or responded. they are being punished for making such demands. so this is the situation of the overall human rights landscape that thailand has become a draconian, repressive society under general prayut -- under general prayut's rule. how long can peop

for the past year, several, several dozens of reports like you and human rights watch.iban responses, this is not true. the only thing they want to say is they want the whole world who believe the taliban are telling the truth and everybody else is trying to lie. i want to very much emphasize that whatever the taliban are saying is not acceptable. we know, this has been documented for very long and if we continue to give platform to the taliban to speak their source of taking part in the operation of women and afghanistan because we know the taliban are actively, systematically erasing women from society, and if we give them a platform, it means we are ignoring the voices of the women who are telling that the taliban are suppressing them, the taliban are forcibly disappearing, the taliban are killing them and there are 70 atrocities happening in the country. but since the media and the news, the journalists are under suppression, it is very, very hard to document most of those criminal terrorist activities. and also we can see in the video, the documentary produce for p

some of the statements made by your colleagues, human rights activists, human rights watch about what they were expecting to happen. do you feel a sense of bitterness about the potential for this particular visit to overshadow the entire legacy of michelle bachelorette? well, i think it would be completely unfair, not for me, but for the whole office to focus only on china to understand where the office has been doing the last 4 years because we have been carrying for so many issues on the whole world. and this is exactly what we're going to do during the interview with this move on to do different topics. now, do you support the going course among many human rights activists for russian officials to be prosecuted for war crimes in the ukraine? well, it's not for us to define, i work, i'm so now we have, every time we are discuss about crane and we have inform about when we have not found on the ground. because as you probably know, we are there with the special mission since 2014 looking at the monitoring and reporting on the situation. great. and we have also inform and publicly and