Human Rights Watch

Some groups work to keep people safe.

One group is called Human Rights Watch. They started a long time ago in 1978.

They look for things that are unfair. They write reports to tell the truth. This helps leaders know how to help.

They want people to have freedom. This includes the freedom to pray. It also means the freedom to speak.

They give awards to brave people. These people work hard to help others. It is a very big job.

This group works in many lands. They want a fair world for everyone.

Human Rights Watch is a group that looks for unfairness.

They are based in New York City. The group started in 1978. At first, it was called Helsinki Watch. It was made by Robert L. Bernstein, Jeri Laber, and Aryeh Neier.

The group grew over many years. They added groups for Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 1988, they joined together to form Human Rights Watch. They want people to have basic rights. This includes freedom of religion and freedom of the press. They also work against unfair treatment for others.

To help, the group writes long reports. They use these reports to pressure governments to change. They also give awards to brave people. These people help defend rights in their own lands.

Some countries do not like the group's work. China gave sanctions to a leader named Kenneth Roth. Because of this, the group left Hong Kong. Russia also banned the group from its land in 2025. Some people also say the group is biased. They think the group might focus too much on certain places.

Caption: Kenneth Roth spoke at a meeting in 2008.

Human Rights Watch is a nonprofit watchdog group. It is based in New York City. The group works to protect basic human rights. These are rights that every person should have. They believe in things like freedom of religion. They also support freedom of the press. They work against unfair treatment and things like capital punishment.

The group works by doing a lot of research. They write very long and detailed reports. These reports explain what is happening in different lands. They use this information to pressure governments to change. They also ask powerful governments to use their influence. This helps stop people from being treated unfairly. They even ask for specific leaders to face sanctions.

This organization has a long history. It was started in 1978 by three people. Their names were Robert L. Bernstein, Jeri Laber, and Aryeh Neier. At first, it was called Helsinki Watch. It was made to monitor the Soviet Union. Later, they added groups for Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 1988, all these groups joined together. This created the Human Rights Watch we know today.

Many people have led the group over the years. Kenneth Roth was the executive director for a long time. He led the group from 1993 to 2022. He studied many different places like Poland and Haiti. Tirana Hassan took over as director in 2023. The group also has many workers. In 2010, a large gift helped them grow. George Soros gave $100 million to the group. This helped them hire 120 more people.

Not everyone agrees with the work they do. Some governments do not like their reports. For example, China gave sanctions to Kenneth Roth. Because of this, the group left Hong Kong. Russia also banned the group in 2025. Some people also say the group is biased. They think the group focuses too much on certain places. They also compare the group to Amnesty International. Amnesty uses many members to help their cause. Human Rights Watch relies more on research and donors.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is a nonprofit watchdog organization. It is headquartered in New York City. The group works to protect fundamental human rights around the world. These rights are based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a document that outlines basic freedoms for all people. HRW opposes violations of these rights. This includes fighting against capital punishment and discrimination based on sexual orientation. The group also advocates for freedoms of religion and freedom of the press.

The organization works through detailed research and public pressure. HRW staff members conduct investigations into human rights abuses. They produce lengthy, crisis-driven reports to document what they find. These reports often include deep analysis of political and historical backgrounds. HRW uses this information to pressure governments and policymakers to stop abuses. They also try to convince powerful nations to use their influence on countries that violate rights. Sometimes, they call for specific actions, such as sanctions against certain leaders or the arrest of specific individuals.

HRW has a long history of growth and change. It was founded in 1978 by Robert L. Bernstein, Jeri Laber, and Aryeh Neier. Originally, it was called Helsinki Watch. Its first goal was to monitor the Soviet Union's compliance with the 1975 Helsinki Accords. Over time, the organization grew by adding regional groups. These included Asia Watch in 1985, Africa Watch in 1988, and Middle East Watch in 1989. In 1988, these separate "Watch Committees" merged to form Human Rights Watch.

Leadership has played a major role in the group's mission. Kenneth Roth served as the executive director from 1993 to 2022. His interest in human rights began with stories from his father about escaping Nazi Germany in 1938. During his career, Roth investigated abuses in Poland and Haiti. After him, Tirana Hassan served as executive director from 2023 until February 2025. The organization also recognizes bravery through the Human Rights Defenders Award. This award is given annually to activists who show leadership in defending human rights.

Funding is essential for the group's large-scale operations. In 2023, HRW had a total revenue of $94.2 million. In 2010, financier George Soros pledged $100 million over ten years. This was the largest donation in the history of the organization. This gift allowed HRW to increase its operating staff by 120 people. However, funding can also cause challenges. In 2020, the board discovered a $470,000 donation from Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber. The donor requested that the money not be used for LGBT advocacy. HRW returned the money and called the acceptance of it "deeply regrettable."

Human Rights Watch is often compared to Amnesty International (AI). Both are international non-governmental organizations that report on human rights. However, their methods are quite different. Amnesty International is a mass-membership organization. It uses large letter-writing campaigns and mobilizes many members to create change. Human Rights Watch relies more on wealthy donors and intensive research. While AI focuses on specific rights abuses, HRW reports often provide more historical and political analysis. Some observers, like Jonathan Foreman, have suggested HRW focuses heavily on media-heavy locations.

The group faces significant criticism and government pushback. Some critics argue that HRW shows bias, particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. In April 2021, HRW released a report accusing Israel of apartheid. This made them the first major international rights NGO to do so. Governments also sometimes restrict the group's work. For example, the Chinese government sanctioned Kenneth Roth in 2020. This led to HRW leaving Hong Kong in October 2021. Russia also banned the organization from operating in 2025. Other countries, including Cuba, North Korea, and Iran, have blocked HRW staff from entering.