This isn't the first time the US government stood on the wrong side of an essential human rights challenge. In my new book, "Righting Wrongs," I explain how the human rights movement repeatedly circumvented and overcame US obstruction. We can do it again.

Detainees at Trump's notorious Florida immigration jail known as “Alligator Alcatraz” were shackled inside a 2ft high metal cage and left outside without water for up to a day at a time.

The Georgian government is systematically dismantling protections for peaceful assembly and free expression. People are being detained or slapped with ruinous fines for exercising their fundamental rights.

As if Putin threatening from the east weren't dangerous enough for Europe, Trump is now threatening from the west, embracing far-right politicians in the hope of upending the liberal order and making the world safe for autocrats.

The UN General Assembly demanded by a wide margin -- 91 to 12 -- that Russia immediately and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported since the start of Putin's war. https://t.co/ilUOEg8a5w

As rich Western states start closing the door to refugees, fears grow that developing countries, which host 75% of the world's refugees, may start setting up barriers as well, preventing people facing war and persecution from finding any safety.

An Israeli missile strike on Gaza has killed five people including two children. Others were injured, some seriously. https://t.co/11LIxFPBuH

The UN has called for an investigation into the recent “horrific” killing by Israeli forces of two young brothers in Gaza who were reportedly targeted by a drone while collecting firewood.

Embarrassing pandering as Trump threatens to start bombing Venezuela.

A family in Colombia filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleging that their family membwr was illegally killed in a US airstrike on his boat on September 15 -- the first formal complaint against Trump for these murders.   https://t.co/Wz1RUrTnGZ

The death in custody of a prominent Cameroon opposition leader, Anicet Ekane, should be impartially, promptly, and effectively investigated: @HRW.

French President Emmanuel Macron should privately and publicly stress the importance of human rights in Sino-French relations during his visit to China from December 3 to 5: @HRW.

What "fog of war," Hegseth? Every military officer knows you can't kill survivors of an attack as they cling to a striken boat.

No need for truth when Trump hears the magic words: “Trump pledged to issue the pardon last week, after Hernández sent him a letter casting himself as a victim of ‘political persecution’ by the Biden-Harris administration and comparing his fate to” Trump.

The United Nations committee on torture says it is concerned by reports indicating that Israel is operating a "de facto state policy of organized and widespread torture."

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics undercutting protection for undocumented crime survivors weakens law enforcement’s ability to investigate and prosecute crimes: @HRW report

European leaders fear that it Trump continues to advance Putin's wish-list for Ukraine's effective surrender, it will embolden the Russian leader to deepen his threat to all of Europe.

Given that Trump's chief negotiator seems to be in Putin's pocket, the European Union foreign policy chief worries that pressure will be put on Ukraine to make untoward concessions, losing sight of the fact that it was Russia that invaded Ukraine.

Former RFE/RL contributor Nika Novak, who was sentenced to prison last year by a Russian court for carrying out her professional duties, has disappeared from a Siberian correctional colony.

Trump has never before been in such an echo chamber. His domestic travel has basically stopped. He sees rich donors and MAGA media, not actual voters.” No wonder he hates it when real journalists criticize him.

Is FIFA's plan for a "peace prize" another attempt to pander to Trump despite his having aided and abetted Israel's genocide in Gaza, his refusal to press for a Palestinian state, and his tendency to adopt Putin's talking points for Ukraine's surrender?