There is a stark warning about the high cost of ignoring human rights abuses, a message echoed by Human Rights Watch in its London Annual Report, which surveys the human rights landscape across nearly 100 countries. The year 2022 brought horror on multiple fronts: the invasion of Ukraine, the persecution of Uyghurs in China, and a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters in Iran.
The violence in Ukraine reached extraordinary levels when Russian forces moved in during February, triggering widespread destruction and civilian suffering. The report documents unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions that amount to war crimes. It notes that a core Kremlin strategy appears to be inflicting harm on civilians, notably by repeatedly striking energy infrastructure that Ukrainians rely on for electricity, water, and heating. These actions have accompanied a broader pattern of repression against rights activists and opponents of the regime, with the Russian government suppressing dissent and stifling critique at home and abroad.
International bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the General Assembly acted quickly to document and condemn the occupation. The report commends the rapid and generous response of many European countries, which have welcomed millions of Ukrainian refugees. It also calls attention to perceived double standards in how some European Union members treat refugees from other crises, including Syria, Afghanistan, Palestine, and Somalia. It argues that the international community could have acted earlier to hold Russia accountable for violations in Ukraine, and it points to missed opportunities to address abuses in Syria and the broader crackdown on rights in Russia over the past decade.
1 million Uyghurs arrested
The report attributes ongoing human rights violations in China to a pervasive state stance that places security and control above individual freedoms. Under President Xi Jinping, who secured a third term and has consolidated authority, the government has tightened its grip across the country. The analysis highlights widespread abuses across a regime that relies on extensive surveillance and coercive measures to maintain social order.
Mass detention is described as a central feature, with reports indicating the imprisonment of a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in facilities described as camps. The conditions cited include coercive indoctrination, torture, forced labor, and severe restrictions on religious and cultural expression. The situation is characterized as severe, with far-reaching consequences for the ability of communities to exercise basic rights and sustain their cultural identities.
Iran faced an equally turbulent year as protests surged following the death of a young woman detained over the wearing of a head covering. The movement brought together a new generation of demonstrators who expressed frustration with the pace of reform and the persistence of restrictions that limit basic freedoms. The government’s response added to the hardship faced by ordinary people, coupled with deep economic pressures brought on by policy choices and governance challenges that have left many in poverty.
Saudi Arabia
The report notes that the positions of major powers can be swayed by economic and political interests. It criticizes a perceived softness from Western leaders toward the Saudi crown prince, amid concerns over human rights. The prince, who holds substantial influence as a leader in the region, has been implicated in controversial actions that include the killing of dissidents and critics. The analysis suggests that human rights considerations are sometimes overshadowed by strategic and economic calculations in international diplomacy.