@kennethroth.bsky.social
Former executive director of Human Rights Watch (1993-2022). Now visiting professor at Princeton’s School of Public Affairs. My book “Righting Wrongs” (Knopf) out Feb 25.
There is no conceivable justification for Trump's saber-rattling toward Venezuela:
1. No U.N. Security Council mandate.
2. No conceivable "self-defense."
3. No mass slaughter to allow humanitarian intervention.
It is plainly illegal, as I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
1. No U.N. Security Council mandate.
2. No conceivable "self-defense."
3. No mass slaughter to allow humanitarian intervention.
It is plainly illegal, as I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s saber-rattling in Venezuela is illegal | Kenneth Roth
Trump’s threats against the country and attacks on nearby boats cannot be justified under international law
www.theguardian.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:45 PM
There is no conceivable justification for Trump's saber-rattling toward Venezuela:
1. No U.N. Security Council mandate.
2. No conceivable "self-defense."
3. No mass slaughter to allow humanitarian intervention.
It is plainly illegal, as I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
1. No U.N. Security Council mandate.
2. No conceivable "self-defense."
3. No mass slaughter to allow humanitarian intervention.
It is plainly illegal, as I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump deserves credit for ending the genocide, at least for now. But we must maintain pressure on him to complete the job by forcing the Israeli government to accept a Palestinian state, which is the only viable lasting solution to the conflict. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s role in halting Gaza’s suffering was driven by self-interest. Will that be enough for him to finish the job? | Kenneth Roth
The US president’s Gulf allies and supporters at home might just persuade him to pursue lasting peace. And then there’s always next year’s Nobel prize, says writer and academic Kenneth Roth
www.theguardian.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Trump deserves credit for ending the genocide, at least for now. But we must maintain pressure on him to complete the job by forcing the Israeli government to accept a Palestinian state, which is the only viable lasting solution to the conflict. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
At a London book festival, I discuss how even today, the public's sense of right and wrong still can be used to restrain governmental misconduct -- a major theme from my book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. iai.tv/video/a-worl...
A world without morality
From the Crusades to the fight against Hitler, from US intervention in Vietnam to the Iraq war, morality has often been used to validate military campaigns and foreign policy goals. Yet Trump's emphas...
iai.tv
October 10, 2025 at 10:51 PM
At a London book festival, I discuss how even today, the public's sense of right and wrong still can be used to restrain governmental misconduct -- a major theme from my book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. iai.tv/video/a-worl...
The Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela's pro-democracy leader, Maria Corina Machado, reminds us that as autocrats seize power in parts of the world, most of people of the world want democracy -- accountable government that is best placed to serve them. www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Nobel Peace Prize 2025
The Nobel Peace Prize 2025 was awarded to Maria Corina Machado "for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transi...
www.nobelprize.org
October 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The Nobel Peace Prize for Venezuela's pro-democracy leader, Maria Corina Machado, reminds us that as autocrats seize power in parts of the world, most of people of the world want democracy -- accountable government that is best placed to serve them. www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
As I explain on Fox News, Trump needs to convince Hamas that he will pressure Netanyahu to stop attacking Gaza after the hostages are released even though so far Trump has been arming, funding, and greenlighting the genocide. www.ktvu.com/video/1720246
Two years of war: Israel reflects, Gaza endures
Kenneth Roth, visiting professor at the Princeton School for Public and International Affairs, examines the political, humanitarian and legal ramifications of the war in Gaza.
www.ktvu.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
As I explain on Fox News, Trump needs to convince Hamas that he will pressure Netanyahu to stop attacking Gaza after the hostages are released even though so far Trump has been arming, funding, and greenlighting the genocide. www.ktvu.com/video/1720246
At Jifeng Books, forced from Shanghai to Washington, I discussed how to address repression in China, and Beijing's threat to the global rights system, drawing from my book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4KL...
www.youtube.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
At Jifeng Books, forced from Shanghai to Washington, I discussed how to address repression in China, and Beijing's threat to the global rights system, drawing from my book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4KL...
Reposted
Please join me tomorrow at 6pm in DC with @kennethroth.bsky.social to share his experience of being deported from Hong Kong and sanctioned by the Chinese government, and why staying principled is, in fact, the most effective strategy for creating change: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...
October 2, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Please join me tomorrow at 6pm in DC with @kennethroth.bsky.social to share his experience of being deported from Hong Kong and sanctioned by the Chinese government, and why staying principled is, in fact, the most effective strategy for creating change: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...
Trump is flouting the most basic principles of justice by threatening an evidence-free prosecutorial vendetta against George Soros. I explain: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t...
Trump’s retribution list
Podcast Episode · 7am · 29/09/2025 · 15m
podcasts.apple.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Trump is flouting the most basic principles of justice by threatening an evidence-free prosecutorial vendetta against George Soros. I explain: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/t...
Trump's threat to concoct criminal charges against George Soros, a generous progressive donor who represents the opposite of the violence that Trump pretends he promotes, is the next step in the Autocrat's Handbook that Trump is implementing. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s attack on George Soros is the next step in the autocrat’s handbook | Kenneth Roth
Having already attacked judges, lawyers, media companies and universities, the president has set his sights on civilians
www.theguardian.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Trump's threat to concoct criminal charges against George Soros, a generous progressive donor who represents the opposite of the violence that Trump pretends he promotes, is the next step in the Autocrat's Handbook that Trump is implementing. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I am proud to have held a press conference in Manila in 2009 to spotlight the "drug war" death squads of then-Mayor Duterte. www.hrw.org/news/2009/04... Today those summary executions were among the ones the International Criminal Court charged Duterte for. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Philippines: Dismantle ‘Davao Death Squad’
www.hrw.org
September 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I am proud to have held a press conference in Manila in 2009 to spotlight the "drug war" death squads of then-Mayor Duterte. www.hrw.org/news/2009/04... Today those summary executions were among the ones the International Criminal Court charged Duterte for. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
No, Netanyahu, recognition of a Palestinian state is not a "prize for terrorism” but a penalty for your genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
Netanyahu calls UK’s Palestine recognition ‘absurd prize for terrorism’
Opposition leader Yair Golan blames government’s political recklessness and refusal to end the war in Gaza
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 6:39 PM
No, Netanyahu, recognition of a Palestinian state is not a "prize for terrorism” but a penalty for your genocide. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
The International Court of Justice needs to change its jurisprudence on genocide. It currently treats ethnic cleansing (ridiculously) as a defense rather than, as in the case of Israel in Gaza, a motive. I explain: www.swissinfo.ch/eng/human-ri...
The challenge of proving genocide
The ICJ has to decide on whether Israel’s alleged crimes in Gaza amount to a genocide. Key to the ruling will be proving intent.
www.swissinfo.ch
September 19, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The International Court of Justice needs to change its jurisprudence on genocide. It currently treats ethnic cleansing (ridiculously) as a defense rather than, as in the case of Israel in Gaza, a motive. I explain: www.swissinfo.ch/eng/human-ri...
On Open Talk, I explain why Putin and Netanyahu should take heed from the fate of former Philippines President Duterte. They may hope for impunity by becoming president-for-life, but that is hard. Once a leader loses power, he is vulnerable to prosecution. youtu.be/Km0nCZyqcls?...
KEN ROTH ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE ICC PROSECUTOR CRISIS, AND WHY DUTERTE'S TRIAL MATTERS
YouTube video by Caloy Conde
youtu.be
September 14, 2025 at 11:22 PM
On Open Talk, I explain why Putin and Netanyahu should take heed from the fate of former Philippines President Duterte. They may hope for impunity by becoming president-for-life, but that is hard. Once a leader loses power, he is vulnerable to prosecution. youtu.be/Km0nCZyqcls?...
The timidity of UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and UN rights chief Volker Turk in addressing certain issues -- China's persecution of Uyghurs, Israel's genocide in Gaza -- impedes the ability of the UN Human Rights Council to do its job. I explain: dialogueinitiatives.org/how-states-a...
How States are Undermining the UN’s Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council was born of frustration with the poor human rights record of many members of
dialogueinitiatives.org
September 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
The timidity of UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and UN rights chief Volker Turk in addressing certain issues -- China's persecution of Uyghurs, Israel's genocide in Gaza -- impedes the ability of the UN Human Rights Council to do its job. I explain: dialogueinitiatives.org/how-states-a...
This is a terrible time for the International Criminal Court to be headless. The sexual assault accusation against the chief prosecutor should be resolved one way or the other. There are too many important decisions to be made to wait endlessly. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/11/i...
The ICC Needs a Chief Prosecutor
Allegations against the court’s head prosecutor have hampered its effectiveness. They should be addressed immediately.
foreignpolicy.com
September 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This is a terrible time for the International Criminal Court to be headless. The sexual assault accusation against the chief prosecutor should be resolved one way or the other. There are too many important decisions to be made to wait endlessly. foreignpolicy.com/2025/09/11/i...
If Trump's summary killing of 11 alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers becomes normalized, everyone would be at risk of him declaring "war" against a disfavored group and then shooting, rather than arresting and prosecuting, its members. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump’s killing of 11 alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers sets a dangerous precedent | Kenneth Roth
Unless this dangerous precedent is condemned and curtailed, it will enable US authorities to summarily shoot anyone they choose
www.theguardian.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM
If Trump's summary killing of 11 alleged Venezuelan drug traffickers becomes normalized, everyone would be at risk of him declaring "war" against a disfavored group and then shooting, rather than arresting and prosecuting, its members. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Drug traffickers are not combatants who can be summarily shot on sight, which is what the laws of war allow. Rather, they are criminal suspects who must be arrested and prosecuted. By ordering military force against alleged drug traffickers, Trump directed a summary execution, a criminal murder.
Righting Wrongs by Kenneth Roth: 9780593801321 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
From the long-time head of Human Rights Watch, the fascinating and inspiring story of taking on the biggest villains and toughest autocrats around the world ONE OF THE ECONOMIST'S BEST BOOKS OF 2025....
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
September 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Drug traffickers are not combatants who can be summarily shot on sight, which is what the laws of war allow. Rather, they are criminal suspects who must be arrested and prosecuted. By ordering military force against alleged drug traffickers, Trump directed a summary execution, a criminal murder.
On CBC, I discuss how Trump is trying to destroy the International Criminal Court -- and why he will fail. www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb...
Is the International Criminal Court's future in peril? | CBC Radio
As Trump unleashes a new wave of sanctions against the ICC, we look at what the court is meant to do, its limitations, and its future.
www.cbc.ca
August 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
On CBC, I discuss how Trump is trying to destroy the International Criminal Court -- and why he will fail. www.cbc.ca/radio/frontb...
“Righting Wrongs is more than a memoir; it is both a history of modern human rights battles and a practical guide to advocacy. Roth writes with the same precision that defined his leadership: unsparing but not cynical, deeply informed yet accessible.” www.middleeasteye.net/discover/ken...
Kenneth Roth’s Righting Wrongs: A life on the frontlines of human rights advocacy
Born into a Jewish family who escaped Nazi Germany, Roth has spent decades challenging governments and international organisations on their commitment to human rights
www.middleeasteye.net
August 29, 2025 at 11:33 AM
“Righting Wrongs is more than a memoir; it is both a history of modern human rights battles and a practical guide to advocacy. Roth writes with the same precision that defined his leadership: unsparing but not cynical, deeply informed yet accessible.” www.middleeasteye.net/discover/ken...
I agree that civil debate about Israel is still possible at Harvard. I held three workshops at the Kennedy School, well attended by students with a range of views, and we civilly discussed the issues of war crimes, apartheid, and genocide. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
Opinion | Civil Debate Is Still Possible on Campus. We Proved It at Harvard.
www.nytimes.com
August 26, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I agree that civil debate about Israel is still possible at Harvard. I held three workshops at the Kennedy School, well attended by students with a range of views, and we civilly discussed the issues of war crimes, apartheid, and genocide. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/o...
Germany should join a European post-ceasefire "reassurance" force in Ukraine to deter Putin from replenishing his forces and reinvading. And Germany should help Trump understand that the stakes in Ukraine aren't mere real estate but Ukraine's democracy. I explain: www.ips-journal.eu/interviews/t...
‘That is not an option the West should accept’
Kenneth Roth on Putin's intentions, European peacekeeping forces and dependence on Trump
www.ips-journal.eu
August 26, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Germany should join a European post-ceasefire "reassurance" force in Ukraine to deter Putin from replenishing his forces and reinvading. And Germany should help Trump understand that the stakes in Ukraine aren't mere real estate but Ukraine's democracy. I explain: www.ips-journal.eu/interviews/t...
It may be difficult for a real-estate mogul like Trump to recognize, but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is not about slices of war-torn land in eastern Ukraine. It is about Ukraine’s democracy. Defending that democracy is key to ending the war. I explain:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump needs to understand what the war in Ukraine is really about | Kenneth Roth
It’s not about Nato or the Soviet Union. It’s about democracy.
www.theguardian.com
August 21, 2025 at 10:27 AM
It may be difficult for a real-estate mogul like Trump to recognize, but Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is not about slices of war-torn land in eastern Ukraine. It is about Ukraine’s democracy. Defending that democracy is key to ending the war. I explain:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Everyone can contribute to the defense of human rights by commenting about government misconduct (with friends, family, work acquaintances, or on social media). That builds the public sense of right and wrong that is key to holding governments accountable. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkKD...
Kenneth Roth on battling abusive governments
YouTube video by UNSW
www.youtube.com
August 21, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Everyone can contribute to the defense of human rights by commenting about government misconduct (with friends, family, work acquaintances, or on social media). That builds the public sense of right and wrong that is key to holding governments accountable. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkKD...
Because journalists document & help deter war crimes, their deliberate killing deserves special protection. The International Criminal Court prosecutor should bring focused charges when Israel deliberately kills journalists such as Al Jazeera's Anas al-Sharif. I explain: www.cjr.org/feature/urge...
Urgent Ideas for Defending Press Freedom in Gaza
Letters, condemnations, and Israeli court cases have failed to change the world’s deadliest place for journalists. We’ve cast out for a new approach.
www.cjr.org
August 18, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Because journalists document & help deter war crimes, their deliberate killing deserves special protection. The International Criminal Court prosecutor should bring focused charges when Israel deliberately kills journalists such as Al Jazeera's Anas al-Sharif. I explain: www.cjr.org/feature/urge...
I discuss lessons from my book, Righting Wrongs: Governments have their reasons to violate rights – it’s a way to stay in power, to snuff out opposition. The rights movement changes that only through pressure. That comes from public outrage that we generate and deploy. www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/se...
Segments: Future Perfect: Kenneth Roth On 30 Years Of Leading Human Rights Watch — Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio
Dylan Bird is joined by Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, for a wide-ranging discussion on the human rights movement, forcing government action and change, the Trump-Netanyahu relations...
www.rrr.org.au
August 15, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I discuss lessons from my book, Righting Wrongs: Governments have their reasons to violate rights – it’s a way to stay in power, to snuff out opposition. The rights movement changes that only through pressure. That comes from public outrage that we generate and deploy. www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/se...