Lou Charbonneau
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loucharb.bsky.social
Lou Charbonneau
@loucharb.bsky.social
UN director at @hrw.org. Native Detroiter, now in Queens, NYC. Recovering journalist, ex @reuters.com UN bureau chief. Formerly based in Prague, Vienna, Berlin, Hong Kong, UN HQ. @thegraduatecenter.bsky.social PhD. And more…
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
The Chinese government reached around the globe to shut down a film festival in New York City. This latest act of transnational repression demonstrates the Chinese government’s aim to control what the world sees and learns about China. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
China: Authorities Shut Down Film Festival in New York
Chinese authorities harassed several dozen Chinese film directors and producers, as well as their families in China, causing them to pull films from the inaugural IndieChina Film Festival in New York ...
www.hrw.org
November 7, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Trump’s travel ban inspired Ghazala Hashmi to first run for office. Today, its fighting bigotry and the “chaos” of Trump’s second term. Virginia makes history electing the state's first woman governor and the first Muslim woman ever to statewide office in U.S. history.
19thnews.org/2025/11/virg...
Virginia makes history with first Muslim woman elected to statewide office
Trump’s travel ban inspired state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi to first run for office. Years later, she said fighting bigotry and the “chaos” of Trump’s second term is top of mind.
19thnews.org
November 5, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Schockierend: Deutschland hat möglicherweise eine uigurische Asylbewerberin nach China abgeschoben, wo Peking Verbrechen gegen die Menschlichkeit an der uigurischen Bevölkerung begeht.
Die zuständigen deutschen Behörden sollten umgehend ihren Aufenthaltsort mitteilen: uyghurtimes.com/uyghur-woman...
Uyghur Woman Says Her Mother Was Deported by Germany - Uyghur Times
By Tahir Imin | Uyghur Times | November 4, 2025 Updated: 3:05 PM Et A Uyghur woman in Germany says her mother has been deported to China, where she fears she may face persecution by Chinese authoritie...
uyghurtimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Beijing's blatant intimidations pushed Sheffield Hallam to violate academic freedom of Prof.
@lauratmurphy.bsky.social, whose work has been foundational for #UyghurForcedLabor research. The university and relevant authorities should ensure her rights are protected. theguardian.com/education/20...
UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China
Exclusive: Leading professor at Sheffield Hallam was told to cease research on supply chains and forced labour in China after demands from authorities
theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
🚨 New from @hrw.org: #ICE Abuses in Los Angeles Set Stage for Other Cities

@jraphling.bsky.social says ICE targets Latinos & blatantly violates rights: “They tear apart families, cause people to live in fear & showcase the cruelty of the #Trump administration’s immigration policies.”
US: ICE Abuses in Los Angeles Set Stage for Other Cities
The US federal government’s violent campaign of raids and detentions during the summer of 2025 in Los Angeles set the stage for similar and subsequent abuses in cities around the country.
www.hrw.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
🔴 Today: EU Parliament hearing on EU–Gulf trade & investment relations, with HRW’s @joeyshea.bsky.social

Our recs to the EU: link closer ties to concrete labor rights & human rights progress & reforms: hrw.org/news/2024/09...

📷 Livestream from 2h30 👉🏽 multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstream...
November 4, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Police have failed to take crucial steps to investigate 121 killings during a raid in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Police didn´t preserve crime scenes and the chain of custody of evidence.

Authorities should ensure a thorough, independent investigation.

New from @hrw.org:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Brazil: Serious Investigative Failures in Deadly Rio Raid
Rio de Janeiro police have failed to take crucial investigative steps to determine the circumstances of the killing of at least 121 people, including four police officers, during a raid in low-income,...
www.hrw.org
November 1, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
As part of its 18-month siege of El Fasher, the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan dug a trench and built a sand berm around the city. Since RSF captured El Fasher, HRW documented and geolocated videos near the berm to the northwest — videos that could be used to prove crimes.

1/7🧵
October 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
🚨 New from @hrw.org: UN Security Council should urgently act to prevent further mass atrocities in captured #Darfur city in #Sudan. The council meets this morning in NY.

Time to hold UAE-backed #RSF accountable, including through targeted sanctions.
Sudan: Mass Atrocities in Captured Darfur City
Dozens of videos posted on social media in recent days show Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carrying out extrajudicial killings and other serious violations against people fleeing North Darfur’s capital, E...
www.hrw.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Suspending SNAP payments will put the rights of tens of millions of Americans in jeopardy. No one’s ability to eat should be vulnerable to political games.

New dispatch from @hrw.org

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Tens of Millions at Risk of Hunger if US Food Assistance Lapses
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last Friday that it will stop distributing payments for essential food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) startin...
www.hrw.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Cutting aid has a human cost.

The US Department of Agriculture announced last Friday that it will stop distributing payments for essential food assistance through SNAP starting November 1 if the federal government is still shut down.
October 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
A win for Windrush campaigners:

Private pension losses will now be compensated under the #Windrush Compensation Scheme--important considering the age of claimants.

BUT without free legal representation, access to compensation is hampered.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10... @hrw.org
October 28, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🚨 NEW: US federal law enforcement agents used excessive force against protesters, medics, legal observers & journalists at numerous protests outside ICE facility in Illinois. This isn’t crowd control—it’s intimidation. Congress must act. -- @belkiswille.bsky.social
📢Read the @hrw.org report.
United States: Federal Agents Use Excessive Force in Illinois
Federal law enforcement agents have since mid-September 2025 used excessive force against peaceful protesters, legal observers, volunteer street medics, and journalists during demonstrations outside a...
www.hrw.org
October 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Russia, using drones, attacked a UN Convoy in Ukraine. The very next day, they posted video evidence of the attack for the world to see, and not for the first time. Latest for @hrw.org:
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Russian Forces Deliberately Attack UN Aid Convoy
On October 14, news broke that Russian forces, using drones, had attacked a United Nations interagency convoy delivering humanitarian aid to Bilozerka in the region of Kherson, southern Ukraine.
www.hrw.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:19 AM
🚨 Important new International Court of Justice advisory opinion: "ICJ orders #Israel to allow aid into #Gaza & says restrictions breached international obligations" --@theguardian.com

UN’s top court also finds Israel failed to justify blocking @unrwa.org and other relief agencies.
ICJ orders Israel to allow aid into Gaza and says restrictions breached international obligations
UN’s top court also finds Israel failed to justify blocking Unrwa and other relief agencies
www.theguardian.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
When govts convene this week in Paris to discuss feminist foreign policy, there will be a lot to talk about. The French govt’s description of the event says progress toward gender equality “is not being made fast enough.” That is an epic understatement. www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Feminist Foreign Policy During a Global Backlash
When governments convene this week in Paris for a conference on feminist foreign policy, there will be a lot to talk about.
www.hrw.org
October 20, 2025 at 9:46 AM
The #Trump administration signals deep cuts in refugee admissions and prioritizing remaining places for white South Africans & Europeans who oppose immigration. @hrw.org's @billfrelick.bsky.social says this 180° resettlement turn "adds deep insult to even deeper injury."
For the US, a 180-Degree Turn on Refugees
The Trump administration is poised to mount a two-pronged attack on refugee resettlement.
www.hrw.org
October 16, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
When visiting China, Swedish Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard should focus on 1) human rights and growing Chinese repression including in Xinjiang and 2) Chinese transnational repression, to secure the release of bookseller Gui Minhai.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
October 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
Morocco's youth have clear-cut demands for better healthcare, education & end to corruption. If the government can fund state-of-the art stadiums, it can afford to fund its healthcare.

Calls for reform should not be met with repression, lethal force @hrw.org
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
Morocco: Protests Met with Repression, Violence
Moroccan authorities have cracked down on youth-led protests demanding sweeping reforms to public services, resulting in deaths and mass arrests.
www.hrw.org
October 15, 2025 at 8:28 AM
It wasn’t exactly a nail-biter. In a non-competitive vote, UN General Assembly elected serial rights abusers #Egypt & #Vietnam to the Human Rights Council.

Thanks to the lack of a veto, the HRC does some good work. But time to stop handing HRC seats to abusive govts on a silver platter. @hrw.org
🚨Did you know that Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the UN Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership?

The UN General Assembly will 'elect' members to the UN’s premier rights body in a 'noncompetitive vote' on October 14.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
October 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
🚨 It wasn’t exactly a nail-biter. In a non-competitive vote, UN General Assembly elected serial rights abusers #Egypt & #Vietnam to the UN Human Rights Council.

Thanks to the lack of veto, the HRC does some good work. But time to stop handing HRC seats to abusive govts on a silver platter. @hrw.org
🚨 New from @hrw.org: Abusive Governments Set to Win UN Human Rights Council Seats Oct 14.

#Egypt, #Vietnam, Others Benefit from Non-Competitive UNGA Votes: "UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”
UN: Abusive Governments Set to Win Rights Council Seats
Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership, Human Rights Watch said.
www.hrw.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🚨 This morning the UN General Assembly is set to elect abusive governments like #Egypt, #Vietnam and others to the Human Rights Council in a non-competitive vote.

@hrw.org: “UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”
🚨Did you know that Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the UN Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership?

The UN General Assembly will 'elect' members to the UN’s premier rights body in a 'noncompetitive vote' on October 14.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
October 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
🚨 This morning the UN General Assembly is set to elect abusive governments like #Egypt, #Vietnam and others to the Human Rights Council in a non-competitive vote.

@hrw.org: “UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”
🚨 New from @hrw.org: Abusive Governments Set to Win UN Human Rights Council Seats Oct 14.

#Egypt, #Vietnam, Others Benefit from Non-Competitive UNGA Votes: "UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”
UN: Abusive Governments Set to Win Rights Council Seats
Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership, Human Rights Watch said.
www.hrw.org
October 14, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Reposted by Lou Charbonneau
🚨Did you know that Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the UN Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership?

The UN General Assembly will 'elect' members to the UN’s premier rights body in a 'noncompetitive vote' on October 14.

www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
October 12, 2025 at 6:42 PM
🚨 New from @hrw.org: Abusive Governments Set to Win UN Human Rights Council Seats Oct 14.

#Egypt, #Vietnam, Others Benefit from Non-Competitive UNGA Votes: "UN member states should stop handing Council seats on a silver platter to serial rights violators.”
UN: Abusive Governments Set to Win Rights Council Seats
Egypt and Vietnam are on track to secure seats on the United Nations Human Rights Council despite being woefully unfit for membership, Human Rights Watch said.
www.hrw.org
October 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM