“We are aware of the reports and obviously our colleagues are working to corroborate. We know that the authorities have issued a statement calling on all to avoid retaliation,” Ms. Throssell added.

International legal obligations

“I think what it is really important is that all parties abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and that includes the respect and protection of minorities.”

Taking questions from reporters, Ms. Throssell said that a small UN human rights office team has been deployed to Damascus which had established “initial contacts with the caretaker authorities” headed by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. 

His forces were principally responsible for the lightning assault that toppled former President Assad on 8 December.

Asked to respond to unconfirmed reports that women were being assaulted because they had been talking to or walking in the street with men who were not relatives, Ms. Throssell insisted that it was “important that the caretaker authorities must act to ensure that security is restored.

She said it was vital “that those accused of committing crimes are held accountable and that women, children and diverse ethnic and religious communities can fully exercise their rights.”

Iran in international spotlight amid sharp rise in executions: OHCHR 

The number of people executed last year in Iran was “alarmingly shocking and high”, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.

At least 901 people were reportedly executed there in 2024, including 40 in one week alone in December. More than 853 people were executed in 2023.

Condemning the executions, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that he was deeply troubled by this marked increase in use of the death penalty and urged a halt to the practice.

‘Unacceptable risk’

“We oppose the death penalty under all circumstances…It is incompatible with the fundamental right to life and raises the unacceptable risk of executing innocent people,” he added. 

Most of the executions last year were for drug-related offences, but dissidents and people connected to the 2022 protests after the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, were also put to death. 

The UN rights office said that at least 31 women were reportedly executed in 2024; the majority of these cases involved murder and a significant number of the women sentenced to death were victims of domestic violence, child marriage or forced marriage, with “a number of them …convicted of murdering their husbands”, OHCHR said.

Although data is not provided by the Iranian authorities on executions, the UN rights office cited reliable sources indicating that Iran executed at least 972 people in 2015 – the highest number in recent decades.

Central African Republic: ‘Historic legislation’ to protect rights defenders

The recent adoption of a law increasing protections for human rights defenders in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been welcomed by an independent expert on the human rights situation in the country. 

“This historic legislation marks a crucial stage in the recognition and protection of organisations and individuals who devote their lives to the defence of fundamental rights and the preservation of their operating space,” Yao Agbetse said in a statement on Tuesday.

The law was adopted by the National Assembly on 27 December, and it is believed to mark a significant development in the democratic evolution of the CAR, advancing the promotion, protection and implementation of human rights in the country. 

‘A step in the right direction’

Highlighting that the legislation is “a step in the right direction”, Mr. Agbetse added that it will safeguard freedom of expression, association, assembly and peaceful demonstration, and protect civic space.  

“It also recognises the contribution of civil society organisations to the country’s development and to the peace process”, the expert said.

The law provides for enhanced protection measures for human rights defenders, including security mechanisms, legal support and guarantees against reprisals. 

These provisions are key to ensure that defenders can continue their vital work without fear of persecution or violence, the independent expert explained. 

Mr. Agbetse said the law was a victory for all those who fight for justice and equality and are committed to a dynamic and participatory democracy.

Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff, do not receive a salary, and serve in their individual capacity, independent of the UN Secretariat or any other organisation.

UN Photo/Jean Marc Ferré

Yao Agbetse, Independent Expert on the Central African Republic.

2024 financing report: Critical gaps exposed in food crisis funding 

The 2024 Financing Flows and Food Crises report from the Global Network Against Food Crises – which includes the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – reveals a troubling disconnection between financial flows and the escalating severity of global hunger.  

While 281 million people experienced acute food insecurity in 2023, humanitarian aid to food sectors declined by 30 per cent compared to 2022. That is despite a long-term trend in assistance which showed a 56 per cent increase since 2016. 

This funding gap is further pronounced in active crises, where humanitarian aid still overpowers development investments. 

Neglected food needs  

While 33 percent of global humanitarian funding targeted food sectors, only three per cent of development assistance was allocated to food-related needs. 

Regions like East Africa bore the brunt of funding reductions, with expenditure dropping by nearly $1.4 billion in 2023. The Middle East and North Africa region also experienced a sharp funding shortfall, with a $1 billion drop below its historical average.  

The report underscores the need for integrated interventions that address both immediate hunger and underlying weaknesses. Investments in agriculture, which supports sustainable livelihoods and resilience were highlighted as key.  

While agriculture has absorbed over 50 per cent of development funding since 2016, structural gaps persist, particularly in rural development and forestry initiatives. Strengthening data systems and improving donor coordination are highlighted as critical to bridging these funding gaps in the future.  

After the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Ms. Al Zamel and her family relocated to Egypt. She stayed there with her family for three years but the situation for refugees deteriorated and, in 2014, she and her Syrian fiancé paid smugglers to take them to Europe.

During the journey their boat was rammed by traffickers, causing 500 people to drown, including her fiancé. After four days at sea, she was saved by a merchant vessel, along with two small children she had been holding the whole time (one of them, a nine-month old called Malak, died five hours after they were rescued).

Speaking to UN News, Ms. Al Zamel, currently based in Sweden, recounts the perilous journey from Egypt to Europe and reflects on the ongoing struggle for peace, safety and a better future for Syria, post-Assad.

‘How can they kill 500 people?’

“We made three attempts to leave Egypt by sea. The first two times we failed and, each time, we were imprisoned for 10 days. On the third try, we left from the coast of Alexandria.

The last boat we boarded was in very bad conditions [the migrants were transferred several times to different boats during the journey]. Another ship arrived, with people who looked like pirates, cursing and insulting us. They sank our boat and fled laughing.

To this day, the sound of their laughter is still in my ears, and I can’t forget it. Most of those on board drowned. How could they kill 500 people, including children, women, families and young people?

I had a small flotation device around my waist, and I was afraid because I couldn’t swim. I carried two small girls on my chest for four days. Their family members gave them to me before they drowned. I had to stay awake, without food or water. It was cold and dead bodies were around me. The only light I could see was the stars in the sky. Pain and death surrounded me everywhere.

A lack of options

After I was saved and taken to Europe, I heard that many people, including some who were close to me, wanted to make the same trip. I didn’t agree with this, but I understood their reasons. They are forced to do so because there are no other options.

I had to go through this dangerous journey for my family. I wanted them to live in better and safer conditions. I wanted my younger siblings to study and live safely away from the difficult conditions we experienced in Egypt, where life was difficult, and we did not have many opportunities.

© UNICEF/Muhannad Aldhaher

A family gathers at a reception centre in Ar-Raqqa city, Syria.

We were able to learn Swedish and I am now studying English. I worked as a teacher’s assistant for six years and my little brother is now about to start his university studies. I have had some very good experiences and worked with good people who love Syrians.

Currently, I participate in conferences with several organizations affiliated with universities, schools or volunteer agencies. I talk about self-motivation and how one must overcome difficulties after going through a difficult ordeal. I talk about Syrian refugees and refugees’ rights.

‘Syrians deserve to live in safety and achieve their dreams’

When I heard the news [of Assad’s fall] it was like a dream for me and the many Syrians who have suffered. I cried my heart out. It was an indescribable feeling, something like a dream.

© UNOCHA/Ali Haj Suleiman

More than a decade of war has led to widespread destruction across Syria.

I want to speak out about the pain and voices of mothers who lost their children because of Bashar al-Assad’s tyranny. After the liberation, it is necessary to imagine a future full of opportunities, positive changes, peace and security because all Syrians deserve to live in freedom.

Syria needs a lot of help to rebuild and erase the destruction. Whether I remain here, in Sweden, or return, I want to contribute to its reconstruction so that we can all have peace and security.

Syrians deserve to live in safety and achieve their dreams. We all can contribute in some way, to support the community, participate in development projects and raise awareness.”

The development comes one week after a court in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank ordered the closure of several Al Jazeera websites. A Palestinian Authority ministerial committee had earlier justified the enforced closure of the media company’s office in the West Bank, accusing it of broadcasting “inciting” material, “misinformation, sedition and interference in Palestinian internal affairs”.

“To shut down a prominent international media outlet and one of the biggest in the region is a disproportionate, unnecessary and severe restriction of freedom of expression and obstructs the right to information of the Palestinian people and regional and global audiences,” the experts said in a statement.

“We are deeply alarmed by this attack on freedom of expression by the Palestinian Authority,” they insisted.

Websites ordered to close

On 1 January 2025, the Palestinian Attorney-General ordered the suspension of Al Jazeera in the Occupied Palestinian territory. The decision prohibits Al Jazeera’s broadcasts and operations including the work of its affiliate journalists, employees and crews.

The suspension followed a letter from the Palestinian Minister of Culture, based on a decision issued by the Tripartite Committee – a specialized ministerial committee that includes the ministries of culture, interior and communications – responsible for licensing ground and satellite radio and television stations.

On 5 January the Magistrate Court of Ramallah ordered the closure of several Al Jazeera websites for four months, including aljazeera.net, aljazeera.net/live, aljazeera360.com and global.ajplus.net on grounds that their published material “threaten national security and incite the commission of crimes”.

“We note with serious concern that the decision by the Palestinian Authority to ban Al Jazeera came after the outlet’s critical reporting on the violent crackdown by Palestinian security forces since 5 December 2024 in the Jenin Refugee Camp and across the occupied West Bank. At least eight Palestinians were killed in the violence, including a young female journalist,” the experts said. 

“The decision to ban Al Jazeera on the basis of vague and unsubstantiated allegations amidst escalating violence and human rights violations suggests that the real objective of the Palestinian Authority is to block international scrutiny and silence uncomfortable criticism,” they maintained.

Free and independent

“Free and independent media, including the presence of international media, is of vital importance to ensure transparency and accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

In Gaza, Israel has banned all international journalists from reporting inside the enclave since the outbreak of the war in October 2023. Dozens of Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces while covering the conflict, according to international media organisations, including UN culture agency, UNESCO.

The experts – who are not UN staff and not paid for their work, urged the Palestinian Authority not to follow the example of the Israeli authorities which banned Al Jazeera in Israel and the Occupied [Palestinian] Territory and closed its office in Ramallah last year.

“Without independent reporting, potential human rights abuses and violations of international law may go unreported, creating an environment where impunity thrives,” the experts said.

The experts have raised their concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and on journalists with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities.            

His warning comes in the wake of reports that dozens were brutally killed in ethnically targeted attacks in Al Jazirah state in the southeast, and amid reports of an imminent battle for control of the country’s capital, Khartoum.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a rival military, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting since April 2023 in what Mr. Türk called a “senseless war”.

Desperate situation worsens

As they “battle for control at all costs…direct and ethnically motivated attacks on civilians are becoming increasingly common,” he noted.

“The situation for civilians in Sudan is already desperate, and there is evidence of the commission of war crimes and other atrocity crimes. I fear the situation is now taking a further, even more dangerous turn,” he said.

Attacks on camps

In the last week alone, his office, OHCHR, documented at least 21 deaths in just two attacks on camps in Al Jazirah, located some 40 kilometres from the state capital, Wad Madani.  

However, the actual number of attacks directed at civilians, and of civilians killed, are likely to be higher. 

On 10 January, at least eight civilians were killed in an attack on Taiba Camp, and at least 13 women and one man were abducted. Houses were burnt and livestock, crops and other property looted, while dozens of families were displaced. 

The next day, at least 13 civilians were killed, including two boys, in an assault on Khamsa Camp. 

Authorities promise investigation

The attacks came in the context of the recapture of Wad Madani by the SAF. Reports suggest they were carried out by the Sudan Shield Forces led by Abu Aqla Keikal, a former RSF commander who defected to the other side last October. 

The attacks reportedly targeted the Kanabi, a historically marginalised group comprised mainly of Nuba and other African tribes.

Mr. Türk noted the Sudanese authorities’ assurance that the attacks would be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice, and that an investigation committee has been established.

“Retaliatory attacks – of shocking brutality – on entire communities based on real or perceived ethnic identity are on the rise, as is hate speech and incitement to violence. This must, urgently, be brought to an end,” he said.

Violence captured on video

OHCHR received three videos that document scenes of violence, including unlawful killings. They were reportedly filmed in Wad Madani, with men in SAF uniforms visibly present.

In the videos, victims were dehumanised and denigrated as “Wassekh” (dirt), “Afan” (mould), “Beheema” (animal) and “Abnaa E-dheif” (bastards), and summary executions were hailed by perpetrators as “Nadhafa” (a cleaning operation). 

Concern for North Darfur

Serious concerns also persist for civilians in North Darfur, where ethnically motivated attacks by the RSF and its allied Arab militias against African ethnic groups, particularly the Zaghawa and the Fur, continue to exact a horrific toll. 

Separately, some 120 civilians were reportedly killed and more than 150 injured in drone attacks in the city of Omdurman, on 13 January, allegedly launched by the SAF on a market in the Ombada Dar es Salam square, an RSF-controlled area.

End the fighting

Mr. Türk reiterated his call for the fighting to end, and for the warring sides to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. 

He also warned the proliferation of militia recruitment and mobilization of fighters – largely along ethnic lines – risks unleashing a broader civil war and inter-communal violence.

Appeal to warring sides

“The SAF and the RSF are responsible for the actions of groups and individuals fighting on their behalf,” he said. 

He urged them to “take immediate measures to ensure the protection of all civilians, including by taking all feasible measures to avoid or at the very least minimise harm to civilians in the conduct of hostilities.”

Prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into all reports of violations and abuses are crucial, he added.