Physicians for Human Rights
Using science and medicine to stop human rights violationsBlog
Burma’s Recent Changes Do Not Show True Systemic Reform
PHR welcomes recent changes in Burma, but calls for the government to do much more. PHR has long pushed the leaders of Burma to release political prisoners, end violent campaigns against members of minority ethnic groups, and hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable.
Supreme Court to Hear Case Determining Corporate Accountability for Human Rights Violations
Tomorrow, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, a case that will decide whether corporations are liable for human rights violations under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS).
IFIs in Burma Must Meet the Needs of Survivors of Human Rights Violations
The US recently exercised a partial waiver authority under U.S. law which allows the US to support the work of international financial institutions (IFIs) including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to operate in Burma, notwithstanding the existing U.S. sanctions regime.
As Situation in Syria Worsens, U.S. Embassy in Damascus Closes
As the situation in Syria devolves, Russia and China should see that they have chosen the wrong side of history with their recent veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution designed to end the atrocities in Syria.
Fatou Bensouda to take the helm as ICC’s new prosecutor
Earlier this week, Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda was chosen to be the new Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. She will be the second person, and the first African, to hold this position. Bensouda was the likely choice for the position given her professional qualifications, including serving as Deputy Prosecutor to Luis Moreno-Ocampo during his nine-year tenure as Chief Prosecutor of the Court. Given the extent of the ICC’s work in Africa – all seven of the countries with cases before the court are African – the choice of an African prosecutor seems especially appropriate.

