FIDH

🏳️‍🌈 On 31 March, Senegal enacted a law increasing the penalties for homosexuality, which can now carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years. This law is not merely a legal text, it violates fundamental rights: the freedom, security, integrity and autonomy of every individual. On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, it is essential to highlight the harrowing reality faced by LGTBQIA+ people in Senegal, in a context where discrimination persists in many countries across the African continent. FIDH is working alongside its member organisations to document, denounce and advocate against these violations. Everyone's involvement is essential in the fight against these movements of oppression and persecution. ✊️ These discriminatory laws cannot be ignored, they must be repealed. Share this post! #idahtb #lgbtqa #humanrights

🗣 Unfinished roads, unpaid wages, job losses, and more than 20,000 families affected by corruption. In #Colombia the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht paid US$11 million in bribes to public officials to secure their contract to build Section II of the Ruta del Sol. However, following legal action over allegations of bribery, the project was suspended and ultimately never finished. Together with our member organizations and partners at Transparency International, #FIDH has documented how #corruption destroys #humanrights. Communities were left deprived of development, with no justice or remedy in sight. This is the pattern we expose in our latest report on victims of grand corruption in Latin America. 📄 More info via the link in bio

🔴THIAGO ÁVILA AND SAIF ABUKESHEK ARE FREE This morning, 10 May 2026, @adalah.legal.center , FIDH member organisation, received formal confirmation that @globalsumudflotilla leaders Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek have been released and deported, and are no longer in Israeli custody. While they are now free, Adalah and FIDH condemn the entire process as a flagrant violation of international law. From their abduction in international waters to their unlawful detention in total isolation and the ill-treatment they were subjected to, the Israeli authorities’ actions were a punitive attack on a purely civilian mission. the use of detention, interrogation and torture against activists and human rights defenders is an unacceptable attempt to suppress global solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Whilst human rights violations continue to be committed on a daily basis by the Israeli authorities in Gaza, FIDH and Adalah will continue to work and fight to put an end to this impunity. 📸BURAK AKBULUT / ANADOLU Anadolu via AFP #justice #Adalah #FIDH #humanrights #Israel #free #flotilla

The Ukrainian pro-Russian separatist Yevhen Brazhnikov was arrested in France and indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in occupied Donetsk. On 7 April 2026, four years after the @fidh , @truth_hounds and the LDH had alerted the authorities to his presence on French territory, Yevhen Brazhnikov was arrested by the French War Crimes Unit. He has since been placed in pre-trial detention and indicted on charges of crimes against humanity, war crimes and complicity in these crimes relating to the alleged torture and mistreatment of Ukrainian detainees. Brazhnikov is suspected of crimes committed while he was detained at Izoliatsiia (Izolyatsia), a prison that has been controlled by members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) since 2014. He was recruited by members of the administration and was reportedly given a privileged status within Izoliatsiia prison from 2017 to 2019.  In autumn 2021, Brazhnikov left Ukraine and relocated to France, where he applied for asylum. The FIDH and its member organisations, Truth Hounds and the LDH, formally alerted the French authorities to his presence, leading to the opening of a preliminary investigation in France. Since then, we have contributed to the investigation, identifying victims and witnesses. This case marks the first time that Ukrainian authorities have officially referred a case to a third state.

[Arabic below] 🔴After more than a week in unlawful Israeli detention, interrogations against Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek have ended, and they are set to be released and deported in the coming days. Today, Saturday 9 May, the Shabak (Israeli intelligence agency) informed the legal team of @adalah.legal.center , an FIDH member organization, that the two Global Sumud Flotilla leaders will be transferred to immigration authorities later today, pending deportation back to their home countries. Adalah is closely monitoring to ensure their release. Adalah and FIDH stress that Ávila and Abukeshek were abducted by the Israeli navy from international waters near Greece, held in total isolation under punitive conditions, and subjected to ill-treatment and torture, despite their mission being entirely civilian. Both have been on hunger strike since their detention began. Abukeshek escalated to refusing water on the evening of May 5th. Their detention was unlawful from the start. 📸Mostafa Alkharouf / ANADOLU /Anadolu via AFP -- بعد أكثر من أسبوع من الاحتجاز الإسرائيلي غير القانوني، انتهت التحقيقات مع ناشطي أسطول الصمود العالمي تياغو أفيلا وسيف أبو كشك، ومن المقرر الإفراج عنهما وترحيلهما خلال الأيام المقبلة. وفي هذا السياق، أبلغ جهاز الأمن العام الإسرائيلي "الشاباك"، اليوم السبت 9 أيار، الطاقم القانوني لمركز عدالة، العضو في الفدرالية الدولية لحقوق الإنسان (FIDH)، بأن أفيلا وأبو كشك سيُنقلان لاحقًا اليوم إلى سلطات الهجرة الإسرائيلية، تمهيدًا لترحيلهما إلى بلديهما. يتابع مركز عدالة التطورات عن كثب لضمان تنفيذ قرار الإفراج عنهما. ويؤكد أن البحرية الإسرائيلية اختطفت أفيلا وأبو كشك من المياه الدولية قرب سواحل اليونان، وأنهما احتُجزا في عزل تام وتحت ظروف عقابية، وتعرضا لسوء معاملة وتعذيب، رغم الطابع المدني والإنساني البحت لمهمتهما. وقد بدأ الناشطان إضرابهما عن الطعام منذ لحظة احتجازهما، فيما صعد أبو كشك إضرابه مساء 5 أيار برفض شرب الماء أيضًا. كما يشدد مركز عدالة على أن احتجازهما كان غير قانوني منذ اللحظة الأولى لاختطافهما.

Bribes, annulled evidence, regional impunity, and exported corruption... In #Brazil, the Lava Jato investigation revealed how Odebrecht paid over US$788 million in bribes across 12 countries, but a 2023 court ruling annulled key evidence and halted investigations throughout Latin America. Together with our member organizations and partners at Transparency International, #FIDH has documented how #corruption destroys #humanrights. Communities were left with unfinished, overpriced, or environmentally damaging projects, with no justice or remedy in sight. This is the pattern we expose in our latest report on victims of grand corruption in Latin America. More info via the link in bio

Today, the Beer Sheva District Court rejected an appeal filed by our member organisation Adalah against the continued detention of Global Sumud Flotilla activists Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek, upholding the decision to extend their detention until 10 May 2026. This decision is unlawful and unreasonable. The activists were abducted in international waters from an Italian-flagged vessel, in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which stipulates that only the flag state may order the arrest or detention of a ship. The court also relied partially on secret evidence which the legal defense team could not review and thus could not challenge. Both activists have now been on a hunger strike for nearly a week since being abducted by the Israeli navy. Saif Abukeshek has escalated his strike and is also refusing water. They continue to be held in total isolation under punitive conditions despite the purely civilian nature of their mission. Together with @adalah.legal.center , @fidh continues to demand their immediate release.

The attack against hundreds of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli forces on 30th April, 650 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip, off Crete, on the high seas and within the Greek SAR zone, constitutes a continuation of Israel’s unlawful actions. This is a violation of international criminal law and international humanitarian law provisions concerning the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and the prohibition of starvation of civilians in Gaza. With our colleagues from @greek_league_human_rights - FIDH member organisation - we consider that the Greek authorities bear also responsibility for what happened. Read here to know more. This impunity must end. 📸Metaxakis Kostas / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP 📸Costas METAXAKIS / AFP 📸 Adalah #justice #humanrights #FIDH #Greece #Israel #SAR #flotilla #Gaza #Crete

According to Ukrainian estimates, at least 3,388 foreign fighters have been killed in combat, often within the first few months of deployment. Some reports suggest that as many as one in five recruits do not survive. Following the signing of contracts, foreign nationals are typically deployed to the front lines after only a few weeks of training. In most cases, these fighters are assigned to high-risk “meat assaults”, contributing to Russia’s continued territorial occupation of Ukraine. Thirteen of the sixteen prisoners of war interviewed for the report by @fidh , Truth Hounds, and KIBHR stated that they had been told they would not be required to fight. Most nevertheless found themselves deployed to forward positions within weeks of signing their contracts. Of the eight interviewees recruited from within Russia, two reported threats of violence and arrest. Many also had their passports, phones, bank cards, and other belongings confiscated. Drawing on testimonies from prisoners of war, interviews with military and human rights experts, as well as open-source research, the report assesses the legal status of foreign fighters serving on Russia’s side and their treatment by the states concerned. . . 📸 Rajesh Jantilal / AFP / Getty Images

🔴This morning, 5 May 2026, the Israeli Magistrates’ Court extended the detention of Thiago Ávila and Saif Abukeshek for 6 more days, in part on the basis of secret evidence, not shown to the activists or their lawyers. By approving the entire detention period requested by the state, the Court refused to impose any limitations or constraints on the interrogation period. Attorneys Hadeel Abu Salih and Lubna Tuma - our colleagues from @adalah.legal.center , FIDH member organisation - are representing the two activists, who were illegally abducted by Israel from the Global Sumud Flotilla - on a humanitarian mission to Gaza - in international waters. Adalah argued during the hearing that the allegations against them are baseless and there are no legal grounds for their continued detention. Adalah will immediately appeal to the District Court to challenge this decision and to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Thiago and Saif. 📸Adalah #justice #humanrights #FIDH #Adalah #Israel #flotilla

Just a few months into the full-scale invasion, Russia’s campaign to recruit foreign nationals “under contract” began to actively target foreign nationals abroad. Much of this initial effort focused on Central Asia and Africa, regions in which the Wagner Group had already established a strong presence. While some foreign fighters join for ideological reasons, they now constitute only a small part of the recruitment landscape, where financial inducement and coercion are the predominant drivers, as documented in many cases. Take a look at the pictures to find out how the recruitment process works ➡️ Foreign nationals recruited outside Russia represent a diverse range of backgrounds, with one difference being that they might themselves be fleeing from armed conflict or other internal political instability. Research has confirmed the participation of students, farmers, drivers, construction workers, unemployed individuals, IT professionals, former military personnel, a jurist and even a professional athlete. Read more in the Truth Hounds, @fidh , and KIBHR report, ‘Combatants, Mercenaries or Victims of Human Trafficking? Russia’s Exploitation of Foreign Fighters in Its War Against Ukraine’.

Today, our colleagues from @adalah.legal.center - @fidh member organisation - visited the 2 activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, @thiagoavilabrasil and Saif Abukeshek being held in an Israeli detention center. Both testified to appalling conditions of detention, ranging from death threats to conditions of detention amounting to torture. The state may file a extension-of-detention request to court tomorrow. With our colleagues from Adalah, FIDH is demanding their immediate and unconditional release. * Both activists have entered their sixth day of a hunger strike (drinking water only) in protest of their unlawful abduction by the Israeli navy in international waters while engaging in a humanitarian mission to challenge the unlawful blockade on Gaza. Credit photo : 📷Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP