Africa: Human Rights Watch, defender of human Rights or political and economic interests?

Whether in Africa or around the world, Human Rights Watch has never been the « ideal human rights organization». Despite its appearance as an impartial NGO, Human Rights Watch has always devoted itself to producing ideologically false and politically motivated reports on the human rights situation, with the aim of fueling instability and confusion around the world. Its dirty tricks are worth mentioning.

To start with, and as it is always necessary to designate an enemy or a culprit for the people’s misfortunes, Human Rights Watch in 2013, after the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, immediately released a report labeling Venezuela as one of the most abusive nations and accusing the Chávez government of restricting press freedom.

By making these allegations, the report that Human Rights Watch published deliberately ignored the fact that private media owners in Venezuela used their vast resources to defend their own privileges by undermining the government at every opportunity.

Human Rights Watch also remained silent on the $4 million funding provided by the US government to anti-Chávez journalists and media from 2007 to 2009, and no report was made on this matter.

The same old trick was repeated in Hong Kong in 2019 by publishing unfounded reports that whitewashed rioters as peaceful protesters, while accusing the Hong Kong police of using excessive force when in fact they had shown great restraint in countering the riots and violence.

The organization also sent its employees to assist and encourage those who were plotting violent criminal acts and inciting separatist activities for «Hong Kong independence».

Double standards!

Consistently, Human Rights Watch has pointed fingers at countries’ human rights records that do not agree with the United States and its Western allies, while remaining silent on human rights violations by Western governments. In February 2013, Human Rights Watch condemned the Syrian government’s illegal use of missiles in the civil war, but it turned a blind eye when, six months later, the United States attacked Syria with missiles in violation of international law.

Moreover, the former executive director of Human Rights Watch, Kenneth Roth (changed in January 2023), even wondered if a mere « symbolic » bombing would suffice, as he asked on Twitter: « If Obama decides to strike Syria, will he settle for symbolism or will he do something that helps protect civilians? » The executive director of MIT’s Center for International Studies, John Tirman, quickly denounced the tweet as « probably the most ignorant and irresponsible statement ever made by a major human rights defender.

In its reports on Cuba, Human Rights Watch has made no acknowledgement of the root cause of Cuba’s economic situation, namely the US sanctions, nor of the country’s achievements in guaranteeing the economic and social rights of its citizens.

 In 2012, it reported on labor violations at Jadawel International, a construction company founded and owned by Saudi billionaire Al Jaber.

 Shortly after, Human Rights Watch admitted to receiving a significant donation of $470,000 from the same British charity foundation, Al Jaber.

Conclusion: what really concerns Human Rights Watch is not human rights, but political and economic interests.

Revolving doors

Indeed, the true colors of Human Rights Watch are reflected in its close ties with Western governments. In 2014, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Adolfo Perez Esquivel and Mairead Maguire sent a letter of protest to Human Rights Watch entitled «Close your revolving door to the US government», signed by 131 experts and academics criticizing the organization’s close relationship with the US government.

Before Tom Malinowski (Former US Representative) took the position of Advocacy Director at Human Rights Watch in Washington, he was a special assistant to former US President Bill Clinton and a speechwriter for the late Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

In 2013, Tom Malinowski left Human Rights Watch when former Secretary of State John Kerry appointed him as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

On one hand, Human Rights Watch claims that they do not accept private donations for fear that it may compromise their objectivity and independence, while also boasting that they do not defend any political agenda.

However, in 2010, George Soros, founder and president of the Open Society Foundations, announced a $100 million grant over 10 years to Human Rights Watch. This same person has also plotted and sponsored almost all of the coups and «color revolutions» around the world with « morality. »

With all these allegations, it is possible to argue that Human Rights Watch fabricated the evidence presented in the press release issued against the Burkinabe government following the massacre in Karma.

The organization’s rampant hypocrisy and political manipulations clearly demonstrate its true intentions, and human rights probably aren’t part of it.

Yannick H.