Human Rights News and Violations: Fall 2025

In the fall semester of 2025, the Student Advisory Board to the Duke Human Rights Center compiled recent news related to human rights. The following information is accurate as of November 2, 2025, but new developments are ongoing. 

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world, ….

The General Assembly, 

Proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.” 

United National Universal Declaration of Human Rights 

The United Nations has set a standard for rights and liberties that all people on earth should have. These rights, though internationally accepted, get frequently violated through acts of violence, terrorism, and oppressive governments. Here are brief synopses of current violations, concerns, and general news. Please see resources for ways to get involved and improve human rights. 

United Nations Calls for Enslavement Era Reparations
The United Nations called for major reforms to address racism and environmental injustices that unfairly impact Africans and people of African descent. They said achieving reparatory justice is not just moral but a basic right.

War in Ukraine Reached Deadliest Phase
The war in Ukraine reached its deadliest stage, with mass civilian deaths from Russian attacks. Officials warned the conflict was becoming increasingly dangerous. This poses a threat to Ukraine citizens as civilian casualties continued to rise. They saw the most deaths in one month (July 2025) than they have in the three years prior.

Politics Undermining Informed Health Choices in the U.S.
The U.S. is facing growing politicization of health care, making it harder for people to make informed medical decisions. Experts said this violates international human rights standards and could worsen access and trust in the system.

Government Shutdown 

During the government shutdown, millions of Americans lost basic necessities. Day 30 of the government shutdown resulted in the over 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits being unable to get their benefits for the month of November. Additionally, half of the FAA’s major traffic control facilities experienced shortages, resulting in unsafe travel conditions. The shutdown was a violation of human rights as it disrupted citizens’ access to basic necessities and essential services. By allowing the shutdown to continue, the government failed to uphold its responsibility to protect the wellbeing and rights of its citizens. 

Israel and Palestine conflict

Regarding the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, there are multiple concerns for human rights. The October 7th Hamas attacks are considered crimes against humanity according to Human Rights Watch Research. These violations include taking civilian hostages, summary killings, and attacks on civilians. 

Israel was found by a United National Commisision t​​o have committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. They have been investigating these concerns for two years and released the report on September 16th, 2025. The report concluded Israel committed 4/5 genocidal acts as defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Afghanistan Internet Blackout

The Taliban government shut down internet services from September 29th to October 1st, raising questions regarding self-government and freedom of press. This continues to fuel the long concern regarding Taliban rule in Afghanistan and the impact on citizens. 

Making Education a Human Right

The United Nations is working towards not only making education a guaranteed human right but also bridging education disparity by developing a standard of education. A potential consideration is to add an optional protocol to the US Convention of Rights of a Child. UNICEF reported that recent cuts to international aid could push 6 million children out of school. 

Annual Human Rights Report - Trump Admin

The Trump administration has significantly rewritten and downscaled the US government's annual report on global human rights abuses.