Hamas’s brutal attacks on October 7 killed more than 1300 people in Israel. At least 150 civilians were reportedly taken hostage and forcibly transferred to Gaza. Hamas’s deliberate targeting of civilians and the numerous atrocities reported constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Israeli military response has already resulted in the reported deaths […]
UN Human Rights Council 53rd Session, Oral Statement on Ukraine (res. 47/22) and interim report of the Secretary General on human rights in Crimea (GA res. 77/229), 12 July 2023 Speaker: Saman Zia-Zarifi, Executive Director Oral Statement as Delivered: Physicians for Human Rights wishes to echo the High Commissioner’s concerns about Russian attacks on civilian […]
Eight Sudanese and international health and human rights organizations condemn the continued attacks on hospitals and health care in Sudan amid the escalating conflict in the country. The organizations – including the Sudanese American Physicians Association (SAPA), Sudan Doctors Union – Canada (SDU Canada), Sudan Doctors Union – UK (SDU-UK), Sudanese Doctors Union of Ireland […]
Today 11human rights organizations that champion the right to be free from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence welcomed the signing into law of the Mental Health (Amendment) Act, 2022 by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. This comes after the Kenyan Senate unanimously passed the Mental Health Amendment Bill on June 21, 2022. […]
After a decade serving as Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights, Donna McKay has announced that she will step down at the end of the year. PHR Board Chair Alan Jones praised McKay’s contributions: “We are saddened by Donna’s decision to leave PHR and will be forever grateful for her tireless service. Under her […]
In response to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order calling for the National Guard to help local law enforcement with arresting asylum seekers crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, Physicians for Human Rights medical director Dr. Michele Heisler released the following statement. “Yesterday’s order by Gov. Abbott is motivated by xenophobia and not backed by any science. […]
In response to continued reports of excessive force being used in the Occupied Palestinian Territories resulting in injuries and deaths, and reported attacks on and denials of access to health care, Physicians for Human Rights has issued the following statement: “Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is deeply alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating situation engulfing Israel […]
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Carola Eisenberg, MD, one of PHR’s founding members and former PHR vice-president, who passed away on March 11 at the age of 103. An avid advocate for ethics in medicine and public health, and a pioneer in a medical field largely […]
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) welcomes the Iraqi Parliament’s adoption of the Yazidi Women Survivors’ Law and considers it a significant step towards recognition of the crimes committed by ISIS and the establishment of reparation programs for those who were subjected to sexual violence and slavery by ISIS. The law, passed on March 1, 2021, […]
