https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3239 Editorials on Voice of America on U.S. policy regarding human rights https://editorials.voa.gov/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US-POLICY/img/logo.png https://editorials.voa.gov/z/3239 en 2026 - VOA 60 Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:44:06 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA After more than a year of captivity in Afghanistan, Dennis Coyle was released, announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement. “President [Donald Trump] is committed to ending unjust detentions overseas." https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-committed-to-bringing-wrongfully-detained-americans-home/8131205.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-committed-to-bringing-wrongfully-detained-americans-home/8131205.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:58:22 -0400 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The U.S. is calling on the international community to pressure Hamas to immediately disarm for the sake of lasting peace, said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/it-s-time-for-hamas-to-fully-disarm/8130838.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/it-s-time-for-hamas-to-fully-disarm/8130838.html Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:53:09 -0400 SecurityEconomyHuman Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) “Over the past fifteen months, we have witnessed the most significant transformations in Syria in decades," declared Ambassador Tom Barrack, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye and Special Envoy for Syria https://editorials.voa.gov/a/syria-continues-to-make-progress/8128190.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/syria-continues-to-make-progress/8128190.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:49:23 -0400 DevelopmentHuman RightsSecurity voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) A federal jury, on March 16, convicted Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 73, on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and three counts of torture for his involvement in the torture of prisoners at Adra Prison in Damascus, Syria. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8127357.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/8127357.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 06:11:28 -0400 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned five Nicaraguan government officials who lead the principal financial, communications, and military agencies that enable Nicaragua’s Murillo-Ortega dictatorship to repress its people. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-sanctions-nicaraguan-officials/8121961.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-sanctions-nicaraguan-officials/8121961.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:14:54 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) Jimmy Lai, the democracy advocate and former Hong Kong media mogul, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. It is the harshest punishment handed down thus far under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced dissent in Hong Kong. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-calls-lai-s-sentencing-unjust-and-tragic/8113014.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-calls-lai-s-sentencing-unjust-and-tragic/8113014.html Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:08:21 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) With the recent return of Ran Gvili’s remains, for the first time since 2014, Hamas no longer holds any hostages in Gaza. And peace efforts in Gaza can continue to move ahead. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/another-step-towards-peace-in-gaza/8108058.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/another-step-towards-peace-in-gaza/8108058.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500 Human RightsSecurityDevelopment voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) Secretary of State Marco Rubio in recent testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee laid out the United States’ goals for Venezuela after the removal president and now indicted narcotrafficker Nicolas Maduro. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-on-next-steps-in-venezuela/8108052.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/rubio-on-next-steps-in-venezuela/8108052.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:19:59 -0500 DemocracyHuman RightsSecurityDevelopment voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The United States remains deeply concerned about instability, violence, and illicit drug cultivation and trafficking in Colombia. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/addressing-threats-to-peace-in-colombia/8106791.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/addressing-threats-to-peace-in-colombia/8106791.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:15:05 -0500 DemocracyEconomyHuman RightsSecurityDevelopment voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) “The United States recognizes the need for more freedom and democracy, improved respect for human rights, and increased free enterprise in Cuba,” according to the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Cuba. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/the-cuban-people-deserve-freedom-and-democracy/8100765.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/the-cuban-people-deserve-freedom-and-democracy/8100765.html Wed, 07 Jan 2026 11:59:20 -0500 DemocracyHuman RightsSecurity voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) “The United States successfully carried out a surgical law enforcement operation facilitated by the U.S. military against two indicted fugitives of American justice, narco-terrorist Nicolas Maduro and Cilia Flores,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/maduro-and-flores-face-criminal-charges-in-us/8099413.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/maduro-and-flores-face-criminal-charges-in-us/8099413.html Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:55:41 -0500 DemocracyHuman RightsSecurity voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) “The United Nations General Assembly yet again passed an unserious and biased resolution, demonstrating the continued prevalence of anti-Israel bias over substantive diplomacy at the organization,” declared State Department Deputy Principal Spokesperson Thomas Pigott in a statement. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-votes-no-on-anti-israel-unga-resolution/8093286.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-votes-no-on-anti-israel-unga-resolution/8093286.html Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:37:09 -0500 SecurityHuman Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The United States reaffirmed its commitment to ending the horrific and devastating crime of human trafficking at the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the “Appraisal of the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.” https://editorials.voa.gov/a/cracking-down-on-human-trafficking-at-the-un/8088603.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/cracking-down-on-human-trafficking-at-the-un/8088603.html Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:34:16 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The United States along with 14 other nations issued a joint statement at the United Nations expressing deep concerns about serious human rights violations in China. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-un-call-out-human-rights-abuses-in-china/8087372.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-un-call-out-human-rights-abuses-in-china/8087372.html Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:11:47 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The United States recently co-sponsored a successful resolution in the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly condemning Iran's human rights record. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/oppression-and-mass-executions-in-iran-persist/8086048.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/oppression-and-mass-executions-in-iran-persist/8086048.html Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:44:23 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) Religious based violence and kidnappings continue to plague Nigeria. Most recently, assailants attacked a church in Central Nigeria during a service, killing at least two worshippers and abducting the pastor and several others, according to press reports. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/saving-nigeria-s-christians/8083820.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/saving-nigeria-s-christians/8083820.html Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:43:18 -0500 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The State Department recently released the 25th edition of its Trafficking in Persons Report, which “pushes countries to take serious action against forced labor and sex trafficking and ensures that those who fail to act face consequences." https://editorials.voa.gov/a/release-of-the-2025-trafficking-persons-report/8070132.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/release-of-the-2025-trafficking-persons-report/8070132.html Tue, 30 Sep 2025 12:37:20 -0400 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted recently to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. The vote was 142-10 with 12 abstentions. The United States was one of the 10 states that voted against the non-binding resolution, known as the New York Declaration. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-votes-no-on-un-new-york-declaration/8065922.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/us-votes-no-on-un-new-york-declaration/8065922.html Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:59:36 -0400 SecurityHuman Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) The Taliban regime in Afghanistan committed serious violations of human rights during 2024 according to a recent report by the State Department. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/taliban-regime-violates-human-rights/8064664.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/taliban-regime-violates-human-rights/8064664.html Wed, 10 Sep 2025 11:58:11 -0400 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office) Serious human rights abuses continued in China during 2024, according to the State Department’s recent Human Rights Report. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/serious-human-rights-abuses-in-china/8064354.html https://editorials.voa.gov/a/serious-human-rights-abuses-in-china/8064354.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:45:53 -0400 Human Rights voadigital@voanews.com (Policy Office)