Juliane Kippenberg
@jkippenberg.bsky.social
Associate Director, Children's Rights, at @hrw.org. Child rights and mining, corporate accountability, environment. Based in Berlin.
The German government yesterday decided to exempt 95% of the companies that are currently covered by the German supply chains law. An affront to workers and communities around the world. And a step back that is problematic legally. tinyurl.com/wxff3efs
95 %. Die Bundesregierung will 95 % aller bisher erfassten deutschen Unternehmen vom #Lieferkettengesetz ausnehmen. Ein Schlag ins Gesicht aller Gewerkschaften & Arbeiter*innen weltweit. Und ein Rückschritt, der auch rechtlich problematisch ist. tinyurl.com/wxff3efs
The EU has spent decades sharing “concerns” over Israel’s illegal settlements and related abuses. It should at least stop bankrolling them. And that’s not an “option”, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu; it's an obligation: hrw.org/news/2026/06...
With record-level abuses against children in war, many countries are working together to hold abusers to account. Still a long way to go for an effective crimes against humanity treaty, but growing support to include justice for crimes against children www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...
In Zambia and beyond, victims of mining pollution need justice. This #WorldEnvironmentDay, we are putting the spotlight on the environmental disasters in Zambia putting children's futures at risk. makanday.org/world-enviro...
World Environment Day: Zambia’s Mining Pollution Victims Need Justice
Mining Should Not Come at the Expense of Human Rights By Juliane Kippenberg Mining pollution has been a fact of life for 15-year-old “Joyce” as long as she can remember. Joyce, whose real name is d…
makanday.org
1 in 3 Liberian children never attend school, and only 17% complete grade 9. A big reason why: registration fees. Our new @hrw.org report shows how fees cause children to start school years late, drop out, and resort to child labor. More here: www.hrw.org/news/2026/05...
Liberia: School Fees Block Children’s Access to Education
Registration fees and other costs to attend public schools in Liberia are a major barrier to education, forcing many children to delay enrollment, miss school, or drop out altogether.
hrw.org
April 16 marks an important step in the struggle for justice for children in Kabwe, Zambia. Today, a complaint has been filed before the AU child rights body ACEWRC on behalf of children exposed to toxic lead from a former mine in Kabwe. #LeadFreeKabwe www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
Appeal for AU Action in Zambia Lead Poisoning Case
Zambia should provide accountability for its failure to clean up a contaminated mine site that is responsible for the ongoing lead poisoning of children.
hrw.org
The mass lead poisoning of children in Kabwe, Zambia, over decades is a catastrophe I saw with my own eyes - Families and NGOs are now asking the African Union to demand a clean-up @hrw.org 1/2 www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
Appeal for AU Action in Zambia Lead Poisoning Case
Zambia should provide accountability for its failure to clean up a contaminated mine site that is responsible for the ongoing lead poisoning of children.
hrw.org
‼️Important development on toxic lead contamination in Kabwe, Zambia‼️ Today, a complaint has been filed before the African Union child rights body ACEWRC on behalf of children exposed to toxic lead from a former mine in Kabwe. #LeadFreeKabwe www.hrw.org/news/2026/04...
Appeal for AU Action in Zambia Lead Poisoning Case
Zambia should provide accountability for its failure to clean up a contaminated mine site that is responsible for the ongoing lead poisoning of children.
hrw.org
Toxic lead from a Zambian mine has poisoned generations of children. This week @hrw.org & IHRDA will spotlight the case & call for justice: PANEL: Spotlight on Kabwe 🗓 16 April 09h00 – 10h40 📍 ACERWC CSO Forum, Lesotho With experts, activists & Kabwe residents Join online tinyurl.com/458yy5kd
While Zambia's mining disasters in #Kabwe and #Copperbelt poison people & environment, the government as well as China, the US & EU rush to get access to "critical" minerals: e360.yale.edu/features/zam...
As Zambia Pushes New Mining, a Legacy of Pollution Looms
Zambia is expanding development of its rich deposits of critical minerals, which are needed for the global shift to renewables. But poisoning from past mining and a huge toxic spill at a mine site are...
e360.yale.edu
The UN’s call for urgent action at the Lega Dembi mine in #Ethiopia underscores what residents have said for years: children are getting sick, pregnancies are being lost, & pollution persists. It’s time for the government and Midroc to deliver. Read @jkippenberg.bsky.social : https://bit.ly/4rqmYzS
UN Urges Ethiopia to Tackle Pollution at Gold Mine
Residents living near Lega Dembi mine, located in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, have complained of serious health impacts for years, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and children born with long-term h...
bit.ly
Children near Ethiopia's largest gold mine suffer chronic health conditions, women have miscarriages & stillbirths. In response, the UN child rights body just urged Ethiopia to tackle the mine's pollution. The govt should do so, promptly: www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
UN Urges Ethiopia to Tackle Pollution at Gold Mine
Residents living near Lega Dembi mine, located in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, have complained of serious health impacts for years, including miscarriages, stillbirths, and children born with long-term h...
hrw.org
A child with a hearing disability was deprived of his hearing aids during a deportation process in the United States. Without them, he could not communicate or understand what was happening. No child should face immigration detention. www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
Important investigation into Venezuelan gold mined under abusive conditions, and how it can reach the global gold market:
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project@occrp.org · 5mo agoConflict-Tainted Venezuelan Gold Entered World Market Through Caribbean Island, Documents Indicate www.occrp.org/en/investiga...
Deutschland: Gesetzesentwurf zur Grundsicherung untergräbt Recht auf soziale Sicherheit Reform dürfte Kinderarmut und Armut bei Alleinerziehenden verschärfen Weiterlesen: www.hrw.org/de/news/2026...
The German government’s social security bill has its second reading in the Bundestag today. The plans run counter to Germany’s human rights obligations, and will leave more people, including children in low-income families and single mothers, at risk of poverty. @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...
A Small Change in Egypt’s Tax Code, A Big Opportunity for Rights www.hrw.org/news/2026/02... My colleague @sarahsaadoun.bsky.social & I write on the gov't announcement that billions were generated in tax revenue from previously exempted military-owned enterprises long-shielded from scrutiny.
A Small Change in Egypt’s Tax Code, A Big Opportunity for Rights
In an overdue but welcome step, Egypt’s Ministry of Finance has published data showing state owned enterprises, following 2024 tax reforms to remove their tax exemptions, contributed 67 billion pounds...
hrw.org
Wer Prinzipien nur verteidigt, wenn es nichts kostet, hat keine. Gemeinsam mit Aisling Reidy und @philippedam.bsky.social habe ich aufgeschrieben, was wir von der heuchlerischen Doppelmoral Europas bei der Verteidigung des Völkerrechts halten. Spoiler: Nicht viel. www.hrw.org/de/news/2026...
Europa verteidigt das Völkerrecht nur halbherzig
Gerade in Konfliktsituationen, wie den eskalierenden Feindseligkeiten im Nahen Osten, müssen Regierungen, die sich dem Völkerrecht verpflichtet sehen, bereit sein, dieses auch zu verteidigen.
hrw.org
Wer denkt, dass es bei Sorgfaltspflicht in Lieferketten nur um Bürokratie geht, sollte diesen Fall ansehen. Es geht um Menschenleben und nicht weniger.
ECCHR - European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights@ecchr.bsky.social · 5mo agoHeute beginnt in Brasilien im Fall des verheerenden Brumadinho-Dammbruchs der Strafprozess gegen Mitarbeiter des Bergbaukonzern Vale und des Zertifizierers TÜV-Süd, während die Münchner Staatsanwaltschaft immer noch nicht über eine Anklage gegen TÜV-Süd entschieden hat. www.ecchr.eu/pressemittei...
The German supply chains law has improved human rights. So why weaken it, as the German government is planning to?? Good to see new @Germanwatch @Misereor report on the impact of Due Diligence Legislation: www.germanwatch.org/en/93384
The Impact of Due Diligence Legislation
Three years after the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) came into force, it is worth asking about its impacts: Is the law helping to prevent human rights violations along global supply chai...
germanwatch.org
Today, the UN Child Rights Committee meets to review the situation of children in Ethiopia. Here are our recommendations to the Committee to protect the environmental health rights of children living near the country's largest gold mine, Lega Dembi: www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Children Affected by Ethiopia Mine Pollution Need Justice
People living near Lega Dembi gold mine in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have for years complained about serious health impacts, including children born with long-term health conditions, miscarriages, and ...
hrw.org
Did you know that a historic case is being pursued in a Belgian court seeking individual criminal responsibility for colonial crimes in the court of a former colonial power? The court's decision on whether to pursue a criminal trial is expected on March 17. Learn more: www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
The Need for Progress on Justice and Reparations
On January 20, a Belgian court held a closed-door hearing to determine whether to pursue a criminal case against the last living former Belgian official for his alleged involvement in the 1961 assassi...
hrw.org
Children living near Ethiopia's largest gold mine have been exposed to toxic pollution. Next week, the UN Child Rights Committee, at its Ethiopia session, should push for the mine's suspension and an independent assessment. www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
Children Affected by Ethiopia Mine Pollution Need Justice
People living near Lega Dembi gold mine in Ethiopia’s Oromia region have for years complained about serious health impacts, including children born with long-term health conditions, miscarriages, and ...
hrw.org
My latest for @hrw.org: - The UN has problems but it’s better than a global Politburo of leaders of abusive governments. Rather than paying billions to join #Trump’s "Board of Peace", states shld strengthen the UN’s ability to uphold human rights. The Board charter doesn't mention human rights🫤
The World Needs Stronger UN, Not Trump-led ‘Board of Peace’
The United States played a leading role in establishing the UN. Now, US President Donald Trump is undermining and defunding large parts of it.
hrw.org
While many face abysmal public services + tax hikes, huge companies & the uber-rich game a tax system designed 100 yrs ago. My new oped in @opiniojuris.bsky.social on why the first-ever UN tax treaty is a historic chance for public budgets that can fund human rights opiniojuris.org/2026/01/13/a...
A Fairer Tax System is a Global Human Rights Imperative
[Sarah Saadoun is a senior advisor on economic inequality at Human Rights Watch] Diplomats from dozens of countries gathered in Nairobi, Kenya, in November for a new round of negotiations on a Unit…
opiniojuris.org
US retreat from global climate cooperation threatens human rights. Withdrawing from international climate agreements & institutions, such as the UNFCCC and the IPCC weakens global efforts to limit emissions, share scientific knowledge, and respond to climate impacts. www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...
US Retreat from Global Climate Cooperation Threatens Rights
The Trump administration this week announced its intention to withdraw the United States from over 60 international organizations, conventions, and treaties, including the United Nations Framework Con...
hrw.org
Last week's UN Environment Assembly fell short of supporting an ambitious proposal by the Colombian government. But binding rules for mining & mineral supply chains are needed. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Will Governments Move to Address Mining Abuses?
When 29-year-old Norbert Amoya went to fetch water from a river in northern Zambia earlier this year, he found large numbers of dead fish and the water had a strange smell, he told a journalist. The c...
hrw.org
Yesterday, the EU parliament sold out to corporate interests and gutted its flagship corporate accountability law. A tragic day for human rights, environment, and the credibility of the EU. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
EU: Flagship Corporate Accountability Law Suffers Big Losses
The European Parliament’s approval on December 16, 2025, of final amendments watering down the EU’s flagship corporate accountability law severely undermines the EU’s ability to hold businesses’ accou...
hrw.org
Die EU knickt angesichts der aggressiven Einflussnahme der Industrie - insbesondere der Fossilindustrie - ein und verabschiedet ein stark ausgehöhltes Lieferkettengesetz. Wo bleiben Menschenrechte, Umwelt und die Werte der EU? www.hrw.org/de/news/2025...
EU: Lieferkettengesetz erleidet enorme Rückschläge
Mit der Zustimmung zu den endgültigen Änderungen am wegweisenden Gesetz der Europäischen Union zu unternehmerischer Rechenschaftspflicht in Lieferketten hat das Europäische Parlament den Geltungsberei...
hrw.org