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Ken Roth

@kennethroth.bsky.social

Former executive director of Human Rights Watch (1993-2022). Now visiting professor at Princeton’s School of Public & Int'l Affairs. My book “Righting Wrongs” (Knopf/Allen Lane).

188 Posts334 Follower3 Folgt
Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 9h ago

Trump has quietly withdrawn his dangerous "compact" for universities -- there were hardly any takers -- but that doesn't mean his effort to undermine academic freedom has ended. It has just taken new forms. Continued collective resistance is still needed. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump’s university ‘compact’ is gone. That doesn’t mean the assault on education is over | Kenneth Roth

The administration’s proposed agreement met a scathing response. But universities must remain vigilant

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · last wk.

My book, Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments, is now out in paperback. It describes that strategies that have worked to force highly abusive governments to behave better. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/739898...

Righting Wrongs by Kenneth Roth: 9780593686973 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

From the long-time head of Human Rights Watch, the fascinating and inspiring story of taking on the biggest villains and toughest autocrats around the world “A remarkable book that will restore...

penguinrandomhouse.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · last wk.

I discuss Marco Rubio's attack on the International Criminal Court as he advances the absurd "principle" that Americans (and their lawless allies such as Israel) should be able to commit war crimes even on the territory of ICC member states with impunity. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Kenneth Roth on protecting the International Criminal Court

American Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he wants to dismantle the International Criminal Court. New Zealand is one of the 125 countries that has signed up to the ICC, which investigates and tries...

rnz.co.nz

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 3w ago

Marco Rubio falls back on nonsensical arguments for attacking the International Criminal Court. The Trump administration’s real goal is impunity for war crimes committed on the territory of ICC member states. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Why does the US want to ‘dismantle’ the international criminal court? | Kenneth Roth

Marco Rubio has offered nonsensical rationale in attacking the court. The Trump administration’s real goal is impunity

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · last mo.

How do we commemorate America’s democracy as Trump undermines it? By embracing his opposition. The US was founded by breaking from a monarchy. Trump wants to become king. The resistance is worth celebrating. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump is a danger to US democracy. But the resistance is working | Kenneth Roth

The president has made dangerous inroads in his push toward autocracy. Yet the prospects for his success are dimming

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · last mo.

Washington's unconditional support for Israel is splitting Republicans and becoming toxic among Democrats. A generational shirt is underway. Few want complicity in Israel's genocide, apartheid, war crimes, and endless occupation. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A generational shift is transforming the US-Israel relationship | Kenneth Roth

The Iran war has accelerated the fraying of ties. An end to unconditional US support would force a reckoning with reality

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In an historic first, victims of atrocities in Sudan have asked prosecutors in Kenya to investigate torture and sexual violence by members of the notorious Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, which is armed by the United Arab Emirates. apnews.com/article/keny...,

First war crimes complaint against Sudan's paramilitary forces filed in Kenya

Twelve Sudanese victims of alleged atrocities linked to the war in their country on Tuesday asked Kenya’s prosecutors to investigate allegations of torture and sexual violence by members of a notoriou...

apnews.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The International Criminal Court's bureau suspends chief prosecutor Karim Khan following sexual misconduct allegations and sends the matter to a special session of the Assembly of States Parties to determine his fate. trib.al/u9rMMIs My background: trib.al/m4vAkom

Decision of the Bureau concerning the outcome of disciplinary proceedings involving the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

At its meeting on 8 June 2026, the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, by qualified majority: made a decision on the disciplinary proceedi...

trib.al

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Syria's first trial of an Assad-era official is an important step forward, but its limits highlight the steps that the new authorities must take for a real transitional-justice process. I explain, along with Fadel Abdulghany. www.justsecurity.org/140393/syria...

Syria’s Accountability Gap: The Najib Trial and the Case for the ICC

The first criminal trial against a senior Assad regime official comes at a time when Syria’s legal framework remains inadequate.

justsecurity.org

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The International Criminal Court member states should NOT defer to chief prosecutor Karim Khan's claims of having been exonerate for the sexual abuse allegations against him. They should insist on real fact-finding which the internal probe never did. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The ICC’s investigation of its chief prosecutor has been a failure | Kenneth Roth

Karim Khan is wrong to say he has been exonerated of sexual misconduct. The case must proceed swiftly

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 3mo ago

European governments are so preoccupied fighting Russian interference in Armenia's June 7 parliamentary election that they are closing their eyes to PM Nikol Pashinyan's autocratic attacks on the opposition. That risks destroying democracy to "save" it. I explain: www.lefigaro.fr/vox/monde/l-...

L’Europe sacrifie-t-elle la démocratie arménienne ?

FIGAROVOX/TRIBUNE - À l’approche des législatives arméniennes, les Européens voient en Pachinian un rempart contre l’influence russe. Une attitude qui risque de sacrifier la démocratie au nom de sa dé...

lefigaro.fr

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Hungarian voters' rejection of their autocratic prime minister, Viktor Orban, holds important lessons for efforts in the United States to resist Trump's own autocratic tendencies. Here are nine lessons that I draw: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Nine lessons for the US from Viktor Orbán’s defeat | Kenneth Roth

As US elections approach, the Hungarian prime minister’s loss is a reminder that history does not march relentlessly toward autocracy

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I explain on the BBC why Trump's threatened attacks on bridges and power plants in Iran would be war crimes. Perpetrators could be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (if Iran joins or a future US administration allows it) or by national courts using universal jurisdiction.

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Trump's war has ironically emboldened Iran. Netanyahu wants more war, as usual, but there's no reason to think the end result will be any better. It's time for Trump to end the warmongering and accept that diplomacy is the only solution. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump’s war has emboldened Iran. Diplomacy is the only solution | Kenneth Roth

The military approach has backfired, with Iran’s position only strengthened. But the door is still open to a deal

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Trump may think he is above the law, but if he carries out his threats to commit war crimes in Iran, there are two ways he can be prosecuted -- Iran joining the International Criminal Court, or a group of governments creating a special tribunal. I explain: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

If Trump commits war crimes in Iran, he can be prosecuted | Kenneth Roth

There is no question that Trump’s threats, if carried out, would amount to war crimes. The international justice system is positioned to act

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Americans are protected by two oceans, but the effects of Trump's war-of-choice are still being felt: oil prices are rising, fertilizer shortages may affect food prices, big cuts in housing, education & healthcare are proposed to fund Trump's war: I explain on India's NewsX World.

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I describe on Al Jazeera English how Trump is overseeing and threatening war crimes in Iran. His defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is signaling that military commanders should be indifferent to protecting Iranian civilians. This is lawless, criminal conduct.

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

More than 100 international law experts (myself included) warn that U.S. strikes on Iran violate the U.N. Charter (no evidence that Iran posed an imminent threat that could justify a self-defense claim) and may be war crimes (attacks on civilian sites). www.justsecurity.org/135423/profe...

Over 100 International Law Experts Warn: U.S. Strikes on Iran Violate UN Charter and May Be War Crimes

Over 100 international law experts sign letter on Iran War, UN Charter, and international humanitarian law.

justsecurity.org

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Trump's self-congratulatory speech last night was divorced from reality. He insisted that his war with Iran must continue for another two or three weeks but couldn't come up with a single coherent explanation for why. My take in the Guardian: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Trump’s surreal speech on Iran shed no light on his goals | Kenneth Roth

The US president couldn’t give a single coherent reason for why this aggressive war of choice must still be prosecuted

theguardian.com

Ken Roth@kennethroth.bsky.social · 4mo ago

I discuss with RNZ the lessons from my book as applied to today's big challenges to international law, human rights and democracy. The bottom line: we should not despair or become fatalistic. There is a lot we can do to fight back against this lawlessness. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Kenneth Roth on holding regimes to account

Kenneth Roth, the former long-term executive director of Human Rights Watch, has spent over 30 years using strategic international shaming to hold repressive regimes accountable across more than 100 c...

rnz.co.nz