![Voters cast their ballots during the presidential election in a Jewish and Christian district in the center of Tehran, Iran, May 19, 2017. © 2017 Tima/Reuters](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201712mena_iran_wrchapter2.jpg?itok=x8Pqu2C8)
![Voters cast their ballots during the presidential election in a Jewish and Christian district in the center of Tehran, Iran, May 19, 2017. © 2017 Tima/Reuters](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201712mena_iran_wrchapter2.jpg?itok=x8Pqu2C8)
![Syrian refugees carry belongings as they return to Syria after crossing the Jordanian border near the town of Nasib, in the southern province of Daraa, on August 29, 2017. © 2017 Mohamad Abazeed, AFP, Getty Images](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201712mena_jordan_wrchapter.jpg?itok=5RXF1sgQ)
January 18, 2018
South Korea: Act to End Discrimination
New Government Should Promote Rights Protection and Reform
![Protesters hold candles as they celebrate the impeachment of South Korea's ousted leader Park Geun-hye at a rally in Seoul, South Korea, March 11, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_southkorea_human_rights.jpg?itok=zwevQJsr)
January 18, 2018
Cambodia: Crackdown Crushes Media, Opposition
Hun Sen Escalates Repression Ahead of 2018 Elections
![Supporters of Kem Sokha, leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), stand outside the appeals court during his bail hearing in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, September 26, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_cambodia_human_rights.jpg?itok=dPZddwgM)
January 18, 2018
Vietnam: Renewed Crackdown on Rights Bloggers, Activists
US Withdrawal from TPP Leads to Spike in Arrests
![Supporters hold signs with names of jailed activists at an event held to call for their release in Hanoi, Vietnam, August 27, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_vietnam_human_rights.jpg?itok=NW5-eqnc)
January 18, 2018
Pakistan: Escalating Limits on Association, Speech
Renewed Threats to Activists, Vulnerable Minorities, International NGOs
![Children hold signs at a protest in Islamabad calling for greater security in the predominantly Shia city of Parachinar, Pakistan, June 27, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_pakistan_human_rights.jpg?itok=YU_V1VHY)
January 18, 2018
Sri Lanka: One Step Forward, Two Back
Government Delays Implementing Rights Pledges to UN
![Demonstrators hold candles at a “Black January” vigil to commemorate killings and disappearances of Sri Lankan journalists, Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 24, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_srilanka_human_rights.jpg?itok=WcKl6f7O)
January 18, 2018
Nepal: Transitional Justice, Accountability Stalled
Elections Throughout Year Signal New Opportunity
![Villagers wait to vote at a polling station during the parliamentary and provincial elections in Sindhupalchok district, Nepal, November 26, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_nepal_human_rights.jpg?itok=VjrN8MSX)
January 18, 2018
Burma: Ethnic Cleansing, Repression, Denials
Abuses and Impunity Signal Collapse of Democratic Transition
![Rohingya refugees walk through rice fields after crossing the border from Myanmar into Palang Khali, Bangladesh, October 19, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_burma_human_rights.jpg?itok=dOeyVHGY)
January 18, 2018
Australia: Gains on Marriage Equality, Child Rights
Reverse Refugee Policy that Mars Global Reputation
![Supporters of the 'Yes' vote for marriage equality celebrate after it was announced the majority of Australians support same-sex marriage in a national survey, paving the way for legislation to make the country the 26th nation to formalise the unions by t](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_australia_human_rights_0.jpg?itok=U8w6yda_)
![201801wr_thailand_human_rights](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_thailand_human_rights.jpg?itok=eV2lGlwD)
January 18, 2018
Philippines: Duterte’s ‘Drug War’ Claims 12,000+ Lives
Government Harassment, Threats Against Rights Defenders
![201801wr_philippines_human_rights](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_philippines_human_rights.jpg?itok=F_ordDuu)
January 18, 2018
North Korea: Bring Justice for Rights Crimes
Repression Intensifies as Crimes Against Humanity Continue
![201801wr_northkorea_human_rights North Korean leader Kim Jong-un participates in the opening of the 5th Conference of Cell Chairpersons of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central New](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_northkorea_human_rights.jpg?itok=M8e_0F8_)
January 18, 2018
Malaysia: Rising Intolerance Threatens Rights
Rights Activists, Religious Freedom Under Attack
![201801wr_malaysia_human_rights People attend an anti-kleptocracy rally in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 14, 2017.](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_malaysia_human_rights.jpg?itok=puPKWWkB)
January 18, 2018
Indonesia: Failure to Confront Intolerance
Vulnerable Communities Face Worsening Risk
![201801wr_indonesia_human_rights Two homosexual men were sentenced to 82 whips by the Shariah Court in Banda Aceh, Indonesia on May 23, 2017. They violated Islamic law in Qanun number 6, year 2014 Article 63, paragraph 1 regarding the Law of Liwath. Aceh i](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/multimedia_images_2018/201801wr_indonesia_human_rights.jpg?itok=Y4Z0-etM)