The United Nations has strongly condemned a recent series of antisemitic attacks targeting synagogues in several countries, warning that such incidents threaten the safety of religious communities and undermine shared human values. The attacks included a powerful explosion outside a historic synagogue in Liège, Belgium, significant shootings at three synagogues in Canada, an attack in Michigan in the United States where a man crashed a truck into a synagogue and preschool before being shot dead, and an overnight arson attack on a synagogue in Rotterdam, Netherlands. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson, stressed that houses of worship must remain safe havens and called on authorities to protect religious sites, bring perpetrators to justice, and combat antisemitism and all forms of hatred.
At the same time, independent human rights investigators have warned that grave abuses continue in Syria despite signs that the country’s new authorities are showing some willingness to pursue reform. According to investigators reporting to the Human Rights Council, serious violations such as extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and abductions have persisted more than a year after the fall of the Assad regime. They highlighted mass killings in several provinces, including over 1,400 people—mostly Alawite civilians—killed in Latakia, Tartus, Homs, and Hama in March, followed by more than 1,500 deaths in Sweida in July, where Druze and Bedouin civilians were among those killed by government forces, armed groups, and tribal fighters.
Despite these ongoing violations, the UN-backed investigators also noted some cautious optimism about Syria’s political transition. They welcomed efforts by the Syrian authorities to pursue broader and more inclusive governance, strengthen the rule of law, and establish accountability mechanisms, including the creation of two new national justice bodies. However, they stressed that real progress will depend on justice for survivors, compensation for victims, guarantees against future abuses, and the disarmament and demobilization of non-state armed groups. Human rights experts said sustained international support will be essential if Syria is to complete a transition toward a political environment that genuinely protects the rights of all citizens.
In a separate development, a new UNFPA report has revealed widespread mistreatment of women during childbirth across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, describing the issue as both a public health concern and a serious human rights violation. Based on a survey of 2,600 women across 16 countries who had recently given birth, the report found that two in three women experienced at least one form of mistreatment during childbirth. These included non-consensual medical procedures, verbal and physical abuse, and serious violations of privacy.
The findings showed that nearly half of respondents underwent obstetric procedures such as episiotomies, Caesarean sections, or the administration of oxytocin without informed consent. Around 24 percent reported verbal abuse, including shouting or humiliation, while one in ten said they experienced physical or sexual abuse during labour or gynaecological examinations. The report also found that only two percent of women who were mistreated formally reported their experiences, largely because of distrust in accountability systems or fear of retaliation.
UNFPA stressed that obstetric violence must be recognised as a human rights issue with long-term consequences for women’s health, dignity, and well-being. The agency called for a major transformation in maternity care across the region and issued a joint call to action urging governments and medical professionals to adopt comprehensive strategies to eliminate such abuse. Recommended measures include mandatory human rights-centred training for healthcare workers and reforms to ensure maternity care becomes respectful, woman-centred, and supportive for all.
