Kenneth Roth

Kenneth Roth is a visiting professor at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the former executive director of Human Rights Watch, which he led from 1993 to 2022.

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Articles by Kenneth Roth
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan speaks during a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on July 13, 2023 in New York City.
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan speaks during a UN Security Council meeting at the United Nations headquarters on July 13, 2023 in New York City.

Biden Should Not Stand in the Way of the ICC
Argument
Kenneth Roth
A man waring scrubs and holding a book walks through a damaged room at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. A hole is seen in one wall and bedding, beds, and other equipment are tossed about the space.
A man waring scrubs and holding a book walks through a damaged room at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. A hole is seen in one wall and bedding, beds, and other equipment are tossed about the space.

Destroying Gaza’s Health Care System Is a War Crime
Argument
Annie Sparrow, Kenneth Roth
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the start of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, on May 15, 2017.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the start of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, on May 15, 2017.

How Putin and Xi Are Trying to Break Global Human Rights
Analysis
Kenneth Roth
A silhouette of diplomats meeting in Belgrade on Dec. 3, 2015.
A silhouette of diplomats meeting in Belgrade on Dec. 3, 2015.

The U.N. Gave a Quiet Diplomat the Wrong Job
Argument
Kenneth Roth
A World Food Programme convoy of trucks on their way to the Tigray region are seen near the village of Erebti, Ethiopia, on June 9.
A World Food Programme convoy of trucks on their way to the Tigray region are seen near the village of Erebti, Ethiopia, on June 9.

Africa Must Do Its Part to Break Ethiopia’s Abusive Tigray Siege
Argument
Kenneth Roth
Musician turned politician Bobi Wine (C) is joined by other activists on July 11, 2018 in Kampala, Uganda, during a demonstration to protest a controversial tax on the use of social media.
Musician turned politician Bobi Wine (C) is joined by other activists on July 11, 2018 in Kampala, Uganda, during a demonstration to protest a controversial tax on the use of social media.

How Democracy Can Defeat Autocracy
Argument
Kenneth Roth
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden

Biden Can’t Make Washington a Beacon for Human Rights by Returning to Business as Usual
Argument
Kenneth Roth
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Stanford University in Stanford, California, on July 24, 2018.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at Stanford University in Stanford, California, on July 24, 2018.

Pompeo’s Commission on Unalienable Rights Will Endanger Everyone’s Human Rights
Argument
Kenneth Roth
governments-coronavirus-foreign-policy-brian-stauffer-illustration-authoritarian_3_2
governments-coronavirus-foreign-policy-brian-stauffer-illustration-authoritarian_3_2

The Future of the State
Roundup
James Crabtree, Robert D. Kaplan, Robert Muggah, Kumi Naidoo, Shannon K. O'Neil, Adam Posen, Kenneth Roth, Bruce Schneier, Stephen M. Walt, Alexandra Wrage, Stefan Theil
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok flashes the victory sign during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled Omar al-Bashir, in Khartoum on Dec. 25, 2019.
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok flashes the victory sign during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of the uprising that toppled Omar al-Bashir, in Khartoum on Dec. 25, 2019.

Sudan Has a Window of Opportunity. The West Shouldn’t Squander It.
Argument
Kenneth Roth
Venezuelan migrants walk along the border of Peru and Ecuador.
Venezuelan migrants walk along the border of Peru and Ecuador.

Don’t Let Venezuela Join the United Nations Human Rights Council
Argument
Kenneth Roth
A participant holds a banner with photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in front of the presidential palace during a demonstration on Dec. 21, 2018.
A participant holds a banner with photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in front of the presidential palace during a demonstration on Dec. 21, 2018.

Defenders of Human Rights Are Making a Comeback
Argument
Kenneth Roth
(Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)
(Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)

How to Stand Up For Human Rights in the Age of Trump
Argument
Kenneth Roth
Delegates attend a session of United Nations Human Rights Council on June 6, in Geneva. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)
Delegates attend a session of United Nations Human Rights Council on June 6, in Geneva. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images)

How Not to Fix the U.N. Human Rights Council
Argument
Kenneth Roth
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila looks on during a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on June 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Phill Magakoe (Photo credit should read PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP/Getty Images)
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Joseph Kabila looks on during a meeting with South African President Jacob Zuma at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Pretoria on June 25, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Phill Magakoe (Photo credit should read PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP/Getty Images)

The Jig Is Up for Congo’s Embattled President
Argument
Kenneth Roth, Ida Sawyer
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