2. Tiananmen Square Massacre: In June 1989, the Chinese military opened fire on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, killing hundreds – possibly thousands – of people. The protesters were calling for free speech, freedom of the press, and other political reforms. The Chinese government's violent response is considered a tragic example of human rights violations.
3. Rohingya Crisis: The Rohingya people are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group from Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist country. Since 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled Myanmar to escape persecution, violence, and human rights abuses. The Myanmar military has been accused of burning Rohingya villages, killing Rohingya civilians, and committing sexual violence. The Rohingya Crisis is still ongoing, and the Rohingya refugees who have fled to neighboring Bangladesh face many challenges, including lack of access to food, water, and healthcare.
4. Apartheid in South Africa: From 1948 to 1994, South Africa had a policy of apartheid, which legalized racial segregation and discrimination against people of color. Black South Africans were forced to live in separate areas, attend separate schools, and use separate facilities, among other discriminatory policies. The apartheid regime also committed many human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings. The anti-apartheid movement eventually led to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the eventual dismantling of apartheid.
5. Syrian Civil War: Since 2011, the Syrian Civil War has devastated the country and caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Both the Syrian government and opposition groups have been accused of committing human rights abuses, including using chemical weapons, torture, and arbitrary detention. The conflict has also led to a massive refugee crisis, with millions of Syrians fleeing to neighboring countries and Europe. The war is ongoing, and there is still no clear end in sight.