With the Arab region in a state of flux, the League of Arab States seems poised to play a much-needed role on issues such as peace, security, and human rights in Arab countries. Until now, this role has been far from consistent or guided by a genuine human rights agenda. However, a closer look at the Arab League during the recent crises in the region reveals a slow shift in its positioning, highlighting the importance for civil society to engage with the Arab League and influence policies and reform in the region

The Islamic State’s (ISIS) expansion in Syria and Iraq featured horrendous public abuses. Largely unseen but equally egregious were the widespread detention and kidnappings by the group –thousands of people snatched from their homes, cars, and at checkpoints, who subsequently went missing. This report highlights 27 cases of individuals or groups of persons apprehended by ISIS. It documents cases of activists, humanitarian workers, journalists, and anti-ISIS fighters from a range of groups, government and anti-government, as well as residents living under ISIS. Family members of those who went missing described their anguish at fruitlessly pursuing rumors, receiving promises of information in exchange for payments to suspicious intermediaries, and visiting former detention centers in hopes of finding clues about the fate of their loved ones. Under international law, all authorities are obligated to take all feasible measures to account for persons reported missing as a result of armed conflict in areas they effectively control and provide families with information on their fate. The end of ISIS’ territorial control should have been an opportunity to provide answers to the families of those missing, the report but authorities currently in control of areas formerly under the control of ISIS have failed to account for persons reported missing or provide their family members with information it has on their fate. The report provides recommendation for how authorities can close the gap.

Jordan is one of the few countries in the world that still allows debt imprisonment. Failure to repay even small debts is a crime that carries a penalty of up to 90 days in prison per debt, and up to one year for a bounced check; courts routinely sentence people without even holding a hearing. The law does not make an exception for lack of income, or other factors that impede borrowers’ ability to repay, and the debt remains even after serving the sentence. Over a quarter-million Jordanians face complaints of debt delinquency and around 2,630 people, about 16 percent of Jordan’s prison population, were locked up for nonpayment of loans and bounced checks in 2019.

"This report looks at the government's policies for and restrictions on humanitarian assistance and reconstruction and development funding to Syria. Human Rights Watch found that the Syrian government has developed a policy and legal framework that allows it to divert aid and reconstruction resources to fund its atrocities, punish those perceived as opponents, and benefit those loyal to it."--Publisher website.