Belarusian prisoner of conscience and opposition politician Mikalai Statkevich was released from imprisonment Feb. 20 after suffering a stroke in January. Following his release, Amnesty International reiterated the need for justice for victims of human rights violations in Belarus.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Feb. 15 he would accept a proposal from the country's largest remaining rebel group to allow an independent commission to investigate its alleged links to drug trafficking.

Senior UN officials told the Security Council on Feb. 13 that Syria's fragile political transition has gained momentum following a landmark agreement between Damascus and Kurdish authorities in the northeast. Still, they warned that renewed violence in the south, Israeli incursions, and deep humanitarian needs continue to underscore the precarious path to stability.

Amnesty International on Feb. 13 urged governments to take robust action and fulfil their obligations regarding climate change under international law. The statement follows Vanuatu's circulation of a draft resolution on the matter to all UN member states.

During the annual State of the Nation address on Feb. 12, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of military troops to support police efforts against illegal mining and gang violence in the provinces of Gauteng and Western Cape.

The UN's top human rights official on Feb. 5 demanded that Burkina Faso end its clampdown on civic freedoms, including an announced ban on political parties. In his comments, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized that the government's decision to prohibit political parties marks a serious setback for the freedoms of expression, association and political participation in Burkina Faso. He stated:

A military drone strike in western Niger killed at least 17 civilians, including four children, and injured at least 13 others when it hit a crowded market on Jan. 6, according to an investigation by Human Rights Watch (HRW) released Feb. 9.

UN human rights experts on Feb. 4 decried Russia's conviction of nine International Criminal Court (ICC) officials, calling the ruling a "flagrant violation of international law."

After a trial held in absentia, the Moscow City Court on Dec. 12 sentenced Prosecutor Karim Khan and eight ICC judges under the Russian Criminal Code for "unlawfully prosecuting Russian citizens in The Hague," and subsequently placed them on an international wanted list. Prosecutor Khan received a 15‑year prison term, with the others receiving sentences of between three and 15 years.