A new cybercrimes law, which is due to take effect on 12 January, will add a further layer to the web of laws that already restrict the right of people in Kuwait to freedom of expression. With the introduction of this new law, people in Kuwait will face up to 10 years’ imprisonment for peacefully expressing their opinions over the internet.

On 10 January, another Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) supported hospital has been hit by a projectile in Northern Yemen on Sunday. 

On 28 December, the United Nations has helped deliver humanitarian aid packages to over 100 families affected by the recent fighting in the Kunduz area of northern Afghanistan. 

On 24 December, an overnight fire at Jazan hospital has killed at least 20 people in the southwestern Saudi Arabia. More than 100 people have been injured. 

On 22 December, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Turkey to end its crackdown on the press. Since the release of CPJ’s annual prison census, three journalists working for  pro-Kurdish  outlets have been arrested in Turkey on terror accusations, according to news reports.

On 18 December, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Council of Europe and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) have urged Hungary to refrain from policies and practices that promote intolerance, fear and fuel xenophobia against refugees and migrants.

With almost a million people having crossed the Mediterranean as refugees and migrants so far this year, and conflicts in Syria and elsewhere continuing to generate staggering levels of human suffering, 2015 is likely to exceed all previous records for global forced displacement, the UN Refugee Agency warned in a new report.

On 17 December, the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz expressed deep concern regarding the reduced protections to the Sami indigenous people in the current draft law on the Finnish Forest and Parks Service (Metsähallitus).

On 17 December, Human Rights Watch called on Cambodian authorities to revise the draft law on trade unions, submitted to the National Assembly of Cambodia. The draft provides no protections to Cambodia’s domestic workers, who face abuse at work.

On 15 December, European Commission Vice President Frans Timmerman said that member states of the European Union have to improve their external border management. According to him, external border controls are essential for the security of the EU states.