Human Rights Watch Walks Back on 'Right of Return'
THE ACTORS Sarah Leah Whitson: Former Executive Director of HRW's Middle East and North Africa division. Resigned in 2020. Omar Shakir: HRW's Israel/Palestine Director. Involved in the drafting process of the report. Kathryn Gallagher: Former Associate Director at HRW. Resigned in protest in 2023. Tirana Hassan: Executive Director of HRW. Allegedly spearheaded the decision to shelve the report.
Kenneth Roth: Former Executive Director of HRW (1993-2022). Criticized the decision to halt the report. THE FUNDING Human Rights Watch operates as a non-governmental organization, with a reported operating budget of $120 million in 2023. Major funding comes from private foundations and individuals. While specific donors for 2024 related to this controversy are undisclosed, HRW's financial
independence has been a recurring point of scrutiny. In 2010, Kenneth Roth, then Executive Director, reversed an internal ban on accepting government funding (HRW, 2010), citing the need for diversified income, while still maintaining a policy against accepting funds that could compromise independence. The organization's board members include finance industry executives and former government
officials, creating a network of influence that requires constant vigilance regarding potential conflicts of interest. THE INCENTIVES The reported motivation for shelving the report centers on avoiding 'politicization' of the 'right of return' principle, which is widely recognized in international law (UN General Assembly Resolution 194, 1948). However, HRW's leadership has previously taken strong