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On 3 December 2023, the human rights defender Sam Rajabi was released from Evin prison after serving a six year prison sentence. The environmental human rights defender had been arrested in January 2018 for his activities in the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF), a non-profit environmental organisation which carries out ecological fieldwork, promotes local community involvement in conservation, and raises awareness about environmental issues.

On 10 June 2021, unknown men together with police officers raided a women's shelter for gender-based violence survivors in Makhachkala in order to forcibly return Сhechen woman Khalimat Taramova, who had been staying at the shelter, to her family in the Chechen Republic. Women human rights defenders Svetlana Anokhina and Maysarat Kilyaskhanova, who were present at the time of the raid, were reportedly beaten and detained together with 3 other women. The women were subsequently released and Khalimat Taramova was forcibly returned to her family in the Chechen Republic.

On 18 August 2022, the convener of the Inter University Student Federation (IUSF), Wasantha Mudalige, the convener of the Inter University Bhikku Federation (IUBF), Galwewa Siridhamma Thero and Hashan Jeewantha were arrested along with 17 other peaceful protesters during a protest in Colombo.

On 13 May 2024, independent journalist and woman human rights defender Zhang Zhan completed her four-year sentence and left the Shanghai Women’s Prison.

Imprisoned woman human rights defender and citizen journalist Zhang Zhan was hospitalised in July 2023 at a hospital in Shanghai managed by prison authorities. Prior to her hospitalisation, she weighed only 37kg, half of her weight prior to her arrest.

On 13 February 2023, Maryam Mohammadi was released from Evin prison. Since 4 February 2023, as part of a general amnesty announced by the Iranian judiciaryon the occasion of 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, hundreds of prisoners including human rights defenders have been released from prison.

On 21 August 2022, three women human rights defenders Akram Nasirian, Maryam Mohammadi and Esrin Derkale were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran to begin prison sentences. Together with Nahid Shaghaghi,the three women human rights defenders have been sentenced to two years and three months in prison because of their advocacy for women’s rights.

On 24 November 2023, the Shandong Provincial High Court announced its decision to uphold the first-instance verdict and sentence against human rights defender Ding Jiaxi. In April 2023, the Linshu County Court in Shandong province found Ding Jiaxi guilty of “subversion of State power” and sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

On 7 March 2021, during coordinated operations led by the police and military in the Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal provinces surrounding Metro Manila, five human rights defenders were among those killed and four human rights defenders were arrested. Human rights defenders Emanuel Asucion, Melvin Dasigao, Mark Lee Coros Bacasno, Chai Lemita-Evangelista and Ariel Evangelista were among those killed, whilst human rights defenders Nimfa Lanzanas, Esteban Mendoza, Eugene Eugenio and Elizabeth Camoral were arrested during the raids.

On 7 March 2021, during coordinated operations led by the police and military in the Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal provinces surrounding Metro Manila, five human rights defenders were among those killed and four human rights defenders were arrested. Human rights defenders Emanuel Asucion, Melvin Dasigao, Mark Lee Coros Bacasno, Chai Lemita-Evangelista and Ariel Evangelista were among those killed, whilst human rights defenders Nimfa Lanzanas, Esteban Mendoza, Eugene Eugenio and Elizabeth Camoral were arrested during the raids.

On 17 November 2020, woman human rights defender Marina Kostylianchenko was sentenced to a further 15 days in detention on the grounds of “violating the procedure for holding a protest”. The woman human rights defender will therefore spend a total of one month in detention following her administrative arrest on 2 November 2020.

On 18 May 2021, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court denied bail to seven human rights defenders, five of whom are members of Khmer Thavrak and two others who are members of the Khmer Student Intelligent League Association. All seven defenders were arrested between August and September 2020, some for planning to participate and others for participating in peaceful demonstrations seeking the release of several other imprisoned human rights defenders. Those arrested include Chhoeun Daravy, Hun Vannak, Koet Saray, Tha Lavy, Eng Malai, Muong Sopheak and Mean Prommony.

On 14 January 2021, Trần Huỳnh Duy Thức's family was informed by a reliable source that the human rights defender had spent a few days on intravenous drips after his health had severely deteriorated.

Trần Huỳnh Duy Thức’s health has severely deteriorated after the human rights defender has spent over a week on hunger strike.