Human Rights Good News

Indigenous Rights. Women's Rights. The Right to Food, Water, and Shelter. And More.

A photo collage of a group of people posing together for a photo, an EV charger plug next to its charging port, the head of an elephant, a person with a bookshelf in front of him and his back to the camera, and an aerial view of a city

Good News This Week: May 16, 2026 - Doulas, Elephants, & Libraries

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

A projection on the National Gallery in Washington DC reads: "Religious freedom for all. Christian nationalism threatens everyone’s religious freedom."

Interfaith leaders protest Trump Admin-backed Christian nationalist 'prayer rally' in DC with bold art project

The White House-backed “Rededicate 250” prayer event includes speakers like Pete Hegseth, but interfaith leaders have another message to spread.

A white picket fence with panels painted in rainbow colors

A lesbian couple in Florida was ordered to remove a rainbow fence on their property. So they sued the city

A lawsuit by the ACLU of Florida argues that the city “selectively enforced” its ordinances against an LGBTQ+ couple.

Two photos side by side. On the left is two men in Gaza, standing in rubble. On the right is a newly opened library in Gaza

Built with books found in the rubble, these two men have opened Gaza's first new library

Israel has destroyed 90% of Gaza’s schools, all of its universities, numerous archives, museums, and historical sites, and at least 13 libraries.

Two adults walk along a path with two toddlers. Only their backs are visible

New study: Americans care more about future generations than we think

Researchers found that Americans, on average, extended at least some moral concern about 28 generations into the future, or roughly 700 years.

A mother and daughter touch noses in an embrace

From ancient goddesses to peace activists, this is the real reason we should be celebrating Mother's Day

The consumerist emphasis on Mother's Day has long been criticized — including by the holiday’s founder.

An illustration of a South Asian woman, her husband, and son, in the video game "Venba"

In this cozy video game, you play as an immigrant mother, learning how to make her recipes

Venba pays homage to the developer’s heritage as the son of South Asian immigrants.

A group of people in orange jumpsuits walking in a line on a sidewalk

Why one Pennsylvania jail gives inmates a cash deposit every month

Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is experimenting with a policy that has drawn national attention and local skepticism: providing cash compensation to incarcerated people.

Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni play Detective Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Mariska Hargitay has helped pass laws to end rape kit backlogs for years. She just reached her 50th state

The “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star says the milestone is a “watershed moment.”

“We are on Earth to take care of life. We are on Earth to take care of each other.” — Xiye Bastida

73 Inspirational Earth Day Quotes on Hope & Action

As we celebrate Earth Day this year, may we reflect on the wise words of environmentalists, climate activists, faith leaders, lovers of nature, and the youth of the world.

Malala shares the 3 steps she follows to keep fighting for change — even when hope feels lost

Malala just gave her first TED Talk — and she’s giving us all a pep talk in fighting for change.

A dad watches as a young boy plays on a wooden playground

Nonprofit invents modular playgrounds for kids in war zones: 'The children helped construct them'

The design was made in collaboration with Palestinian and Sudanese child refugees.