Mongolia
As of February 2026, Mongolia remains one of the few vibrant electoral democracies in its region, but it faces significant hurdles related to freedom of expression, corruption, and the environmental rights of its nomadic population. The country's human rights record was most recently examined by the UN under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2025.
The following are the key human rights issues in Mongolia today:
1. Freedom of Expression and Press Suppression
The legal landscape for journalists has been highly volatile over the last two years.
Victory for Speech: In a major victory for press freedom, the Constitutional Court of Mongolia struck down Article 13.14 of the Criminal Code in November 2025. This article, which criminalized the "dissemination of false information," had been frequently used by politicians to silence critics and jail journalists.
Targeting of Independent Media: Despite this ruling, concerns remain high following a March 2025 raid on the independent outlet Noorog, where staff were interrogated and hardware confiscated.
Self-Censorship: Journalists, such as the high-profile case of editor Unurtsetseg Naran (sentenced to nearly five years in 2024), continue to face pressure. Many reporters practice self-censorship to avoid being summoned by the police or the General Intelligence Agency.
2. Environmental Rights and Mining
Mining is the backbone of Mongolia’s economy but poses a direct threat to the traditional rights of herders.
Land Degradation: Mining operations have led to severe water scarcity and the contamination of grasslands. This impacts the right to a healthy environment and the livelihood of nomadic herders.
Dust and Quality of Life: In 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples noted that mining dust is deteriorating the quality of cashmere wool—Mongolia's second-largest export—impacting herders' economic survival.
COP17 Host: Mongolia is set to host the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) in August 2026, putting its own land degradation (affecting nearly 77% of its territory) under the global spotlight.
3. Justice System and Detention
Arbitrary Detention: In 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that parts of the Law on Police Service regarding temporary detention were unconstitutional. However, reports of excessive force used by police to extract confessions remain a persistent issue.
Prison Conditions: Many detention facilities struggle with insufficient heating (critical during Mongolian winters), poor nutrition, and a lack of medical care for inmates.
ICC Obligations: Mongolia faced international backlash in late 2024 and 2025 for failing to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, despite an active ICC warrant and Mongolia's status as a member of the Rome Statute.
4. Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Digital Harassment
Workplace Harassment: A 2025 National Human Rights Commission study revealed that one in two workers in Mongolia has encountered bullying or harassment at work.
Technology-Facilitated Violence: The UN and local NGOs have highlighted a sharp rise in cyberbullying, particularly against women in the public eye. A 2024 study found that over 51% of Mongolian youth had experienced some form of online insult or harassment.
Access to Services: While the government has increased budgets for child protection, services for GBV survivors remain difficult to access in remote soums (districts) outside of Ulaanbaatar.
5. Forced Evictions and Housing
Urban Redevelopment: Thousands of households in the "Ger districts" (traditional yurt settlements) of Ulaanbaatar face the risk of forced eviction due to rushed urban redevelopment laws passed in late 2023.
Right to Housing: Rights groups argue these evictions often occur without "free, prior, and informed consent" and lack adequate compensation or alternative housing for the displaced residents.
6. Corruption and the Rule of Law
Systemic Corruption: Corruption remains a primary grievance for the public, often sparking mass protests. Public trust is hampered by the perceived immunity of Parliament members, which frequently shields high-ranking officials from prosecution for embezzlement or graft.
Election Dynamics: While elections are considered free, international observers (OSCE) noted that the 2024 elections were characterized by a short campaign period that heavily favored well-resourced, established parties over new political movements.