December 10th is Human Rights Day, celebrated around the world on the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year, you can celebrate by watching one of these amazing documentaries that share insight on important human rights issues like war, genocide, women’s rights, and more.
Ambulance (2016)
Director: Mohamed Jabaly
During the Israel-Gaza conflict of 2014, Gaza experienced 51 consecutive days of bombing. To capture the experiences of the people living through violence, filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly grabbed his camera and followed a group of paramedics on the front lines as they worked tirelessly to save lives throughout the chaos.
Iraq’s Lost Generation (2021)
Director: Anne Poiret
Winner of the award for Best Documentary at the 2022 International Emmy Awards, this film depicts the lives of the children who were orphaned or displaced during the war on ISIS in Iraq. These children are the unseen victims of the war on terror, left to fend for themselves with no place in society.
Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege (2021)
Director: Abdallah Al-Khatib
This film shows the daily life of residents in the district of Yarmouk (Damascus, Syria), the biggest Palestinian refugee camp in the world, as they experienced a siege by the regime of Bashar al-Assad that cut them off from the world.
My Maysoon (2023)
Director: Batoul Karbijha
In this heartbreaking personal journey, Syrian filmmaker Batoul Karbijha documents her search to find her sister Maysoon, who disappeared after her refugee boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. As she searches for answers, Batoul faces indifference, powerlessness, and her own family’s refusal to talk about Maysoon.
Narrow Path to Happiness (2023)
Director: Katalin Oláh
A young gay Romani couple in a remote village in Hungary work to overcome homophobia and personal tragedy on their journey to achieve their absurd dream: making a musical film about their lives.
Navalny (2022)
Director: Daniel Roher
This documentary about the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny won the award for Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 Academy Awards. The film documents the poisoning attempt and the subsequent investigation, as well as Navalny’s struggle against Putin’s regime.
One Bullet (2024)
Director: Carol Dysinger
In the course of investigating the shooting of an Afghan teenager and tracing the path of the bullet that took his life, American filmmaker Carol Dysinger meets his mother, Bibi Hajji, a devout widow and mother of 11 who befriends her and helps pull back the curtain on the domestic lives of Afghan women and the personal consequences of the war.
To Kill a Tiger (2022)
Director: Nisha Pahuja
This documentary centers on Ranjit, a farmer from Jharkhand, India, and his family. After his teenage daughter survives a brutal sexual assault, Ranjit embarks on a journey to demand justice for her.
If you’re interested in watching even more documentaries, check out these subject guides by Docuseek, one of our best sources for streaming titles.