amnesty

A year after the military coup: authoritarian practices dash Gen Z aspirations for a new Madagascar By Nciko wa Nciko A year since Colonel Michael Randrianirina seized power in a military coup, Madagascar finds itself far from the refoundation that he promised. Instead, his first year in power has been marked by the military's consolidation of power and the expansion of authoritarian practices. News outlets abound with commentaries assessing Randrianirina's first […] The post A year after the military coup: authoritarian practices dash Gen Z aspirations for a new Madagascar appeared first on Amnesty International.

COP31 explained: Why the Türkiye climate summit matters From 9 to 20 November, governments, scientists, activists, corporate lobbyists, diplomats, Indigenous Peoples and communities affected by climate change will gather in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31, the annual UN climate conference. COP31 comes after a year in which the climate crisis has become even harder to ignore. In September 2026, the United Nations acknowledged for […] The post COP31 explained: Why the Türkiye climate summit matters appeared first on Amnesty International.

Pakistan: Terrorism conviction of human rights lawyers an indictment of justice system Responding to the conviction and ten-year imprisonment of Imaan Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha today by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad, Yasmine Ahmed, Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact at Amnesty International, said: "These convictions are an indictment of Pakistan's justice system. This was not just Imaan and Hadi on trial, it was a […] The post Pakistan: Terrorism conviction of human rights lawyers an indictment of justice system appeared first on Amnesty International.

Cambodia: Politically connected security companies enabled slavery and rape in scamming compounds Cambodian private security companies connected to the country's military, police and powerful business networks have helped sustain a scamming industry built on trafficking, forced labour, torture and slavery, Amnesty International said in a new report published today. Official Business: Security companies and authorities at scamming compounds in Cambodia identifies five private security companies that provided […] The post Cambodia: Politically connected security companies enabled slavery and rape in scamming compounds appeared first on Amnesty International.

COP31 must amplify people power, not oil lobby voices Next month's UN talks in Antalya can only deliver meaningful action if governments protect civic freedoms, curb fossil fuel influence and listen to communities on the front lines of the climate crisis The post COP31 must amplify people power, not oil lobby voices appeared first on Amnesty International.

The Netherlands: Withdrawal from Eurovision must spur the European Broadcasting Union to suspend Israel Reacting to yesterday's announcement by the Dutch public broadcasting organization, NPO, that they would not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 due to the Israel's continued participation, Amnesty International's Europe Director, Steve Cockburn, said:  "The Dutch broadcasting body is the latest to decide not take part in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest […] The post The Netherlands: Withdrawal from Eurovision must spur the European Broadcasting Union to suspend Israel appeared first on Amnesty International.

EU: Frontex reform compounds risk of EU complicity in rights violations Responding to the European Commission's proposed reform of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation (the Frontex Regulation) that vastly expands the agency's budget, powers, staff and mandate, without commensurately expanding its human rights safeguards and transparency obligations, Eve Geddie the Director of Amnesty International's European Institutions Office said: "The European Commission's proposed changes to […] The post EU: Frontex reform compounds risk of EU complicity in rights violations  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Tanzania: Authorities weaponize counterterrorism laws to restrict civic space amid pervasive impunity over violent election crackdown Tanzanian authorities have failed to hold anyone accountable for the violence security forces inflicted on protesters, which left hundreds of people dead and thousands of others injured in the wake of the 2025 general election, Amnesty International said on the first anniversary of the crackdown. Instead of delivering justice and accountability, authorities have withheld a […] The post Tanzania: Authorities weaponize counterterrorism laws to restrict civic space amid pervasive impunity over violent election crackdown appeared first on Amnesty International.

Russia: African leaders must use summit to call for an end to trafficking of Africans into Russian military African leaders attending the Russia-Africa summit must call on the Russian authorities to immediately end the coercive and deceptive recruitment of African nationals into Russia's military forces to fight against Ukraine, Amnesty International's African section directors said in an open letter ahead of the summit, which takes place from 28 to 29 October in Moscow. […] The post Russia: African leaders must use summit to call for an end to trafficking of Africans into Russian military appeared first on Amnesty International.

Egypt: Court order to shut down and fine Mada Masr a devastating blow to media freedom Responding to the news that the New Cairo Misdemeanours court today convicted editor in chief Lina Attalah on charges of operating an unlicenced website, ordering the shutdown of prominent independent outlet Mada Masr and taking her into police custody pending payment of the maximum penalty of three million EGP fine (54,467 USD) Amnesty International's Senior […] The post Egypt: Court order to shut down and fine Mada Masr a devastating blow to media freedom  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Sri Lanka: Outrageous organized crime bill granting authorities unchecked powers must be withdrawn A new bill before Sri Lanka's parliament that grants the authorities sweeping arbitrary powers to tackle 'organized crime' and deny suspects' human rights should be immediately withdrawn, Amnesty International said today.  The Prevention of Organised Crimes bill, tabled in Sri Lanka's parliament on 6 October, contains provisions that would make confessions extracted under duress admissible […] The post Sri Lanka: Outrageous organized crime bill granting authorities unchecked powers must be withdrawn   appeared first on Amnesty International.

Sri Lanka: Outrageous organized crime bill granting authorities unchecked powers must be withdrawn A new bill before Sri Lanka's parliament that grants the authorities sweeping arbitrary powers to tackle 'organized crime' and deny suspects' human rights should be immediately withdrawn, Amnesty International said today.  The Prevention of Organised Crimes bill, tabled in Sri Lanka's parliament on 6 October, contains provisions that would make confessions extracted under duress admissible […] The post Sri Lanka: Outrageous organized crime bill granting authorities unchecked powers must be withdrawn   appeared first on Amnesty International.

Egypt: Court order to shut down and fine Mada Masr a devastating blow to media freedom Responding to the news that the New Cairo Misdemeanours court today convicted editor in chief Lina Attalah on charges of operating an unlicenced website, ordering the shutdown of prominent independent outlet Mada Masr and taking her into police custody pending payment of the maximum penalty of three million EGP fine (54,467 USD) Amnesty International's Senior […] The post Egypt: Court order to shut down and fine Mada Masr a devastating blow to media freedom  appeared first on Amnesty International.

CAR: Special Criminal Court, the last hope of justice for thousands, on the brink of collapse – new report Suspected perpetrators of crimes under international law in the Central African Republic (CAR), including some of the country's highest-ranking officials, are at risk of escaping justice unless the Special Criminal Court (SCC) receives the funding it requires to continue investigating and prosecuting cases, Amnesty International said in a new report. "The perpetrators are still here" […] The post CAR: Special Criminal Court, the last hope of justice for thousands, on the brink of collapse – new report appeared first on Amnesty International.

France: Lawmakers must reject regressive "Rioters Pay" bill France's proposed bill to make demonstrators pay for damage caused to property by acts of violence in street protests, even if they did not directly cause it themselves, will have a chilling effect on freedom of peaceful assembly and must be rejected by lawmakers, Amnesty International said ahead of a two-day debate in the Senate.  […] The post France: Lawmakers must reject regressive "Rioters Pay" bill   appeared first on Amnesty International.

Russia: Exiled advocate faces "extremism" charges over human rights work for Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO Memorial Reacting to news that a prosecutor's office in Moscow is about to initiate criminal proceedings on "extremism" charges against prisoners' rights advocate Anna Karetnikova, from the Memorial Human Rights Centre, who is currently living in exile, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said: "Amnesty International has long warned of the danger […] The post Russia: Exiled advocate faces "extremism" charges over human rights work for Nobel Peace Prize-winning NGO Memorial appeared first on Amnesty International.

I am targeted by the military because I work for Amnesty, but I refuse to let fear win My journey into human rights activism was forged in the blood that stained the pavement of Trisakti University. In my teenage years, my mother got me involved in organizing assistance for people living in poverty. I began to witness the stark socio-economic disparities that existed under former president Suharto, amid widespread corruption and state repression. […] The post I am targeted by the military because I work for Amnesty, but I refuse to let fear win appeared first on Amnesty International.

Israel/OPT: Elections must not deflect attention from Israel's international crimes Ahead of parliamentary elections in Israel on 27 October, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International's Senior Director for Research, Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns said: "While much of the world's attention is focused on Israel's upcoming parliamentary elections, Palestinians who have endured decades of crimes and systematic violations at the hands of successive Israeli governments have little […] The post Israel/OPT: Elections must not deflect attention from Israel's international crimes  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Cuba: Two years after being named prisoners of conscience, Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro and Roberto Pérez Fonseca must be released On 23 October 2024, Amnesty International named Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro and Roberto Pérez Fonseca prisoners of conscience, concluding that they had been deprived of their liberty solely for peacefully exercising their human rights. Two years later, they remain unjustly imprisoned amid the continued politically motivated detention and repression of critical voices in Cuba. In […] The post Cuba: Two years after being named prisoners of conscience, Félix Navarro, Sayli Navarro and Roberto Pérez Fonseca must be released appeared first on Amnesty International.

Sudan: El Fasher civilians suffer unlawful killings, detention and torture one year after city's capture by the RSF – new testimony Civilians in El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan, are still suffering detention, torture and limited access to humanitarian aid one year after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the city and committed brutalities against civilians, Amnesty International said today. In new testimony, residents who recently escaped the city told Amnesty International how schools had been […] The post Sudan: El Fasher civilians suffer unlawful killings, detention and torture one year after city's capture by the RSF – new testimony appeared first on Amnesty International.

Convention on Biological Diversity. What you need to know and why it matters Why is biodiversity important for human rights?  Thriving biodiversity is an essential component of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, recognized by the UN in 2022.  Life depends on biodiversity. All living species are interdependent, and the decline or extinction of one species can create a chain reaction resulting in a disastrous […] The post Convention on Biological Diversity. What you need to know and why it matters appeared first on Amnesty International.

Official Business OFFICIAL BUSINESS The post Official Business appeared first on Amnesty International.

Yemen: Huthis must open Ta'iz roads immediately as thousands of civilians' lives are at risk The Huthi de facto authorities must immediately open vital roads in and around Ta'iz city, as fighting intensifies between the Huthis and government forces and moves closer to densely populated areas of the city, Amnesty International said today.   The Huthis have tightened their control around Ta'iz city after they cut off the main road connecting […] The post Yemen: Huthis must open Ta'iz roads immediately as thousands of civilians' lives are at risk appeared first on Amnesty International.

Kenyan youth activist Erica Njuguna: "Gen Z are uniquely impacted by climate crisis" Can you tell us what inspired your activism? I became a climate justice organizer after I experienced firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis. In 2017, there was a huge drought that led to a lot of water shortages and water rationing, including in Nairobi. Life was unliveable at the time. How did you get […] The post Kenyan youth activist Erica Njuguna: "Gen Z are uniquely impacted by climate crisis" appeared first on Amnesty International.

Sri Lanka: New counterterrorism bill risks perpetuating past abuses The Sri Lankan government's proposed new counterterrorism legislation allows wide scope for abuse and poses serious threats to human rights, said Amnesty International in a new legal analysis. Despite some improvements on the previous white paper of the law issued in late 2025, the Protection of the State from Terrorism bill, which will replace the […] The post Sri Lanka: New counterterrorism bill risks perpetuating past abuses appeared first on Amnesty International.

"Zanuta Never leaves my thoughts": Abu Suleiman's story of displacement and struggle Abu Suleiman is the Head of the Local Council from Zanuta, a village in the South Hebron Hills in the southern occupied West Bank. He, along with all 250 Zanuta residents, has been forcibly displaced from the village for three years as a result of Israel's ethnic cleansing campaign targeting Palestinian Bedouin and herding communities […] The post "Zanuta Never leaves my thoughts": Abu Suleiman's story of displacement and struggle appeared first on Amnesty International.

Egypt: End judicial harassment of Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Atallah Responding to the news that Lina Atallah, editor-in-chief of independent outlet Mada Masr, has been summoned to appear before Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) today for investigation in a new criminal case against her, Amnesty International's Senior Director for Regional Impact, Yasmine Ahmed, said: "It is utterly disgraceful that the Egyptian authorities are once […] The post Egypt: End judicial harassment of Mada Masr editor-in-chief Lina Atallah appeared first on Amnesty International.

States must act as Israeli state-driven settler violence escalates at the start of Palestinian olive harvest Responding to the latest acts of state-driven Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank over the weekend, which also targeted a delegation of European diplomats and a Washington Post photojournalist, Amnesty International's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef, said: "Once again, Israel's apartheid system is turning the olive harvest […] The post States must act as Israeli state-driven settler violence escalates at the start of Palestinian olive harvest  appeared first on Amnesty International.

Human Rights Education Resources for Write for Rights 2026 Every year around 10 December – Human Rights Day – Amnesty International's Write for Rights campaign brings millions of people together to stand in solidarity with individuals and communities facing human rights violations. Around the world, people write letters, sign petitions, create artwork, learn together, and take action to demand justice. Year after year, these […] The post Human Rights Education Resources for Write for Rights 2026 appeared first on Amnesty International.

India: End the crackdown on peaceful protests and release arbitrarily detained protesters The brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters in New Delhi over the last weekend is alarming with mass detention, unlawful use of force, the targeting of journalists, human rights defenders including lawyers, and internet shutdowns, said rights groups in a statement. Amnesty International, CIVICUS, Front Line Defenders and South Asians for Human Rights call on the […] The post India: End the crackdown on peaceful protests and release arbitrarily detained protesters appeared first on Amnesty International.