amnesty

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.

Kenya: Authorities must address economic grievances driving protests, end repressive tactics Kenyan authorities have increasingly used authoritarian tactics, including arbitrary arrests and detention, abductions, malicious prosecution of protesters, surveillance, and media repression, to crack down on protests against deepening economic hardship and the government's aggressive fiscal policies, Amnesty International said in a new report today.  The report, "Human Rights Under Siege: Unpacking Authoritarian Practices in an […] The post Kenya: Authorities must address economic grievances driving protests, end repressive tactics appeared first on Amnesty International.

Azerbaijan: Stop denying access to education through discriminatory hijab restrictions and release peaceful protesters Reacting to the growing number of reports that peaceful activists protesting the school hijab ban have been detained and that an activist who attempted to organize free online lessons for girls affected by the uniform regulations has gone missing, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said: "Mass arrests of peaceful protesters […] The post Azerbaijan: Stop denying access to education through discriminatory hijab restrictions and release peaceful protesters appeared first on Amnesty International.

Norway: Proposed sovereign wealth fund reforms would mark biggest setback for its human rights safeguards in 20 years The new proposals to change the ethical framework governing Norway's Government Pension Fund Global could significantly weaken independent human rights oversight, reduce transparency and make it harder to exclude companies linked to serious abuses, Amnesty International said today. Norway's Government Pension Fund Global, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, is reviewing its ethical governance framework. […] The post Norway: Proposed sovereign wealth fund reforms would mark biggest setback for its human rights safeguards in 20 years appeared first on Amnesty International.

"Every little boat here, every fisherman… is an act of resistance" Meet Alexandre Anderson – a water defender from Brazil My name is Alexandre Anderson. I am 54 years old; I am a fisherman and I have been living and working in Guanabara Bay since 1997. Artisanal fishing is not just a means of subsistence. It is our culture, a way of life. In the 1990s, […] The post "Every little boat here, every fisherman… is an act of resistance" appeared first on Amnesty International.

India: Release CJP leaders arrested after attempting peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar The Delhi authorities must immediately release Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who have been remanded to five days of judicial custody after trying to protest at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday. Their arrests, following the removal of the site's designation as an authorized protest venue, raise serious concerns about shrinking space […] The post India: Release CJP leaders arrested after attempting peaceful protests at Jantar Mantar appeared first on Amnesty International.

Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Civilians must not pay the price of escalation in hostilities Responding to the dramatic escalation of armed hostilities between the Huthi de facto authorities, the Yemeni government and Saudi Arabia in recent weeks and the growing toll on civilians amidst ongoing attacks, Amnesty International's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Heba Morayef, said:   "The risks to civilians in Yemen and Saudi Arabia are rapidly increasing each day this conflict escalates. All parties to the conflict must ensure civilians are protected and abide by their obligations under international […] The post Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Civilians must not pay the price of escalation in hostilities appeared first on Amnesty International.

Türkiye: Police raid and state takeover of opposition TV channel 'a brutal blow to media freedom' Reacting to a police raid of the headquarters of Halk TV, one of Türkiye's few broadcasters not aligned with the government, and the appointment of a trustee manager to oversee it as part of an investigation into alleged corruption, Esther Major, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for Europe, said:  "This alarming move is a brutal blow to […] The post Türkiye: Police raid and state takeover of opposition TV channel 'a brutal blow to media freedom' appeared first on Amnesty International.

In Mali, from the Wagner Group to Africa Corps: Will Impunity Continue? When Africa Corps officially began operations in Mali in June 2025, few people held out hope that it would help alleviate the suffering of civilians in Mali, caused on the one hand by armed groups in Azawad and members from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), but also by the army […] The post In Mali, from the Wagner Group to Africa Corps: Will Impunity Continue? appeared first on Amnesty International.

Palestinian children's rights lawyer Khaled Quzmar receives Amnesty Human Rights Award 2026 BERLIN, 13 October 2026 – This year's Human Rights Award of Amnesty International Germany goes to the Palestinian lawyer Khaled Quzmar, in recognition of his longstanding commitment to defending the rights of children in the illegally occupied Palestinian territory. The award carries a prize of €20,000. An internationally recognised expert on children's rights, Khaled Quzmar has played a […] The post Palestinian children's rights lawyer Khaled Quzmar receives Amnesty Human Rights Award 2026 appeared first on Amnesty International.

In Mali, from the Wagner Group to Africa Corps: Will Impunity Continue? The transition from Wagner members to Africa Corps soldiers – both Russian organizations – has not put an end to abuses against civilians. Ousmane Diallo, a researcher at Amnesty International, warns of the ongoing killings, torture, and possible war crimes committed during operations carried out alongside the Malian army. When Africa Corps officially began operations […] The post In Mali, from the Wagner Group to Africa Corps: Will Impunity Continue? appeared first on Amnesty International.

Iran: Five protest-related arbitrary executions in one week must spur global action In response to the Iranian authorities arbitrarily executing five people convicted in relation to the January 2026 protests in the space of a week, between 30 September and 5 October – Ali Hemmati Sistanian, Alireza Raisi, Alireza Sepahi, Majid Nikandish and Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi – following grossly unfair torture-tainted trials, Diana Eltahawy, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International said:  "The arbitrary executions of these five young men serves as another chilling reminder of how the Iranian authorities weaponize the death penalty to render the cost of dissent so high that it terrorizes the population into […] The post Iran: Five protest-related arbitrary executions in one week must spur global action appeared first on Amnesty International.

India: Joint submission to GANHRI regarding review of the accreditation status of the National Human Rights Commission of India We, the undersigned, are regional and international human rights nongovernmental organizations as well as individuals expressing concerns over the developments at the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRCI).  The submitting organizations have varying degrees of direct work with the NHRCI. Most of us have been involved in advocacy to push for the NHRCI's compliance […] The post India: Joint submission to GANHRI regarding review of the accreditation status of the National Human Rights Commission of India appeared first on Amnesty International.

Global: New report exposes human rights failures at 2026 Men's World Cup Coalition calls for upcoming FIFA presidential election to centre human rights  The 2026 Men's World Cup exposed a failure of FIFA's leadership to implement its own human rights policies, with the pursuit of record revenues prioritised over fairness and equality, the Sport & Rights Alliance and Football Supporters Europe said in a joint report released […] The post Global: New report exposes human rights failures at 2026 Men's World Cup appeared first on Amnesty International.

Pakistan: Declaration of emergency must not be pretext to crackdown on human rights Responding to the declaration of a state of emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as well as the imposition of governor rule and the deployment of armed forces in the province, Babu Ram Pant, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for South Asia, said: "Reports of arbitrary detentions of key leaders – including the provincial chief minister – and […] The post Pakistan: Declaration of emergency must not be pretext to crackdown on human rights appeared first on Amnesty International.

Nobel Peace Prize honours Navi Pillay for lifelong commitment to human rights, justice and accountability Reacting to the news that South African international jurist and human rights defender Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, Amnesty International's Secretary General, Agnès Callamard said:  "We pay tribute to Navi Pillay whose commitment to international law, unwavering independence and guiding moral light have made her one of the most respected […] The post Nobel Peace Prize honours Navi Pillay for lifelong commitment to human rights, justice and accountability appeared first on Amnesty International.

India: Delhi police must facilitate right to peaceful protest amid lockdown-like restrictions in capital Responding to the sweeping and disproportionate restrictions imposed by the Delhi Police and the Government of India ahead of planned protests in the capital on Saturday 10 October, Aakar Patel, Chair of Board, Amnesty International India, said:  "Peaceful protesters must be able to demand accountability from those in power without facing intimidation, arbitrary detention, or […] The post India: Delhi police must facilitate right to peaceful protest amid lockdown-like restrictions in capital  appeared first on Amnesty International.

USA: Livestreaming firing squad execution would compound cruelty of the death penalty Responding to the announcement that the Trump administration has set the first military execution since 1961, and that the execution will be carried out by firing squad and livestreamed to the public, Justin Mazzola, Deputy Director of Research at Amnesty International USA, said: "The announcement by the Trump administration that it has set the first […] The post USA: Livestreaming firing squad execution would compound cruelty of the death penalty appeared first on Amnesty International.

USA: Trump's attack on the ICC demands a global response of resistance and protection With its sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution, the US Administration seeks to destroy the Court and extinguish any prospect of justice for perpetrators of grave crimes under international law, Amnesty International said today. States must take every appropriate measure to resist this attack and actively protect the Court. "President Trump's […] The post USA: Trump's attack on the ICC demands a global response of resistance and protection  appeared first on Amnesty International.

"My activism dates back to when I was 11": Julie, a survivor and human rights champion This blog contains descriptions of sexual abuse. We included this to stay true to survivors' testimonies and their word. "My activism dates back to when I was 11 years old because I experienced violence at that age. I was raped. And the first thing I did was speak out. One weekend, I was left in […] The post "My activism dates back to when I was 11": Julie, a survivor and human rights champion   appeared first on Amnesty International.

Southeast Asia: Positive steps towards ending death penalty in several Southeast Asia states amplify isolation of Singapore and other executing countries  A growing number of states across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are taking positive steps towards reducing the use and scope of the death penalty, creating new momentum towards abolition in a region historically associated with strong support for this cruel punishment, said Amnesty International ahead of the World Day Against the Death […] The post Southeast Asia: Positive steps towards ending death penalty in several Southeast Asia states amplify isolation of Singapore and other executing countries appeared first on Amnesty International.