Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders expose violations and campaign for redress for victims. They are the people who on their own or with others take action to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights for all. The important thing is not who they are, but what they do. Human rights defenders take peaceful action and believe everybody has equal rights.

More on human rights defenders

 

News and Updates

Human rights activists still face repression in the Middle East and North Africa

11 March 2009

A new Amnesty International report details numerous cases of intimidation, harassment, threats, detention without trial, torture and long prison terms after unfair tr

Unrest in Tibet continues as human rights violations escalate

10 March 2009

The Chinese authorities' failure to address the long-standing grievances of the Tibetan people, has fuelled protests that have continued over the past 12 months.

Colombia protests against unlawful killings by security forces

6 March 2009

At least 330 civilians were reported to have been victims of unlawful killings by members of the security forces in 2007. The victims, mostly peasant farmers, were o

Human rights activist banned from leaving Tunisia

6 March 2009

Lawyer and former prisoner of conscience Mohamed Abbou has been denied permission to leave Tunisia for the seventh time since his release from prison in July 2007.

Women make history

6 March 2009

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the historic struggles of women through the centuries to achieve equality and justice.

Appeals for action

Reopen investigation into enforced disappearance in Ingushetia!

On 8 August 2007, Ibragim Gazdiev was reportedly seized by armed men and has never been seen since. No effective steps have been taken to trace him.

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Video and Audio

"They found bulldozers crushing their houses” – Kenyan activist on forced evictions

22 March 2012

Teargas in Egypt's Tahrir Square

29 June 2011

Amnesty International's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui reports from demonstrations in Tahrir Square, Cairo.

Video: The role of Western countries in the Egypt crisis

Senior Director of Amnesty International Widney Brown gives an international political analysis and human rights update on the Egypt demonstrations.

Salil Shetty on Egypt protests

Amnesty International's Secretary General disappointed by military failure to protect protesters

Amnesty International staff member reports from a raid on a Cairo law centre

3 February 2011

The Hisham Mubarak Law Centre has been raided by security forces and surrounded by army and police.

Tunisian government must respect rights amid protests

18 January 2011

Tunisian government must respect rights amid protests

Networking for change

Amnesty International analyses the role of social media in unrest across the Middle East and North Africa.

Gambia Global Day of Action

22 July 2010

Government urged to end its widespread use of arbitrary detentions and torture as activists worldwide stage protests against the authorities' appalling human rights record.

Mexican activist jailed for defending human rights

Interview with Raúl Hernández, a Mexican human rights defender who has been wrongfully imprisoned for his work with an Indigenous community.

Video: Thousands get Fired Up for human rights

22 December 2008

Thousands of people around the world took part in actions to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December.