Annual Report 2011
The state of the world's human rights

Regional News

from Europe and central asia

26 June 2012
Azerbaijan crackdown on free speech continues amid activists’ release

The release of nine Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience is a smokescreen to mask an ongoing crackdown on free expression in the country.

21 June 2012
Breaking the cycle of impunity in the North Caucasus

Russian authorities must end human rights violations by law enforcement officers in the North Caucasus, a new Amnesty International report says.

18 June 2012
Irregular migrants treated as criminals in Cyprus

A new Amnesty International report documents how Cyprus locks away hundreds of irregular migrants each year, breaching international obligations.

15 June 2012
High expectations for the new International Criminal Court Prosecutor

Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda has been sworn in as the International Criminal Court's new Chief Prosecutor in The Hague.

15 June 2012
Obituary: Lord Archer of Sandwell

Amnesty International pays tribute to one of its founding members, Lord Archer of Sandwell, who has died aged 85.

13 June 2012
Azerbaijan retaliates against Eurovision democracy activists

In Azerbaijan, there has been a worrying rise in police harassment of young activists who participated in protests around Eurovision.

11 June 2012
The 'Big Six' arms exporters

Just six countries are responsible for around three-quarters of the world's arms exports by value.

08 June 2012
Kyrgyzstan: Justice on hold

Crimes against humanity, including torture, rape and murder of civilians have gone unpunished in Kyrgyzstan.

07 June 2012
Russia: Putin urged to reject law restricting the right to peaceful assembly

Russian parliament adopts a bill that hikes up fines for protesters taking part in unsanctioned rallies.

28 May 2012
Russia: Moscow must end ‘shameful’ clampdown on Pride

Police in the Russian capital stopped an attempted Pride and detained dozens, including the event's organizers.

24 May 2012
Report 2012: No longer business as usual for tyranny and injustice

Amnesty International releases its flagship yearly report documenting the state of the world's human rights.

22 May 2012
Azerbaijan: Eurovision is deaf to human rights abuses

Eurovision organizers have remained silent on the Azerbaijani authorities' fresh wave of human rights violations ahead of the song contest in Baku.

20 May 2012
Ukraine: First-ever Kyiv pride cancelled in face of ultra-right threat

Police in Kyiv failed to stop ultra-right hooligans from putting LGBT activists at risk and marring the city's first-ever Pride parade.

18 May 2012
‘Virulent’ homophobic attacks put South Caucasus activists at risk

A spate of attacks on LGBTI activists points to endemic discrimination that needs to be dealt with in South Caucasus countries.

16 May 2012
Azerbaijan: Opposition activist freed as pre-Eurovision hunger strike begins

Azerbaijani prisoners of conscience have launched a hunger strike in the run-up to the Eurovision in Baku.

14 May 2012
Ukraine: Authorities must start to implement police criminality law ahead of Euro 2012

Ukraine should move quickly to enforce a new law which allows for an investigative body to look into crimes by officials.

14 May 2012
Azerbaijan: Police violently disperse peaceful rallies ahead of Eurovision

Just weeks before Azerbaijan hosts the Eurovision song contest, police have violently broken up two peaceful protests in the capital.

09 May 2012
UK plans for secret courts 'dangerous'

Proposed legal changes could result in information and evidence of human rights violations by UK state representatives being kept secret.

07 May 2012
Romania: Housing law must protect the vulnerable

Romania must safeguard the right to housing for some of the country's most marginalized groups.

04 May 2012
Russia urged to reconsider anti-gay laws as activist fined

Under repressive new laws in St Petersburg, a prominent LGBTI rights activist has been fined for spreading "gay propaganda".

Human rights news by region

World Regions Asia PacificMidde East and North AfricaAmericasEurope and Central AsiaAfrica
Burundi: Freedom of...
A draft law that includes new press-related crimes and exorbitant...
Africa »
Haiti: Forced evictions...
Forced evictions in Haiti are worsening the already desperate...
Americas »
'There are no human rights...
In Sri Lanka, a climate of intolerance and fear continues to sweep...
Asia And The Pacific »
Turkey: Legal reforms fall...
A Turkish reform bill passed into law today fails to meet the...
Europe And Central Asia »
Saudi Arabia moves to...
Four founding members of a nascent human rights group in Saudi Arabia...
Middle East And North Africa »