The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on access to food. Gender-based violence remained widespread, and increasing numbers of women and girls underwent unsafe abortions. A woman faced imprisonment for consensual same-sex relations. Tens of thousands of people, including hundreds of...

Malagasy authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defender and public-school teacher Jeannot Randriamanana, quash the verdict and drop all charges against him as he is being detained solely for peacefully exercising his rights to freedom of expression in denouncing,...

Amnesty International welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, ahead of its review of Madagascar’s seventh periodic report in January 2022. In this submission, Amnesty International sets out its concerns regarding the situation of children in...

Authorities across Southern Africa must immediately take action to protect girls’ rights to health, information, education, equality and to live freely from gender-based violence and discrimination, Amnesty International said today as the world continues to mark 16 Days of Activism against...

Authorities must drop trumped-up charges of “undermining public order and public safety”, “inciting political unrest” and “inciting hatred” against former employee of the Ministry of Public Health and whistle-blower, Ravo Ramasomanana, for having posted a video on social media networks on 15 April...

This report examines the human rights impact of climate change in drought-stricken southern Madagascar. The southern region of the country, commonly referred to as ‘Le Grand Sud’ is currently in the grips of famine and its worst drought in 40 years. This report has found that as a direct...

Southern Madagascar is in crisis. The southern region of the country, commonly referred to as Le Grand Sud (the Deep South) is currently experiencing its worst drought in 40 years, with more than a million people on the brink of famine and thousands more already facing catastrophic famine-like...

Southern African governments responded to the emergence of COVID-19 with states of emergency/disaster and lockdown measures of varying degrees which, to a greater or lesser extent, justifiably curtailed human rights, most notably the freedom of movement. These restrictive measures precipitated...

Amnesty International calls on the authorities to stop using the measures to address COVID-19 as a pretext to sanction media outlets, opposition figures or anyone critical of the government’s actions. The authorities must ensure full and effective respect for the human rights of everyone, including...

Amnesty International in collaboration with Advancing Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA), Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN), Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) are writing this letter to bring to your attention the worrying restrictive COVID-19 regulations presenting...

Malagasy authorities must immediately and unconditionally release a journalist jailed after being accused of criticizing the president’s handling of the national response to COVID-19, Amnesty International said today. Arphine Helisoa, publishing director of the newspaper ‘Ny Valosoa’, was sent to...

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the severe overcrowding in prisons, Amnesty International is urging the government of Madagascar to urgently consider measures to decongest its prisons by releasing groups of detainees – especially pre-trial detainees and those who may be an increased...

President Andry Rajoelina’s announcement of his intention to pardon detainees languishing in the country’s prisons for minor offences is a positive step forward that must be followed by immediate action. Amnesty International has been calling for an immediate end to all arbitrary detentions,...