The authorities repressed the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association. Journalists, media workers and lawyers were harassed. The police used intimidation to enforce COVID-19 movement restrictions. Children were denied their right to information about reproductive and sexual health...

Informal Cross border trade (ICBT), valued at USD 17.6 billion in 2018 and constituting 30-40% of total trade in Southern Africa, is predominantly led by women. However, these women face challenges hindering their empowerment, inclusion, and right to decent work. The report “Cross-border is our...

Informal Cross border trade (ICBT), valued at USD 17.6 billion in 2018 and constituting 30-40% of total trade in Southern Africa, is predominantly led by women. However, these women face challenges hindering their empowerment, inclusion, and right to decent work. The report “Cross-border is our...

Across Africa, LGBTI persons face a distressing regression of progress, enduring relentless protests and formidable obstacles to their rights. This review exposes an alarming trend: the weaponization of law to target and marginalize the LGBTI community, exacerbating a deteriorating state of human...

Amnesty International Oral Statement to the UN Human Rights Council at their 53rd Session. 19 June to 14 July 2023. Item 6: Consideration of UPR reports: Zambia

This document contains suggested recommendations to be made to the states under review at the 42nd session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in January/February 2023. The countries covered are Czech Republic, Argentina, Gabon, Ghana, Peru, Guatemala, Benin, Republic of Korea, Switzerland,...

This submission was prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Zambia in January 2023. In it, Amnesty International evaluates the implementation of recommendations made in Zambia’s previous UPR, assesses the national human rights framework and the human rights situation on the ground, and...

On 9 May 2022, Amnesty International and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) applied to intervene as amici curiae (“friends of the court”) in a class action lawsuit launched by a group of Zambian children and women against the mining giant Anglo American in South Africa. The claimants are...

An Amnesty International delegation led by Secretary General Agnes Callamard conducted an official country visit to Zambia from 13 to 18 March 2022. The main objective of the visit was to review the progress made by the government towards implementing its electoral manifesto on human rights...

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...

In the past few years, Zambia’s human rights situation has deteriorated markedly. People have increasingly been unable to freely assemble publicly, engage in public demonstrations or protest against government actions without being subjected to intimidation and harassment by the police. Fearful of...

Southern Africa is now dangerously in the midst of its third wave of Covid-19 infections. Amnesty International identifies SADC’s economic challenges as a root cause of their inability to respond effectively to the pandemic and to access vaccines. This briefing calls on key regional and...

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...