Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 unleashed numerous war crimes, generated a global energy and food crisis and sought to further disrupt a weak multilateral system.

This is Amnesty International’s Oral Statement on the consideration of the Finland’s UPR report at the UN Human Rights Council’s 52nd Session from 27 February – 4 April 2023.

Amnesty International Oral Statement to the UN Human Rights Council at their 52nd Session. 27 February – 4 April 2023. Item 6: Consideration of UPR reports: Morocco and Western Sahara

Amnesty International welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council. The organization further welcomes that the draft resolution on Iran at this session goes beyond a technical...

On 5 March, an emergency court sentenced Aisha el-Shater and her husband lawyer Mohamed Abo Horeira to ten and 15 years in prison, respectively. They were convicted on bogus charges stemming from their family links and peaceful exercise of their human rights following a grossly unfair trial. The...

Dear Prime Minister, Amnesty International takes note of your commitments to protect human rights in Iraq, which are an important signal, but is concerned about recent decisions by your government impacting freedom of expression. We write to urge you to take more decisive measures to break with the...

Following the conviction and sentencing of activist Justyna Wydrzyńska to 8 months’ community service for helping a pregnant woman to access abortion pills in Poland, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said: “The case sets a dangerous precedent in Poland, where abortion is...

Iranian authorities have been subjecting activist Ebrahim Babaei to enforced disappearance for 15 months, amid grave concerns of torture and other ill-treatment. Despite mounting evidence indicating that he is in state custody, authorities continually refuse to acknowledge his detention or reveal...

Responding to reports in local media yesterday on the alleged horrific rape of a woman and her two minor daughters in Sar-i-Pul province in Afghanistan on the night of 28 February 2023, Zaman Sultani, regional researcher for South Asia at Amnesty International, said: “The emerging details of the...

Ahead of tonight’s 21st International Women’s Day night march in Istanbul, Amnesty International is calling on the Turkish authorities not to ban the event and to ensure participants are protected when marching, instead of being harassed and attacked by the police. “For the last seven years,...

Saudi Arabia’s Personal Status Law (PSL), passed one year ago today on 8 March 2022 and touted as a major reform by the authorities, perpetuates the male guardianship system and codifies discrimination against women in most aspects of family life, Amnesty International said today, as the world...

One year ago today, on International Women’s Day, Saudi Arabia passed its first Personal Status Law (PSL), which entered into force on 18 June 2022. Prior to that, Saudi Arabia did not have a codified PSL, as matters related to family life were subject to the discretionary application of the rules...