Amnesty International

06/05/2026

We call for the release of activists Abu Keshek and Avila who's arbitrary detention has been extended by an Israeli court after the unlawful interception of the vessels in international waters last week.

The two activists were participating in a peaceful solidarity mission aiming to break Israel's unlawful blockade of the Strip and deliver aid to Palestinians struggling to survive under Israel’s genocide and unlawful occupation.

They are at great risk of human rights abuses, including torture and other ill-treatment given amnesty's previous documentation of the abuse inflicted on flotilla activists detained in October 2025 at the hands of the Israeli authorities

It is especially concerning that Saif Abu Keshek, a Palestinian-Spanish-Swedish national, is being detained on suspicion of affiliation with a terrorist organization given Israel's discriminatory laws and persistent record of harassment and oppression of Palestinians under Israel’s system of apartheid. Israel must immediately release them and ensure they are protected while in custody.

Israel’s defiance of international law must end. The ICJ has been clear: Israel’s is unlawful and must be brought to an end. States must act now to restore some faith in international law by holding Israel accountable for its violations and crimes.

06/05/2026

Singapore has introduced new guidelines on corporal punishment in schools, extending the punishments it covers. Schoolboys over 9 years old can now face up to three strokes of the cane for bullying.

Corporal punishment is a cruel and degrading treatment that should never be used against children. Evidence does not show that caning is an effective deterrent to bullying or violence. It should be fully abolished in schools and in the justice system in Singapore.

06/05/2026

Iranian authorities are recklessly putting the life of human rights defender Narges Mohammadi at risk by subjecting her to torture or other ill-treatment through the deliberate denial of timely and adequate specialized healthcare.

She had a heart attack on 24 March 2026 in Zanjan prison, Zanjan province, and has suffered from chest pain, blood pressure fluctuations, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea and double vision since her unjust imprisonment in December 2025. Despite this, authorities are denying her the urgent specialized medical treatment she requires in a hospital outside prison in Tehran.

Narges Mohammadi must be immediately and unconditionally release Narges Mohammadi as she is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for her human rights activism, and her unjust convictions and sentences quashed. Pending her release, she must be provided with adequate specialized healthcare, including for treatment unavailable in prison and in Zanjan, and protected from further torture and other ill-treatment. A prompt, independent, effective and impartial investigation into her allegations of torture and other ill-treatment must be conducted, with those suspected of criminal responsibility brought to justice in fair trials.

05/05/2026

Over 5000 people from 150 countries and 750 organizations and institutions were expected to attend RightsCon in Lusaka, Zambia from today until Friday. This would have been the first time that a country in Sub-Saharan Africa hosted the event.

RightsCon is a bi-annual global conference that addresses urgent challenges on technology and human rights. But according to the organizers, foreign interference from China has now led to its postponement. This coercive pressure clearly indicates a growing pattern of Chinese authorities abusing their influence over governments to silence dissent and restrict open dialogue - particularly those of individuals that the Chinese state sees as a threat.

This is censorship, and a direct attack on freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. State-driven intimidation must face consequences.

Amnesty International strongly condemns any efforts by China to exert pressure and shut down public debate. We call on the Zambian government to transparently disclose the full reasoning behind the cancellation of RightsCon. All states must support the event organiser Access now in securing an alternative venue to ensure the conference takes place this year.

05/05/2026

"Everyone on the Amnesty International team in Beirut has been affected in one way or another. Some of us are hosting displaced people; others have themselves been displaced. The researchers and campaigners covering violations in Lebanon are living through the war they are documenting"

Bissan Fakih, MENA Campaigner at Amnesty International, describes her first trip to her family home in southern Lebanon amidst the shaky ceasefire.

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I was relieved when we crossed the makeshift bridge at Qasmiye. It was hastily constructed after Israeli air strikes destroyed it, but easy to drive on. It also meant I was approaching home. Bridges over the Litani River, connecting southern Lebanon to rest of the country, had been blown up one aft...

05/05/2026

Civilians in the eastern DRC have suffered extensive brutality at the hands of ADF fighters. They have been killed, abducted and tortured in a dehumanizing campaign of abuse.

These abuses constitute war crimes which the world must not continue to ignore. As part of widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, they also amount to crimes against humanity.

The Congolese government must take far stronger action to ensure the protection of civilians.

04/05/2026

“The Hate is Intersectional” report examines how anti-migrant misogynistic narratives in are produced and amplified online.
Racialized migrant women and 2SLGBTQI+ people have long used digital spaces to share experiences, build community, and resist erasure.

But as anti-migrant rhetoric rises, online spaces have turned toxic and dangerous for them.
Watch this video to learn more about our findings, and share it.

Together, we can

03/05/2026

Cover photograph: A man touches the jacket of journalist Omar Al-Derawi, killed in Israeli strikes in central Gaza on 3 January 2025, alongside other Palestinians.

2025 was the deadliest year on record for journalists worldwide with 129 killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists: Israel was responsible for two-thirds of the killings; the Gaza Strip was the deadliest place to report from.

From deadly conflict to media blackouts, when journalists are targeted, access to reliable information becomes another casualty.

Governments won’t hold themselves to account. People will.

30/04/2026

There are grave concerns for the safety of the around 175 activists arbitrarily detained and being transported to Israel, after their vessels were boarded in international waters near Greece and Israel jammed their communication channels, severing their ability to coordinate or ask for help.

This underscores the dangerous consequences of decades of impunity for Israel’s ongoing atrocity crimes against Palestinians, including genocide in the Gaza Strip and apartheid, and its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

The crew of the intercepted vessels must be immediately and unconditionally released. While in custody, the Israeli authorities must ensure that all activists are immediately granted access to consular support, treated humanely and protected from torture and other ill-treatment.

30/04/2026

The 76th Congress will take place in Vancouver today.

With reports that FIFA is still considering whether to ask President Trump to halt cruel raids during the World Cup, it is incredible that Gianni Infantino is yet to make this call in order to protect everyone connected with the tournament.

President Gianni Infantino must tell member associations gathering today on how he will ensure that the does not become a stage for repression and a platform for authoritarian practices.

Fans should be able to enjoy the ‘safe, welcoming and inclusive’ tournament promised by FIFA: https://amn.st/6180BBuTyq

29/04/2026

A recent protest against immigration in South Africa by a movement called March and March comes after a series of xenophobic attacks across the country and a rise in xenophobic rhetoric from political actors. The protestors marched to the government Union Buildings in Pretoria to demand tougher action against immigration to the country.

Since 2008 there have been numerous outbreaks of violence against refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in South Africa. The persistence of such violence is a consequence of government inaction and policy failure. The lack of an effective criminal justice response to attacks results in recurring violence. The scapegoating of refugees and migrants in political discourse legitimizes xenophobic sentiment, while South Africa’s failing asylum management system also leaves hundreds of thousands of applicants without proper documentation, which exacerbates discrimination against this marginalized group.

Despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent condemnation of these attacks, the government response to xenophobia in the country has been dangerously inadequate.

Stronger political leadership is needed to put an end to discrimination against marginalized groups.

Xenophobia in South Africa must be rejected.

Humanity must win.

29/04/2026

The fragile, temporary ceasefires, between the United States and Iran, and between Israel and Lebanon, must be replaced by an enduring, sustained, and comprehensive regional ceasefire that covers all countries affected by this conflict, to avoid further catastrophic civilian suffering and pave the way for justice, respect for international law and long-term human rights protection for all.

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The fragile, temporary ceasefires, between the United States and Iran, and between Israel and Lebanon, must be replaced by an enduring, sustained, and comprehensive regional ceasefire that covers all countries affected by this conflict, to avoid further catastrophic civilian suffering and pave the w...