In 2024, we achieved many big human rights wins, and people from around the world have continued to prove that change is possible. From changing laws and supporting people in need to ensuring justice is served, we hope you’ll feel heartened by the number of positive changes achieved this year.
© Jakob Ineichen
Over the last few years, Norway has endured criticism from international human rights bodies for its treatment of people in prison with mental health problems. Isolation is widely used, and suicide rates are high. Last year, Amnesty Norway campaigned for prisoners’ rights, which led to the government significantly increasing resources to improve conditions, reducing the use of isolation, after the budget came into force in January.
Members of the Russian rock band Bi-2, detained in Thailand and facing potential deportation to Russia, were allowed to leave Thailand safely. This followed a significant public outcry, along with calls from Amnesty International. The musicians risked persecution in Russia due to their outspoken anti-war stance and the previous designation of one of its members as a “foreign agent”.
A bill introduced by Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne that would have under-minded the right to protest in Belgium was withdrawn. This followed demands made by trade unions and civil society organizations, including Amnesty International.
Human rights defender Vanessa Mendoza Cortes was finally acquitted after facing trial for speaking out against Andorra’s total ban on abortion, marking a huge victory for women’s rights. Thousands of Amnesty supporters took action, showing their support for Vanessa.
“I want to personally thank the more than 70,000 people who have taken action to support me and put pressure on the Andorran authorities,” said Vanessa. “You are part of this collective and peaceful victory. Despite the tough years, I feel lucky to walk side by side with you. Our strength is in our solidarity and in standing up for each other’s rights.”
At the beginning of February, the Walloon government announced it was suspending arms export licences to Israel. This decision was in response to calls from a coalition of civil society organizations, in which Amnesty International played a central role. Although the military equipment was not supposed to be used by Israeli security forces, the Walloon authorities took the decision to suspend the exports.
At a ceremony in The Hague, 34 states signed the new landmark Ljubljana-Hague Convention, negotiated a year earlier to help deliver justice to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The treaty strengthens the framework of international justice by providing new tools and better enabling states to cooperate with each other in cases involving crimes under international law. It will help ensure there are fewer ‘safe havens’ for those suspected of criminal responsibility and is an important advance against impunity.
On 17 February, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I) authorities released journalist Guhdar Zebari after more than three years of unjust imprisonment during which Amnesty International campaigned for his release. In a message to Amnesty International, Guhdar Zebari’s lawyer thanked the movement for their efforts which he said had a positive impact.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Iran, echoing Amnesty International’s recommendations for EU states to initiate criminal investigations against Iranian officials responsible for serious human rights violations through universal jurisdiction. The European Parliament echoed our calls for the abolition of the death penalty and the release of those arbitrarily detained in Iran. It condemned the appalling detention conditions in Iran and the widespread use of torture, including sexual violence, reflecting Amnesty International’s findings of security forces’ weaponization of rape and other sexual violence to crush the “Women Life Freedom” uprising, and the continued impunity for these crimes.
Greece’s Parliament adopted a bill recognizing same-sex marriage. This was an emblematic step seeking to ensure marriage equality for LGBTI people and allowing same-sex couples to adopt. Amnesty International Greece actively supported this legislation by submitting a written letter to the Greek government calling for change. While Amnesty International Greece acknowledges the importance of the bill, it is calling on the Greek government to introduce further legislative changes to guarantee full equality for LGBTI people and families.
The Senegalese authorities released more than 600 people who were detained for having participated in or calling for demonstrations, or for being perceived as supporting the main opposition party. Amnesty has been campaigning for the release of people who had simply exercised their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Youba Siby, a Senegalese citizen of Mauritanian origin, was arrested in Senegal on 14 September 2023 after criticizing the son of a high-level Mauritanian politician on social networks. It later emerged he had been extradited to Mauritania and was being held in prison without access to a lawyer, where he was sentenced to four-years’ imprisonment.
On hearing of Youba’s arrest, Amnesty’s regional team shared the contact of a trusted human rights lawyer who took on his case for a small fee. Youba was freed in February and returned to Senegal. As he had lost his income and home, Amnesty supported him to re-establish his small business and cover some living costs for his transition back to freedom. Youba expresses his sincerest gratitude to Amnesty and its supporters for our help.
Following years of campaigning for justice, activist Mohamed Wa Baile won his case against Switzerland at the European Court of Human Rights, on discriminatory identity checks and Switzerland’s serious failings in the prevention of ethnic profiling. Amnesty International submitted a third-party intervention in the case. This judgement represents a victory for Wa Baile and for racialized communities in Switzerland and Europe.
After two years of public action by Amnesty International and others, the Brussels 20km running event ended its partnership with fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies, the race’s historic sponsor. TotalEnergies has been one of the main sponsors of the Brussels 20km since 2004 and the French multinational has benefited from the positive image of this popular race.
Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights called for a human rights-based approach to sex work, following consultations with sex workers across Europe, representative organizations and civil society organizations. In her paper, she cited Amnesty International’s research on the violence faced by sex workers. Amnesty International will continue campaigning for decriminalization of sex work and the protection of the human rights of sex workers.
The Tokyo District Court and Sapporo High Court separately made historic decisions on two same-sex marriage cases, following lobbying from Amnesty International. By recognizing that the government’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the rulings made clear that such discrimination has no place in Japanese society.
The French Congress voted to enshrine abortion as a guaranteed freedom in the French Constitution. Amnesty France campaigned for the change together with other national organizations.
Leading Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera was released on 19 March after six months in prison. Stanis was arrested on 8 September 2023 and charged with “spreading rumours” and “disseminating false information” after media outlet Jeune Afrique published an article containing allegations about the involvement of Congolese intelligence services in the murder of opposition politician Chérubin Okende. Amnesty International Belgium, together with others, called for Stanis Bujakera’s release, circulating a petition.
At the start of the year, several governments decided to suspend funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza. In response to these alarming decisions, Amnesty International advocated for the EU and member states to resume their funding without delay. In March, following our repeated calls, the European Commission announced it would resume disbursement of lifesaving EU funds to UNRWA, and has now paid the first two tranches. All the EU member states that had suspended their funding have now resumed it.
On 1 December 2023, human rights defender Daouda Diallo was apprehended by security agents and driven to an unknown location, and subjected to enforced disappearance. Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal, calling for his release. In March, Daouda was freed.
Following his release, he said: “I would like to thank Amnesty International and all those who mobilized and called for my release. These appeals were a light in the solitude of my ordeal and a reminder that I was not alone. Let us remain united in our commitment to defend the principles of justice, equality and dignity for all.”
The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Myanmar that for the first time called on UN member states to refrain from the export, sale or transfer of jet fuel to Myanmar. This decision followed years of advocacy across the globe led by Amnesty International in close collaboration with Myanmar civil society organizations, as well as via Amnesty’s 2022 ‘Deadly Cargo’ report.
A prominent Argentinian influencer was sentenced to community service, after he was found guilty of systematic online gender-based harassment against journalist, Marina Abiuso. Amnesty Argentina supported Marina throughout her trial.
“I am a journalist. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press seem to me to be fundamental values. Denouncing harassment and threats is not against freedom but to protect it,” wrote Marina.
Following Amnesty International’s long-standing campaign calling for the release of 16 activists in the Bhima Koregaon case, the Supreme Court granted bail to professor and human rights activist Shoma Sen, six years after she was arrested. Later, in May 2024, journalist Gautam Navlakha was granted bail, almost four years after he was arrested.
Shoma Sen is part of India’s BK16 campaign calling for the release of 11 activists detained under India’s anti-terror law for protecting the rights of marginalized communities.
Eren Keskin, prominent human rights lawyer, and the co-chair of the Human Rights Association was acquitted of charges of “insulting the Turkish nation”, following calls from Amnesty International.
After years of advocating alongside many other civil society organizations for older people’s rights to be better protected, the UN Open-ended Working Group on Ageing finally adopted a momentous decision at its 14th session, identifying gaps in the protection of older people’s rights and recommending, among other measures, a new international convention.
This decision is a significant success, marking the start of a journey towards the potential drafting a UN convention on older persons’ rights. Such a convention is essential to adequately protect the human rights of older people, and Amnesty International will continue to campaign to see it become a reality.
The Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights unanimously ruled that Italy breached the European Social Charter with respect to the housing situation of Roma communities, in response to a complaint filed by Amnesty International in 2019, drawing on over a decade of research. Italy will now be required to take steps to ensure adequate, non-segregated and non-discriminatory housing for Roma, and to provide remedies for those who have experienced discrimination and segregation.
Nine survivors of the 2023 Pylos shipwreck – in which over 600 migrants and refugees lost their lives – faced trial at the Kalamata Criminal Court on charges including causing the shipwreck and smuggling. Amnesty International’s research, conducted jointly with HRW, found indications that the shipwreck was caused by the Greek coast guard, who attempted to tow the migrant boat. The Court found the nine survivors not guilty of smuggling and dismissed the case, concluding it does not have jurisdiction on the charge of “causing the shipwreck” as the Pylos shipwreck occurred in international waters.
Dreaming in the Shadows is a 15-minute documentary film made by the independent Ukrainian director Marina Chankova and commissioned by Amnesty International. The documentary features three older people in Ukraine who have been displaced or are still living in areas directly impacted by the war. The film was selected as a finalist for the UAFF film festival in Turkey, and was selected to screen at the NewsFest film festival in California, USA. It also received an award of merit in the Disability Issues and Woman Filmmaker categories at the Accolade Global Film Competition.
In April, Jordanian authorities arrested Syrian refugees, Atiya Mohammad Abu Salem and Wael al-Ashi, in a sweeping crackdown on pro-Gaza protests. The Ministry of Interior issued deportation orders for them, without charging them for any crime. In May, Atiya and Wael were released after more than a month of being held in arbitrary detention, following calls from Amnesty International.
Twenty-two defendants in the “Kempir-Abad case” in Kyrgyzstan were finally acquitted – a significant victory for justice and human rights. The charges against activists involving allegations of plotting mass riots were politically motivated, and the case suffered from inconsistencies and procedural violations. The defendants endured months of inhumane treatment, including denial of adequate healthcare. This verdict, celebrated by Kyrgyzstani civil society and women human rights defenders, is seen as setting a hopeful precedent against politically motivated prosecutions in the country.
One of the acquitted defendants, human rights defender and Amnesty International Write for Rights 2023 hero Rita Karasartova told Amnesty International: “We didn’t expect it at all. We were crying from surprise.”
Following calls from Amnesty International, the International Criminal Court’s decisions on 5 March and 25 June to issue arrest warrants against top Russian military officials Lt. Gen. Sergei Kobylash, Adm. Viktor Sokolov, former Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu, and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff, marked significant milestones in international efforts to uphold human rights during Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. The high-ranking officials are suspected of directing attacks on civilian objects and causing excessive incidental harm to civilians.
In a landmark ruling, Brazilian actor Juan Darthés was found guilty of the rape of Argentinian actress Thelma Fardin. Amnesty provided legal and psychosocial support to Thelma.
“I never sought revenge. I did everything I could to open the way to a fairer future for girls and adolescents,” said Thelma.
The Paris Court of Appeal confirmed the legality of an arrest warrant against Bashar al-Assad, President of Syria, accused of responsibility for the use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta, Syria, in 2013. The appeals court confirmed that, on an exceptional basis, a sitting head of state may not enjoy immunity in foreign courts – a first time for the national court.
Sri Lankan comedian Nathasha Edirisooriya was discharged from a case filed against her for advocating hate through comments made during a stand-up comedy show that were allegedly disrespectful of Buddhism. Amnesty International campaigned on her case.
Thailand’s Parliament passed the marriage equality bill, taking a historic step towards becoming the first country in South-East Asia to legalize marriage for LGBTI couples, following sustained campaigning from Amnesty International. The bill, which grants LGBTI couples equal rights with heterosexual couples in relation to marriage, child adoption, healthcare consent and inheritance among other things, will next be submitted to the Thai King for royal endorsement.
In 2018, Amnesty visited the Kono district in Sierra Leone, where the Meya mining company was excavating diamonds. During a research mission, Amnesty discovered that boreholes built by the company were causing water pollution. There were high levels of nitrates in the samples taken (110 mg/l for the sample 1 and 120 mg/l for the sample 2), which were well above safe levels (50 milligrams per litre) recommended by the World Health Organization. (Following Amnesty’s findings, Sierra Leone authorities sent a letter to the company requesting that they respond to our concerns. According to a recent report from an independent consultant in June 2024, the levels of nitrate in the water are now within WHO guidelines for drinking water.
Following a report from Amnesty, the Ministry of Environment suspended the operations of the recycling company Metssa Congo, on the grounds of the potential risks to the health of the local population and the surrounding environment. While drafting its report, Amnesty supported residents to take blood tests showing high levels of lead in people (including children) living near the factory. Amnesty also paid for the legal procedures. Following the suspension, Cyrille Ndembi, President of the Vindoulou Residents’ Collective, said:
“We spent a calm and peaceful night, with no noise, smells, smoke or vibrations, and no stress or anxiety. We are mobilized to ensure that the Minister’s decision is respected. Our most fervent wish is to see this plant be closed and relocated. Once again, thank you!”
On 21 June, the Huthi de facto authorities released Baha’i human rights activist Abdullah al-Olofi after he spent more than a year in arbitrary detention. On 23 May 2023, Huthi armed forces stormed a peaceful gathering of the Baha’is in a private residence in Sana’a, and arbitrarily detained 17 people, including Abdullah al-Olofi. Amnesty has been campaigning for the unconditional and immediate release of all those detained ever since. The Huthi de facto authorities also released Yemeni judge Abdulwahab Mohammad Qatran after he spent more than five months in arbitrary detention at the Huthi-run security and intelligence detention centre in Sana’a, Yemen.
In a message to Amnesty International, Abdelwahab Mohammad Qatran thanked the organization for campaigning for his release and standing in solidarity with him.
Child marriage was finally banned in Sierra Leone on 20 June. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2024, which criminalizes marriage for anyone under the age of 18, seeks to protect girls from a harmful practice. Amnesty International contributed to this historic decision through its campaigning and human rights education project, which involved educating communities on the harmful practices of child marriage and FGM.
Julian Assange finally reached a plea deal with the US authorities after spending five years in a high security prison in the UK. Assange pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, leading to a sentence of 62 months, which Julian Assange has already served. Amnesty International has been campaigning on behalf of Assange since he was imprisoned.
Amnesty International’s briefing published ahead of the Paris Olympic Games exposed how the ban on French women athletes who wear headscarves from competing breaches international human rights law. The report was mentioned by the UN in October when they slammed the bans as “disproportionate and discriminatory” and called on them to be reversed.
The Gambian Parliament rejected a bill to repeal the 2015 Women’s (Amendment) Act which bans female genital mutilation (FGM). In support of Gambian civil society organizations, Amnesty International advocated for the rejection of this bill through public communication, media interviews and advocacy letters to Gambian authorities.
A landmark decision by the South Korean Supreme Court was delivered, affirming same-sex couples are entitled to the same health insurance benefits as heterosexual couples. It was a case where Amnesty International Korea was delighted to see an immediate impact of its legal submissions, which provided additional information.
The autonomous authorities of north-east Syria announced a broad amnesty for men, women and children sentenced in grossly unfair trials for so-called “terrorism” crimes, directly in line with one of the top recommendations of Amnesty International’s April report, Aftermath: Injustice, Torture and Death in Detention in North-East Syria. This amnesty will mean that around 4,200 Syrians who committed non-violent crimes will be either released or have their sentences reduced by half.
Amnesty International highlighted that prisoners in Benin were subjected to filthy, overcrowded cells and denied clean water and medical treatment in 2023, with at least 46 prisoners who died in four prisons between January and July 2023. The story was widely covered by national and international media. On 19 August, a dozen opposition members of parliament addressed questions to the government on deaths in prison, access to health care, and detentions beyond the legal five-year period. In September, the Director General of the Prison Agency confirmed the prison overcrowding and the bad detention conditions. The same month, prison managers and infirmary staff were trained on the treatment of detainees in conformity with the UN Bangkok Rules.
Amnesty International Finland, environmental NGOs and Finnish Sámi Youth are in the process of taking the Government of Finland to court for its lack of adequate climate action. The organizations argue that the government’s inaction violates Finland’s national Climate Act, internationally acknowledged for its ambitious targets to reach carbon neutrality by 2035 and fails to meet the state’s legal obligations to protect human rights including the rights of the indigenous Sámi people. The case builds on the groundbreaking ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in the case of KlimaSeniorinnen v Switzerland.
In 2020, six protesters suffered gruesome injuries after being shot by police near Mozambique’s Banhine National Park. One year later, Amnesty International’s Crisis Response Programme published new research calling for a thorough investigation into the incident. That led to the government initiating legal action that culminated in the sentencing of six officers in August 2024.
Thailand withdrew its reservation to Article 22 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in August 2024, guaranteeing refugee children equal access to protection and humanitarian assistance.
After years of campaigning by brave women, survivors and their allies, Poland adopted a consent-based definition of rape, rather than a definition that requires the use of force or violence. It becomes the 19th European country out of the 31 analysed by Amnesty International to define rape as sex without consent.
With the support of Amnesty International Taiwan, family members of 24 Vietnamese asylum seekers who were unlawfully killed by the Taiwanese military in Kinmen in 1987 were invited by the government to visit Taiwan for the first time to seek truth and reconciliation.
Speaking of the importance of having a comprehensive refugee protection scheme, Tran, a relative of one of the victims, said: “I ask the government and the people of Taiwan to let them consider Taiwan as their second and final home, and please don’t reject them anymore.”
A long-awaited ruling was delivered by Shizuoka District Court, acquitting Hakamada Iwao, described as the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment under sentence of death and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him, including Amnesty International who fought for his retrial for over 15 years.
Amnesty International’s newest section celebrated two campaigning successes in September. A draft bill to create a “foreign agents” registry, aimed at attacking and suppressing civil society, was voted down by parliament’s Committee on Culture and Media, while parliament voted to reject amendments to a law which would have criminalized the provision of gender-affirming healthcare for minors.
Amnesty International published a press release highlighting the shortage of staff and adequate medical supplies and equipment in certain health facilities that attend to pregnant women and newborns. Following the publication, the authorities confirmed that minors and women would be included in a new national support programme. Amnesty International’s Togo Director met with the Minister of Health, who confirmed that recruitment of new staff and providing adequate equipment were priorities. In September 2024, the Togolese government confirmed the recruitment of 193 midwives and 177 birth attendants. In August 2024, 7,700 news beds and more than 100 delivery tables, as well as ambulances and radio equipment, were provided to maternal health facilities.
Pierina Nochetti, an LGBTI+ rights defender from Necochea, Argentina, faced criminal charges for graffitiing the message “¿Dónde está Tehuel?” during a Pride march in 2022. The phrase sought justice for Tehuel de la Torre, a young trans man who disappeared in 2021. Despite the wall being a common site for public expression, Pierina was targeted, facing potential imprisonment for “aggravated damage”. Amnesty International Argentina advocated on her behalf, emphasizing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The charges have now been dropped, and the case is closed.
By the end of October, Amnesty International’s Global Relief Programme had supported close to 4,700 individuals from 79 countries, with relocation expenses for individuals at risk, legal aid and medical and psychological support. We also supported people at risk with security measures, as well providing advocacy and capacity building activities for those on the frontline.
In response to Amnesty International’s findings of labour exploitation in Carrefour branded stores in Saudi Arabia, the French supermarket giant and its franchise partner Majid Al Futtaim launched an internal investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in their facilities, while Carrefour Group instructed a third-party audit. Majid Al Futtaim said it has already moved some workers to new housing and is reviewing its policies on overtime and, recruitment fees, as well as improving access to its employee hotline. Amnesty International continues to engage with Carrefour to press for access to justice and effective remedies, including adequate compensation for the impacted workers – some of whom are likely to be victims of forced labour and human trafficking.
Large-scale operations to demolish neighbourhoods and evict their inhabitants were launched in January 2024 in Abidjan, on sites considered to be at risk of flooding, as part of a plan to demolish 176 sites. Amnesty International highlighted widespread human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of people. The evictions occurred without adequate and reasonable prior notice, some involving violence, and thousands of forcibly evicted families remained to be rehoused and/or compensated for all losses as of November. Following the publication, no other site on the list of 176 has been demolished, and the Ivorian authorities announced the suspension of all eviction operations on 21 November as well as the implementation of compensation measures announced in March 2024.
Thanks to campaigning work from Amnesty International Denmark will be able to prosecute war criminals for the full extent of their crimes. This is a positive outcome of a new law aimed at ending impunity to ensure no war criminal goes unpunished. The new law will allow Danish courts to prosecute international crimes such as torture, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The Self-Determination Act came into force in Germany enabling trans, non-binary and intersex people to obtain legal gender recognition by making a simple declaration at the registry office, following calls from Amnesty International Germany. The new law replaced the Transsexuals’ Act of 1980, which obliged trans people to undergo discriminatory psychological assessments and a court procedure to obtain legal gender recognition.
Following calls from Amnesty International, the Supreme Court of India delivered two landmark judgements aimed at putting an end to the climate of impunity around the cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties. This is a big win in ending the unjust demolitions, mostly targeting the minority Muslim community, by the Indian authorities.
In a landmark judgement of 7 November, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice ruled in favour of the civil society group AdvocAid in a case filed against the Republic of Sierra Leone to challenge loitering laws. The court ruled that Sierra Leone’s loitering laws violate rights to equality, non-discrimination, and freedom of movement, disproportionately impacting marginalized individuals. Amnesty International submitted a third-party intervention to the ECOWAS Court noting that loitering and other vagrancy laws discriminate against people living in poverty, LGBTI people and sex-workers and violate their right to dignity, as well as the principle of legality. The court’s judgement ordered Sierra Leone to amend or repeal these laws, emphasizing the need for legislation that protects all citizens from arbitrary arrests and abuse. This ruling sets a crucial legal precedent across Africa and beyond given that, 31 countries still retain discriminatory loitering laws.
Thanks to the work of Amnesty International Türkiye, along with dozens of civil society organizations, the draft espionage law – dubbed the ‘agents of influence’ law – was withdrawn. Although the government is discussing putting the amendment back on the agenda, the withdrawal is an important victory for human rights. By voicing their very real concerns in a powerful and united way, Turkish civil society helped to block this dangerous move which would have had a devastating impact on their work and on society at large.
Following the launch of Recharge for Rights: Ranking the Human Rights Due Diligence Reporting of Leading Electric Vehicle Makers, Amnesty International’s business and human rights team travelled to South Korea, Taiwan and Japan to meet with global automakers and battery manufacturers as well as legislators and civil society. After a meeting with South Korean legislator, Jongdeok Jeon, she posted a lengthy reflection to Facebook, which included: “The government must step up and ensure that companies sensibly and actively address human rights violations…Thank you Amnesty International for your activities and your concern.” In 2025, South Korean legislators will introduce a bill about mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence.
This year brought significant victories for abortion rights in the U.S., with seven states expanding or safeguarding reproductive rights. In Arizona, with help from Amnesty International, Proposition 139 passed with 62% of the vote, enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution. The measure overrides restrictions and prohibits penalties for those assisting with abortion care. This historic achievement – “the most voter signatures ever collected by a citizens initiative in state history,” – underscores the power of grassroots organizing, collective action, and Amnesty International’s unified support –both nationally and internationally – for the Arizona Campaign. It marks a critical step forward in the ongoing fight for reproductive rights, setting the stage to challenge abortion bans nationwide.
In a historic move, Belgium was held responsible for crimes against humanity for acts committed during colonization, signalling a turning point for European States. After calls from Amnesty International and African Futures Lab, the Brussels Court of
Appeal recognized the responsibility of the Belgian State in the abduction and systematic racial segregation of Métis children under Belgian colonial rule. This comes after five Métis women born between 1948 and 1952 in the Belgian Congo, initiated legal proceedings against the Belgian state. After losing their case at first instance in 2021, they took their case to the Brussels Court of Appeal to obtain justice and reparation.
In New York, the UNGA adopted with a vote a breakthrough resolution mandating formal negotiations on a Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, a long-term Amnesty International advocacy goal. The process is scheduled for 2026 to 2029. Once concluded and adopted, this treaty would strengthen the framework of international justice by providing new tools and better enabling states to cooperate with each other in combatting crimes against humanity. It would help ensure there are fewer ‘safe havens’ for those suspected of criminal responsibility and be an important advance against impunity.
A handful of powerful people use fear to try to divide us based on what we look like, where we come from, or how we worship. They shame and blame specific groups of people, denying their basic human rights, hoping we’ll look the other way. But we won’t look the other way.
Here’s the solution: Instead of turning on each other, we must unite across the differences those powerful few use to divide us. We are stronger together. That’s how justice and peace will prevail.
