AMNESTY IN ACTION

Malaysia - Abolishing the mandatory death penalty a massive win for human rights

Until recently, Malaysia required death penalty sentences for 12 offences including drug crimes. But now, new laws they have removed mandatory death penalty sentences and removed the death penalty as a sentencing option for seven crimes.

Now, over 900 people sentenced to death drug related offences can now apply for resentencing.

Amnesty International has advocated for a the end to the death penalty around the world for over 45 years, and these new laws mark a huge win towards total abolition in Malaysia.

Want to know more about the death penalty? Take our quiz about the death penalty around the world.

Venezuela - Photographer freed after 16 months

In October 2019, while participating in a peaceful protest 55 year old Moisés Órdenes was attacked by 13 Carabineros officers, leading to the loss of his left eye. They beat him with batons, kicked him in his back and slammed his face into the ground, he required weeks of hospital treatment.

Last year, after the prosecutor closed the investigation into the attack Amnesty International issued an urgent action asking supporters to demand the investigation be reopened. After thousands of people wrote to decision makers on the 24th of February 2023 the case was officially reopened .

In our year-long investigation, Amnesty International uncovered 12 cases of death, torture and injuries caused by officers in Chile at protests between 18 October and 30 November 2019.

Türkiye - Amnesty staff, board & human rights activist’s baseless convictions overturned

Amnesty International Türkiye's Honorary Chair and three other human rights defenders linked to Amnesty International have had their baseless convictions overturned by a Turkish court in June.

Günal Kurşun, İdil Eser, and Özlem Dalkıran were convicted with knowingly and willingly assisting an armed terrorist organization. And Taner Kılıç was convicted of being member of an armed terrorist organization. These were baseless charges created by the Turkish government in an attempt to silence human rights defenders and to silence its critics.

Taner Kılıç and Özlem Dalkıran have spent 20 years defending human rights in Türkiye and are founding members of Amnesty International Türkiye. When she was arrested in 2017, Idil Eser was the Director of Amnesty International Türkiye. Günal Kurşun, isa lawyer, international criminal law expert and member Amnesty International Türkiye.

After 12 court hearings, the allegations and evidence were proven false and a Turkish court overturned their baseless convictions.

Vietnam- 72 year old Australian pro-democracy activist released and reunited with family

Chau Van Kham, a 72 year old Vietnamese-Australian pro-democracy activist was detained by the Vietnamese government in January 2019. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for ‘terrorist activities’ after he met with a friend and fellow pro-democracy activists during a visit to Vietnam. He was detained solely for his peaceful political beliefs.

He was not allowed family visits and had no lawyer in Vietnam, Amnesty International and his family had grave concerns for his health due to the notoriously harsh conditions of Vietnamese prisons.

Amnesty worked alongside Mr Chau’s brave family to secure his freedom. Over 36,000 people signed a petition demanding his release and thousands sent postcards to him in prison to keep his spirts up.

In July, was freed from imprisonment in - released 8 years early. Now, Mr Chau is back home with his family in Sydney.

This is a massive win for Amnesty’s work to free wrongly imprisoned people around the world, and a reminder that people power works!

Bangladesh - Journalist released from prison

After he published an article about the cost-of-living-crisis in Bangladesh journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams was arrested and charged under their ‘Digital Security Act’. Amnesty International responded quickly and issued an urgent action demanding his release.

Only 4 days later he was granted bail and released from prison, which is unusual as people arrested in Bangladesh are normally subjected to a lengthy pre-trial detention. Amnesty will continue to call for the unjust charges against Shams to be dropped.

Switzerland & the Netherlands - Laws amended to recognise that sex without consent is rape

Switzerland's National Council has made a significant decision by amending existing legislation to legally recognize 'sex against the will of another person' as rape.

The amendment changes the definition of rape from one that focused solely on physical force, threat, or coercion and considered only women as victims to a new law that acknowledges that any non-consensual sex constitutes rape.

Like Switzerland, a new bill from the Netherlands removed the requirement that rape must involve physical force, threat or coercion.

By recognising that sex without consent is rape, the Netherlands and Switzerland has taken an important step towards combatting sexual violence and improving access to justice for survivors.

These are both wins that Amnesty International worked tirelessly to support and marks a historic victory for campaigners and survivors of sexual violence in Switzerland.

After years of campaigning from the Amnesty movement, Majid Khan, Ahmed Rahim Rabbani, Abdul Rahim Rabbani, Ghassan al-Sharbi and Said Bakush were releases earlier this year.

Ahmed, 53 and Abdul, 55 are brothers who were never charged for any crimes in the 20 years that they spent in U.S. custody and have returned home to Pakistan. Ahmed a victim of mistaken identity, was tortured at a CIA “black site” before arriving at Guantanamo.

After Amnesty helped him secure a passport, Mansoor Adayfi, a previous detainee who was freed in 2016 was able to travel to Norway to speak at a panel discussion.

“I would like to thank Amnesty International for all the work they have done on behalf of former Guantanamo detainees and on behalf of humanity, because Amnesty International is one of the most important fronts that is fighting against torture, fighting against oppression, against injustice around the world.

The first time I heard about Amnesty International was in Guantanamo, the lawyers brought us reports and letters. When you know that there is someone there for you, fighting for you, calling for your release, it helps you to feel like you are human. It gives you hope.”

Yemen - Four journalists freed from death row

In April, four journalists who spent seven years in dentition and four years on death row for their work we’re released.

Over 43,000 Amnesty supporters took action calling for their release and the quashing of their death sentences. Every day, journalists around the world face intimidation, imprisonment and violence, for reporting on human rights violations. No one should be sentenced to death just for doing their job.

Canada - Eight Canadian provinces end immigration detention in their jails

In Canada, following ongoing pressure from Amnesty International and our allies, Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan joined British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Manitoba on the list of Canadian provinces that are ending their contracts with the federal government to detain migrants in provincial jails.

This is a massive step towards putting an end to a harmful system of immigration detention, which breaches international human rights standards.

Taiwan- Two huge wins for LGBTQIA+ rights in Taiwan

Together with local activist and groups Amnesty International has been campaigning for the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights in Taiwan, and have recently achieved two massive wins.

Firstly, Taiwan announced that it would finally allow same-sex marriages between peoples whose home countries don’t allow same-sex marriage and Taiwanese people.

Secondly, the Government will now allow married same-sex couples to adopt children.

Europe- Approval of Istanbul Convention is major win for gender equality

After years of advocacy from Amnesty, activists and partners, on June 1st the EU council finally approved the Istanbul Convention.

The Istanbul Convention is a legally binding international treaty that will tackle and prevent violence against women and domestic violence. It sets out minimum standards for protection, prevention, and prosecution.

It also includes requirements for education on gender equality and healthy relationships, addressing gender stereotypes, supporting survivors and women at risk of violence and developing a gender-sensitive asylum system.

Amnesty International played a pivotal role in shaping the Convention's development by contributing insights from NGOs' experiences in supporting survivors of gender-based violence, as well as incorporating international human rights standards.

In February, after years of tireless campaigning from Amnesty, the Australian Government announced it would end their temporary protection visas system.

19,000 refugees who had been granted asylum in Australia has been living in limbo with no work rights, limited access to social services and unable to see their families, study and travel. Now, they have a path towards permanent residency and can participate fully in Australian life finally.

This includes Zaki Haidari who had to flee the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2011 after his family were accused of helping foreign forces. Despite being granted asylum in Australia, he remained on a temporary visa without the opportunity to gain permanent residency or reunite with his family

Over the last 10 years Zaki has worked with Amnesty as volunteer and a Refugee Rights Campaigner, he has pushed for the removal of cruel temporary visas. Now, he is as a permanent resident and was able to bring his family to safety.

[These wins] give me hope for the future of refugees in this country, but we must pressure those in power to reach further and do more.

South Korea - Ruling is a step towards marriage equality!

Together with local activist and groups Amnesty International has been campaigning for the advancement of LGBTQIA+ rights in Taiwan, and have recently achieved two massive wins.

Firstly, Taiwan announced that it would finally allow same-sex marriages between peoples whose home countries don’t allow same-sex marriage and Taiwanese people.

Secondly, the Government will now allow married same-sex couples to adopt children.

Chile - Justice for activist who lost his eye in the hands of law enforcement

In October 2019, while participating in a peaceful protest 55 year old Moisés Órdenes was attacked by 13 Carabineros officers, leading to the loss of his left eye. They beat him with batons, kicked him in his back and slammed his face into the ground, he required weeks of hospital treatment.

Last year, after the prosecutor closed the investigation into the attack Amnesty International issued an urgent action asking supporters to demand the investigation be reopened. After thousands of people wrote to decision makers on the 24th of February 2023 the case was officially reopened .

In our year-long investigation, Amnesty International uncovered 12 cases of death, torture and injuries caused by officers in Chile at protests between 18 October and 30 November 2019.

Iran - Tortured aid worker freed

Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele was freed in May 2023 after being unjustly sentenced to 40 years in prison and tortured in Iran. His release, however, was part of a prisoner swap, highlighting Iran's practice of taking hostages for political leverage. Amnesty will continue to advocate for accountability for Iran's human rights abuses, including hostage-taking.

Over 27,000 Amnesty supporters, including in Aotearoa took action for Olivier, calling on Iran’s Head of Judiciary to reveal Olivier’s whereabouts and release him from unjust imprisonment.

Kamran Ghaderi and Massud Mossaheb, two Austrian-Iranian citizens arbitrarily detained in Evin prison, were unconditionally released  on 2 June, and finally able to return home to their families in Vienna.

They had both been convicted after unfair trials based on forced “confessions” obtained by torture and other ill-treatment.

Massud Mossaheb, who is a 75-year-old Austrian-Iranian dual national that Amnesty supporters took action for after his conviction said:

“Not only did you help to make public the injustice that was done to me; you also gave me courage by letting me know how many compassionate and good people there are in this world,” said Massud. “Please continue to stand up for others!”

New Zealand - People power pressures FIFA to end sportswashing plans

In March, FIFA announced that they dropped the plans to allow Visit Saudi to sponsor the Women's World Cup. It would have been unacceptable for the Saudi Arabian national tourism board to sponsor this worldwide celebration of women's sports, when many women in Saudi Arabia face human rights abuses daily.

When news of the sponsorship was reported Amnesty launched a petition asking Sports Minister, Grant Robertson, to take a stance against Saudi Arabia's egregious human rights track record.

This represents a significant victory for activists, as well as current and former players, who have consistently voiced concerns about the human rights record of Saudi Arabia.

Global - Amnesty uncovers hacking campaign

Amnesty International’s Security Lab exposed a ‘sophisticated hacking campaign by a mercenary spyware company.”

The spyware campaign had targeted mobile and desktop devices. The Security Lab believes it was developed by a commercial group and sold to government hackers to perform targeted attacks.

After uncovering the hacking campaign the Amnesty Security Lab shared the discovery with Google’s Threat Analysis Group. Google and Samsung were able to release a security update to protect billions of users.

Amnesty’s Security Lab leads investigations into cyber-attacks by governments and other groups and builds tools to help protect human rights activists from cyber-attacks.

Angola - Activist and musician released

Tanaice Neutro , an Angolan activist who uses his music to protest, was arrested in January 2022. Amnesty rallied support, raised awareness and started campaigning on his behalf and in June he was released.

What impresses me most is knowing that to be supportive and show solidarity, you don’t need to know the person, their story is enough,” said Teresa, Tanaice’s wife.

“I still can’t believe that the world’s largest human rights organization decided to take up my case. I am grateful for all the support Amnesty has given me and my family.”

Pakistan - Mum released on bail after urgent action

Following an unlawful raid on her house, Mahal Baloch from Pakistan was detained together with her young children and other family members in February. After her family was released, Mahal remained held without charge until her release on bail in May. The policed alleged Mahal was part of an armed separatist group, who had previously carried out suicide bombings, and that she had provided a confession. During her detention Mahal was the target of a smear campaign and forced by the authorities to appear in TV interviews.

Amnesty International moved quickly, issuing an urgent action  for Mahal. She was granted bail three months after her arrest.

After they took to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini who died after being arrested by Iran’s ‘morality police’, protesters Arshia Takdastan and Mehdi Mohammadifard were sentenced to death.

Their trials we’re grossly unfair trial and Amnesty International moved quickly, issuing an urgent action  calling for the death sentences and staged protests outside Irian embassies around the world.

The Supreme Court nullified their convictions and commuted their death sentences in May 2023. Later that month, Arshia's attorney announced publicly on Twitter that he had been granted bail and was no longer in custody.

Benin - New mums released after not being able to pay hospital fees

In Benin, after four women were detained in hospital after they couldn’t pay their medical bills after giving birth, Amnesty wrote to authorities calling for their immediate release. Three days after Amnesty’s letter highlighting the governments obligations to protect the rights of the detained women they we’re released.

Argentina - Family of teen killed by police finally get justice

In 2020, teenager Blas Correas, from Cordoba, Argentina,  was shot dead by police.

Over the past three years, Amnesty International has been providing assistance to Blas' family to guarantee the pursuit of justice. In the recent trial held this year, two police officers were given life sentences for their part in his death.

Global - Amnesty crisis investigations provide evidence of war crimes

And finally, over the course of this year staff from Amnesty’s crisis and international justice teams have provided evidence and supported international investigative mechanisms documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Myanmar, Syria and Ukraine.

Every year, our researchers dedicate thousands of hours on the ground to working in areas impacted by conflicts. They conduct interviews with witnesses and survivors, and they gather data from various local organizations and authorities, including military and law enforcement.

The combination of first-hand accounts, photographs, remote data, creates the solid foundation for Amnesty International's worldwide advocacy and campaigns. While the timing of crises remains uncertain, Amnesty International's crisis team is prepared to respond when they do happen.