Human Rights Defenders

Human rights defenders expose violations and campaign for redress for victims. They are the people who on their own or with others take action to ensure the promotion and protection of human rights for all. The important thing is not who they are, but what they do. Human rights defenders take peaceful action and believe everybody has equal rights.

More on human rights defenders

 

News and Updates

Political prisoners set free in Myanmar

24 February 2009

Twenty-four political prisoners have been set free in Myanmar after the government announced that it would release 6,313 prisoners. 

Egyptian blogger held incommunicado is at risk of torture

20 February 2009

Criticism of government policy on Gaza a new red line for freedom of expression in Egypt.

Student blogger arrested at peaceful march in Egypt

11 February 2009

Philip Rizk was taking part in a march in Cairo, to express solidarity with civilians affected by the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Chinese government report to UN Human Rights Council "whitewashes abuses"

6 February 2009

Amnesty International has said that the Chinese government’s report to the UN Universal Periodic Review whitewashes serious human rights abuses being committed

Tunisian trade unionists' convictions upheld

5 February 2009

Those sentenced were accused of leading unrest against unemployment and high living costs in the phosphate-rich Gafsa region of south-east Tunisia earlier in 2008.

Appeals for action

Reopen investigation into enforced disappearance in Ingushetia!

On 8 August 2007, Ibragim Gazdiev was reportedly seized by armed men and has never been seen since. No effective steps have been taken to trace him.

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Video and Audio

"They found bulldozers crushing their houses” – Kenyan activist on forced evictions

22 March 2012

Teargas in Egypt's Tahrir Square

29 June 2011

Amnesty International's Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui reports from demonstrations in Tahrir Square, Cairo.

Video: The role of Western countries in the Egypt crisis

Senior Director of Amnesty International Widney Brown gives an international political analysis and human rights update on the Egypt demonstrations.

Salil Shetty on Egypt protests

Amnesty International's Secretary General disappointed by military failure to protect protesters

Amnesty International staff member reports from a raid on a Cairo law centre

3 February 2011

The Hisham Mubarak Law Centre has been raided by security forces and surrounded by army and police.

Tunisian government must respect rights amid protests

18 January 2011

Tunisian government must respect rights amid protests

Networking for change

Amnesty International analyses the role of social media in unrest across the Middle East and North Africa.

Gambia Global Day of Action

22 July 2010

Government urged to end its widespread use of arbitrary detentions and torture as activists worldwide stage protests against the authorities' appalling human rights record.

Mexican activist jailed for defending human rights

Interview with Raúl Hernández, a Mexican human rights defender who has been wrongfully imprisoned for his work with an Indigenous community.

Video: Thousands get Fired Up for human rights

22 December 2008

Thousands of people around the world took part in actions to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December.