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

Abductees found in police custody in Zimbabwe

24 December 2008

Jestina Mukoko, the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), who was abducted from her home on 3 December, has been left by her abductors at Matapi Police Stati

China urged to release scholar Liu Xiaobo

23 December 2008

After more than 14 days in detention, it appears that Chinese authorities intend to seriously prosecute the dissident literary scholar, Liu Xiaobo.

Authorities close key human rights centre in Tehran

23 December 2008

The Iranian authorities have forced the closure of the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) in Tehran, co-founded by 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin E

Israeli teenagers jailed for refusing to serve in army

18 December 2008

Peace activists in Israel and around the world are participating in a day of action to call on Israeli authorities to release teenagers imprisoned for refusing to ser

Standing ovation for jailed Chinese dissident

17 December 2008

The European Parliament has honoured a jailed Chinese dissident in absentia with its top human rights award.

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.

Video and Audio

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.