The United States government’s abrupt and sweeping freeze on foreign aid is severely imperiling the human rights of refugees, civilians in armed conflict areas and individuals fleeing persecution in Myanmar, Amnesty International said today. The organization warned that lives could be lost unless the decision is urgently reversed, amended or if waivers for life-saving assistance…
Responding to news that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested by Philippine authorities on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him for the crime against humanity of murder in relation to killings in the “war on drugs”, Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said:…
The international community must take urgent action to ensure accountability for atrocities in Myanmar, 46 organizations said today ahead of the four-year anniversary of the 1 February 2021 military coup. This year represents a turning point for accountability in Myanmar. While the military remains in control, they are losing ground in many areas. Amid rapidly…
Amnesty InternationalPhoto : ©Nathalie Jamois/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images In response to today’s passing of the marriage equality bill by the upper house of Thailand’s Parliament, Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said: “Thailand has taken a historic step towards becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage for LGBTI couples. This landmark moment…
Global figures Global executions Amnesty International recorded 1153 executions in 16 countries in 2023, marking a 31% increase from the 883 recorded in 2022. This figure represents the highest number of executions that Amnesty International has recorded in close to a decade (since 2015, when 1,634 executions were recorded). China remained the world’s leading executioner, but the true extent of its…
Executions soared to their highest number in almost a decade in 2023 with a sharp rise across the Middle East, Amnesty International said today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty. A total of 1,153 executions took place in 2023, which does not include the thousands believed to…
Upon the last statement by Piyanut Kotsan, Director of Amnesty International Thailand, who gave a welcome speech to the event “BEING OURSELVES IS TOO DANGEROUS”, silence prevailed in the room. Everyone was stunned and stayed silent to mourn the passing of Netiporn “Boong” Sanehsangkhom, a political activist and hunger striker who died in prison on 14 May 2024.…
Women and LGBTI activists in Thailand are being subjected to an online onslaught of abusive speech laced with misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic language, sexualized content and other forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), Amnesty International said in a new report released today. The report, “Being Ourselves is Too Dangerous,” highlights how women and LGBTI activists have…
Responding to the death of Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom, a Thai pro-democracy activist who passed away today after a prolonged hunger strike in detention, Amnesty International Thailand Director Piyanut Kotsan said: “Amnesty International expresses its deepest condolences following the death of Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom, who had gone on hunger strike in protest at her and others’ arbitrary detention, including for…