Change starts with you. In the decades since the adoption of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, our global movement has been helping people across the world enjoy their fundamental rights.
Today marks 76 years of the landmark document in action, that enshrines the rights of everyone, everywhere; regardless of age, race, religion, gender, or ability. This is a global day of empowerment intended for all of humanity, but from Palestine to Sudan, the United States; it’s clear that our work is now more critical than ever.
Amnesty’s landmark report: ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’
Your support, our global movement of ten million people, has already made a profound impact since the beginning of the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Thanks to you, we remain one of the only two international human rights organisations on the ground in Gaza.
Last week, we released our landmark report You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza that concludes Israel has committed and is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, through its policies, actions and omissions and by treating them as subhuman.
“Our research, comprised of interviews with 212 witnesses, local authorities, and healthcare workers, and verified digital and satellite imagery verified by our Crisis Evidence Lab, exposes the brutal truth: Israel is committing genocide, openly and brazenly,” Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia’s Occupied Palestinian Territory’s Spokesperson
The report builds on decades of research in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and follows our 2022 determination that Israel is imposing a system of oppression and domination that amounts to the crime against humanity of apartheid.
“Our damning findings must serve as a wake-up call to the international community: this is genocide. It must stop now.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard
And on November 22, after more than a year of demanding and independent International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation, the ICC issued arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel; Yoav Gallant, former Israeli Minister of Defence and al-Qassam brigades commander Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, for charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said at the time of this historic breakthrough:
“By issuing these arrest warrants the ICC is also at long last bringing real hope for justice to countless victims of crimes under international law and restoring some faith in the universal value of international legal instruments and justice.”
Amnesty International was instrumental in generating the public support necessary to create the International Criminal Court. We continue to advocate, inform and campaign for its effective operation.
The last few months of your global impact:
Community Is Everything
Amnesty’s Indigenous Rights team travelled to Queensland (QLD) ahead of the recent election to support for First Nations-led solutions as an alternative to locking kids up in prisons. In QLD, kids as young as 100 are locked up more than anywhere else in Australia – and First Nations kids make up nearly 72% of the incarcerated youth population.
Sadly, the election outcome was not as we hoped, and the CLP was voted in with their “Adult Crime, Adult Time” promise – so, as Uncle Rodney Dillon said, “the hard work is yet to come“. Read more about our campaign in our December Community Is Everything newsletter.
AUSTRALIA: More than 800 Palestinians granted basic rights in Australia
Last week the Australian Government revealed more than 800 Palestinians who came to Australia on tourist visas have been granted work, Medicare and study rights. Whilst this comes as a welcome relief after more than a year of uncertainty, there is still a long way to go.
Amnesty will continue to advocate for the Australian government to offer appropriate permanent humanitarian visas to Palestinians, who have looked to Australia for safety and deserve a pathway to permanent protection.
AUSTRALIA: South Australian government combats LGBTQA+ conversion practices
In September, the SA government passed a new law combatting conversion practices. These are practices that seek to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity and they cause serious harm. While this is a step in the right direction, there is more to be done to ensure the legislation fully protects LGBTQA+ people in South Australia.
With the support of activists and supporters like you, Amnesty will continue to call on the South Australian government to make these news laws as impactful as possible.
BANGALDESH: Muang Sawyeddollah commences at New York University
Maung Sawyeddollah was 15 when he and his family fled Myanmar to Cox’s Bazar refugee camp. He dreamt of becoming a lawyer, seeking justice by campaigning for Meta to take responsibility for its contribution to the atrocities fueling the Myanmar military’s violence against people from the Rohingya ethnic group.
Amnesty International began campaigning alongside Muang as part of 2023 Write for Rights. A few months ago, he touched down in New York and is now on his way to realising his dreams of becoming a lawyer and justice for the Rohingya community.
BURUNDI: Long overdue release of Floriane Irangabiye
Floriane Irangabiye is a journalist who had been sentenced to ten years in prison on trumped up charges. In August 2024 we received the incredible news that President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye signed a decree granting Floriane a full pardon – and after two years of unjust detention she was finally released.
Amnesty International activists and supporters like you campaigned tirelessly for Floriane’s release, and for governments around the world to uphold journalists’ critical right to freedom of expression.
INDIA: “Bulldozer justice” condemned in a big win for people’s rights
The Supreme Court of India condemned unlawful demolitions as ‘unacceptable’ in November – a big win in ending the deeply unjust, widespread and unlawful property demolitions targeting the minority Muslim community.
Amnesty International released two reports in February 2024 which documented the arbitrary and punitive demolitions in India in a hate campaign against the minority community for protesting discriminatory laws and practices.
IRAN: Activist and rapper Toomaj Salehi released
We welcomed the long overdue release of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi from prison in December, after thousands of Amnesty supporters, and more than 100 music, culture and activism figures, called for his release and showed the Iranian authorities that the world won’t be silent as they exhibit a complete disregard for human life.
Through his music, Toomaj was an outspoken critic of the Iranian regime, and in his support of the demonstrations in the months following the death of Mahsa Jhina Amini – who died while in police custody in 2022 after being arrested for allegedly wearing an “improper hijab”.
JAPAN: A long overdue day of justice for Hakamada Iwao
In October, The Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office announced it will not appeal the decision to acquit Hakamada Iwao, just days after we delivered more than 6,500 global signatures.
Amnesty International has campaigned for Hakamada Iwao over the past 15+ years, who was held on death row for more than 45 years, based on an unfair trial and evidence that was found to have been fabricated by the investigating authorities. This renders the declaration of his innocence, final.
OPT: Palestinian surgeon Dr Khaled Al Serr freed
Dr All Serr was working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis when he was taken by Israeli forces, along with other healthcare workers. He spent more than six months in detention without charges or trial in conditions that constitute enforced disappearance, a crime under international law.
After handing over more than 3,000 of your signatures in October, we learned that Palestinian surgeon Dr Khaled Al Serr was freed and reunited with his family.
“I learned that there was a campaign calling for my release. It gave me comfort and strength when I needed that so much.” – Dr Khaled Al Serr
BELARUS: A glimmer of hope for Maryia Kalesnikava
Maryia Kalesnikava has been arbitrarily detained for four years for her prominent role in the 2020 election and subsequent peaceful protests in Belarus and held for over 500 days incommunicado.
In November, her father was able to visit after no contact since 15 Febuary 2023. Tatsiana, Maryia’s sister, said ‘We are very happy that our dad was able to visit Maryia. The key is that Masha (Maryia) is alive.’ Mariyia is one of the 10 people we are uniting behind for this Write for Rights 2024 – the worlds biggest human rights event.
For more than 60 years since we started, we have campaigned for justice, freedom, truth and dignity wherever it has been denied. To honour the intentions of the UDHR we must continue to advocate for a future where human rights are enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. That is the basic principle that underpins the 30 rights outlined in the UDHR, and the cornerstone that Amnesty, our seven-million strong power base, must continue to fight for everyday.
Act now or learn more about our campaigns.
