Edition 1, 2025


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In the blink of an eye, the first quarter of 2025 has passed, yet it feels more like six months—or even a year—given everything that has unfolded in such a short time.

South Africa was thrust into the global spotlight after the election of US President Donald Trump. Since taking office on 20 January, President Trump has systematically targeted South Africa in response to its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Expropriation Act that South African President Cyril Rampahosa signed into law in January, which allows for land expropriation without compensation under specific circumstances. The US president has enacted a number of executive orders which have dire consequences for many people living in South Africa. 

One of these is the cutting of US funding for HIV/AIDS programmes. Experts warn that the US funding cuts to HIV/AIDS programmes could result in over 601,000 HIV-related deaths in South Africa and over 501,000 new infections within the next decade. It also has far-reaching implications for the HIV and research sector. 

But what the Trump administration is doing also has economic implications for everyone living in South Africa and would contribute to a rise in costs domestically. This at a time when the cost of living is already too high for many living in the country, and for a country with a high unemployment rate and high rates of poverty.

Yet it is not only South Africa which is bearing the brunt of what is happening in the US. Amnesty International as a global movement is monitoring the Trump administration’s attacks on rights in the US and around the world which is accelerating existing authoritarian and global trends.

Throughout the world, we are seeing a rise in authoritarian practices and ideas, demonstrated by the demonisation of marginalised groups, backlash against gender equality and women’s rights, and the targeting of climate activists, to name a few examples. In this context, it is imperative that states ensure the protection of those who stand up to protect human rights. 

This is why Amnesty International South Africa this year is continuing its work around the importance of protecting human rights defenders and ensuring that the South African government acknowledges this and starts the process of putting together specific legislation. This quarter we have written to President Ramaphosa asking him to do just this. The simple act of leaders publicly recognising the importance of human rights defenders contributes to lowering the risks that they face.

States, including South Africa, have an obligation under international law to support and protect human rights defenders, protect the right to life, and to ensure access to justice when rights have been violated. 

In this edition of Lesedi you can read more about the advocacy and campaigning the AISA team has been doing around this.

AISA also participated in the 2025 Human Rights Festival hosted by Constitution Hill. We had another successful year of participation with a stall on activism row, we hosted a panel discussion on the importance of human rights defenders and our documentary about the plight of Abahlali baseMjondolo was shown at the Human Rights Film Festival. 

The team has also continued its work around ensuring that the government eradicates all plain pit toilets in schools. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has for years been shifting the goal post on this, and when I say years I mean almost a decade. Now the DBE has given itself the deadline of the end of this financial year, which is today (31 March 2025). However, we still need a lot of clarity around whether all schools are pit toilet free. You can read more about this in Lesedi and see where you can take action and help us ensure this is done. 

While a busy start to the year, it has been good. We have a new cohort of youth activists in the form of our chapters who have hit the ground running and the AISA team continues to push for real impact and change. 

If the start of the year is anything to go by, I am excited to see what we as a movement here in South Africa and globally can do. 

The late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said: 

It means a great deal to those who are oppressed to know that they are not alone. Never let anyone tell you that what you are doing is insignificant.

Let us not lose hope but continue to fight for human rights for all. 

Aluta Continua!

Shenilla Mohamed 

 

We need both – legislation to protect human rights defenders AND strengthening of whistleblower legislation

By Marike Keller, Amnesty International South Africa Researcher

The past two months saw the devastating murders of human rights defenders Imam Muhsin Hendricks, who fought tirelessly for the rights of the LGBTQ community; Pamela Mabini, a dedicated gender activist and whistleblower; and Dr Gomolemo Mokae, a medical doctor and activist. While the motives behind each killing are still being established, their senseless murders continue to shine a light on the risks individuals face in standing up for human rights and the lack of protection mechanisms available to them.

While President Ramaphosa has spoken about the importance of protecting those who fight for human rights and that this is why the government is strengthening whistleblower legislation, it is clear that the distinction between ‘human rights defender’ and ‘whistleblower’ is still not clearly understood.

The term ‘human rights defender’ broadly encompasses individuals who stand up for their and/or their community’s human rights, such as journalists, lawyers, healthcare professionals, teachers, victims or relatives of victims of human rights violations. This includes whistleblowers who are one subgroup of human rights defenders. 

Whistleblower legislation alone is not sufficient to protect all human rights defenders. We therefore need both.

The strengthening of whistleblower protection legislation is critical given the gaps in existing pieces of law and Amnesty International South Africa (AISA) has welcomed the announcement that the Whistleblower Protection Bill will be introduced in Parliament this year. However, this alone does not ensure protection for all human rights defenders. While whistleblowers are human rights defenders, many others considered human rights defenders would not fall under whistleblower protections. We therefore need separate, additional legislation. South Africa has an international obligation to develop and implement such legislation and has accepted this recommendation made by other states during the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review.

But it is not enough for the government to continue making empty promises to look good on an international stage, we need to hold them accountable and ensure their actions match their words right here at home. At AISA, we will continue pushing for this legislation. Fighting for rights should not cost anyone their life.

You can add your voice too!

 

TAKE ACTION HERE

Ahead of this year’s State of the nation Amnesty international south africa wrote to president Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to take a moment during his address on 6 February, to acknowledge the important work of human rights defenders in our country and abroad, and condemn the threats, attacks, and killings of human rights defenders in our country.

President Ramaphosa’s voice, and that of the government, on the matter is important. The simple act of leaders publicly recognising the importance of human rights defenders contributes to lowering the risks that they face.

We recall a time when the president himself was a young human rights defender, threatened and imprisoned for fighting the brutal apartheid regime, and so we call on him to champion the protection of human rights defenders, to ensure that no other activist has to endure the horrors that he faced.

Read AISA’s full statement issued ahead of Ramaphosa’s SONA here. 

 

 

AISA’s Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed, who personally knew Imam Muhsin Hendricks, wrote an opinion piece published in News24 about his senseless killing, once again pointing to the importance of specific legislation to protect human rights defenders.

She wote:

“Muhsin was a human rights defender who fearlessly fought for the rights of a marginalised community, which continues to face discrimination and stigma.”

Read the opinion piece here. 

 

On 22 October 2020 environmental and human rights activist Fikile Ntshangase was shot six times and killed inside her house in KwaZulu-Natal. Her body was found by her then 13-year-old grandson. Fikile was a vocal opponent of the open coal mine run by Tendele Coal Mining and its proposed expansion of mining operations in the area. Because of this she was intimidated, received multiple threats and in the end silenced. It has been four years and despite police allegedly having strong leads for the case, no one has been charged for her murder and have told the family evidence was lost in recent floods in Durban. Human rights defenders across South Africa face threats, intimidation and are killed. 

In this video, Fikile’s daughter Malungelo provides an update of where the case is and calls for the protection of all human rights defenders. 

 

HUMAN RIGHTS FESTIVAL 2025

Amnesty International South Africa at the Human Rights Festival 2025

by Rejoyce Motaung, Amnesty International South Africa Activism Coordinator: Organising

AISA made a significant impact at this year’s Human Rights Festival, mobilising 315 actions with the support of staff and activist volunteers from chapters around Gauteng.

The first day focused on calling for the protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). This was done through a film screening, a red-hand stunt, collection of petition signatories and an intergenerational panel discussion featuring activists young and old to talk about their experience of the activism landscape. The discussion highlighted the challenges HRDs face, the evolving nature of activism, and the importance of solidarity across generations.

The second day was centred on consent with an interactive stunt designed to raise awareness about bodily autonomy and dismantling rape culture. The stunt sparked meaningful conversations, encouraging festival-goers to engage with the issue.

AISA’s presence reinforced our commitment to human rights education and activism. The enthusiasm of attendees was evident in the 315 actions pledged at the festival, highlighting their strong commitment to justice and equality. This festival was a vital platform for raising awareness, mobilising activism, and strengthening relationships with other civil society organisations working on human rights in South Africa.

Amnesty International South Africa hosted an intergenerational panel discussion at this year’s Human Rights Festival at Constitution Hill, highlighting the importance of human rights defenders from diverse perspectives.

The panel was facilitated by AISA board member, Duduzile Mabaso. Nkanyiso Mtolo provided a regional overview as well as reflections on the need for context specific responses to HRD protection, while Genevieve Quintal offered insights into the domestic landscape and AISA’s work. Hopewell Radebe, representing the South African National Editors’ Forum, emphasized the critical role of journalists and their contributions. Finally, Tsidi Rankwe, an AISA activist, shared valuable perspectives on how the youth engage with activism in the context of human rights defenders.

 

 

AISA’s short film Silencing the Defenders, which highlights the struggles of Abahlali baseMjondolo, South Africa’s shack dwellers’ movement, was screened the Human Rights Festival film festival on Friday 21 March. The film sheds light on the severe dangers faced by members of the movement, ranging from threats to killings, as they continue their fight for land, housing, and dignity. 

You can watch the short film here. 

 

LET’S TALK ABOUT YES

At this year’s Human Rights Festival, AISA staged a powerful stunt to emphasize that clothing or appearance never constitutes consent.

Misconceptions and gender stereotypes about sexual violence and consensual sex remain widespread. Understanding consent is essential to fostering trust, respect, and equality in all interactions.

Consent is the foundation of all sexual activity—it must be clear, voluntary, and ongoing.

Want to learn more? Take our online human rights course here.

 

Violence Against Women: The Litmus Test for How We Respond to Injustice

By Dorothy Rowland, Amnesty International South Africa Marketing Consultant

Wimbledon’s Centre Court is and has been the stage for some of the most iconic tennis matches in history, with capacity for about 14,900 spectators. The recent crime stats show that between October 2024 and December 2024, 11,803 women reported being raped in South Africa. This number is enough to fill nearly 80% of this stadium’s seats. For decades, women have marched, protested, and raised their voices in outrage against this scourge, yet the numbers continue to rise. So one wonders: why do we continue fighting the same battles that women who came before us have been fighting, with such insufficient progress? Why does it feel like so little has changed?

In many cases, violence against women has been normalised and treated as a private matter, something to whisper about in hushed tones and behind closed doors. Last year, my four-year-old cousin was raped by a family member and I vividly recall some family members insisting on ‘solving the matter as a family’ and not involving the courts. There is, however, no such thing as “private” violence. If anything, it is a silent public inheritance that constantly measures our willingness to challenge inaction. 

What the crime stats fail to show is the intergenerational transmission of violence. Studies have established a strong link between childhood maltreatment and intimate partner violence. A 2024 study found that children who experienced sexual violence in early childhood were significantly more likely to experience continued victimisation in adolescence. Similarly, research by the South African Medical Research Council found that men exposed to violence in childhood were significantly more likely to have repeated episodes of intimate partner violence perpetration. Our society has become a classroom where violence is taught and learnt. Women learn from an early age that their safety is negotiable, that love and fear can coexist, and men learn their first lesson in power – that violence is not just acceptable but is an expected way to assert dominance. The release of the first national GBV prevalence study last year, conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council provided much of the evidence for this. Of the ever-partnered men surveyed, 10.7% believed that a woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together, and 8.3% believed that there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten. The majority of men surveyed, 69.5%, believed that a woman should obey her husband, while 9.1% of ever-partnered women agreed with the statement that if a wife does something wrong, her husband has the right to punish her.

Violence against women is a generational emergency that is shaping the psychology, economy and stability of the entire country and unless we take radical, collective action, the next generation will not only inherit the trauma but also the inaction. 

Time and time again, we have heard the government’s commitments, plans and speeches, yet society still lives in fear, grief, rage and trauma. The criminal justice system is indifferent at best and hostile at worst. A study by the South African Medical Research Council found that less than 20% of reported rape cases go to trial and only 8.6% result in a conviction. Inherently, survivors have lost trust in the system and too many rape cases go unreported. We need survivor-centred support systems and a criminal justice system. 

However, government action alone is not enough. As a society, we need to collectively stop treating violence against women as an isolated incident, and understand that it is conditioning our tolerance for abuse, lowering our threshold for outrage and normalising what should never be normal. Violence should not continue being our culture. We can no longer take refuge in public outrage while remaining silent in our private spaces. Many of us may have inherited inaction but we owe the next generation, and ourselves, a movement. A radical and sustained movement that dismantles harmful cultural norms and stereotypes that perpetuate violence against women. 

 

 

The end of March (31 March) marked the end of the financial year and the self-imposed deadline placed on the Department of Education (DBE) to eradicate all pit toilets in schools. It was not clear by the time of going to publication whether the DBE had adhered to the deadline. While we wait for an announcement from the department it is important to remember that the DBE had been promising since 2016 that it would eradicate plain pit toilets from schools, but each year it would break this promise and shift the goal posts, violating the human rights of thousands of learners. 

 

Even if the deadline has been adhered to, what is needed now is clarity from the Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube on whether she can confidently say that not a single school in South Africa has a pit toilet.  The minister has previously said the pit toilets removed were part of the department’s Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative (SAFE), but it is not clear whether this then includes all schools with plain pit toilets. Amnesty International South Africa is calling on the Department of Basic Education to provide clarity and be transparent about the actual number of schools still using pit toilets, including those not part of the SAFE initiative, and how it plans to eradicate those not part of this initiative with clear timelines. The use of plain pit toilets in schools violates a learner’s right to health, sanitation, education, dignity and in some cases, life.

 

HELP US GET RID OF THE STINK IN ALL SCHOOLS AND SIGN OUR PETITION

SIGN HERE

By Cassandra Dorasamy, Amnesty International South Africa Campaigner

We held our breath for all of two months. Two months was all it took for Israel to resume brazen attacks on Palestinians, killing at least 414 people in their sleep, overnight, on 18 March 2025.

On 15 January, Hamas and the Israeli government reached a ceasefire agreement consisting of three phases. The first phase, which lasted six weeks, involved a limited prisoner exchange, partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, and an influx of aid into Gaza. Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire had begun, but were never concluded. Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu agreed to an extension of phase one.

Israel already began to violate the conditions of the ceasefire, when it resumed a total blockade on Gaza from 2 March, blocking the entry of humanitarian aid, medicine, food, fuel, and other supplies. The continuation of desperate conditions during phase one prompted the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food to say that “this is not a ceasefire – it’s a slowing of Israel’s genocide and starvation campaign”.

The attacks via airstrikes in the early hours of 18 March marked a definitive end to the ceasefire in practice. Included among the 414 killed were 174 children. More than 550 people were hospitalised.

The senseless resumption of attacks has jeopardised hopes of the return of the 24 remaining Israeli hostages, who should have been returned under phase two of the deal, as well as Palestinian detainees and their families.

All states have an obligation to prevent and punish genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, and must uphold their obligations by pressuring Israel to end its attacks and to facilitate the unconditional and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. States must come together to demand an immediate resumption of an enduring ceasefire, an end to Israels genocide, and the dismantling of Israel’s system of apartheid and unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory. 

 

Empowering AISA’s Chapters

by Rejoyce Motaung, Amnesty International South Africa Activism Coordinator: Organising

From 24 January to 6 February, AISA hosted a training session for its university chapters in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to strengthen their campaigning efforts in 2025. The training was made up of online sessions and then a two day in-person training in Johannesburg. The program brought together chapter leaders from across the country to engage in capacity-building workshops, strategy discussions, and networking opportunities.

The training focused on enhancing the effectiveness of chapters in organising and mobilising communities, advocating for human rights, and implementing impactful campaigns. Participants explored key topics such as movement building, advocacy and the importance of innovation in today’s activism landscape. Sessions also covered AISA’s priority campaigns, ensuring alignment between grassroots activism and broader organisational goals.

The training was interactive and activists participated in scenario-based exercises, role-playing activities, and case study analyses to develop practical solutions to real-world human rights challenges. Sessions on effective outreach and engagement strategies empowered chapter members to take decisive action within their respective constituencies.

Beyond building valuable skills, the training fostered a sense of solidarity among the chapters. Chapter leaders exchanged experiences, challenges, and best practices, reinforcing the importance of collaboration within the AISA movement. The event also provided a platform for activists to connect with the AISA team, ensuring open dialogue and a shared vision.

As a result of this training, chapter leaders are now better equipped to lead human rights initiatives on their respective university campuses. With renewed energy and strategic direction, chapters will play a crucial role in advancing AISA’s mission across South Africa in 2025 and beyond.

The success of this training underscores the importance of continuous learning and empowerment for activists. By investing in capacity-building, AISA reaffirms its commitment to strengthening activism and amplifying the voices of those fighting for justice and human rights.

Awards Ceremony

The training ended with the annual activist award ceremony hosted by AISA on 7 February in Johannesburg. The awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding activism and achievements of activists in 2024.

The awards ceremony highlighted the incredible efforts of chapters and individual activists who made significant contributions to AISA’s human rights campaigning over the past year.

 

During the event, activists shared their experiences and the challenges they overcame in their human rights work. A keynote speech from AISA’s Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed emphasised the importance of local activism and solidarity in the fight against injustice. Beyond individual recognitions, the event was a celebration of collective activism. AISA acknowledged the impact of collaborative campaigns on key issues such as gender-based violence. The awards underscored how united efforts continue to push for systemic change.

The ceremony served as a reminder of the power of activism and the importance of sustaining momentum and therefore reinforced AISA’s commitment to supporting and amplifying the voices of those advocating for human rights. 

Here’s to another year of impactful activism!

 

CHAPTER EVENTS 

AI UNIVERSITY OF FORT HARE (UFH)

by Onika Booi, Ai UFH Chairperson

AISA UFH, implemented Visibility Mondays, where we would wear our human rights defender t-Shirts for visibility around campus. This was an attempt to keep people asking questions and talking about the campaign calling for the protection of human rights defenders in South Africa. Unfortunately, a strike took effect just two weeks into us implementing the initiative at our university and we were not able to continue until the strike had ended. Nevertheless, many people on campus kept asking us about this movement and the campaign. I, as the chairperson, was called up in one of my law lectures to explain what this initiative was about. As a result, several lecturers at the Faculty of Law are supporting this and want to take part in the initiative. A key question from people was how they can get their own t-shirts to show support for the movement. We are currently on recess/break, we are planning to go stronger and harder when we reopen after the holidays.



On 31 March, AISA UFH hosted a peaceful walk for the #JusticeForCwecwe campaign. About 100 AISA UFH members showed up to stand in solidarity with Cwecwe and her family, and most importantly, to call for the authorities to ensure there is justice for the seven-year-old, who was reportedly raped at school. We walked from the East London City Hall where the mayor’s office is situated, then right after that we went to the court and the police station. At the police station, we got to speak with the lead investigator of criminal and other related crimes, who told those gathered that the police station would support us, however, they do not have updates about the case as it is outside their jurisdiction. We then moved to campus where we allowed our members to voice their views on the matter, some resonated with it on a personal level due to past experiences and it turned out to be a therapeutic session where we could all connect.

 

AI University of Pretoria

Marketing Week by Khanya Tshikitsha, Chairperson

On Tuesday, 11 February, the AIUP executives, Khanya Tshikitsha, Motshidisi Rankwe, Kelebogile Masike and Bontle Leeuw travelled to the Groenkloof campus to recruit members to the AIUP chapter. Marketing at this campus proved to be a success as we recruited 80 members in a single day. Students were very interested in Amnesty International and human rights activism and appreciated that we travelled to the campus as it is often ignored by many societies at UP.

On 25 February we then held an annual general meeting welcoming AIUP members recruited during marketing week. The event proved to be a success as attendance was far higher than anticipated, with members attending both physically and online. Students were engaged and a dialogue was held with discussions about human rights, education and what Amnesty International is about. 

 

AI WITS UNIVERSITY 

Welcome Socoial by Nkosinathi Mtumbula, Secretary and Chioma Nzelu, Chairperson

On 14 March, AISA Wits chapter hosted its welcome social, an engaging and interactive event aimed at introducing new and returning members to our work, our mission, and each other. The event created a dynamic space where attendees could learn more about Amnesty, meet the committee, and connect with like-minded individuals passionate about human rights activism.

The session was highly interactive, with members eager to explore how they could get involved in our initiatives. While attendance met expectations, we are excited to see even greater participation in future events. As a chapter, we recognise the importance of offline and hybrid engagement, ensuring that all students, regardless of availability, can be part of the movement.

This event also provided valuable learning experiences in organisational effectiveness, reinforcing our commitment to strong leadership and clear communication in future initiatives. We look forward to hosting more impactful events throughout the year!

 

 AI UNIVERSITY OF NORTH WEST

Awareness Raising Event by Tshegofatso Makgakga, Chairperson

I am thrilled to report that our Amnesty International NWU Chapter event held on the 27 March 2025 was a success! Our primary objective was to raise awareness about Amnesty International’s mission, the movement of Abahlali BaseMjondolo as well as the importance of protection measures for Human Rights Defenders and we are delighted to have achieved this goal. We were also heartened to hear that the people who engaged with us were glad to discover that Amnesty International has a presence in the NWU Campus. This underscores the importance of our work and the need for continued awareness and action in the North West. I am grateful for Amnesty and NWU for giving us the opportunity to do this event. We look forward to achieving greater reach and impact in quarter two.

 

Meet AISA's Alumni Network

Solomon Ndondo

Solomon Ndondo is the AISA Alumni Network’s research and partnerships officer. Solomon has more than five years experience as a human rights activist with particular interest in children’s rights and sexual and reproductive health rights. He is a PhD candidate in Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg. 

Zosuliwe Nzalo

Fueled by justice, driven by compassion. Zosuliwe Nzalo, is the social media manager of the AISA Alumni Network, amplifying human rights voices.

Nondumiso Zwane 

Nondumiso Zwane is the secretary of the AISA Alumni Network. She supports communication and coordination among human rights advocates and is passionate about staying connected with like-minded individuals to promote justice, equality, and amplify our shared human rights impact.

Zoliswa Mzaca

Zoliswa Mzaca is the AISA Alumni Network finance officer. He is a passionate human rights advocate dedicated to amplifying voices through collective action. He believes in influencing policy and decision-makers in South Africa and that the Alumni Network can play an important role in that regard.

Patience Mufunganzira

Patience Mufunganzira serves as the secretary general of AISA’s Alumni Network. She previously held the position of chairperson of the AISA chapter at the University of Fort Hare in 2023. Patience’s passion lies in continuing to promote human rights activism and awareness, ensuring that the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights frameworks remain at the forefront of societal discourse and action.

Jaclyn Modise

Jaclyn Modise is a global communicator and social scientist who joined AISA’s Alumni Network in 2021 and serves as the monitoring and evaluation officer. She sees the network as a strategic platform that amplifies AISA’s work in online spaces, communities, and universities.

 

In the first quarter of 2024, Amnesty International South Africa was interviewed on various human rights topics. 

Watch/listen to some of those interviews below. 

 

On 31 January, AISA’s campaigner Cassandra Dorasamy spoke to Cape Talk about child and teen pregnancy and our #ScanTheScar campaign. 

Listen the interview here.

On 6 February, AISA Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed spoke to Newzroom Afrika about expectations ahead of the State of the Nationa Address and protection of human rights defenders. 

Watch the interview here.

 

On 20 March, AISA Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed spoke to Sunday Times about the cost of protest in South Africa and  why standing up for basic rights still comes with heavy consequences.

Listen to the podcast here.

 

On 21 March, AISA Campaigner Cassandra Dorasamy spoke to Newzroom Afrika about human rights defenders need protection as part of commemorating Human Rights Day in South Arica.

Watch the interview here. 

AISA Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed eNCA’s Lee McCabe about human rights defenders in South Africa and the need for protection. This is aprt of eNCA’s In the Firing Line series.

Watch the interivew here (part 1 seg 2). 

 

DRC: M23’s rampant human rights abuses demand concerted international action

Since capturing the city of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in January, the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group has raided hospitals, abducted patients, including civilians and hospitalized Congolese soldiers, from their beds and subjected them to acts of torture, Amnesty International said today.

The organization also documented cases of gang rape committed by M23, as well as acts of ill-treatment against human rights defenders after the group seized Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, on 27 January, and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, on 16 February. Amnesty International is calling on the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community, the European Union and other international actors to increase pressure on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and treat detainees humanely, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

“Since taking control of Goma, the M23 has instilled a climate of fear and vicious reprisals among the local population. The alarming scale and frequency of abuses in eastern Congo should shock the world. The violence has been enabled by decades of impunity for serious abuses and human rights violations,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

Read the full statement here.

 

Angola: Five government critics released after more than a year of arbitrary imprisonment

Responding to the release of five arbitrarily detained government critics in Angola after more than a year behind bars, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:

“At last, Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro and Pensador are free. We are overjoyed that they are home with their loved ones.

“Though we celebrate their release, these five people should never have been locked up. Authorities arrested them solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. We look forward to them receiving the medical care that authorities deliberately denied them in prison.

“At last, Neth Nahara, Adolfo Campos, Gildo das Ruas, Tanaice Neutro and Pensador are free. We are overjoyed that they are home with their loved ones.

“Angola’s government must respect everyone’s rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and end arbitrary detention and torture in the country. They must urgently hold accountable anyone suspected of responsibility for violating the rights of these five activists.”

 

Mozambique: Authorities must investigate reports of more than 300 unlawful killings during post-election protest crackdown 

Mozambique’s Frelimo-led government must urgently launch investigations into reports of widespread human rights violations committed during the ongoing crackdown on protests following disputed national elections and commit to making the findings public, Amnesty International said.  

Nationwide demonstrations erupted on 21 October 2024 following the killing of two prominent opposition-aligned figures. Since then, there have been credible reports of widespread human rights violations with more than 300 people reported killed, including children and bystanders, in an attempt to crush the protests, with the vast majority of deaths blamed on security forces, according to tallies by monitoring groups. Government forces have also shot and wounded more than 700 others and arbitrarily detained thousands, according to the same tallies, with reports of torture and other ill-treatment in custody. The authorities have also reportedly targeted journalists, restricted internet access and deployed the military. 

“The crackdown on protests in Mozambique following last year’s election has been appalling. It is the bloodiest election cycle in Mozambique’s post-civil war history, yet the suspected perpetrators have enjoyed complete impunity,” said Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farisè.

Read the full statement here. 

Zimbabwe: Ten years without answers since journalist and activist Itai Dzamara’s enforced disappearance 

Ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the enforced disappearance of Zimbabwean journalist and pro-democracy activist Itai Peace Dzamara, Amnesty International calls on authorities to urgently establish an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into his whereabouts. 

On the morning of 9 March 2015, five men abducted Dzamara from a barber shop in the capital Harare’s Glen View suburb. The men accused him of stealing cattle before handcuffing him and driving off with him in a white truck with concealed number plates. All attempts by relatives and human rights lawyers to establish his whereabouts have been unsuccessful.

“Itai Dzamara’s family and loved ones have endured ten years without answers. The authorities have ignored calls for information and investigation, including from his wife Sheffra Dzamara,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Zimbabwean authorities must urgently carry out an effective investigation into what happened to Itai Dzamara and end their official silence on his case.” 

Dzamara was a leader of the Occupy Africa Unity Square, a pro-democracy protest group. Two days before his enforced disappearance, Dzamara addressed an opposition rally where he called for mass action against Zimbabwe’s deteriorating economic conditions. 

Read the full statement here. 

Munich Security Conference: Amnesty’s Secretary General calls on states to resist attacks on human rights protections

Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard attended the Munich Security Conference from 14 to 16 February, where she called on world leaders and senior officials to resolutely come together to resist attacks on human rights and the global multilateral architecture and avoid further harm to human rights protections and the rules-based order.

“The past 12 months have laid bare precisely how hellish the world can be when states don’t apply universal standards and insist that international law and multilateral decisions do not apply to their actions. Consider Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the conflict still raging in Sudan, the worsening catastrophe in Myanmar, and the recent uptick in fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Agnès Callamard said.

“Following the long overdue ceasefire in Gaza and the transition of power in Syria, the question turns to how lasting peace and justice can be achieved in such contexts. States must commit their full support to bodies like the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court in their efforts to uphold the law, as failure to hold perpetrators accountable will only embolden other aggressors and fuel further cycles of violence and destruction.

The past 12 months have laid bare precisely how hellish the world can be when states don’t apply universal standards and insist that international law and multilateral decisions do not apply to their actions.

Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

“In these precarious times, humanity can ill afford further breakdowns in the international order. We do not need more instability, division or turmoil; we do not need more attacks on human rights values and further undermining of our already fragile commitments to address climate change. We need sustainable, future-focused solutions. The multilateral system may be failing us, but the answer is not to abandon it to the abyss. The answer is to strengthen and reform it, grounding it in a common vision so it can make good on its promise of global stability and universal human rights protections. The Munich Security Conference presents a timely opportunity for world leaders to begin to address these challenges and pave the way for a future free of the harrowing conflicts that blight today’s world.”

 

Ukraine/Russia: Three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, justice for victims must be a global priority 

Ahead of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and amid the start of U.S.-Russia peace talks, Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, in February said:  

“At a time when the US President is seeking to re-write the history of the last decade, and particularly of the last three years, the 3rd anniversary of the Russian aggression is a stark reminder of how much the people of Ukraine have endured and lost; of the devastation that Russia has waged against Ukraine.” 

“Any negotiations over the future of the people of Ukraine must prioritize justice for all crimes under international law committed since Russia’s military intervention in 2014, accountability for those responsible, and reparations for victims of Russia’s aggression. Past suffering, including deadly Russian airstrikes on civilians and the forcible transfer of children to Russia, must not be forgotten or left unaddressed. Those most impacted by Russia’s war of aggression must have their voices heard and their needs met, and any negotiated outcome that does not account for this will fail in the long-term. 

“On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we demand justice, accountability, and reparation – as well as meaningful participation in the peace process – for the Ukrainian civilians abducted by Russian security services, prisoners of war tortured and unlawfully convicted, children threatened for studying Ukrainian online, teachers in Russian-occupied Ukraine subjected to forced labour in schools reopened under a Russian curriculum, and Crimean Tatars and other minorities who face brutal suppression as Russia seeks to alter the demographics of occupied territories. Without ending these ongoing violations immediately and strong guarantees for justice, a rushed ‘peace deal’ will only prolong their suffering and ensure impunity for the perpetrators of heinous rights violations. 

“U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said last week that President Trump wants to end the war in a way that is sustainable and enduring. A genuine commitment by President Trump to securing lasting peace in Ukraine must be delivered not in words but in actions – including supporting all possible avenues for real justice and accountability for those suspected of war crimes and all crimes under international law.”

Read the full statement here. 

 

 

International Women’s Day: The world must resist mounting attacks on gender justice

The significance of International Women’s Day 2025 cannot be overstated. It is no longer a case of addressing unfinished business on the gender justice front, but one of bracing ourselves to resist active regression and a mounting assault on our rights.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard.

Read the full statement here. 

 

Global: UN member states recommit to gender equality amid backlash against human rights

The adoption of a political declaration on gender equality at the UN yesterday, despite relentless opposition from a handful of states, is a win for human rights. Now governments must put words into action and ensure that those commitments translate into real changes for women and girls whose rights are violated and abused around the world, said Amnesty International at the start of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

The political declaration, made after more than a month of negotiation, is based on the vision and promise laid out 30 years ago in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UN’s most comprehensive blueprint for gender equality and the rights of women and girls. During negotiations, certain states including the USA and Argentina, attempted to challenge even the most basic and accepted terms around gender and gender equality. However, these attempts were thwarted and the final text contained strong references to the rights of all women and girls, in addition to the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination they can experience.

Read the full statement here.

USA: Arrest and Detention of Mahmoud Khalil Is Chilling Attack on Human Rights 

In response to the Trump administration’s unlawful arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent graduate of Columbia University, Paul O’Brien, Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director, made the following statement: 

“The arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist and lawful permanent resident, is another attack on human rights by the Trump administration. Each and every one of us – regardless of immigration status – has the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and due process.  

“Targeting and threatening peaceful protesters and their immigration status for the content of their protest, such as advocating for the human rights of Palestinians, is a violation of human rights. This targeting sends a chilling message to people across this country, on and off campuses, that anyone exercising their rights will be subject to repression, detention, and possible deportation. And for the immigrant communities already living in fear throughout the U.S., they are now only further pushed into the shadows with fear that they could be deported for speaking out. 

“Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are human rights, not grounds for deportation.  

“The U.S. government must release Mahmoud Khalil immediately. Colleges and universities must also take steps to protect their immigrant students from ICE enforcement and ensure that the human rights of all of their students and faculty to protest in support of Palestinian rights and other issues is respected and protected.” 

 

USA: Chilling verdict against Greenpeace sets damaging precedent for protection and promotion of human rights and climate justice

In response to a U.S. jury in North Dakota ordering Greenpeace to pay at least $660m to the fossil fuel company Energy Transfer, having found the organization responsible for defamation and the actions of protesters opposed to the Dakota Access pipeline in 2016 and 2017, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

“This devastating verdict sets an array of deeply damaging precedents on the rights to freedom of speech, association and peaceful protest and puts the very future of Greenpeace at risk. It has severe implications for Indigenous Peoples, and other environmental defenders and climate activists who tirelessly work to protect human rights. There is no doubt that it will have a chilling effect on those campaigning to expose wrongdoing by powerful companies in the United States and all over the world.

“Energy Transfer’s chosen path of legal action could be seen as a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP), which has had the effect of stifling the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and inflicting significant harm on Greenpeace, draining their resources through protracted cases and exorbitant damages, and impeding their ability to fight back. 

Read the full statement here. 

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