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Category: NGOs

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: Ahmad Manasra’s release from prison is long overdue after a decade of ‘injustice, abuse and trauma’

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Manasra was interrogated aged 13 without a lawyer or parent present

    ‘The shocking ill-treatment of Manasra and cruelty exhibited towards him by the Israeli prison authorities and the Israeli justice system is an illustration of broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, especially children’ – Heba Morayef

    Responding to the release after nine and a half years imprisonment in an Israeli prison of Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian arrested at the age of 13, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said:

    “Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and for his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma and ill-treatment he endured behind bars.

    “Instead of releasing him on medical grounds years earlier when his mental health conditions significantly deteriorated, the Israeli parole committee invoked a provision in the abusive Counter-Terrorism Law to block his early release.

    “Manasra was interrogated at the age of 13 without a lawyer or parent present. Video footage of his interrogation showed interrogators shouting at him and insulting him as he became increasingly distressed.

    “Despite mounting calls for his release, Israeli authorities placed him under solitary confinement for nearly two years which significantly worsened his conditions. Solitary confinement longer than 15 days violates the prohibition of torture.

    “We express our deepest hope for Ahmad’s recovery from the profound trauma he has suffered. He must be granted adequate access to the healthcare he needs in his native East Jerusalem without any discrimination and he and his family must be protected from any form of intimidation and abuse.

    “The shocking ill-treatment of Manasra and cruelty exhibited towards him by the Israeli prison authorities and the Israeli justice system is an illustration of broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, especially children. Three weeks ago, a 17-year-old Palestinian detainee, Walid Khalid Abdullah Ahmad, died in Israeli custody likely due to a combination of starvation and extreme medical neglect and abuse, as evidenced by his autopsy.”

    Ahmad Manasra’s release comes at a time when thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees face unprecedented levels of torture and other ill-treatment and denial of their most basic rights, such as food and healthcare. Israeli authorities repeatedly claimed that Manasra’s prolonged and cruel solitary confinement was aimed at protecting him, but in fact it subjected him to immense suffering.

    Human rights violations

    Ahmad Manasra was arrested in October 2015 in connection with a stabbing incident in occupied East Jerusalem. Despite evidence suggesting he did not participate in the stabbings, and despite his young age, he was subjected to harsh interrogation without legal representation or the presence of his parents. Footage of his interrogation, showing him distressed and injured, sparked international concern.

    In 2016, Manasra was convicted of attempted murder in proceedings that raised serious concerns about due process and his rights as a child. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, later reduced to nine-and-a-half years in prison. His request for early release on medical grounds were rejected by the Israeli parole committee in 2022, decisions which the Israeli courts upheld. 

    During his years of incarceration, Manasra’s mental health significantly deteriorated, particularly during nearly two years spent in solitary confinement beginning in November 2021. Medical professionals diagnosed him with severe psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and severe depression, leading to hospitalisation within the prison system. Amnesty repeatedly raised concerns about his well-being and the detrimental impact of prolonged solitary confinement, which violates international law.

    Amnesty has consistently highlighted Manasra’s case as emblematic of the systemic human rights violations faced by Palestinian children within the Israeli military justice system.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel/OPT: Long overdue release of Ahmad Manasra marks the start of a long and difficult path to recovery

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Responding to the release of Ahmad Manasra, a Palestinian arrested at the age of 13, from Israeli prison after nine and a half years imprisonment, Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa said:

    “Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and for his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma and ill-treatment he endured behind bars. Instead of releasing him on medical grounds years earlier when his mental health conditions significantly deteriorated, the Israeli parole committee invoked a provision in the abusive Counter-Terrorism Law to block his early release. Ahmad Manasra was interrogated at age 13 without a lawyer or parent present. Video footage of his interrogation showed interrogators shouting at and insulting him as he became increasingly distressed. Despite mounting calls for his release, Israeli authorities placed him under solitary confinement for nearly two years which significantly worsened his conditions. Solitary confinement longer than 15 days violates the prohibition of torture.

    “We express our deepest hope for Ahmad’s recovery from the profound trauma he has suffered. He must be granted adequate access to the healthcare he needs in his native East Jerusalem without any discrimination and he and his family must be protected from any form of intimidation and abuse.

    Ahmad Manasra’s release today is a huge relief for him and for his family, but nothing can undo the years of injustice, abuse, trauma and ill-treatment he endured behind bars.

    Heba Morayef, MENA Regional Director

    “The shocking ill-treatment of Ahmad Manasra and cruelty exhibited towards him by the Israeli prison authorities and the Israeli justice system is an illustration of broader patterns of abuse against Palestinian detainees, especially children. Three weeks ago, a 17-year-old Palestinian detainee, Walid Khalid Abdullah Ahmad, died in Israeli custody likely due to a combination of starvation and extreme medical neglect and abuse, as evidenced by his autopsy.”

    Ahmad Manasra’s release comes at a time when thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees face unprecedented levels of torture and other ill-treatment and denial of their most basic rights, such as food and healthcare. Israeli authorities repeatedly claimed that Manasra’s prolonged and cruel solitary confinement was aimed at protecting him, but in fact it subjected him to immense suffering.

    Background:

    Ahmad Manasra was arrested in October 2015 in connection with a stabbing incident in occupied East Jerusalem. Despite evidence suggesting he did not participate in the stabbings, and despite his young age, he was subjected to harsh interrogation without legal representation or the presence of his parents. Footage of his interrogation, showing him distressed and injured, sparked international concern.

    In 2016, Ahmad Manasra was convicted of attempted murder in proceedings that raised serious concerns about due process and his rights as a child. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, later reduced to nine and a half years in prison. His request for early release on medical grounds were rejected by the Israeli parole committee in 2022, decisions which the Israeli courts upheld.  

    During his years of incarceration, Ahmad Manasra’s mental health significantly deteriorated, particularly during nearly two years spent in solitary confinement beginning in November 2021. Medical professionals diagnosed him with severe psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia and severe depression, leading to hospitalization within the prison system. Amnesty International repeatedly raised concerns about his well-being and the detrimental impact of prolonged solitary confinement, which violates international law.

    Amnesty International has consistently highlighted Ahmad Manasra’s case as emblematic of the systemic human rights violations faced by Palestinian children within the Israeli military justice system.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sudan: Rapid Support Forces horrific and widespread sexual violence leaves lives in tatters – new report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Gang rapes of 36 women and girls as young as 15 recorded between April 2023 and October 2024 

     Woman torn away from breast feeding baby and attacked and 11-year-old boy beaten to death as he tried to help his mother 

     RSF soldiers tied a woman to a tree before one raped her as the others watched – ‘It was the most horrific day in my life’ 

     For survivors, cuts to vital USAID-funded programmes have diminished prospects for accessing comprehensive sexual health care 

     ‘The RSF’s attacks on civilians are shameful and cowardly, and any countries supporting the RSF, including by supplying them with weapons, shares in their shame’ – Deprose Muchena 

    The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has inflicted widespread sexual violence on women and girls throughout Sudan’s two-year civil war to humiliate, assert control and displace communities across the country. The RSF’s atrocities, including rape, gang-rape and sexual slavery, amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a new 34-page report.  

     The report, “They raped all of us: Sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan”, documents RSF soldiers raping or gang-raping 36 women and girls as young as 15, plus other forms of sexual violence, in four Sudanese states between April 2023 and October 2024. Violations include raping a mother after tearing away her breastfeeding baby and the 30-day sexual enslavement of a woman in Khartoum, as well as severe beatings, torture with hot liquid or sharp blades, and murder. 

     Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact, said: 

     “The RSF’s assaults on Sudanese women and girls are sickening, depraved and aimed at inflicting maximum humiliation. They have targeted civilians, particularly women and girls, with unimaginable cruelty during this war. 

     “The world must act to stop the RSF’s atrocities by stemming the flow of weapons into Sudan, pressuring the leadership to end sexual violence, and holding perpetrators including top commanders to account. 

     “The horror of the RSF’s sexual violence is overwhelming, but the cases documented among refugees represent a small fraction of the violations likely committed. The RSF’s attacks on civilians are shameful and cowardly, and any countries supporting them, including by supplying them with weapons, shares in their shame. 

     “The international response to the suffering of Sudanese women and girls has been reprehensible. The world has failed to protect civilians, provide sufficient humanitarian aid or hold perpetrators accountable for these crimes. It’s time for people and governments around the world to establish the truth of what has happened in Sudan, bring suspected perpetrators to justice and provide reparations and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to survivors.” 

     Eruption of violence and war crimes since April 2023 

     Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), killing tens of thousands of people and displacing more than 11 million to date. Both sides have committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some of which amount to war crimes, including sexual violence against women and girls.  

     For the report, Amnesty interviewed 30 people, mostly survivors and relatives of survivors in Ugandan refugee camps. All survivors and witnesses identified RSF fighters as perpetrators. The RSF’s use of sexual violence throughout the conflict and across Sudan, combined with the fact that many attacks took place in the presence of other soldiers, victims and other civilians, indicates perpetrators did not feel compelled to hide their crimes and did not fear any response.  

      The RSF did not respond to Amnesty’s requests for comment.  

     ‘The most horrific day in my life’  

     Every survivor of sexual violence who was interviewed described how the attack caused massive physical or mental harm and had devastating impacts on their families. All fled their homes after.  

     In Nyala, South Darfur, RSF soldiers tied a woman to a tree before one raped her as the others watched. “It was the most horrific day in my life,” she said.  

     In Madani, Gezira, three RSF soldiers’ gang-raped a woman in front of her 12-year-old daughter and sister-in-law. “It was so humiliating,” the woman said. “I feel broken.”  

     Numerous survivors said RSF soldiers raped them on suspicion of SAF affiliation. Female medical workers said RSF troops raped them if they could not save wounded soldiers. In one such case, a nurse said 13 soldiers abducted her in Khartoum North and forced her to treat severely injured men before gang-raping her, leaving her unconscious.  

     Amnesty found two cases of sexual slavery in Khartoum, including a woman who said RSF troops held her captive in a house for a month, raping her almost every day.  

     Survivors said anyone who resisted rape risked beatings, torture and other ill-treatment, or murder, including an 11-year-old boy who an RSF soldier beat to death as he tried to help his mother.  

     A ‘reprehensible’ response  

     The world’s response has likewise been shameful as victims and survivors lack both health care and justice.  

    No survivors accessed timely post-rape care or reported attacks to Sudanese authorities due to ongoing fighting or fear of stigma and reprisals. Some suffer kidney pains, irregular periods, walking difficulties or long-term psychological trauma. Children who saw relatives raped suffer nightmares.  

    As refugees, all survivors said their priority was to get medical treatment for injuries and diseases inflicted by the RSF or for health conditions developed in their captivity. However, cuts to vital USAID-funded programmes have diminished prospects for accessing comprehensive sexual health care.  

    Survivors also demanded justice and accountability. One woman raped in Omdurman said: “Women are not leading or participating in this war, but it is women who are suffering the most. I want the whole world to know about the suffering of Sudanese women and girls and ensure that all the bad men who raped us are punished.”  

     UK Government to host conference on 15 April 

    The UK Government is due to host a ministerial-level international Sudan Conference in London on 15 April aimed at strengthening the international community’s response to the conflict.  

    Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s, Chief Executive, said:  

    “Bringing together international leaders could not come at a more vital time for the UK to champion the protection of women and girls from conflict in Sudan. However, the UK’s own drastic aid cut plans are deeply worrying and set a poor example – especially when the world is seemingly turning its back on those experiencing extreme violence. Despite the Prime Minister stressing that the UK will still hold a key humanitarian role in Sudan, its aid cut plans may well discourage additional funding from other states. This conference must recognise the horrendous findings from Amnesty’s report and remain prioritising funds for those most at risk.” 

     

     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Côte d’Ivoire: A unionist sentenced to two years imprisonment must be released and the right to strike guaranteed for everyone in the country

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Reacting to the sentencing by the Ivorian courts on 8 April of a unionist to two years’ imprisonment for “coalition of public officials” and “obstructing the operation of the public service”, Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said:

    “Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Ghislain Duggary Assy, Communications Secretary of the Movement of Teachers for the Dignity Dynamic (Mouvement des Enseignants pour la Dynamique de la Dignité) union. All charges against him must be dropped.

    “The strike notice, sent to the Ministry of Education on 21 March in compliance with legal procedure, announced a strike on 3 and 4 April, and resulted in this conviction and a dozen of arrests, which constitute a flagrant violation of workers’ fundamental rights, in particular the right to strike and freedom of association, guaranteed by the Ivorian Constitution and international conventions ratified by Côte d’Ivoire.

    “Teachers cannot be treated as criminals for exercising their fundamental rights. The authorities must respect and guarantee the human rights of everyone in the country, including the right to freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and the right to a fair trial.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemen: US abrupt and irresponsible aid cuts compound humanitarian crisis and put millions at risk   

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The United States government’s abrupt and irresponsible termination of foreign assistance is putting the health and human rights of millions of people in Yemen who depend on humanitarian aid at risk, Amnesty International said today.   

    After a decade of a devastating conflict, Yemen continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.   

    Aid workers described to Amnesty International how President Donald Trump’s decision to cut US aid funding has led to the shut-down of lifesaving assistance and protection services, including malnutrition treatment to children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, safe shelters to survivors of gender-based violence, and healthcare to children suffering from cholera and other illnesses.   

    The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher  

    “The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women and girls, children, and internally displaced people, jeopardizing their safety, dignity, and fundamental human rights,” said Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher.  

    “Unless the US immediately reinstates sufficient funding for lifesaving aid to Yemen and ensures the money is disbursed expeditiously, an already devastating humanitarian situation will further deteriorate and millions of people in Yemen are going to be left without desperately needed support.  

    “Other donor states must also act urgently to uphold their human rights obligations by providing humanitarian assistance and supporting human rights in Yemen.”  

    After years of conflict and compounding crises, an estimated 19.5 million people, over half the population, are dependent on aid in Yemen. Yemen has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally, with an estimated 4.8 million internally displaced people, most of whom are women and children, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Over the last five years, during both President Trump’s first term and President Biden’s, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest donor, providing $768 million dollars’ worth of support in 2024, comprising half of Yemen’s coordinated humanitarian response plan.  

    Amnesty International interviewed 10 humanitarian experts and aid workers with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground and six representatives of local human rights organizations, five of which provide direct services to vulnerable groups, all of whom said the impact of the cuts will be devastating, leading to suffering, death and more instability for an already fragile country. All of those interviewed requested to remain anonymous.  

    The manner in which the US State Department designated the Huthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) has further compounded the humanitarian situation. The difficulty for aid organizations to certify compliance with the designation in the complex humanitarian environment in northern Yemen forced several international humanitarian organizations to suspend operations in Huthi-controlled territories.  The designation created significant confusion and concern, aid workers told Amnesty International. An executive order initiating the designation process did not reference any humanitarian exemptions and ordered that funds be cut off to any organization that “criticized international efforts to counter Ansar Allah [the Huthis] while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently”.   

    “US measures targeting the Huthi de facto authorities should provide clear and effective exemptions for humanitarian aid operations and the delivery of life-saving supplies. The majority of civilians in critical need of aid live in Huthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen. The US’s designation of the Huthis as a terrorist organization should not obstruct aid and other supplies indispensable for keeping people alive, in good health and in safety,” said Diala Haidar.  

    Since 15 March, the US has also intensified its military operations in Yemen, carrying out several waves of air strikes against Huthi targets, including air strikes on Sana’a, Sa’adah, Hodeidah and other governorates under Huthi control.   

    “Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world. The military escalation in Yemen, along with the US aid cuts, will compound the humanitarian disaster already facing a population still reeling from the long-standing conflict. it doesn’t have to be this way—the US should restart funding to these programmes immediately,” said Diala Haidar.   

    ‘We have been forced to make life and death decisions’  

    On 20 January, US President Donald Trump signed a presidential executive order, ordering that all foreign aid be paused during a 90-day review to ensure alignment with his administration’s foreign policy. On 24 January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stop work order to those delivering assistance worldwide. The US said some exemptions would be granted, including to “life-saving humanitarian assistance”. On 10 March, only six weeks after the review was ordered, Rubio wrote on X that 83% of the foreign aid programmes at USAID had been officially cancelled.   

    Humanitarian organizations were left with impossible decisions to make on life-saving services while lacking clear communication from US agencies, such as USAID, multiple aid workers told Amnesty International.   

    One aid worker said: “We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted. People you are emailing are not there. This is impacting our Yemen grant as well as many others elsewhere.”  

    On 28 March, the US State Department formally notified Congress it is dissolving USAID, eliminating some functions and moving the remainder under the State Department.  

    Devastating impact on women and girls  

    Women and girls across Yemen have long faced systemic discrimination and gender-based violence. Yemen has no legal minimum age of marriage, and almost one third of women are married before the age of 18. Child marriage is associated with a life-time of human rights harms. Yemen also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Middle East and North Africa, with nearly 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, according to UNFPA.  

    According to experts and aid workers interviewed by Amnesty International, by March 2025, the US aid funding cuts had already forced the shutdown of dozens of safe spaces—designed to prevent or respond to gender-based violence—for women and girls across Yemen. They warned that if funding was not restored, dozens of health facilities and reproductive health and protection clinics would shut down, denying hundreds of thousands of women and girls, including survivors of gender-based violence, access to life-saving healthcare, psychosocial support and legal aid.  

    A representative of a local organization that provides a range of services to survivors of gender-based violence, including safe shelter, legal aid, and psychosocial support, said the US aid cuts had severely impacted more than half of their programmes. She told Amnesty International:   

    “Hundreds of women will be impacted… We are no longer providing psychological support, which is a crucial service for women survivors of gender-based violence. Legal aid counselling will also stop.”   

    In addition to the funding cuts, the US designation of the Huthis as an FTO led international organizations running lifesaving programmes that provided support to malnourished children and pregnant and breast-feeding mothers to suspend operations in Huthi-controlled areas. 

    The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organizations to support and empower other women.

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher

    “The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organizations to support and empower other women,” said Diala Haidar. “When survivors of gender-based violence lose access to shelters, psychosocial support, referrals to health centres, legal aid and other critical services, they face life-threatening consequences. Funding cuts risk dismantling the existing network of protection and support that has been built over years by Yemeni women human rights defenders and humanitarian organizations, which in turn makes girls increasingly vulnerable, including to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour.”   

    US policies on Yemen have also impacted other vulnerable groups, including children and the internally displaced. Approximately 2.3 million children in Yemen, nearly half of children under five, are acutely malnourished according to OCHA. A number of organizations have had to pause or end protection, health and nutrition services they were providing for infants and young children. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are also projected to lose access to life-saving emergency relief as a result of the funding cuts.   

    ‘Funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice’  

    Representatives of local human rights organizations in Yemen also described how the abrupt US funding cuts jeopardized their work monitoring human rights violations and abuses whilst also undermining the rights of hundreds of the people they have been helping to find shelter, legal aid, and safety, including survivors of gender-based violence, women human rights defenders, and families of victims of enforced disappearance. They described how the move undermined their efforts to pursue justice and accountability in Yemen and feared that it will further embolden perpetrators of abuses   

    In describing the cuts, one human rights defender said: “We are already facing restrictions on our [human rights] work by the different authorities [in Yemen], so this felt as if the international community has abandoned us.”   

    A woman human rights defender explained that the US funding cuts would have a direct impact on victims of human rights violations, including the arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared because their documentation work and legal aid services will end. She said: “These victims and their families right to truth and justice is at stake.”  

    Another human rights defender said: “Funding cuts do not just end projects, funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice in Yemen.”  

    Background  

    Over the last five years, the United States has consistently been Yemen’s largest humanitarian donor. Other major donors to the humanitarian response include the United Kingdom, the European Commission, Saudi Arabia and Germany. Even before the US aid cuts, Yemen’s humanitarian response plan was consistently and severely underfunded for years. As of April 2025, the plan was only 6.9% funded.  

    The Huthis have also exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, targeting aid workers and other international staff working to deliver life-saving services in northern Yemen. Starting on 31 May 2024, they conducted a series of raids in areas under their control, arbitrarily detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organizations. Between 23 and 25 January 2025, the Huthis conducted another wave of arrests arbitrarily detaining eight UN staff. On 11 February, one of the eight detained UN staff members died in Huthi custody. Many of those arrested were working to provide assistance or protection to those most in need, and the arrests prompted the UN to announce the suspension of all official movements into and within areas under Huthi control in January 2025.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sudan: Rapid Support Forces’ horrific and widespread use of sexual violence leaves lives in tatters

    Source: Amnesty International –

    This press release contains descriptions of sexual violence and torture.

    The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has inflicted widespread sexual violence on women and girls throughout Sudan’s two-year civil war to humiliate, assert control and displace communities across the country. The RSF’s atrocities, including rape, gang-rape and sexual slavery, amount to war crimes and possible crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said in a new report. 

    The report, They raped all of us: Sexual violence against women and girls in Sudan, documents RSF soldiers raping or gang-raping 36 women and girls as young as 15, plus other forms of sexual violence, in four Sudanese states between April 2023 and October 2024. Violations include raping a mother after tearing away her breastfeeding baby and the 30-day sexual enslavement of a woman in Khartoum, as well as severe beatings, torture with hot liquid or sharp blades, and murder. 

    “The RSF’s assaults on Sudanese women and girls are sickening, depraved and aimed at inflicting maximum humiliation. The RSF has targeted civilians, particularly women and girls, with unimaginable cruelty during this war,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact. “The world must act to stop the RSF’s atrocities by stemming the flow of weapons into Sudan, pressuring the leadership to end sexual violence, and holding perpetrators including top commanders to account.” 

    “The RSF’s assaults on Sudanese women and girls are sickening, depraved and aimed at inflicting maximum humiliation.

    Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International Senior Director for Regional Human Rights Impact

    Sudan’s civil war erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), killing tens of thousands of people and displacing more than 11 million to date. Both sides have committed serious violations of international humanitarian law, some of which amount to war crimes, including sexual violence against women and girls. 

    For the report, Amnesty interviewed 30 people, mostly survivors and relatives of survivors in Ugandan refugee camps. All survivors and witnesses identified RSF fighters as perpetrators. The RSF’s use of sexual violence throughout the conflict and across Sudan, combined with the fact that many attacks took place in the presence of other soldiers, victims and other civilians, indicates perpetrators did not feel compelled to hide their crimes and did not fear any response. 

     The RSF did not respond to Amnesty’s requests for comment. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Yemen: US military escalation and aid cuts will have ‘catastrophic consequences’ for millions of people – aid worker testimonies

    Source: Amnesty International –

    An estimated 19.5 million people are dependent on aid in Yemen

    Yemen has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally and most are women and children

    Funding cuts makes girls increasingly vulnerable to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour

    ‘We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted’ – Aid worker

    ‘Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world’ – Diala Haidar

    The United States government’s abrupt and irresponsible termination of foreign assistance is putting the health and human rights of millions of people in Yemen who depend on humanitarian aid at risk, Amnesty International said today.    

    After a decade of a devastating conflict, Yemen continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.   

    Aid workers described to Amnesty how President Donald Trump’s decision to cut US aid funding has led to the shut-down of life-saving assistance and protection services, including malnutrition treatment to children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, safe shelters to survivors of gender-based violence, and healthcare to children suffering from cholera and other illnesses.   

    After years of conflict and compounding crises, an estimated 19.5 million people – over half the population – are dependent on aid in Yemen. It has the fifth-largest displacement crisis globally, with an estimated 4.8 million internally displaced people, most of whom are women and children, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Over the last five years, during both President Trump’s first term and President Biden’s presidency, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest donor, providing $768 million dollars’ worth of support in 2024, comprising half of the country’s coordinated humanitarian response plan.  

    Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher, said:

    “The abrupt and irresponsible cuts in US aid will have catastrophic consequences on Yemen’s most vulnerable and marginalised groups, including women and children, and internally displaced people, jeopardising their safety, dignity, and fundamental human rights.

    “Unless the US immediately reinstates sufficient funding for life-saving aid to Yemen and ensures the money is disbursed expeditiously, an already devastating humanitarian situation will further deteriorate and millions of people will be left without desperately needed support.   

    “Other donor governments must also act urgently to uphold their human rights obligations by providing humanitarian assistance and supporting human rights in Yemen.”  

    Aid workers on the ground

    Amnesty interviewed 10 humanitarian experts and aid workers with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground and six representatives of local human rights organisations, five of which provide direct services to vulnerable groups, all of whom said the impact of the cuts will be devastating, leading to suffering, death and more instability for an already fragile country. All of those interviewed requested to remain anonymous.   

    The US State Department designating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation has further compounded the humanitarian situation. The difficulty for aid organisations to certify compliance with the designation in the complex humanitarian environment in northern Yemen forced several international humanitarian organisations to suspend operations in Houthi-controlled territories. The designation created significant confusion and concern, aid workers told Amnesty. An executive order initiating the designation process did not reference any humanitarian exemptions and ordered funds be cut off to any organisation that “criticised international efforts to counter Ansar Allah [the Houthis] while failing to document Ansar Allah’s abuses sufficiently”.   

    Since 15 March, the US has also intensified its military operations in Yemen, carrying out several waves of air strikes against Houthi targets, including air strikes on Sana’a, Sa’adah, Hodeidah and other governorates under Houthi control.   

    Diala Haidar added:

    “The majority of civilians in critical need of aid live in Houthi-controlled areas in northern Yemen. The US’s designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organisation should not obstruct aid and other supplies indispensable for keeping people alive, in good health and in safety.

    “Hungry, displaced, and exhausted by violence, people in Yemen already lived in one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world. The military escalation in Yemen, along with the US aid cuts, will compound the humanitarian disaster already facing a population still reeling from the long-standing conflict. It doesn’t have to be this way – the US should restart funding to these programmes immediately.”  

    USAID gutted

    On 20 January, Donald Trump signed a presidential executive order ordering that all foreign aid be paused during a 90-day review to ensure alignment with his administration’s foreign policy. On 24 January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stop work order to those delivering assistance worldwide. The US said some exemptions would be granted, including to “life-saving humanitarian assistance”. On 10 March, only six weeks after the review was ordered, Rubio wrote on X that 83% of the foreign aid programmes at USAID had been officially cancelled.   

    Humanitarian organisations were left with impossible decisions to make on life-saving services while lacking clear communication from US agencies, such as USAID, multiple aid workers told Amnesty.   

    One aid worker said:

    “We’ve been forced to make life and death decisions on little to no information. Often there is no one to speak to because USAID has been gutted. People you are emailing are not there. This is impacting our Yemen grant as well as many others elsewhere.”  

    On 28 March, the US State Department formally notified Congress it is dissolving USAID, eliminating some functions and moving the remainder under the State Department.  

    Devastating impact on women and girls  

    Women and girls across Yemen have long faced systemic discrimination and gender-based violence. Yemen has no legal minimum age of marriage, and almost one third of girls are married before the age of 18. Child marriage is associated with a lifetime of human rights harms. Yemen also has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Middle East and North Africa, with nearly 200 women dying for every 100,000 births, according to UNFPA.  

    According to experts and aid workers interviewed by Amnesty, by March 2025, the USAID funding cuts had already forced the shutdown of dozens of safe spaces designed to prevent or respond to gender-based violence for women and girls across Yemen. They warned that if funding was not restored, dozens of health facilities and reproductive health and protection clinics would shut down, denying hundreds of thousands of women and girls, including survivors of gender-based violence, access to life-saving healthcare, psychosocial support and legal aid.  

    A representative of a local organisation that provides a range of services to survivors of gender-based violence, including safe shelter, legal aid, and psychosocial support, said the US aid cuts had severely impacted more than half of their programmes. She told Amnesty:   

    “Hundreds of women will be impacted… We are no longer providing psychological support, which is a crucial service for women survivors of gender-based violence. Legal aid counselling will also stop.”   

    Diala Haidar, added:

    “The US is weakening years-long efforts by Yemeni women-led organisations to support and empower other women. When survivors of gender-based violence lose access to shelters, psychosocial support, referrals to health centres, legal aid and other critical services, they face life-threatening consequences. Funding cuts risk dismantling the existing network of protection and support that has been built over years by Yemeni women human rights defenders and humanitarian organisations, which in turn makes girls increasingly vulnerable, including to child marriage, human trafficking, begging and child labour.”   

    US policies on Yemen have also impacted other vulnerable groups, including children and the internally displaced. Approximately 2.3 million children in Yemen, nearly half of children under five, are acutely malnourished according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Several organisations have had to pause or end protection, health and nutrition services they were providing for infants and young children. Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are also projected to lose access to life-saving emergency relief because of the funding cuts.   

    Restrictions on human rights work

    Representatives of local human rights organisations in Yemen also described how the abrupt cuts jeopardised their work monitoring human rights violations and abuses whilst also undermining the rights of hundreds of the people they have been helping to find shelter, legal aid, and safety, including survivors of gender-based violence, women human rights defenders, and families of victims of enforced disappearance. They described how the move undermined their efforts to pursue justice and accountability in Yemen and feared that it will further embolden perpetrators of abuses   

    One human rights defender said: 

    “We are already facing restrictions on our [human rights] work by the different authorities [in Yemen], so this felt as if the international community has abandoned us.”

    A woman human rights defender explained that the US funding cuts would have a direct impact on victims of human rights violations, including the arbitrarily detained and forcibly disappeared because their documentation work and legal aid services will end. She said: “These victims and their families right to truth and justice is at stake.”  

    Another said:

    “Funding cuts do not just end projects, funding cuts silence victims’ voices and weaken justice in Yemen.”  

    UN workers detained    

    The Houthis have also exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, targeting aid workers and other international staff working to deliver life-saving services in northern Yemen. Starting on 31 May 2024, they conducted a series of raids in areas under their control, arbitrarily detaining 13 UN staff and at least 50 staff from Yemeni and international civil society organisations. Between 23 and 25 January this year, the Houthis conducted a wave of arrests arbitrarily detaining eight UN staff. On 11 February, one of the eight detained UN staff members died in Houthi custody. Many of those arrested were working to provide assistance or protection to those most in need, and the arrests prompted the UN to announce the suspension of all official movements into and within areas under Houthi control in January.  

    Humanitarian donors

    Over the last five years, the US has consistently been Yemen’s largest humanitarian donor. Other major donors to the humanitarian response include the United Kingdom, the European Commission, Saudi Arabia and Germany. Even before the US aid cuts, Yemen’s humanitarian response plan was consistently and severely underfunded for years. As of this month, the plan is only 6.9% funded.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF steps up response in Myanmar following devastating earthquake

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    On 28 March 2025, a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating the regions of Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, and Shan state. As of 8 April, official figures reported over 3,600 deaths, more than 5,000 people injured, and an estimated 17 million individuals affected — many of whom are severely affected. Key infrastructure, including hospitals, roads, and water systems, sustained significant damage, while ongoing telecommunications disruptions continue to hamper relief efforts.

    The earthquake struck a country already gripped by several health crises and ongoing conflict, compounding the challenges faced by affected communities. Limited resources, including staff and supplies, have left some facilities over-burdened and struggling to respond to people’s growing health needs.

    In the immediate aftermath, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reaffirmed our commitment and capacity to deliver large-scale emergency medical assistance across all impacted areas. We have prioritised our response in the hardest-hit and currently accessible cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw, while serious concerns persist for people living in more remote and less accessible areas, such as Sagaing.

    View of the destruction caused by the earthquake in Kumae township. Myanmar, March 2025.
    MSF

    Our staff have reported extensive destruction. Many residents remain outdoors, fearing aftershocks, while monasteries have opened their doors to host displaced families and local communities are demonstrating remarkable solidarity.

    Healthcare  

    In the hardest-hit cities, damage to infrastructure has disrupted essential services like water, electricity, and sanitation, severely impacting hospitals’ ability to function. In some cases, structural damage forced medical staff to treat patients outside, due to fears of further building collapse.  

    In Naypyidaw and Mandalay, where hospital systems were particularly hard hit, MSF carried out assessments, delivered medical supplies, and initiated discussions with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health.  

    A volunteer providing psychological first aid to a patient admitted after the earthquake in Mandalay Teaching hospital. Myanmar, April 2025.
    MSF

    Water and sanitation, shelter, and basic items  

    In Mandalay, MSF teams quickly moved to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in damaged hospitals by installing water tanks and additional handwashing basins. Waste management was reinforced with dozens of bins, and fans were set up in temporary shelters to help patients cope with extreme heat – often reaching 40°C – while awaiting treatment outside damaged facilities.

    At the same time, mobile medical teams began providing consultations in makeshift shelters, including monasteries, treating a range of conditions from common illnesses to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In southern Shan, mobile teams also distributed essential items, restored clean water sources, and continued assessments in affected and displaced communities. 

    An MSF team delivers water tanks to Mandalay hospital, Myanmar, April 2025.
    MSF

    Psychological impact of the earthquake 

    Mental health is a key part of MSF’s response. In Mandalay, teams composed of trained staff and student volunteers have been visiting patients in surgical, orthopaedic, and trauma wards at local hospitals to provide psychological first aid. These efforts are essential in a context where survivors face high psychological stress following both the disaster and fear of aftershocks, which continue to be recorded, and in addition to the consequences of the ongoing conflict ravaging many parts of the country. 

    Major concerns about expected environmental impacts to come 

    With the rainy season approaching, flooding and landslides could exacerbate existing access challenges, particularly in remote areas. The rainy season also significantly heightens the likelihood of public health threats associated with outbreaks of waterborne disease such as cholera, and vector-borne diseases like malaria or dengue fever. This is due to the potential flooding-related contamination of the already reduced number of safe water sources. Immediate actions like scaled up provision of clean water, safe sanitation facilities, distribution of mosquito nets and hygiene promotion are essential to mitigate the additional threads.  

    Volunteers provide psychological first aid to people through mobile clinics in a temporary camp in Chan Mya Thar Si township, Mandalay, Myanmar, April 2025.
    MSF

    What needs to happen now? 

    In order to address the immense needs, it is crucial for humanitarian aid to reach all affected areas unhindered, including hard to reach locations. A further significant scale-up of aid and access to healthcare in all affected areas, is urgently needed to avoid longer-term harmful consequences for people grappling with the aftermath of this earthquake.

    As part of our long-standing presence in Myanmar since its first intervention in 1992, MSF reaffirms our readiness to provide emergency medical humanitarian assistance wherever needed, as we continue to support communities affected by conflict, disease, and now, one of the worst earthquakes to strike the region in recent history.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Peter Dutton must reject Trump-style plan to leave Paris Agreement

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Thursday 10 April 2025 — In response to comments by Shadow Energy Minister Ted O’Brien that the Coalition could leave the Paris Agreement if elected, David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:

    “Abandoning the Paris Agreement is a terrible idea, straight out of Donald Trump’s playbook, that would harm our economy, our global standing, and our relationship with our Pacific neighbours. 

    “Australia is the world’s third-largest fossil fuel exporter, and a major polluter with an outsized responsibility to cut our emissions at emergency speed and scale. As the cost of back-to-back climate disasters grows, we are also paying a heavy price for climate change. 

    “Shrinking our climate targets and walking away from international cooperation on reducing emissions and climate finance will harm our economy as the world moves to decarbonise and alienate our Pacific neighbours on the frontlines of climate change. It would not be in our national interest to leave the Paris Agreement. 

    “It is shocking that the Coalition is even entertaining the possibility of abandoning this important global climate accord, which is our best chance at averting catastrophic climate change. Peter Dutton should distance his party from this Trumpian tactic and commit to keeping Australia in the Paris Agreement in no uncertain terms.”  

    — ENDS —

    For more information or interviews contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 or [email protected] 0452 290 082

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘Ambitious but sensible’: Greenpeace welcomes Greens’ plan for clean jobs and climate solutions

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Thursday 10 April 2025 — In response to the release of The Greens’ Powering Past Coal and Gas energy plan released today, Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:

    “Greenpeace welcomes The Greens’ Powering Past Coal and Gas plan released today. Not only does the plan respond to the scale and urgency of the climate crisis we all face, it centres communities on the frontlines of climate impacts, and everyday Australians struggling with cost of living pressures, rising power bills and soaring insurance premiums.

    “It is an ambitious but sensible plan that prioritises investment in the solutions we already have to tackle climate pollution — things like public transport, clean and affordable wind and solar energy, protecting our forests and nature — while also outlining a clear pathway for sustainable jobs and economic growth as we transition our economy from fossil fuels.

    “Multinational gas corporations like Woodside and Santos are holding Australia’s economy hostage for their own profit by blocking our transition to a clean energy economy — and they’re destroying the nature and oceans we love in the process. This plan sends a strong signal that Australia’s future is in green jobs, healthy oceans and climate solutions, not dirty coal and gas shipped offshore.

    “With our skilled workforce, export infrastructure, and unparalleled access to wind and solar energy, Australia can be front of the pack in exporting the resources our trading partners need to rapidly decarbonise their economies — and in doing so, support global efforts to address carbon emissions.

    “The climate crisis is here and it’s hurting Australians and our economy now — this year alone we’ve seen record-breaking floods, and a freak cyclone, devastate communities across the country. Instead of flying in for photo opps in the aftermath, we urge all candidates this election to fight for the policies that will stop climate pollution before it happens.”

    — ENDS —


    For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF steps up Myanmar earthquake response story Apr 09, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    On March 28, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, devastating the regions of Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, and Shan state. In the immediate aftermath, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reaffirmed its commitment and capacity to deliver large-scale emergency medical assistance across all impacted areas. 

    MSF has prioritized responding in the hardest-hit and currently accessible cities of Mandalay and Naypyidaw, while serious concerns persist for people living in more remote and less accessible areas such as Sagaing.

    As of April 8, over 3,600 deaths have been reported, more than 5,000 people injured, and an estimated 17 million individuals affected—many severely. Key infrastructure sustained significant damage, including hospitals, roads, and water systems, while ongoing telecommunication disruptions continue to hamper relief efforts.    

    The earthquake struck a country already gripped by several health crises and conflict, compounding the challenges communities face. Limited resources, staff, and supplies have left some facilities overburdened and struggling to respond to the growing health needs.

    While local communities are demonstrating remarkable solidarity, our staff have reported extensive destruction. Many residents remain outdoors for fear of aftershocks, while monasteries have opened their doors to host displaced families. 

    View of the Naypyidaw Hospital after the March 28 earthquake. | Myanmar 2025 © MSF

    Damaged infrastructure compromises health care

    In the hardest-hit cities, damage to infrastructure has severely impacted hospitals’ ability to function. Due to fears of further building collapse, structural damage has forced medical staff to treat patients outside in some cases. 

    In Naypyidaw and Mandalay, where hospital systems were particularly damaged, MSF carried out assessments, delivered medical supplies, and initiated discussions with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health.

    In Mandalay, our teams are working to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions in damaged hospitals by installing water tanks and additional handwashing basins. Teams are reinforcing waste management with dozens of bins and helping patients cope with extreme heat –often reaching 104°F –while awaiting treatment outside damaged facilities by setting up fans.

    At the same time, mobile medical teams began providing consultations in makeshift shelters including monasteries, treating a range of conditions from common illnesses to chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. In southern Myanmar, mobile teams also distributed essential non-food items, restored clean water sources, and continued assessments in affected and displaced communities.

    MSF teams install and fix a water tank at the Mandalay General Hospital. | Myanmar 2025 © MSF

    Psychological impact of the earthquake

    A key priority for our response is mental health. In Mandalay, teams composed of trained staff and student volunteers have been visiting patients in surgical, orthopedic, and trauma wards at local hospitals to provide psychological first aid. In a context where survivors face high levels of psychological stress, these efforts are essential. The disaster and the fear of aftershocks, which continue to be recorded, in addition to the consequences of the ongoing conflict ravaging many parts of the country, contribute to this stress.

    A view of damage to the Thapyay Kone Market in Naypyidaw after the earthquake.

    Major concerns over expected environmental impact

    With the rainy season approaching, floods and landslides could exacerbate existing access challenges, particularly in remote areas. The rainy season also significantly heightens the likelihood of public health threats associated with outbreaks of waterborne disease such as cholera, and vector-borne diseases like malaria or dengue fever. This is due to the potential flood-related contamination of the already reduced number of safe water sources. Immediate actions like scaled up provision of clean water, safe sanitation facilities, distribution of mosquito nets, and hygiene promotion are essential to mitigate the additional threads.

    What needs to happen now?

    In order to address the immense needs, it is crucial for humanitarian aid to reach all affected areas, including hard-to-reach locations, unhindered. To avoid longer-term harmful consequences for people grappling with the aftermath of this earthquake, a further significant scale-up of aid and assurance of access to health care in all affected areas is urgently needed. 

    As part of MSF’s long-standing presence in Myanmar since its first intervention in 1992, we reaffirm our readiness to provide emergency medical humanitarian assistance wherever needed, as we continue to support communities affected by conflict, disease, and now, one of the worst earthquakes to strike the region in recent history.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Trump administration executive order targeting state climate laws is a quid pro quo

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A bold “Make Polluters Pay” projection lit up Houston during CERAWeek—the fossil fuel industry’s so-called “Super Bowl”—calling out Big Oil for its central role in driving the climate crisis. The campaign demands that the industry not only be held accountable for past damage, but also be forced to fund the costs of preparing our communities for the escalating impacts of climate change. © Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2025)– In response to the Trump administration’s executive order directing the Department of Justice to take aim at state climate laws and lawsuits, John Noël, Greenpeace USA Deputy Climate Program Director, said: “This is a pathetic and dangerous attempt by a desperate industry to cling to power while communities suffer. From the Gulf Coast to the Los Angeles area, people are being slammed by floods, wildfires, and record heat. But instead of helping Americans, Trump is launching a political attack on states that are trying to create a livable future for their people.

    “This order isn’t about ‘freedom’ or ‘energy independence’ — it’s about Big Oil CEOs using the federal government to crush states’ rights when it aligns with their fossil fuel agenda. It’s also a convenient distraction from the economic sabotage of working families and the fossil fuel industry’s covert push for blanket immunity in Congress from all climate accountability.

    “Fossil fuel companies have profited off the backs of everyday people for far too long and we have the chance to make them pay to clean up their mess. Right now, states should be leaning into climate superfund legislation, not away from it. Nothing in this order prevents states from doing so. And the many states that are already considering these types of bills, like California, should be passing them expeditiously.”

    Contact: Katie Nelson, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], +1 (678) 644-1681

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Honduras: The presidential candidates have a unique opportunity to commit to human rights

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty International encourages the presidential candidates to ensure that their political agendas in the lead-up to the general election on 30 November include a focus on human rights.

    This year, the electoral process in Honduras coincides with the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Honduras, in which UN member states will analyse, in November, Honduras’ performance in the field of human rights.

    The election campaign is, therefore, a unique opportunity for the candidates, recently confirmed by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal on April 8th, to take a stance on the country’s main and historic human rights shortcomings, and incorporate them into their respective agendas.

    “Progress on human rights in Honduras over the past four years has been very timid. In fact, the Honduran Government has broken many of its commitments to the country’s population in terms of human rights. Examples include failings in the fight against impunity, guaranteeing security, protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and sexual and reproductive rights. Honduras’ fourth UPR cycle can be a crucial moment to initiate a change in the direction of the country, if the presidential candidates take advantage of it as an opportunity”, said Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International.

    Progress on human rights in Honduras over the past four years has been very timid. In fact, the Honduran Government has broken many of its commitments to the country’s population in terms of human rights. Examples include failings in the fight against impunity, guaranteeing security, protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and sexual and reproductive rights. Honduras’ fourth UPR cycle can be a crucial moment to initiate a change in the direction of the country, if the presidential candidates take advantage of it as an opportunity”

    Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

    Amnesty International has submitted a report to the UN ahead of the UPR. The document evaluates the implementation to date of the recommendations made by other States to Honduras in its previous UPR, in 2021, and raises concerns about the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and other human rights issues related to the environment, women’s rights, discrimination and health. It also sets out proposals for recommendations. Below, we highlight some of them.

    Use of force

    In 2022, the Honduran Government declared a state of emergency, which has remained in force ever since, justifying it as necessary to combat insecurity and organized crime. This measure has, for example, enabled the National Police and the Military Police to carry out searches and detentions without judicial authorizations in 226 of the country’s 298 municipalities.

    Amnesty International shares the concern of local organizations and the media that have documented multiple human rights violations in the context of implementation of the state of emergency, allegedly perpetrated by the National Police, the Anti-Gang Police (DIPAMPCO) and the Military Police, such as arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force, torture, enforced disappearances and violations of the right to a fair trial. By October 2024, the National Human Rights Commissioner had received more than 700 complaints against the police and security forces since the beginning of the state of emergency and has since called for an end to that measure.

    We urge the presidential candidates to commit to ending the prolonged state of emergency, devising a comprehensive and sustainable security policy, and ensuring prompt, impartial, independent and effective investigations into all cases of unnecessary and excessive use of force, to be conducted by independent bodies different from those of the alleged perpetrators.

    Human rights defenders and journalists

    Honduras is the country with the highest number of land and environmental defenders killed per capita in the world, according to the latest Global Witness report. The vast majority of attacks, which mainly occur in the context of legal disputes related to mining projects, insecurity of land tenure and violations of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, go unpunished. There are also concerns about the high level of criminalization of human rights defenders, for example, based on the crime of usurpation, as a result of Decree 93-2021, which amended the criminal code.

    This situation is exacerbated by the weakness and ineffectiveness of the national mechanism for the protection of human rights defenders and journalists, which international and national organizations have repeatedly warned about.

    Therefore, we ask the candidates to make a serious commitment to effectively protect human rights defenders and journalists, who play an essential role in defending the rule of law. To that end, we urge them to ensure that sufficient resources are assigned to the effective protection of human rights defenders and journalists, and to guarantee thorough, prompt, impartial and independent investigations into all attacks against them. We also call on them to refrain from misusing the justice system to intimidate, harass and discredit human rights defenders, and to promote Honduras’ accession to the Escazú Regional Agreement, the first Latin American and Caribbean treaty to include provisions on the protection of environmental defenders.

    Sexual and reproductive rights

    Abortion is still prohibited in Honduras under all circumstances. In 2023, the government legalized the use and sale of the emergency contraceptive pill. However, access to the pill is hampered due to limited availability at public health facilities. Moreover, despite high levels of childhood and adolescent pregnancies, in 2023 the president vetoed the Pregnancy Prevention Act, aimed at providing comprehensive sex education.

    We urge the candidates to commit to decriminalizing abortion in all circumstances and ensuring access to abortion in law and in practice for women, girls and all persons who can become pregnant.

    “Amnesty International calls on the presidential candidates in Honduras’ upcoming general elections to demonstrate their express, clear and firm commitment to defending human rights. We also ask them to take all necessary measures to ensure that human rights violations are not committed during the electoral process”, added Ana Piquer.

    Amnesty International calls on the presidential candidates in Honduras’ upcoming general elections to demonstrate their express, clear and firm commitment to defending human rights. We also ask them to take all necessary measures to ensure that human rights violations are not committed during the electoral process”

    Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Sudan: Stories of violence and forced displacement from South Kordofan

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    “The morning of the attack I was at home and my mother was sick. We ran to escape with my children. I carried my mother on a donkey cart as she could not walk,” says a displaced woman living in Sudan’s Nuba mountains. “When we were near the mountains, we stopped to bury her. My two brothers were shot and killed during the escape.”

    A displaced woman living in Sudan’s Nuba mountains The morning of the attack I was at home and my mother was sick. We ran to escape with my children. I carried my mother on a donkey cart as she could not walk. When we were near the mountains, we stopped to bury her.

    Illustrations to depict the testimonies of people who have fled to Sudan’s Nuba mountains in search of safety from the ongoing conflict, March 2025.

    Since the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces started in April 2023 and spread across Sudan, it is estimated that 11 million people have been internally displaced. In the southern state of South Kordofan, where the Nuba mountains area is located, hundreds of thousands of displaced people are seeking refuge, according to the Sudanese Relief and Rehabilitation Agency.

    Before the war started, the region already experienced waves of displacement during the decades of conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Sudanese government. Many people have been displaced multiple times. Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) currently provides medical care and essential everyday items to the displaced people who arrive daily. Testimonies collected from displaced people in five camps where MSF works show the harrowing situation they have lived through and the challenges they continue to face.

    “They attacked early morning. We took what we could and fled. We lost two of my children on the way. Up to now I don’t know where they are, there is no phone,” explains a woman who walked five days without food until she and her family were able to reach Al Hadra, South Kordofan. An airplane bombed and killed her 15-year-old daughter there. “It was the first time I saw bombings. I was in the bush collecting wood for shelter. My daughter had gone to the borehole to fetch water for us. I rushed to my tent and later they [the villagers] brought my daughter’s body to me.”

    Another woman explains how they managed to survive in Dilling district, South Kordofan.

    “We went to the forest every night to sleep and use the river as protection. We leaned on the riverbank so that the bullets would not hit us,” she says. “When the shootings stopped, we would rush to the house to get food and water for the children. During an attack I saw a mother who was breastfeeding. They took her boy and threw him away. If you tried to confront them, they could hit you, even shoot the child. For them the boy would grow up and fight back.” 

    The area of the Nuba mountains is largely controlled by the SPLM-N. The influx of people arriving in the region, which is considered safer than other parts of the country, has had an impact on local communities as well. The poor harvest in 2023 combined with difficulties in accessing basic services and a lack of humanitarian assistance led to widespread hunger during the lean season both inside and outside the camps where displaced people are living. MSF teams working on the ground report many people in need of healthcare, food and water.

    “When the war broke out, we lost everything. When I arrived at the camp, I did not have milk to breastfeed. My child was sick and kept on crying. I gave him herbs and prayed to God,” says another woman.

    One man explained that soldiers entered Habila, North Kordofan, to kill all the “black people”.

    “The moment they entered Habila they captured a big part of my family: 13 people, all men. The militia gathered them in one house and shot them all. I ran away,” he says. He fled to Tungul, South Kordofan where he received some food but where no health service was available, so he fled again. “From Tungul I went to Korgul displaced camp. Here things are calm. I feel safe. We want to stay here. But we suffered during the rainy season when there is no food – my children got malnourished but none of them died.”

    A displaced man The moment they entered Habila they captured a big part of my family: 13 people, all men. The militia gathered them in one house and shot them all. I ran away.

    Illustrations to depict the testimonies of people who have fled to Sudan’s Nuba mountains in search of safety from the ongoing conflict, March 2025.

    For women fleeing violence, access to healthcare is challenging as explained by one woman.

    “I was in the market when they came. I tried to defend myself, but they abused me, and beat my chest,” she says. “I still feel the pain today. After the torture I tried to get treatment, but I did not have money to do an x-ray.”

    “I have spent two days without eating anything. I was collecting leaves to cook them. I had to sneak out in the bushes to avoid checkpoints to get medical care in Hajar Jawad,” says another woman. “During the rainy season, my child and I had malaria, we received treatment in the clinic in Hajar Jawad [an MSF clinic] for malaria and malnutrition.”

    A displaced woman I was in the market when they came. I tried to defend myself, but they abused me, and beat my chest. I still feel the pain today.

    Illustrations to depict the testimonies of people who have fled to Sudan’s Nuba mountains in search of safety from the ongoing conflict, March 2025.

    MSF runs activities in Dalami locality and Western Jebel. In Dalami locality, our teams support Tujur hospital with emergency room and maternity services, malnutrition care, and male and female in-patient wards. In the hospital in January 2025, MSF conducted 20,185 outpatient consultations and admitted over 450 patients, 30 per cent of them for malaria. The teams have assisted with 119 births and carried out 215 sexual and reproductive health consultations. In Um Heitan, another location where we work, MSF has carried out 6,493 outpatient consultations.

    We have also been supporting health centres, conducting mobile clinics in camps for internally displaced people, and distributing essential items in Western Jabel, but the unstable security situation has made the  delivery of medical services challenging.

    Our teams in the Nuba mountains observe an extremely inconsistent and insufficient coverage of basic and specialised healthcare. Where care is available, it is often inaccessible due to distance and insecurity. Moreover, there is an almost complete lack of protection services which is particularly concerning given the levels of violence people have experienced or witnessed, the separation of families, and the lack of shelter many people face.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Coalition’s rubbery gas numbers can’t conceal disastrous energy plan

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Wednesday 9 April 2025 – In response to the Coalition’s newly released gas policy modelling, Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: 

    “Peter Dutton’s policy to supposedly achieve meagre changes to gas prices is a distraction from the fact that we don’t need gas and the seismic blasting, methane leaks or fracking it involves, because we already have the technology available to build affordable clean energy to power homes and businesses for the long term.

    “Gas is a dangerous fossil fuel that drives worsening floods, bushfires, cyclones and droughts. The Coalition wants to greenlight gas expansion like Woodside’s Browse project and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, which threaten our environment and the climate. 

    “The Coalition’s energy policy and its ‘modelling’ on electricity prices simply don’t pass the sniff test. A future-proof policy is one that accelerates the transition to clean, affordable renewable energy, helps Australian businesses electrify and get off gas, and quickly phases out fossil fuels. 

    “Renewable energy is already the cheapest form of energy, and is reducing or even eliminating electricity bills for millions of Australian homes and businesses today. When it comes to reducing bills, gas simply cannot compete with renewables.

    “Australians can’t afford worsening gas-fuelled climate disasters like the Black Summer bushfires, Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and the Queensland floods that have racked up clean-up costs in the billions of dollars. 

    “The Coalition has also refused to dump its nuclear plans despite criticism from fellow Liberals, and estimates by experts which show that the cost of building nuclear reactors alone will cost taxpayers up to $600 billion. Peter Dutton has provided no plan for how the additional costs of nuclear waste management, insurance, and safety will be funded either. 

    “The enormous costs of the Coalition’s plan to expand climate-wrecking gas and build risky nuclear reactors in Australia overshadow any paltry gas savings released in its questionable modelling today.” 

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 / [email protected]. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Ahmadi minority must be protected from arrest, disappearance and threatened deportation

    Source: Amnesty International –

    At least four men were arrested or disappeared last month for openly following the Ahmadi religion

    Members of religious minorities and atheists are often summoned and questioned by the National Security Agency or otherwise threatened or harassed

    Ahmed Al-Tanawi, a 28-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, is at imminent risk of deportation to Syria

    ‘It is outrageous that these men have been targeted and forcibly disappeared simply for not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs’ – Mahmoud Shalaby

    The Egyptian authorities must stop all plans to forcibly return a Syrian asylum seeker who is at risk of deportation to Syria as early as 9 April and end their ongoing crackdown on members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, Amnesty International and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said today.

    Between 8 and 14 March this year, Amnesty International and EIPR documented the arbitrary detention of at least four members of the religious minority solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion. The men, who include two Syrian brothers registered as asylum seekers with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), were detained at their homes in three different governorates.

    Three of them were subsequently subjected to enforced disappearance with their whereabouts currently unknown, while one man remains held incommunicado.

    Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International, said:

    “It is outrageous that these men have been targeted and forcibly disappeared simply for not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs. The Egyptian authorities have legal obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of religion of everyone in the country which includes those with religious beliefs not recognised by the state.

    “Instead of arbitrarily detaining and forcibly disappearing people for exercising their religious beliefs or threatening to deport them, the Egyptian authorities should immediately disclose the men’s fate and whereabouts and unconditionally release them.”

    Ahmed Al-Tanawi: A banner triggers a crackdown

    Among those targeted is Ahmed Al-Tanawi, a 28-year-old Syrian asylum seeker registered with UNHCR, who is at imminent risk of deportation to Syria.  The security situation in Syria remains volatile and Amnesty continues to oppose forced returns to the country.

    The latest crackdown on members of the Ahmadi religious minority was triggered when a member of the religious group hung a banner advertising an Ahmadi TV channel on a pedestrian bridge in Giza in early March. Amnesty and EIPR reviewed a photograph of the banner hanging on the bridge, which showed a TV channel affiliated with the Ahmadi religion (“Zahra al-Mahdi”, meaning “Mahdi Has Appeared”), and featured a photo of its leader.

    On 8 March, security forces arrested the individual who hung the banner. He was released later that day without charge, according to Imran Ali, the UK-based bishop of the Ahmadi religion in Egypt and another Ahmadi man who was in touch with the individual after his release.

    It appears that the security forces identified three of the Ahmadi men after searching his phone and finding a Telegram group for members of the religious group in Egypt, of which the three of were members, according to Imran Ali and the men’s relatives.

    On 11 March, police officers in plain clothes rearrested Ahmed Al-Tanawi and his brother, Hussein Mohammed Hassan Al-Tanawi, also an asylum seeker registered with UNHCR, at their house in 6th of October City in Giza governorate, without presenting an arrest warrant, according to a family member.

    Ahmed remains held incommunicado at the “6th October First Police Station”, while Hussein’s whereabouts remain unknown. On 15 March, a police officer informally told EIPR’s lawyer that Ahmed was accused of “membership in a terrorist organisation”.

    On 25 March, Hussein’s family submitted a complaint to the public prosecution, which was reviewed by Amnesty and EIPR, to inquire about his whereabouts. The family is yet to receive a response.

    On 6 April, police forced Ahmed Al-Tanawi’s family to purchase a ticket for him to Syria, threatening to deprive him of medication for his heart condition. His flight is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, according to his family.

    Homes violently raided

    On 10 March, security forces arrested Omar Mahmoud Abdelmaguid Mohamed Ibrahim, another member of the Ahmadi religious minority, following a violent raid on his home in Cairo. His whereabouts remain unknown.

    A member of Omar’s family said that since the arrest, his house has been under constant police surveillance. Police officers searched the house again on the same day to arrest Omar’s brother-in-law, Hazem Saied Mohamed Abd El-Moatamed, who had fled. However, he was arrested three days later, on 13 March, in 10th of Ramadan City in Sharqia Governorate, according to one of his relatives. He remains forcibly disappeared.

    Amnesty and EIPR reviewed copies of complaints submitted by family members of Omar Mahmoud Abdelmaguid Mohamed Ibrahim and Hazem Saied Mohamed Abd El-Moatamed to the prosecution on 25 March, inquiring about their whereabouts. To date, the family has not received a response.

    In separate incidents, at least four other members of the religious minority were arrested throughout March, with their fate and whereabouts currently unknown, according to Imran Ali.  He said that three of them messaged him to say they were about to be arrested. He has not heard back from them since.

    Part of a wider crackdown on religious freedom

    Religious minorities including Coptic Christians, Shi’a Muslims and Bahá’ís consistently face discrimination in law and/or practice in Egypt. Members of religious minorities, atheists and others not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs are summoned and questioned by the National Security Agency or otherwise threatened or harassed, including by their educational institutions and online.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Egypt: Halt arbitrary arrest, disappearance and threatened deportation of Ahmadi minority members

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The Egyptian authorities must stop all plans to forcibly return a Syrian asylum seeker who is at risk of deportation to Syria as early as tomorrow and end their ongoing crackdown on members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, Amnesty International and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said today.

    Between 8 and 14 March 2025, Amnesty International and EIPR documented the arbitrary detention of at least four members of the religious minority solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion. The men, who include two Syrian brothers registered as asylum seekers with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), were detained at their homes in three different governorates. Three of them were subsequently subjected to enforced disappearance with their fate and whereabouts currently unknown, while one man remains held incommunicado (i.e. without any contact with the outside world).

    “It is outrageous that these men have been targeted and forcibly disappeared simply for not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs. The Egyptian authorities have legal obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of religion of everyone in the country which includes those with religious beliefs not recognized by the state,” said Mahmoud Shalaby, Egypt and Libya Researcher at Amnesty International.

    It is outrageous that these men have been targeted and forcibly disappeared simply for not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs.

    Mahmoud Shalaby, Researcher

    “Instead of arbitrarily detaining and forcibly disappearing people for exercising their religious beliefs or threatening to deport them, the Egyptian authorities should immediately disclose the men’s fate and whereabouts and unconditionally release them.”

    Among those targeted is Ahmed Al-Tanawi, a 28-year-old Syrian asylum seeker registered with UNHCR, who is at imminent risk of deportation to Syria.  The security situation in Syria remains volatile and Amnesty International continues to oppose forced returns to the country.

    The latest crackdown on members of the Ahmadi religious minority was triggered when a member of the religious group hung a banner advertising an Ahmadi TV channel on a pedestrian bridge in Giza in early March. Amnesty International and EIPR reviewed a photograph of the banner hanging on the bridge, which showed the frequency of “Mahdi Has Appeared” (Zahra al-Mahdi), a TV channel affiliated with the Ahmadi religion and featured a photo of its leader.

    On 8 March 2025, security forces arrested the individual who hung the banner. He was released later that day without charge, according to Imran Ali, the United Kingdom-based bishop of the Ahmadi religion in Egypt and another Ahmadi man who was in touch with the individual after his release. It appears that the security forces identified three of the Ahmadi men after searching his phone and finding a Telegram group for members of the religious group in Egypt, of which the three of were members, according to Imran Ali and the men’s relatives.

    On 11 March, police officers in plain clothes arrested Ahmed Al-Tanawi and his brother, Hussein Mohammed Hassan Al-Tanawi, also an asylum seeker registered with UNHCR, at their house in 6th of October City in Giza governorate, without presenting an arrest warrant, according to a family member. Ahmed remains held incommunicado at the 6th of October First Police Station, while Hussein’s fate and whereabouts remain unknown. On 15 March, a police officer informally told EIPR’s lawyer that Ahmed was accused of “membership in a terrorist organization”.

    On 25 March, Hussein’s family submitted a complaint to the public prosecution, which was reviewed by Amnesty International and EIPR, to inquire about his whereabouts. The family has yet to receive a response.

    Amnesty International and EIPR learned that on 13 March, authorities transferred Ahmed Al-Tanawi to the General Administration of Passports, Immigration and Nationality in Abbasyia neighbourhood in Cairo, where officials coerced him into signing documents apparently related to his deportation, without allowing him to review them.  On 6 April, police forced Ahmed Al-Tanawi’s family to purchase a ticket for him to Syria, threatening to deprive him of medication for his heart condition. His flight is scheduled for early tomorrow morning, according to his family.

    On 10 March, security forces arrested Omar Mahmoud Abdelmaguid Mohamed Ibrahim, another member of the Ahmadi religious minority, following a violent raid on his home in Cairo. His fate and whereabouts remain unknown. A member of Omar’s family said that since the arrest, his house has been under constant police surveillance. Police officers searched the house again on the same day to arrest Omar’s brother-in-law, Hazem Saied Mohamed Abd El-Moatamed, who had fled. However, he was arrested three days later, on 13 March, in 10th of Ramadan City in Sharqia Governorate, according to one of his relatives. He remains forcibly disappeared. He remains forcibly disappeared.

    Amnesty International and EIPR reviewed copies of complaints submitted by family members of Omar Mahmoud Abdelmaguid Mohamed Ibrahim and Hazem Saied Mohamed Abd El-Moatamed to the prosecution on 25 March, inquiring about their whereabouts. To date, the family has not received a response.

    In separate incidents, at least four other members of the religious minority were arrested throughout March, with their fate and whereabouts currently unknown, according to Imran Ali.  He said that three of them messaged him to say they were about to be arrested. He has not heard back from them since.

    Background

    Religious minorities including Coptic Christians, Shi’a Muslims and Bahá’ís consistently face discrimination in law and/or practice in Egypt. Members of religious minorities, atheists and others not espousing state-sanctioned religious beliefs are summoned and questioned by the National Security Agency or otherwise threatened or harassed, including by their educational institutions and online.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Slovakia: Proposed amendments to the Constitution would endanger the lives LGBTIQ+ people

    Source: Amnesty International –

    ‘Members of the Slovak Parliament must vote to reject this multi-pronged assault on human rights’ – Rado Sloboda

    Amendments to the Constitution of Slovakia to recognise only two sexes – male and female – and limit adoption to only married heterosexual couples, would have a devastating impact on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, said Amnesty International ahead of an expected debate and vote in the Slovak parliament. 

    Rado Sloboda, Director of Amnesty International Slovakia, said:

    “This swathe of amendments is an attempt to buttress an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTIQ+ people, undermine gender equality, rule of law and broader human rights protections in Slovakia. Constitutionalising the possibility to refuse abortion care on ‘conscientious objection’ grounds would put peoples’ health and lives at grave risk.

    “If passed, these draconian measures would further undermine gender equality and deepen the crackdown on LGBTIQ+ people’s rights, mirroring the dangerous practices of other countries in the region, such as Hungary and Poland. Members of the Slovak Parliament must vote to reject this multi-pronged assault on human rights.” 

    Devastating blow to gender rights

    The battery of proposed amendments would also restrict access to reproductive health by allowing refusal of abortion care by health professionals on the grounds of “conscience”, denying pregnant people safe and timely abortions and mandate parental approval on comprehensive sexuality education in schools. This would restrict children’s access to information necessary for sexual violence prevention, education about consent, and sexual and reproductive health, for example. 

    Slovak legislation already does not recognise “gender” and “gender identity”, acknowledges only two sexes and fails to recognise the existence of intersex people. The amendments to the Constitution would make any future progressive change of current legislation and legal acknowledgment of intersex and non-binary people more complicated, if not impossible. It could also restrict legal gender recognition rights of transgender people.

    The amendments would also see Slovak legislation take precedence over international law in what the proponents of the amendments call “cultural and ethical issues”. These could relate to marriage, family life, parenting, and related matters in the fields of health, science, education, and personal status.   

    Part of a larger rollback on rights

    The debate and vote on these constitutional amendments come alongside other attempts by authorities to rollback rights in Slovakia. Another bill that would lower gestational limits for abortion is also pending.  

    The amendments would also ban “agreements to procreate children or carry pregnancies for the benefit of others” and “the creation of human embryos for research and therapeutic purposes,” which would limit access to surrogacy and in-vitro fertilisation.  

    In May 2023, the Slovak parliament voted to make legal gender recognition impossible.

    A bill on NGOs and ‘foreign funding’ is also currently being debated in Parliament.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Slovakia: Proposed constitutional amendments would crush the rights of LGBTIQ+ people and be a backward step for gender equality 

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amendments to the Constitution of Slovakia to recognize only two sexes (male and female) and limit adoption to only married heterosexual couples, would have a devastating impact on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people, said Amnesty International ahead of an expected debate and vote in the Slovak parliament. 

    The battery of proposed amendments would also restrict access to reproductive health by allowing refusal of abortion care by health professionals on the grounds of “conscience”, denying pregnant people safe and timely abortions and mandate parental approval on comprehensive sexuality education in schools. This would restrict children’s access to information necessary for sexual violence prevention, education about consent, and sexual and reproductive health, for example. 

    Slovak legislation already does not recognize ‘gender’ and ‘gender identity’, acknowledges only two sexes and fails to acknowledge the existence of intersex people. The amendments to the Constitution would make any future progressive change of current legislation and legal acknowledgment of intersex and non-binary people more complicated, if not impossible. It could also restrict legal gender recognition rights of transgender people.

    “This swathe of amendments is an attempt to buttress an increasingly hostile environment for LGBTIQ+ people, undermine gender equality, rule of law and broader human rights protections in Slovakia. Constitutionalizing the possibility to refuse abortion care on “conscientious objection” grounds would put peoples’ health and lives at grave risk,” said Rado Sloboda, Director of Amnesty International Slovakia.  

    The amendments would also see Slovak legislation take precedence over international law in what the proponents of the amendments call “cultural and ethical issues”. These could relate to marriage, family life, parenting, and related matters in the fields of health, science, education, and personal status.   

    “If passed, these draconian measures would further undermine gender equality and deepen the crackdown on LGBTIQ+ people’s rights, mirroring the dangerous practices of other countries in the region, such as Hungary and Poland. Members of the Slovak Parliament must vote to reject this multi-pronged assault on human rights,” said Sloboda. 

    Background 

    The debate and vote on these constitutional amendments come alongside other attempts by authorities to rollback rights in Slovakia. Another bill that would lower gestational limits for abortion is also pending.  The amendments would also ban “agreements to procreate children or carry pregnancies for the benefit of others” and “the creation of human embryos for research and therapeutic purposes,” which would limit access to surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization.  

    In May 2023, the Slovak parliament voted to make legal gender recognition impossible.

    A bill on NGOs and ‘foreign funding’ is also currently being debated in Parliament.

    For more information contact [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: El Salvador: Fidel Zavala at risk of torture and other mistreatment

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Salvadoran human rights defender Fidel Zavala risks being tortured and subjected to other mistreatment. Zavala was recently moved to a prison where guards are the same, he had previously denounced for torturing people and conducting other forms of mistreatment. Zavala’s life and physical integrity are at immediate risk.  

    “The transfer of Salvadoran HRD Fidel Zavala is extremely worrying. By moving him to a prison where the guards he previously denounced for torture reign, the authorities are putting his live and physical integrity at immediate risk.”  – Ana Piquer, Amnesty Director for the Americas. 

    “The transfer of Salvadoran HRD Fidel Zavala is extremely worrying. By moving him to a prison where the guards he previously denounced for torture reign, the authorities are putting his live and physical integrity at immediate risk.”

    -Ana Piquer, Americas director at Amnesty International

    On February 25, 2025, Fidel Zavala, spokesperson for the Unidad De Defensa De Derechos Humanos Y Comunitarios (UNIDEHC), was arbitrarily detained by Salvadoran authorities in a raid that included the search of UNIDEHC’s headquarters, the home of lawyer Ivania Cruz—Director of the organization—and the arrest of more than 20 community leaders from La Floresta. Zavala’s detention is particularly concerning, as he has been both a witness to and a denouncer of torture in penitentiary centers. Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action,  in which it urges the authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Fidel Zavala and all detainees and to ensure they receive a fair trial with full due process guarantees. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Unshaken by uncertainty, united with purpose

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Standing with migrants, displaced peoples, and families

    People move for many reasons. Some seek opportunity. Some chase dreams. But for many, leaving  home isn’t a choice—it’s the only way to survive. When war, economic collapse, persecution, or disaster make staying impossible, people must go—because the alternative is not an option.

    Migration isn’t new—and it most certainly isn’t political. It’s human. From the very beginning, movement has been an evolutionary survival instinct—our most fundamental response to crisis. When danger arises, when conditions collapse, when a place can no longer sustain life, we move. We always have. 

    Climate crises and disasters aren’t always the reason people move—but it can be a powerful force that pushes instability past the point of no return, taking existing crises—war, poverty, political collapse—and driving them to breaking points that no one can outrun.  And despite the fear mongering, most displaced people don’t cross borders—they move internally, trying to rebuild in the only homeland they’ve ever known. 

    What happens next, how we choose to respond, defines who we are.

    Do we embrace migration for what it is—not just an act of resilience and survival, but an unshakeable driving force behind our shared history, woven into the fabric of our humanity? Or do we meet it with walls, punishment, and division—turning away from the very instinct that has carried us forward and ensured our survival for centuries?

    The crisis isn’t that people are moving—it’s that systems are failing

    Movement in and of itself is not a crisis. The crisis is what forces people to leave. The crisis is unchecked corporate and political greed, governments and politicians that refuse to act, and policies that persecute and make it difficult for people to survive where they are.

    The real emergency isn’t that people are seeking safety—it’s that all too often bad actors in power respond in turn with brute force, racism, and scapegoating—embracing militarized borders, mass criminalization, and willful abandonment over compassion, empathy, and humanity. 

    They view people and families seeking refuge as a tool to be leveraged—a talking point to exploit, a crisis to manufacture, a wedge to drive between us. And the only solutions they offer are those that best serve themselves. 

    While “strongmen” and authoritarians like to prop up false solutions like force and derence, we know those strategies don’t work and will never honor human dignity. They believe in division and control. We believe in humanity. 

    A future defined by who we choose to be

    We at Greenpeace USA believe that we aren’t just facing a crisis of policy—we’re facing a crisis of humanity. This isn’t about numbers, borders, or economies. It’s about humanity—who we are, what we stand for, and how we choose to meet each other in times of need.

    When people are forced from their homes, we have a choice: Do we turn away and pass our fellow brothers,sisters and siblings off as expendable? Or do we extend our arms, recognizing that their survival is tied to our own?

    We believe fiercely in the latter. That means:

    • Making it possible for people to rebuild their lives after disaster, war, and economic collapse—wherever they are. Not just cleaning up after destruction, but ensuring people and families can stay, thrive, and build something new. 
    • Defending the right to seek safety with dignity. Expanding pathways that reflect reality—because displacement isn’t just about climate change. It’s about collapsing economies, conflict, and persecution—worsened by a world in crisis. And whether we acknowledge it or not, these forces are already reshaping the very communities we live in. 
    • Recognizing that welcoming people doesn’t just make us stronger—it makes us whole. Communities that open their doors don’t just offer refuge—they create belonging, rebuild what was lost, and prove that humanity is not bound by borders.
    • Holding accountable not just polluters, but every bad actor who fuels these intersecting crises and then turns around and profits from fear. The corporations, the politicians, the power players who weaponize and exploit the suffering of our fellow people to serve their own agendas. 
    • Solidarity in action: We have spent a half century building a culture of solidarity, proactivity, and collective action, standing alongside our neighbors in the fight for justice and human rights. But we are not just bearing witness—we are catalyzing a counter-power, forging movements bold enough to challenge the corporations and institutions that put profit over people. Through deep relationships, courageous learning, and unwavering commitment, we are building something greater than resistance alone. We are creating organized, powerful movements that stand in solidarity—not just when crisis strikes, but every day, in every struggle.

    People have always moved. We always will. 

    The only question is whether we will meet one another with scornfulness, walls, and punishment—or with compassion, courage, and humanity. History will remember the choices we make today.

    Will we turn against our neighbors? Or will we build a future where all of us belong?

    We know where we stand: with working people and our communities—not with the billionaires who exploit them. We are here to win justice, not just demand it. And together, we will.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Haiti: MSF withdraws from two medical facilities in Port-au-Prince as widespread violence intensifies

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Port-au-Prince – Following the targeted attack on 15 March against a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) convoy travelling between our Turgeau emergency centre and Carrefour trauma hospital, and in view of the deteriorating security situation in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from these two facilities for a minimum period of three months. This period will allow an assessment as to whether the evolving security context offers the necessary conditions for the return of MSF teams.

    On the day of the attack, MSF had already evacuated the Turgeau emergency centre, as the fighting and the frontline had advanced dangerously close to the centre, with stray bullets landing in the compound every day. During the evacuation of teams from Turgeau to the Carrefour trauma hospital, clearly identified MSF vehicles, using the only access road separating the two structures, were deliberately targeted by at least one hooded man in uniform. The MSF vehicles were shot 15 times. The incident forced us to stop using this route.   

    One of the four MSF vehicles shot during an evacuation from Turgeau emergency centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 2025.
    MSF

    “The Turgeau emergency centre and the Carrefour trauma hospital are closely linked in their operations. Without the possibility of using this road to transfer patients, transport personnel or deliver medical supplies, these structures can no longer function,” says Benoît Vasseur, MSF’s head of mission in Haiti. “This is why we have also been forced to withdraw from Carrefour as of 9 April 2025. This is an extremely painful decision, at a time when people’s vital medical needs continue to grow.”

    At these two medical structures, MSF teams noted an alarming increase in the number of victims of violence. Between January and March 2025, MSF treated more than 550 people for violent trauma. At the same time, these two medical facilities carried out over 3,600 medical consultations and treated more than 3,600 emergency cases over the same period. They were the only medical facilities in the area to offer free care to victims of road accidents and domestic accidents, or to refer patients to appropriate facilities.

    Despite these withdrawals, MSF is continuing our activities in other medical facilities in Port-au-Prince and the south region of Haiti. The Tabarre trauma reference centre continues to treat victims of serious burns, accidents and violence. Hôpital Drouillard in Cité Soleil maintains a 24-hour emergency service, which includes physical and mental health treatment for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

    The Pran Men’m clinic continues to provide comprehensive medical and psychological care to sexual violence victims and survivors, including at its main facility in Delmas and at the Isaïe Jeanty maternity hospital. Since 2021, MSF has also been sending mobile clinics to several sites for displaced people and disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince. However, medical transport has been suspended for all MSF teams in Port-au-Prince. Finally, in the south region, notably in Port-à-Piment and in the surrounding area, MSF continues to provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care, as well as maternal health services.

    For over 30 years, MSF has responded to the major crises that have hit Haiti – earthquakes, hurricanes, cholera epidemics – and continues to support people in the face of the current violence. However, MSF staff cannot continue risking their lives to provide this service. Previously, on 22 November 2024, we had to suspend all operations in Port-au-Prince metropolitan area for around three weeks due to repeated attacks and threats against our staff. This is the second critical incident we have suffered in the last four months, and MSF is still waiting for the results of the investigations carried out by the Haitian authorities.

    “The extreme suffering of people in Haiti makes this decision all the more heartbreaking, but a dead or injured doctor or nurse can do nothing for patients in need,” says Vasseur. “We reiterate our appeal to all parties concerned to respect the medical mission and ensure the protection of health structures, ambulances, patients and staff.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF ends a 12-year trauma surgical intervention in Aden Yemen

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Since the intensity of conflict has decreased in Aden, Yemen, and the subsequent reduction of people facing violence-related trauma, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has concluded our 12-year project at the Aden trauma centre. We will now refocus our activities in Aden to provide medical care for people’s most pressing needs.

    Providing advanced trauma care during war

    Over the past 12 years, MSF teams in Aden have treated and rehabilitated thousands of people severely injured by the war in Yemen, providing more than 65,000 emergency consultations and close to 68,000 surgical procedures. Most patients suffered from open fractures, burn injuries, or sustained injuries from gunshots and explosives.

    As the conflict in Yemen deepened during the battle for Aden in 2015, activities at the Aden trauma centre intensified. During this time, while the centre treated a mass influx of patients with severe war wounds, our teams also ran advanced emergency post and surgical mobile clinics in the city to stabilise war-wounded individuals and improve their chances of survival.

    “The Aden trauma centre has been the only specialised acute trauma hospital in the area and served as an epicentre for treating patients. Some of our patients came from very far places, sometimes traveling for days in difficult conditions to seek free medical care,” says Olivier Marteau, MSF’s deputy head of mission in Yemen.

    Intensive care nurses in the Aden trauma centre, Yemen, February 2023.
    MSF

    In 2018, following the Hodeidah offensive, MSF teams increased the hospital’s capacity from 86 to 104 beds to respond to another influx of war-wounded patients.

    In 2020, conflict escalated in southern Hodeidah, while the hospital in Aden was receiving a high workload of severe trauma cases, where a person had multiple traumatic injuries, that required specialised, intensive and multidisciplinary care.

    Ryadh Mohammed Ahmed Saleh, 24, was among the patients admitted to the Aden trauma centre at this time. Originating from Abyan, a governate neighbouring Aden, he was referred to Aden for a serious gunshot wound. At the centre, he received colostomy surgery, which saved his life.

    “The gunshot wound was severe; I never thought I would be alive today,” says Ryadh. “When I got to the hospital, I was in excruciating pain. The doctors reassured me that I would be fine. Despite a few complications with the colostomy, I am grateful for my life today and for the medical support I received,” he says.

    To reduce the constant and high pressure for the medical, logistic and operational teams at the Aden trauma centre, in 2018 MSF opened a trauma field hospital in Mocha, a city located between Hodeidah and Aden, as conflict escalated on the west coast of Yemen.

    “From April to August 2020, the Aden trauma centre received 493 patients from the frontlines on the western coast, mostly injured by gun shots, landmines or bombing,” says Marteau. “Around 20 ambulances per day were transporting patients from Hodeidah and the surrounding area to Aden, a six-hour drive to reach lifesaving healthcare.”

    The opening of Mocha hospital released the intense pressure on the centre and allowed patients to be treated more quickly. On the other hand, it also enabled the centre to focus on more complex cases, and expand its admission criteria, including road-traffic accidents, other trauma-related injuries, as well as COVID-19 cases.

    Running the only COVID-19 centre for southern Yemen

    After the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in April 2020 in Yemen, MSF opened the first and only dedicated treatment centre for the whole of southern Yemen. For months, our teams faced immense challenges in facilitating the entrance of supplies and medical equipment, while the disease spread very quickly.

    “In the first weeks, we received hundreds of patients. Many arrived at the centre already suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome,” says Dr Youssef Nagwan, who has been working with MSF in Aden since 2015. “Our teams were working around the clock to provide the best treatment we could, but we were overwhelmed.”

    A member of the nursing staff adjusts oxygen levels for a critically ill patient with COVID-19 in the intensive care unit of Al-Gomhuria hospital. Aden, Yemen, August 2020.
    MSF/Hareth Mohammed

    In 2021, our teams saw a dramatic influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalisation in Aden. After six years of war, Yemen’s healthcare system was crippled and the capacity to treat people in intensive care was limited. MSF started to provide support to the COVID-19 treatment centre in Al-Sadaqa hospital, with the support of the Ministry of Public Health and Population.

    Refocusing activities to meet new medical needs

    In 2023, there was a further decline in political violence in Yemen, which dropped to the lowest level since the start of the current conflict in 2015, with Ansar Allah and the internationally recognised government maintaining an unofficial truce since the end of the UN-mediated truce in October 2022.

    As a result, our teams in Aden saw a decrease in conflict-related trauma cases, while treating an increasing number of patients injured by domestic and road accidents.

    MSF is now assessing the medical gaps and priority needs in Aden in coordination the Ministry of Health. In 2025, MSF aims to refocus our activities in Aden to provide new medical services for people most in need.

    The new medical activity is under assessment and will be presented to the Ministry of Health in the second half of 2025. This transition period allows for renovations that MSF will undertake in the hospital. In the meantime, MSF, as a humanitarian organisation with expertise in emergencies and crises, remains fully prepared to intervene and respond to any medical emergencies that may arise.  

    The medical and humanitarian needs in Aden and across Yemen remain high. MSF is committed to the needs of people in Yemen, where we have been working since 1986. Today, MSF teams work in 13 hospitals across 13 governorates, providing support to more than 12 health facilities across the country.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Recorded executions hit their highest figure since 2015

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.

    According to the report, Death Sentences and Executions 2024, 1,518 executions were recorded in 2024 – the highest number since 2015 (at least 1,634) – with the majority in the Middle East. However, for the second year in a row, countries carrying out executions remained at the lowest point on record.

    The known totals do not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remains the world’s lead executioner, as well as North Korea and Viet Nam which are also believed to resort to the death penalty extensively. Ongoing crises in Palestine (State of) and Syria meant that Amnesty International could not confirm a figure.

    The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in
    today’s world.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

    Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the overall rise in known executions. In total, the trio accounted for a staggering 1,380 recorded executions. Iraq almost quadrupled its executions (from at least 16 to at least 63) and Saudi Arabia doubled its yearly total (from 172 to at least 345), while Iran executed 119 more individuals than last year (from at least 853 to at least 972) – accounting for 64% of all known executions.

    “The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in today’s world. While secrecy continued to shroud scrutiny in some countries that we believe are responsible for thousands of executions, it’s evident that states that retain the death penalty are an isolated minority. With just 15 countries carrying out executions in 2024, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year, this signals a move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

    “Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the sharp spike in deaths last year, carrying out over 91% of known executions, violating human rights and callously taking people’s lives for drug-related and terrorism charges.”

    The five countries with the highest number of recorded executions in 2024 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.

    Authorities weaponizing death penalty

    Throughout 2024, Amnesty International witnessed leaders weaponizing the death penalty under the false pretence that it would improve public safety or to instil fear among the population. In the USA, which has experienced a steady upward trend in executions since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, 25 people were executed (against 24 in 2023). Newly electedPresident Trump repeatedly invoked the death penalty as a tool to protect people “from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters”.  His dehumanizing remarks promoted a false narrative that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crime.

    In some countries in the Middle East region, death sentences were used to silence human rights defenders, dissidents, protesters, political opponents, and ethnic minorities.

    Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out.”

    Agnès Callamard

    “Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “In 2024, Iran persisted in their use of the death penalty to punish individuals who had challenged the Islamic Republic establishment during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Last year saw two of those people – including a youth with a mental disability – executed in connection with the uprising following unfair trials and torture-tainted ‘confessions’, proving how far the authorities are willing to go to tighten their grip on power.”

    Saudi authorities continued to weaponize the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish nationals from the country’s Shi’a minority who supported “anti-government” protests between 2011 and 2013. In August, the authorities executed Abdulmajeed al-Nimr for terrorism-related offences related to joining Al-Qaeda, despite initial court documents referring to his participation in protests.

    The Democratic Republic of Congo announced its intention to resume executions while Burkina Faso’s military authorities announced plans to reintroduce the death penalty for ordinary crimes.

    Over 40% of 2024’s executions were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences. Under international human rights law and standards, the use of the death penalty must be restricted for the ‘most serious crimes’ – sentencing people to death for drug-related offences does not meet this threshold.

    “Drug-related executions were prevalent in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and, while no confirmation was possible, likely Viet Nam. In many contexts,sentencing people to death fordrug-related offences has been found to disproportionately impact those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while it has no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “Leaders who promote the death penalty for drug-related offences are proposing ineffective and unlawful solutions. States considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, such as the Maldives, Nigeria and Tonga, must be called out and encouraged to put human rights at the centre of their drug policies.”

    The power of campaigning

    Despite a rise in executions, just 15 countries were known to have carried them out – the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year. As of today, 113 countries are fully abolitionist and 145 in total have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

    In 2024, Zimbabwe signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. For the first time, more than two thirds of all UN member states voted in favour of the tenth General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Death penalty reforms in Malaysia also led to a reduction by more than 1,000 in the number of people at risk of execution.

    When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work.

    Agnès Callamard

    Furthermore, the world witnessed the power of campaigning. Hakamada Iwao – who spent nearly five decades on death row in Japan – was acquitted in September 2024. This has continued into 2025. In March, Rocky Myers – a Black man sentenced to death in Alabama despite serious flaws in the proceedings – was granted clemency following calls from his family and legal team, a former juror, local activists and the international community.

    “When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work,” said Agnès Callamard. “Despite the minority of leaders determined to weaponize the death penalty, the tide is turning. It’s only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Global: Executions highest on record since 2015 – new death penalty report

    Source: Amnesty International –

    In 2024, global executions surged to 1,518, the highest since 2015 ​

    Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia responsible for 91% of executions

    Known totals do not include thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remains the world’s lead executioner

    Countries weaponising death penalty against protesters and there’s a rise in drug-related executions

    ‘Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the cruellest of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out’ – Agnès Callamard

    Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.

    The 48-page report, Death Sentences and Executions 2024, found that 1,518 executions were recorded in 2024 – the highest number since 2015 (at least 1,634) – with the majority in the Middle East. However, for the second year in a row, countries carrying out executions remained at the lowest point on record.

    The known totals do not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remains the world’s lead executioner, as well as North Korea and Vietnam which are also believed to resort to the death penalty extensively. Ongoing crises in Palestine (State of) and Syria meant that Amnesty could not confirm a figure.

    Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the overall rise in known executions. In total, the three countries accounted for a staggering 1,380 recorded executions. Iraq almost quadrupled its executions from at least 16 to at least 63 and Saudi Arabia doubled its yearly total from 172 to at least 345, while Iran executed 119 more individuals than last year rising from at least 853 to at least 972 accounting for 64% of all known executions.

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, said:

    “The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in today’s world. While secrecy continued to shroud scrutiny in some countries that we believe are responsible for thousands of executions, it’s evident that countries that retain the death penalty are an isolated minority. With just 15 countries carrying out executions in 2024, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year, this signals a move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.

    “Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the sharp spike in deaths last year, carrying out over 91% of known executions, violating human rights and callously taking people’s lives for drug-related and terrorism charges.”

    Authorities weaponising death penalty

    Throughout 2024, Amnesty witnessed leaders weaponising the death penalty under the false pretence that it would improve public safety or to instil fear among the population. In the USA, which has experienced a steady upward trend in executions since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, 25 people were executed (against 24 in 2023). Newly elected President Trump repeatedly invoked the death penalty as a tool to protect people “from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters”. His dehumanising remarks promoted a false narrative that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crime.

    In some countries in the Middle East region, death sentences were used to silence human rights defenders, dissidents, protesters, political opponents, and ethnic minorities.

    Agnès Callamard added:

    “Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the cruellest of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out.

    “In 2024, Iran persisted in their use of the death penalty to punish individuals who had challenged the Islamic Republic establishment during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Last year saw two of those people – including a youth with a mental disability – executed in connection with the uprising following unfair trials and torture-tainted ‘confessions’, proving how far the authorities are willing to go to tighten their grip on power.”

    Saudi authorities continued to weaponise the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish nationals from the country’s Shi’a minority who supported “anti-government” protests between 2011 and 2013. In August, the authorities executed Abdulmajeed al-Nimr for terrorism-related offences related to joining Al-Qaeda, despite initial court documents referring to his participation in protests.

    The Democratic Republic of Congo announced its intention to resume executions while Burkina Faso’s military authorities announced plans to reintroduce the death penalty for ordinary crimes.

    Rise in executions for drug-related offences

    Over 40% of executions in 2024 were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences. Under international human rights law and standards, the use of the death penalty must be restricted for the ‘most serious crimes’ – sentencing people to death for drug-related offences does not meet this threshold.

    Agnès Callamard said:

    “Drug-related executions were prevalent in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and, while no confirmation was possible, likely Vietnam. In many contexts, sentencing people to death for drug-related offences has been found to disproportionately impact those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while it has no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking.

    “Leaders who promote the death penalty for drug-related offences are proposing ineffective and unlawful solutions. States considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, such as the Maldives, Nigeria and Tonga, must be called out and encouraged to put human rights at the centre of their drug policies.”

    The power of campaigning

    Despite a rise in executions, just 15 countries were known to have carried them out – the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year. As of today, 113 countries are fully abolitionist and 145 in total have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

    In 2024, Zimbabwe signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. For the first time, more than two thirds of all UN member states voted in favour of the tenth General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Death penalty reforms in Malaysia also led to a reduction by more than 1,000 in the number of people at risk of execution.

    Furthermore, the world witnessed the power of campaigning. Hakamada Iwao – who spent nearly five decades on death row in Japan – was acquitted in September 2024. This has continued into 2025. In March, Rocky Myers – a Black man sentenced to death in Alabama despite serious flaws in the proceedings – was granted clemency following calls from his family and legal team, a former juror, local activists and the international community.

    Agnès Callamard added:

    “When people prioritise campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work. Despite the minority of leaders determined to weaponise the death penalty, the tide is turning. It’s only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar earthquake: Risk of waterborne disease outbreak amidst devastation compounded by weekend heavy rains

    Source: Oxfam –

    Heavy rains that struck Mandalay and Sagaing – the epicenter of the recent earthquake in Myanmar – at the weekend have further complicated the humanitarian situation. The existing lack of sanitation and clean water is now increasing the risk of waterborne diseases, said Oxfam today.  

    Rajan Khosla, Oxfam in Myanmar Country Director, said: 

    “The recent heavy rains have added to the challenges faced by the survivors of this earthquake, further affecting those who are already struggling. Hundreds of thousands of people are seeking shelter in temporary accommodations or in open areas, with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation.” 

    The destruction of roads and bridges, together with the disruption in telecommunications have already slowed rescue and relief operations over the past week. Millions of people in hardest-hit areas remain with limited access to electricity, clean water and sanitation, and essential services. 

    The 7.7-magnitude quake – the worst to hit Myanmar in decades – has left a trail of devastation, particularly in the regions of Mandalay, Sagaing, parts of Shan, and Nay Pyi Taw.  

    The UN has estimated that the earthquake has affected more than 17 million people across 57 of the country’s 330 townships. Over 3,400 people have been announced dead and thousands more injured, and the number is still rising. 

    Oxfam’s team was among the first to reach the hardest-hit areas, providing lifesaving supplies to prevent the outbreak of disease, particularly acute watery diarrhea. Together with our partners, Oxfam is providing people in shelters with lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene kits, blankets, mosquito nets and other essential supplies.  

    The recent heavy rains have added to the challenges faced by the survivors of this earthquake, further affecting those already struggling. Hundreds of thousands of people are seeking shelter in temporary accommodations or in open areas, with limited access to clean water and proper sanitation.

    Rajan Khosla, Oxfam’s Country Director in Myanmar.  

    Oxfam

    Oxfam’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene expert in Mandalay, said:

    “Heavy rains flooded drains, polluting the environment and increasing public health risks including diarrhoea due to flies and insects. Many camps lack proper latrines, forcing people to dispose of human waste without adequate sanitation.” He added, “there are significant hygiene challenges for the camp population, as food is cooked outdoors, making it difficult to prepare meals after rain. This increases the risk of contamination and the spread of diseases.” 

    Myanmar was already reeling from a severe humanitarian crisis, with almost 20 million people – a third of the population –needing humanitarian assistance. The situation is now catastrophic. But despite the scale of need, the country remains one of the world’s most underfunded humanitarian crises. Less than 40 percent of the UN Humanitarian appeal for Myanmar was met last year.   

    Rajan said: “This tragedy underscores the need for a coordinated international response and significant support to help Myanmar recover and rebuild. The road to recovery is long, and every contribution can make a significant difference in the lives of those impacted by this devastating earthquake,”  

    Oxfam is scaling up its response to reach the most vulnerable groups in hardest hit areas, particularly women, children, and people with disability. 

    //END 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Thailand: Authorities must end malicious smear campaigns and cyberattacks on civil society

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Amnesty International has called on the Thai authorities to investigate and take any necessary measures to end cyberattacks against human rights activists after leaked internal government documents showed that Amnesty International was among several civil society groups targeted in a coordinated, state-sponsored campaign.

    The documents, which were brought to light in a recent parliamentary debate, revealed Thai police and military units are jointly running a “Cyber Team” which deliberately sought to tarnish the reputations and undermine the legitimate work of civil society organizations and political opposition members.

    It also engaged in phishing attacks and brute-force attempts to access social media accounts. The former Executive Director of Amnesty International’s Thailand office was among those targeted.

    “These cyberattacks are an outrageous assault on Thailand’s civic space. Thai authorities must immediately end these malicious smear campaigns against human rights defenders and activists,” Amnesty International’s Thailand Researcher Chanatip Tatiyakaroonwong said.

    “The Thai government must take any necessary measures to disclose full details regarding state actors’ involvement and hold accountable all those responsible—whether they are state officials, members of the security forces or private individuals.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar earthquake: Working to meet the biggest needs News Apr 04, 2025

    Source: Doctors Without Borders –

    We’re getting ready for what seems will be a long and intense emergency.

    The health care system has been severely impacted at multiple levels, with secondary care being particularly affected. Hospitals, including operating theaters, are non-functional—not only for emergency surgeries but also for essential procedures like C-sections. MSF teams are prioritizing efforts to provide immediate relief by strengthening secondary health care services.

    At the same time, primary health care remains crucial in this context, so that the patients with diabetes or hypertension can continue their care. We are also worried about the psychological toll on the affected communities, many of whom are experiencing stress and acute trauma following the earthquake and ongoing aftershocks. To help build resilience, our teams are actively providing psychological first aid training as an integral part of the emergency response.

    A key priority for MSF in Myanmar is community engagement—working closely with local efforts to ensure a meaningful and lasting impact on the health and well-being of those affected. Our goal is to strengthen existing capacities, particularly through the dedication of local communities and our local staff, who have been at the forefront of MSF’s response since day one. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Children diagnosed with malnutrition on Samos island Greece

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    A Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) medical team has reported six cases of malnutrition among children in the Samos closed controlled access centre (CCAC) in Greece, which houses asylum seekers. This is the first time MSF has identified malnutrition in the facility since we began working there in 2021.

    Six children aged six months to six years were diagnosed with severe or moderate acute malnutrition— a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical intervention to prevent further deterioration. However, paediatric care remains inadequate, not only in the CCAC but across all of Samos island.

    Additionally, cash assistance for asylum seekers has been halted since June, leaving families without the means to buy essential, nutritious food for their children.

    Refugee families already endure extreme hardships traveling through multiple countries while facing food insecurity and a lack of medical care. Children are especially vulnerable to the cumulative effects of prolonged malnutrition.

    The Greek authorities and European Union institutions must ensure a healthy and safe environment for refugee children, including adequate paediatric healthcare. Cash assistance should also be reinstated so that families can afford nutritious food.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: MSF opens emergency room in Daraya Syria

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    After 14 years of war, Syria has been left with large-scale destruction, massive displacement, economic hardship and a lack of basic services, including healthcare. In response, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has started planning how best to meet people’s needs in areas where our teams were unable to work previously, including major cities and under-served rural regions where people’s humanitarian needs are significant and often overlooked.

    This includes Daraya, southwest of Damascus, where we have set up an emergency room and support a healthcare centre.

    “Almost everywhere our teams have visited, the scars of war are evident – entire neighbourhoods destroyed, with little effort put into reconstruction and minimal investment in restoring basic services,” says MSF’s project coordinator for Damascus, Mostafa Khatab. “Daraya, a suburb in the outskirts of the city, stood out in particular. Large-scale destruction, entire areas flattened – yet, people are coming back, determined to rebuild their lives.” 

    A view from the window of a destroyed building in eastern Daraya, Syria, March 2025.
    Al Baraa Haddad/MSF

    After the government of Bashar Al-Assad collapsed in December 2024, thousands of people have returned to their homes, and now face massive challenges, including land contaminated with munitions, job shortages, economic struggles, and a lack of access to clean water and healthcare services.

    “Daraya’s hospital, for example, was heavily damaged, and restoring it would require significant investment – something unlikely to happen in the near future,” says Khatab. “This means that the only real option for emergency and specialised medical care is in Damascus city centre, where services are already under significant strain.”

    “The only functioning health centre in Daraya operates at a very limited capacity, offering just vaccinations, malnutrition treatment and basic medications for chronic diseases,” says Khatab.

    In response, MSF started running activities in Daraya in March in partnership with the Directorate of Health. After renovating the health centre, the team is providing basic healthcare, including outpatient consultations, mental healthcare and sexual and reproductive healthcare, led by a doctor and a midwife.

    MSF and the Directorate of Health have also opened a 24/7 emergency room to provide urgent care for people with trauma injuries and have established a referral system to hospitals in Damascus for patients needing more specialist care. All MSF’s services are free of charge.   

    An ambulance in front of the Daraya health centre preparing to respond to a call. Syria, March 2025.
    Al Baraa Haddad/MSF

    Consultation numbers at the health centre have increased steadily with over 1,000 patients treated in the outpatient services since we started supporting in March. More and more patients are coming for sexual and reproductive.

    At the emergency room, the medical team has provided 308 consultations and referred 24 patients for specialist care in just two weeks.

    “The opening of Daraya emergency room clearly marks a decisive turning point in access to healthcare for the people of Daraya,” says MSF’s medical referent, Jethro Guerina. “I witnessed a father shedding tears of relief after his 10-year-old son received six stitches in the head following an accident at home, the medical team told him he didn’t have to pay money for treatment,” says Guerina. “He told me: ‘I have no memory of ever not having to pay for treatment.’”

    MIL OSI NGO –