Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Amnesty International –

• In-depth investigation finds US violated international humanitarian law by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm
• US responsible for deadly attack on school packed full of children killing 168 people
• US authorities must ensure that the investigation is transparent, thorough, and that the results are made public.

Those responsible for planning and executing an unlawful US strike on a school in Minab, Hormozgan province in Iran that killed 168 people, including over 100 children, must be held accountable, Amnesty International said today.  

Evidence gathered by the organization indicates that the school building was directly struck, alongside 12 other structures in an adjacent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound, with guided weapons. This points to a failure by US forces to take feasible precautions to avoid civilian harm in carrying out the attack, which is a serious breach of international humanitarian law. The fact that the school building was directly targeted and was previously part of the IRGC compound raises concerns that US forces may have relied on outdated intelligence and failed in their obligation to do everything feasible to verify that the intended target was a military objective. 

“This harrowing attack on a school, with classrooms full of children, is a sickening illustration of the catastrophic and entirely predictable price civilians are paying during this armed conflict. Schools must be places of safety and learning for children. Instead, this school in Minab became a site of mass killing. The US authorities could, and should, have known it was a school building. Targeting a protected civilian object, such as a school, is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director of Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns.

This harrowing attack on a school, with classrooms full of children, is a sickening illustration of the catastrophic and entirely predictable price civilians are paying during this armed conflict.

Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International

US authorities must ensure that the investigation they have announced is impartial, independent and transparent. Investigations into the strike must consider the intelligence gathering and assessments, targeting decisions and precautions taken, as well as how artificial intelligence may have been employed in each of these steps, to evaluate how targeting decisions were made. The results of the investigation should be made public.  

Where sufficient evidence exists, competent authorities should prosecute any person suspected of criminal responsibility. Victims and their families have the right to truth and justice and should receive full reparation, including restitution, rehabilitation and compensation for civilian harm.

“If the attackers failed to identify the building as a school and nevertheless proceeded with the attack, this would indicate gross negligence in the planning of the attack and would point to a shameful intelligence failure on the part of the US military and a serious violation of international humanitarian law. On the other hand, if the US was aware that the school was adjacent to the IRGC compound and proceeded to attack without taking all feasible precautions, such as striking at night when the school would have been empty, or giving effective advance warning to civilians likely to be affected, this would amount to recklessly launching an indiscriminate attack which killed and injured civilians and must be investigated as a war crime,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas.

“For their part, Iranian authorities must immediately remove, to the extent feasible, civilians from the vicinity of military objectives and allow independent monitors into the country. They must also restore internet access to ensure that the 92 million people in Iran have access to life-saving information and be able to contact their loved ones.”

Video footage, satellite imagery, and interviews with three independent sources with direct information about the situation in Minab indicate that an air strike hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School on the morning of 28 February 2026, killing and injuring civilians, including children, parents, and teachers, and causing extensive damage and destruction. Both girls and boys attended the school and were taught on separate floors.

Amnesty International’s analysis of audiovisual evidence of missile strikes on the adjacent IRGC compound and of missile remnants published by state media in Iran indicate that a US-manufactured Tomahawk missile was likely used for the attack. Tomahawk missiles are used exclusively by US forces in this conflict and are precision-guided missiles.

The school was individually struck as part of an attack on 12 other structures in the adjacent IRGC compound raising serious concerns that it may have been targeted based on outdated intelligence. The New York Times reported on 11 March 2026 that a preliminary investigation by the US military has found that the strike on the school was the result of reliance on outdated data.

Any current or future use of artificial intelligence magnify the risk of such failures. Also on 11 March 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper confirmed that the USA was using advanced artificial intelligence tools to process large amounts of data related to the operations.  

The USA’s apparent reliance on outdated intelligence, which failed to reflect the long-standing status of Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School as a civilian object, would constitute a serious violation of the principle of precaution, particularly the obligation to do everything feasible to verify that an intended target is a military objective. In the aftermath of the attack, media and other organizations were able to promptly verify that the building hosting the school had been separated from the rest of the compound since at least 2016. This indicates that parties to the conflict, with much more advanced intelligence-gathering capabilities and technologies, were undoubtedly in a position to collect and verify this same information, which should have led to the decision not to attack the school.

In the aftermath of the attack, Iranian authorities have exploited the suffering of victims’ families and surviving children for propaganda purposes.

Source: Amnesty International –

In light of the persistent lack of information regarding the whereabouts, state of health and conditions of detention of prisoner of conscience Brooklyn Rivera, Amnesty International declared:

“Keeping Brooklyn Rivera in detention without information about his whereabouts and state of health, and without access to family members or lawyers, exacerbates the already extremely serious human rights violations he is facing. The Nicaraguan authorities have an obligation to demonstrate without delay that he is alive and to ensure that his rights are fully respected,” said Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.

The Nicaraguan authorities have an obligation to demonstrate without delay that he is alive and to ensure that his rights are fully respected.”

Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.

Amnesty International has repeatedly denounced the repressive apparatus of Daniel Ortega’s government, which has plunged the country into a deep human rights crisis. This crisis is evidenced by the dismantling of independent media and human rights organisations, the forced exile of hundreds of journalists and activists, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders, community leaders and critical voices.

“The lack of transparency regarding Brooklyn Rivera’s detention confirms a wider pattern of repression against Indigenous leaders, critical voices and civil society organisations in Nicaragua. He and all those detained solely for exercising their human rights must be released immediately and unconditionally,” concluded Valencia.

“The lack of transparency regarding Brooklyn Rivera’s detention confirms a wider pattern of repression against Indigenous leaders, critical voices and civil society organisations in Nicaragua.”

Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.

Arbitrary detentions and harassment of anyone who dissents from state policies or is perceived as an opponent, including Indigenous leaders such as Brooklyn Rivera, demonstrate the continuation of a pattern of repression aimed at silencing dissent and consolidating arbitrary and excessive state control through fear. According to a recent report by the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, at least 46 people remain detained for political reasons in Nicaragua, demonstrating that the case of Brooklyn Rivera forms part of a broader pattern of systematic persecution.

For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact [email protected]

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

A new comprehensive study released today by the Institute for Sustainable Futures (UTS), in collaboration with Greenpeace International, reveals that the push to mine the deep ocean is based on a fake dilemma. The report argues that it is possible to pursue a clean energy transition without mining the deep sea or vital ecosystems on land, for so-called critical minerals.

The report, Beyond Extraction, shows that public transportation, improved recycling programmes, and advanced battery technologies are the real critical solutions for a green transition. It concludes that limiting global warming to no more than 1.5°C does not require sacrificing the deep sea or critical ecosystems on land. Governments should focus on reducing demand for raw materials, finding smarter ways to make things, and deploying clean energy rather than opening the deep sea to industrial exploitation.

Greenpeace International deep sea mining campaigner Ruth Ramos said: “Lines have been crossed on the land that need never be crossed in the deep ocean. Now we know: not only does deep sea mining run against science, ethics, people and the planet, it’s not even needed for a renewable transition. What is needed is for the nations of the world to unite against rogue actors like The Metals Company and Donald Trump and their affronts to international law and cooperation, and instead keep moving towards a global moratorium on deep sea mining. Imagine if humans could have protected the world from the harms of the fossil fuel industry before it even started – that is the opportunity when it comes to deep sea mining: it is a historic privilege, and one we must now embrace wholeheartedly.”

For years, the mining lobby has argued that the green transition is impossible without extracting cobalt, nickel, and manganese from the seafloor. This study finds that: 

• Ambitious recycling could reduce the total demand for the nine key transition minerals by up to 45% by 2050. Recycling can reduce primary nickel demand by up to 48%
• A combination of factors including shifting from private car ownership to more public transport, smaller, more efficient EVs, and different battery choices, can reduce cumulative mineral demand by 23%
• The rise of advanced battery technology such as lithium iron phosphate batteries (which do not contain nickel or cobalt) can significantly reduce the demand for certain minerals

Elsa Lee, head of biodiversity at Greenpeace International, said: “We cannot build a green future on a foundation of neocolonialism. Tech and mining giants are using the ‘fossil fuel playbook’ to spark a global resource scramble that threatens Indigenous lands and vital ecosystems. But we don’t need ecocide to power a green revolution; we need a transition that respects both people and the planet. Mining magnates claim that destroying biodiversity is the price of progress, but we refuse to repeat the extractive mistakes of the past. A truly just energy transition must respect Indigenous rights and protect the wonders of our deep ocean, not sacrifice them for profit”.

As part of the report, potential mineral reserves were compared with areas on land and in the global ocean that – due to their exceptional environmental, ecological, and social importance – must be off-limits to mining. These include, amongst others, peatlands, mangroves, intact forest landscapes, protected areas on land, small islands and uncontacted, or voluntary isolation, tribal territory. The analysis finds that there is no need to mine these off-limits areas for an ambitious energy transition.

The report calls on global governments to:

1. Acknowledge that the “mineral gap” must be addressed through responsible political leadership and innovation
2. Support the market scaling of alternative battery chemistries that bypass conflict or deep sea minerals
3. Implement Extended Producer Responsibility to ensure 100% of minerals in old batteries re-enter the supply chain

A global moratorium on deep sea mining is the most responsible precautionary approach to address science gaps, protect the global ocean and uphold international law. More than 40 states, including the UK, now support a moratorium on deep sea mining, along with 950 scientists.

Greenpeace UK has launched a judicial review against the UK government which publicly backs a moratorium. It argues that the Business Secretary’s approval of the transfer of two major deep-sea exploration licences in the Pacific from UK Seabed Resources Ltd (UKSRL) to a new mining company, Glomar Minerals, may breach international and domestic law. It has filed its claim in the High Court of Justice. 

The report contradicts the UK government’s main argument for continuing to sponsor deep sea exploration licences: that it has the “potential to contribute to the global demand for critical minerals to support the energy transition to net zero”. 

Erica Finnie, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK said: “The UK government is talking out of both sides of its mouth – claiming to be an ocean champion while quietly handing the keys to the seabed to private profiteers. This legal warning is a wake-up call: you cannot solve the climate crisis by destroying the very ocean ecosystems that help stabilise it. If the government is serious about protecting our oceans, it must stop the greenwashing, stop propping up the mining industry, and speak up in favour of a global moratorium on deep sea mining on the global stage”.

ENDS

Note to Editors: 

A concise briefing document is available here. 

Photos are available in the Greenpeace Media Library

1. The full report (available on request) includes detailed data on nine key minerals: cobalt, copper, dysprosium, graphite, lithium, manganese, neodymium, nickel, and vanadium.
2. Greenpeace continues to highlight that the current state of ocean science and the high environmental risks mean that no ‘mining code’ could make deep sea mining compatible with protecting the marine environment.
3. A press release about Greenpeace UK’s legal challenge is available here.

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Bangkok, 13 March 2026 — The Thai government’s decision on 10 March 2026 to extend the Thailand–Japan Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cooperation for another three years risks locking Thailand into long-term fossil fuel dependence at a time when the global transition away from fossil fuels is accelerating, Greenpeace Thailand and Greenpeace East Asia warned.

The agreement promotes investment in LNG supply chains and infrastructure in Thailand, potentially paving the way for new LNG contracts and deepening the country’s reliance on imported fossil gas for electricity generation.

Energy cooperation between Thailand and Japan on LNG began in 2015 through joint studies between energy agencies and state enterprises on LNG procurement and infrastructure development in Thailand. The partnership was later elevated to the government level under an energy cooperation framework between Thailand’s Ministry of Energy and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Thailand and Japan signed the LNG cooperation MOU on 16 November 2022 to promote investment and supply chain development in Thailand. On 10 March 2026, the Thai government approved the extension of the agreement for another three years, from 16 November 2025 to 15 November 2028, including provisions for automatic three-year renewals.

The extension is framed as part of Thailand’s strategy to strengthen energy security amid declining domestic gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand. Fossil gas currently accounts for more than half of Thailand’s electricity generation, increasing the country’s reliance on imported LNG.

Manun Wongmasoh, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Thailand, said:

“Thailand should not signal political intention to extend this LNG MOU because it would lock the country into long-term dependence on fossil gas. Thailand should reconsider plans for new LNG contracts and investments in LNG infrastructure, and instead set more ambitious targets for clean and equitable renewable energy in the new Power Development Plan (PDP).

Thailand should not tie its energy future to fossil fuels like LNG, which are volatile and can no longer guarantee energy security. Thailand has strong potential to invest in clean, decentralized, and equitable renewable energy that can truly strengthen energy security while reducing electricity costs for the public.”

Greenpeace East Asia’s Japan office stated:

“The extension of this MOU with Thailand, under the AZEC framework, is one of many fossil fuel investments Japan is promoting across Southeast Asia. Despite Thailand having the highest potential for solar and wind power in Southeast Asia, only 7 of the 43 AZEC projects involve renewable energy.[1] As the leading economy in the region, Japan should leverage its financial leadership to catalyze our Southeast Asian neighbors’ renewable energy adoption, instead of a fossil gas lock-in.” 

Expanding LNG infrastructure and pursuing new LNG contracts now risks anchoring Thailand’s energy grid to fossil fuels for decades. LNG projects typically require large upfront investments and long project lifetimes, creating risks of stranded assets and increased electricity costs for consumers if global energy markets continue to move toward cheaper renewable energy.

Instead of doubling down on imported fossil gas, Greenpeace urges Thailand to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, energy storage, and modern grid systems to build a resilient, affordable, and truly secure energy future.

Media Contacts:

Rungthip Kunhari, Junior Communications Officer, Greenpeace Thailand, +66 65 414 5029, [email protected]

Yujie Xue, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +852 5127 3416, [email protected] 

Reference

[1] AZEC tracker

 Conclusion of Memorandum with Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) on Cooperation in LNG Business | Press Release(2015) | JERA 

 Cabinet Approves 3-Year Extension of Thailand-Japan LNG Cooperation to Strengthen Long-Term Energy Security 

Source: Amnesty International –

Amnesty International has today warned that Bangladesh could face more incidents of serious human rights abuses unless Meta takes timely and effective action to address harmful online content on its Facebook platform. 

In the lead-up to the country’s 12 February parliamentary elections, Amnesty International and others observed a rise in harmful online content, some of which came from outside Bangladesh. This included the spread of misleading and inflammatory content in relation to political parties and minority communities, and the amplification of sectarian narratives or beliefs that exaggerate divisions between religious or community groups. Most of the content from outside Bangladesh came from India, according to media reports. Together, this content could heighten the risk of sectarian tensions, discrimination and violence, particularly against minority communities.   

Events in the lead-up to the election, including attacks on some media outlets in Bangladesh, mirror a dangerous trajectory seen before in multiple countries. In these cases, online incitement, misinformation, disinformation, and coordinated harassment campaigns can quickly spill offline into discrimination, violence and other human rights abuses, especially when amplified by platforms’ algorithms. 

“Bangladesh is not yet in a human rights crisis, but the warning signs are visible. The combination of cross-border harmful content, political tension, sectarian narratives, and algorithmic amplification creates a volatile environment that could put freedom of expression and the rights of minority communities at risk,”

Alia Al Ghussain, Head of Big Tech Accountability at Amnesty International

Violence and online content  

On 18 December 2025, the offices of The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, two leading media outlets, were attacked by violent mobs. According to investigations led by The Daily Star and Dismislab, a local fact-checking organization, threats against both outlets had been circulating on social media for months before the attacks. Both outlets were portrayed by many social media users as “Indian agents” and “anti-national forces”, reflecting a broader online narrative accusing the outlets of serving Indian interests and undermining Bangladesh, alongside calls to burn and attack their offices. According to the Daily Star and Dismislab investigations, there was a direct link between online incitement of violence, and the mob attacks. Bangladeshi authorities reportedly warned Meta about delays in addressing posts calling for violence and expressed concern about the impact on public security and minority communities.  

Amnesty International is concerned that such incidents are not isolated. Previous reports by international organizations and media outlets have highlighted the divisive role of online disinformation involving misleading and exaggerated narratives about sectarian violence in Bangladesh, including content originating from India. This online content is reported to have contributed to fear and heightened tensions among minority communities, according to Al Jazeera.  

“The risk is clear that online harms do not remain in the digital space. They can shape public perception, inflame tensions and enable real-world violence and unrest,” said Alia Al Ghussain. “This is a moment for prevention and taking responsibility for the power that social media companies wield in this space. The world has seen too often how harmful online online content can evolve into real-world violence. There is still an opportunity to stop that trajectory in Bangladesh and it is up to Meta to take action now.” 

Amnesty International has previously documented how Facebook was used to promote violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar and contributed to abuses during the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, and believes Bangladesh is at an important juncture where timely preventative action from Meta could reduce the risk of escalation. 

Surveillance-based business model can amplify harm 

Meta’s surveillance-based business model, built on maximizing engagement, can incentivize the amplification of sensational, polarizing and harmful content. While not all harmful content is unlawful, even lawful material can pose human rights risks when amplified. When inflammatory content receives more interaction, recommendation systems may further promote them, increasing reach and potential real-world impact.  

Amnesty International and others have previously called for the adoption of emergency mitigation measures in conflict and high-risk contexts. Meta itself has acknowledged that heightened safeguards, sometimes referred to as ‘break the glass’ measures, may be necessary in such situations. The warning signs currently visible in Bangladesh underscore why such measures warrant urgent consideration. 

Amnesty International wrote to Meta on 10 February ahead of the elections asking the company to explain what measures it would take to ensure Facebook did not pose a human rights risk, including how it assesses risks to groups in vulnerable situations, including minorities, and whether it had identified cross-border content affecting Bangladeshi users. Meta replied that it would not be able to respond within the two-week timeframe provided. 

“The risk is clear that online harms do not remain in the digital space. They can shape public perception, inflame tensions and enable real-world violence and unrest,” 

Alia Al Ghussain

Companies have a responsibility to respect human rights under international standards to ensure they are not involved in any human rights abuses. This includes taking proactive measures to prevent and mitigate human rights harms linked to their operations. This responsibility exists independently of state regulation and requires continuous risk assessment, transparency and effective mitigation measures.  

Amnesty International has also requested data from Meta on reports of harmful content targeting minority communities, enforcement actions taken, staffing capacity in Bangla-language moderation and the provision of emergency mitigation measures ahead of elections.  

Background 

Mass student‑led protests in July 2024 forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to India. A close ally of India, Hasina remains there despite requests for her extradition to Bangladesh to face accountability for the deadly crackdown which led to at least 1,400 deaths. She has since been tried in absentia and received the death sentence for crimes against humanity. India’s refusal to extradite Hasina has strained relations between the two countries.  

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Mysuru, March 15, 2026:  Civil society groups, residents, parents, caregivers, students and Greenpeace India today came together today to reclaim Bogadi Road as a shared and inclusive public space, presenting the Samavesha participatory road design developed by the Mysuru School of Architecture (MSA). The design reflects months of citizen engagement through imaginariums, accessibility audits, community workshops, where community people, everyday commuters collectively reimagined how the junction can be more safer, more walkable and accessible for everyone.

As part of the collective action, community members also painted a zebra crossing and empathy line marking on the Bogadi road stretch, reflecting people’s design inputs that prioritise safety and dignity. This action reflects the importance of placemaking–where citizens collectively reclaimed the street as safer and more shared public space. The empathy line visually marks the space people with disabilities and pedestrians need to move safely and comfortably, reflecting the community’s call for streets designed with safety and dignity in mind.

At the press conference held today, the citizen groups collectively submitted the design recommendations to the concerned authorities as the city administration is preparing to begin white topping work on the Bogadi Road stretch.

“Bogadi Road is at a turning point. As the city prepares for white-topping, this is a critical and important opportunity to integrate people-led design ideas like safe crossings, accessible footpaths, and clear signage into the white topping plan. What people have designed here is practical, affordable, and rooted in lived realities,” said Selomi Garnaik, climate and energy campaigner at Greenpeace India. 

“For this to translate on ground, it is essential that upcoming engineering plans engage with and reflect these public inputs. The authorities now have a chance to show that infrastructure can be people-led and inclusive,” she added.   

The imaginariums are part of the Mysuru Rising campaign which brings local residents, caregivers, persons with disabilities, students, and experts together in the reimagining process, where they collectively envision a more accessible and inclusive city. The final design reflects communities’ lived experiences and captures how people actually want to move around their city  in everyday life.

The zebra crossing activity was joined by the students and faculty members of MSA, AIISH, disability rights groups, community people, volunteers and citizen forums from Mysuru city.  The participatory design recommendations underscores the urgent need for scientifically designed traffic calming measures, covering of the open drains alongside the footpath, installation of railings on footpaths, empathy line markings, shifting of barricades obstructing movements, visually enhanced zebra markings, continuous and obstruction-free footpaths, ramps, tactile paving, clear signage into the engineering plan of white topping work.

“This work on Bogadi Road demonstrates how architecture and planning can meaningfully respond to people’s everyday needs when communities are part of the design process. The participatory audits and imaginariums helped translate lived experiences into practical design solutions. Bogadi Road now stands as an important example of how people-centric street design can be developed, and it offers a model that other cities can learn from.,” said Dr Champa, Director and Dean, Mysuru School of Architecture (MSA).

“​​Mysuru has always taken pride in its heritage and civic values. A truly progressive city is one where streets are designed for seamless movement of wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles can move safely alongside everyone else. If our streets can provide support for the most vulnerable users, they will work for everyone.” said , B S Ramakrishna Mudre, Hon Director, Palliative Care, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement Mysore and Imaginarium Participant.

The community action on Bogadi Road shows how collective citizen participation can drive meaningful change in their streets, setting a powerful example for other cities to follow in designing people-centric urban spaces. The civil groups urge authorities to treat Bogadi Road as an opportunity to demonstrate how participatory design can shape infrastructure that truly reflects people’s needs and aspirations.

About Mysuru Rising: 

Mysore Rising is a project led by Greenpeace India  to reclaim our cities as spaces for people, not just for cars or capital. It begins with listening to what communities/ citizens truly aspire for, moves to prototyping those visions in the places where people live, and culminates in challenging destructive “stupid projects” through collective advocacy.

To learn more about the Mysuru Rising please click on the link below and join the growing call for safer, more inclusive streets and help shape a city that works for everyone.

https://gpin.greenpeace.org/cityrisingmysore

For further media queries, please write to [email protected]

Source: Amnesty International –

Responding to the decision by Israel’s Military Advocate General to drop charges against five Israeli soldiers accused of abusing and sexually assaulting Palestinian detainees at Israel’s notorious Sde Teiman military prison, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research Advocacy and Policy, Erika Guevara Rosas said:

“This decision marks yet another unconscionable chapter in the Israeli legal system’s long-standing history of granting impunity to perpetrators of grave crimes against Palestinians. This, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s welcoming of the decision, illustrate the Israeli system’s “unwillingness or inability” to prosecute crimes under international law, stressing the urgent need for international justice as the only remaining avenue for Palestinians.

This decision marks yet another unconscionable chapter in the Israeli legal system’s long-standing history of granting impunity to perpetrators of grave crimes against Palestinians.

Erika Guevara Rosas

Since the start of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, and despite overwhelming evidence of widespread torture and abuse, including sexual violence, against Palestinians in Israeli detention centres, only one Israeli soldier has been so far sentenced over torturing a Palestinian detainee. At least 98 Palestinians are known to have died in Israeli custody since October 2023, with Israeli authorities failing to hold any independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into any of these cases, while continuing to block independent monitors, including the ICRC, from visiting Palestinian detainees.  

“Amidst rising regional tensions, the world cannot look the other way while Palestinians continue to be denied even a semblance of justice. State parties to the Rome Statute must do all that in their power to support ICC investigation of ongoing crimes in Palestine and Israel.”

According to Israel NGO HaMoked there are currently 9,446 Palestinians held in custody in Israeli prisons. Amnesty International has previously documented how Palestinians detained at Sde Teiman have been held incommunicado and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

Source: Amnesty International –

Kazakhstan’s proposed new Constitution represents an alarming rollback of human rights protections and the rule of law and a blatant attempt to concentrate presidential power, Amnesty International said ahead of a referendum on the sweeping changes scheduled for 15 March.

“The project of the new Constitution of Kazakhstan reflects what we have been witnessing over the last years – the erosion of international human rights standards and fundamental principle of the law in the country,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said.

The draft Constitution, which was prepared without inclusive public consultations or meaningful input from independent civil society, would permit greater restrictions on human rights including the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, based on overly broad and vague concepts of “constitutional order” and “public morality.”

It also defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman, further enshrining discrimination against LGBTI people, whose rights have already been severely curtailed by a law banning so-called propaganda of “non-traditional sexual relations” enacted in December 2025.

“By including in the draft Constitution undue restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and the right to protection from discrimination, Kazakhstan is joining an accelerating rollback on international human rights standards and the rule of law that we have documented throughout Central Asia and the wider region,” Marie Struthers said.

By including in the draft Constitution undue restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and the right to protection from discrimination, Kazakhstan is joining an accelerating rollback on international human rights standards and the rule of law that we have documented throughout Central Asia and the wider region

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“The draft Constitution places human rights within the framework of broad and vague concepts such as the “idea of a Just Kazakhstan,” the principle of “Law and Order,” and “promotion of the idea of a responsible, creative patriotism.”

“Kazakhstan authorities must immediately revoke or remove the repressive provisions and ensure the draft Constitution contains human rights guarantees that are entirely consistent and compatible with the country’s international human rights obligations.”

As one human rights defender from Kazakhstan put it, “Law becomes a substitute for rights, and Order – for freedoms”.”

Primacy of national law

The Constitution would no longer contain the provision that international treaties to which Kazakhstan is a state party take precedence over national laws which are inconsistent with the country’s international human rights obligations. Instead, as has been the case in Russia since 2020, the draft Constitution grants the Constitutional Court the authority to overrule the implementation of decisions by international human rights bodies which “do not comply with the Constitution,” thereby undermining the country’s international human rights obligations. Kazakhstan may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform its treaty obligations.

In what appears to be a bid to tighten control over civil society, the draft Constitution would require NGOs to ensure that all information on financial transactions relating to foreign sources of their funding and all related assets is “open and accessible.”

“Although framed as a transparency measure, in practice such provisions are only too reminiscent of repressive ‘foreign agents’ or ‘foreign influence’ legislation likely to be used to impede NGOs’ work, replicating harmful examples from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and elsewhere,” said Marie Struthers.

Although framed as a transparency measure, in practice such provisions are only too reminiscent of repressive ‘foreign agents’ or ‘foreign influence’ legislation likely to be used to impede NGOs’ work, replicating harmful examples from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and elsewhere

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Background

The draft Constitution was hastily drafted by a state appointed commission. The authorities have clamped down on criticism of the proposed changes, stifling any legitimate debate by detaining journalists, lawyers and bloggers and blocking social media accounts. 

The draft Constitution further consolidates presidential power while undermining the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances and diminishing the role of Parliament, which will become unicameral and renamed the Kurultai.

It also grants the President the authority to appoint the heads of the Supreme Court, the Central Electoral Commission, the Supreme Audit Chamber, the State Security Service, the National Bank and the Human Rights Commissioner, without parliamentary approval. In addition, the President would appoint the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court and, together with the Kurultai, confirm 10 of the Court’s 11 judges.

Article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) provides that, “A party may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a treaty.” Kazakhstan acceded to the Convention on January 5, 1994.

Source: Amnesty International –

For years, Seán Binder’s life was turned upside down because he believed people’s pulses should be checked before their passports. In January, he was finally acquitted of charges relating to his humanitarian work helping migrants and refugees at sea. Here, he shares his story and his concerns over a new piece of EU legislation that threatens vital humanitarian work in future. 

My ordeal started at about 2am one morning in February 2018, when I was arrested by the Greek police. People were fleeing conflicts at home and coming to Europe seeking safety in unseaworthy boats and I was helping the Emergency Response Center International to conduct search and rescue activities.

I was detained without understanding what exactly was happening; we were provided neither a lawyer nor an interpreter. After two nights, we were released “pending further investigation.” We continued to do search and rescue. After all, we had done nothing wrong. In fact, we continued to cooperate with the very authorities that had arrested us.

Then, in August 2018, six months after our initial arrest, my colleague and I were detained again. This time, we were charged with serious crimes, including forgery, the illegal use of radio frequencies, espionage, money laundering, being members of a criminal organization, and facilitating illegal entry.

The severity of the charges meant that my colleagues and I were detained in pre-trial prison. By the time we were released, 106 days later, our case had become at high-profile example of the criminalization of humanitarianism in Europe. Human rights organizations described it as the “criminalization of saving lives.” At trial, the first prosecution witness described the case in precisely those terms.  That assessment proved decisive.

Finally, on 15 January this year, I was acquitted. The prosecutor at trial stated there was no evidence of criminality, and the panel of judges unanimously agreed that my 23 co-defendants and I were motivated by, and engaged in, legal humanitarianism.

Whilst I am delighted not to be returning to prison, it has taken far too long for this absurd prosecution to collapse. In the interim, the damage has already been done. EU states’ authorities have obstructed civilian rescue efforts, and over 32,000 lives have been lost at Europe’s borders since 2014.  

Meanwhile, dozens of humanitarians across Europe face similar prosecutions, obstruction, intimidation and harassment. Sadly, my case was not the exception but part of a wider pattern of states criminalizing humanitarian work.

My colleagues and I have spent years and vast resources proving what should never have been in doubt: saving lives is a legal obligation, not a crime. Humanitarian work should be encouraged and protected in countries that claim to respect human rights.

The current effort to reform EU anti-smuggling legislation, the so-called “Facilitators Package” offers an opportunity to address some of the issues that have led to our baseless prosecution.

However, the proposed revisions to the legislation might inadvertently increase the risk of criminalizing rescue workers – meaning future prosecutions will still be possible and may not end in acquittals like mine. They will also impact migrants, people of migrant origin and racialized people who all too often suffer from these policies.

As Amnesty International has highlighted, the proposal’s broad and vague provisions risk perpetuating the criminalization of refugees, migrants and human rights defenders. Any reform should clarify explicitly and in a binding manner that acts of humanitarian assistance or solidarity should be exempted from prosecution or punishment. Migrants who may have been smuggled themselves, or people assisting their family members should also be protected from criminal liability.

Through this reform, the EU has an opportunity to align with the EU Charter, UN Conventions and Smuggling Protocols, and treaties on maritime search and rescue, and to explicitly protect the right to life, the right to seek asylum, and the duty to render assistance.

As it stands, the proposal tries to expand the avenues to pursue humanitarian workers by introducing the crime of “public instigation” of irregular migration. This vague new provision could be misconstrued to harm refugees and migrants, advocates and activists protesting unjust migration laws or professionals providing legal information or assistance.

I have seen how people fleeing persecution and poverty may have no option but to board unseaworthy boats. How in the absence of safe routes those crowded aboard cling to the sides of dinghies. How in the dead of night, in choppy waters, even children are without life vests. Criminalizing humanitarians or a passenger who takes the helm of a dinghy abandoned by the smuggler does nothing to stop that.

Prosecutors should focus on exploitation and violence, including by authorities summarily force people across land or sea borders.

Last year, the European Court of Human Rights found “serious evidence” of systematic pushbacks in Greece. Evidence of similar practices has been mounting across European borders. Without border monitoring, this already opaque crime becomes ever more obscure.

Finally, trafficking, another cross-border crime, is arguably exacerbated by EU policy. A UN report published in 2018 found that asylum seekers in Libya face “unlawful killings, torture, arbitrary detention, gang rape, slavery, forced labour and extortion,” with apparent complicity by State actors. Nevertheless, the EU has for years financed the so-called Libyan Coast Guard.

Whether in the Facilitators Package or in its wider border policies, the EU must respect the rule of law and human rights.

The way to stop people taking dangerous journeys is providing safe and legal pathways for protection, commensurate in scale with the need for protection, and channels for regular migration for those seeking a better life. By denying safe routes, the EU pushes people into the arms and boats of smugglers and traffickers.

All the while, EU laws and narratives on stopping smugglers continue being used to criminalize migrants and people doing what they can to save lives or offer assistance. Unless the reform of the Facilitators package takes serious steps to uphold the duty to rescue and defend humanitarians, people will continue to risk jail for doing what is normal, human behaviour: helping others at risk.

Watch Seán as he discusses his case, his reflections and hopes for the future.

Listen to Séan’s full story in the first season of Amnesty’s podcast ‘On the Side of Humanity’.

Source: Amnesty International –

Four more men removed by the United States arrived in Eswatini on 11 March and are being detained in the Matsapha Correctional Complex, a maximum-security prison located some 2 kms from the country’s international airport. 

According to information received by Amnesty International, the men – two Somali nationals, one Tanzanian national and one Sudanese national – arrived at around 11PM on a flight originating from Phoenix, Arizona. 

The authorities in Eswatini must immediately disclose the legal basis for these detentions, guarantee regular and confidential access to lawyers and families, and guarantee due process to ensure that no one is held arbitrarily. 

Vongai Chikwanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa

“This latest unlawful transfer makes clear that the United States is continuing to send people to Eswatini under a secretive third-country removal arrangement, and that Eswatini is continuing to hold them in unlawful detention without transparency or adequate legal safeguards,” Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, said. 

“People with no known ties to Eswatini are transferred there and arbitrarily detained while their fate is decided behind closed doors. The authorities in Eswatini must immediately disclose the legal basis for these detentions, guarantee regular and confidential access to lawyers and families, and guarantee due process to ensure that no one is held arbitrarily.” 

Both Eswatini and the United States must end this deeply abusive practice.

Vongai Chikwanda

In July 2025, the US removed a first group of five people to Eswatini where they were kept in arbitrary detention. This was followed by the removal of a further 10 individuals from the US to the Southern African country in October 2025. None were known to have ties with Eswatini, where human rights under the absolute monarchy continues to be curtailed. 

“No one should be removed to a country where they face a real risk of unlawful detention, onward refoulement or other serious human rights violations. Both Eswatini and the United States must end this deeply abusive practice,” Vongai Chikwanda said. 

Background

Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 14 May 2025 and published in the United States following a Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request, the government of Eswatini agreed to accept up to 160 third country national removed from the United States, in exchange for $5.1 million USD “to build its border and migration management capacity”.  

According to media reports, three men previously deported from the United States to Eswatini have filed a complaint before the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, alleging that their prolonged detention is unlawful.