Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Amnesty International –

Responding to the airing of last night’s drama ‘Prisoner 951’ on BBC One, Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK’s Head of Campaigns, said:

“The BBC’s ‘Prisoner 951’ is a captivating drama about the traumatic journey that Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori – as well as their families – endured over the course of many years, but it’s important to reiterate that this saga was based on real life and continues to be a reality for many British nationals unjustly imprisoned overseas.

“The screenplay underscores how the UK government did – and continues to do – nowhere near enough to help secure the release of Britons arbitrarily detained abroad, dragging its heels when asked to stand up for its citizens when wrongfully imprisoned in Iran and beyond.

“We’re seeing similar stories play out right now. Like with British National Ahmed Al-Doush, a father of four from Manchester, who is currently languishing in a Saudi jail after being arrested while on holiday for serious charges based on exercising his fundamental right to free expression, including for social media posts.

“The UK government has repeatedly failed to advocate for Ahmed, not taking a position on his case despite being provided with information indicating that Ahmed’s rights under international law are being violated, and that his detention is a freedom of expression case.

“The UK government must urgently design a strategy that is fit for purpose for those unlucky enough to be locked up for no good reason while abroad. Failing to do this is a clear betrayal of the UK and its people.”

The UK Government: A lesson in diplomatic disappointment

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were released in 2022 after tireless campaigning from both of their families and the support of human rights organisations including Amnesty International.

During their long imprisonments, the UK government repeatedly failed to secure their release. Sadly, the Government continues to fail to protect British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad.

For years it has been clear that countries including Iran are ramping up a cynical policy of jailing British nationals with the clear intention of using them as diplomatic pawns. UK officials repeatedly fail to work closely with the affected families, fail to insist on attending trial hearings or on visiting UK nationals in detention.

Amnesty International is urging the UK government to develop a clear and consistent approach to the unjust imprisonment of British people overseas, including a new strategy that should include, as a minimum:

• the Government calling for an arbitrarily-detained person’s immediate release (including publicly where requested by the family);
• pressing for access to a lawyer, a fair trial and medical care where relevant;
• demanding consular access;
• insisting that UK officials be able to attend trials;
• regularly meeting with family members to outline the Government’s overall approach in the case.

Ahmed al-Doush

The UK government’s failures on this issue continue today. British nationals, including Ahmed al-Doush, are not receiving the level of diplomatic support required to secure their release.

Ahmed was arrested whilst on a family holiday in Saudi Arabia in 2024 for social media posts. The Manchester-based father of four was convicted under terrorism legislation and sentenced to 10 years in prison, later reduced to eight.

Since his arrest, the Saudi authorities have refused to hand over court documents or information relating to Ahmed’s case. Ahmed has faced multiple violations of his right to a fair trial, his family’s contact with him has been severely restricted and he has faced repeated ‘punishment’ for attempting to communicate about his case and conditions. 

The UK government has failed to advocate for Ahmed, not taking a position on his case despite being provided with information indicating his rights under international law are being violated and that his detention is a freedom of expression case. Amnesty International continues to campaign so that Ahmed can be reunited with his family and urges the UK government to advocate for Ahmed’s release if he is being held solely for exercising his right to free expression.

Prisoner 951

“Prisoner 951” is a BBC One drama based on the extraordinary true story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian citizen who was imprisoned by the Iranian government for six years, and her husband Richard Ratcliffe who campaigned for justice and her return.

Source: Amnesty International –

To counter the increasing criminalization of human rights defenders, activists and journalists across the world, Amnesty International, the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF) and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) will publish a briefing on 27 November, outlining a series of legal and advocacy strategies to protect critical voices from discrimination, harassment, prosecution and imprisonment.

The briefing, “Dissent on Trial: Strategies to Counter Rising Criminalization of Activism”— developed in the context of the Campaign to Decriminalize Poverty, Status and Activism — documents the alarming global trend of punishing civil disobedience and peaceful activism by using national security and organized crime laws, defamation laws and Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs).  It also provides concrete strategies to resist and counter criminalization at different stages of the legal process – before charges are pressed; during criminal proceedings; and at the sentencing stage.

It’s increasingly important also to build on and amplify specific strategies that could protect human rights defenders facing trials

“Human rights defenders from across are world are facing threats and imprisonment just for speaking out against the climate crisis, the genocide in Gaza or homophobia and transphobia. Our work has long focused on repealing problematic laws that are abused by governments. However, it’s increasingly important also to build on and amplify specific strategies that could protect defenders facing trials,” said Marco Perolini, Amnesty International’s policy expert on the criminalization of dissent.

“Dissent on Trial highlights how specific arguments such as the necessity defence, freedom of expression, and the right to a healthy environment can be successfully used in courts to protect individuals who engage in civil disobedience from harsh criminal sanctions.”

The briefing features stories of human rights defenders from around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Grégoire is an environmental defender who was arrested and prosecuted for spraying washable orange paint on the Prefecture of Nantes in France, to demand policies to address the use of poor insulation in buildings. Grégoire, who was eventually acquitted, but is currently being prosecuted for another act of civil disobedience, said:

“It’s important to develop legal tools to protect activists who mobilize at the height of the climate emergency. An environmental state of necessity could be one such tool.”

To mark the launch of the briefing, Amnesty International will host a webinar on 27 November, from Johannesburg, at 16:00 SAT. The panel will feature Marco Perolini from Amnesty International, Sithuthukile Mkhize, senior attorney from Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Louise Edwards, director of research and programmes at the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, as well as Grégoire. The event will be hosted by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Witts University.

To join the webinar, please sign up here:

In person (Johannesburg): https://forms.gle/376Gxgw9i8x5ex19A;

Online: https://forms.gle/QT5PARkQJmREcDRd9

Source: Amnesty International –

75% believe poverty is worsening and 69% believe that the Government isn’t doing enough to tackle the problem

Christmas in crisis as nearly two-thirds of Britons fear financial struggles will cast a shadow over the holidays

‘We are often made to feel that poverty or financial insecurity is a personal failing, but when nearly one in three people are worried, they won’t be able to heat their homes – the problem clearly lies with systematic failures’ – Jen Clark, Amnesty

New research from Amnesty International UK and Savanta reveals that 67% of Britons are worried or somewhat worried that they or their loved ones will need to cut back on essentials this winter due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The concern is even higher among specific groups, rising to 76% of those aged 35-54 and 74% of women.

The research highlights how widespread the issue is in the UK:

• 27% of people are worried about not being able to heat their home this winter
• 22% are worried about going into debt
• Among 35-54-year-olds, one in three (30%) fear going into debt
• Over a fifth (21%) of 35-44-year-olds are worried about having to skip meals

Christmas in crisis

The research also shows that for many families, the upcoming Christmas will be overshadowed by financial stress. Among those who say they celebrate Christmas, nearly two thirds (58%) are worried or somewhat worried about how the cost-of-living crisis will affect them or their friends or families. The concern rises to 67% among people aged 35-44.

Public blame Government ahead of Autumn budget

In a stark warning for ministers ahead of the Autumn budget, the overwhelming majority of the public (69%) believe the Government is not doing enough to tackle poverty. The sentiment is even stronger in traditional ‘red wall’ constituencies, including 78% in the East Midlands and 81% in the North East. The public frustration is also higher, 80%, for those between the ages of 45 and 64.

Even more striking is that three quarters (75%) of Britons believe poverty in the UK is getting worse. This includes 81% of women and 82% of those between the ages of 45 and 64. People in skilled manual work (those in the C2 socioeconomic band), are most likely to agree with this, with 81% believing that poverty is worsening.

Jen Clark, Amnesty International UK’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, said: 

“These awful statistics pull back the curtain on the widespread poverty in the UK, the fear and precarity it causes and how many are going without the day-to-day essentials that we all have a right to.

“We are often made to feel that poverty or financial insecurity is a personal failing, but when nearly one in three people are worried they won’t be able to heat their  homes – the problem clearly lies with systematic failures of stagnant wages, inadequate social security and skyrocketing prices for essentials like food, housing and energy.

“These findings are damning for the Government. There’s   widespread consensus that they are completely out of touch and failing to address this critical issue.

“We need a fundamental political reset, one that recognises access to food, housing and warmth are human rights, and that poverty eradication must be a key priority, rather than growth alone.

“Scrapping the two-child limit and the benefit cap should be the bare minimum for the Government ahead of the Autumn Budget.”

Source: Amnesty International –

Leaders at COP30 in Brazil failed to agree to place people over profits as a lack of unity, accountability and transparency chipped away at delivering the urgent and effective climate action needed, though there were some bright spots, Amnesty International said today at the end of the annual UN climate summit. 

The headliner COP30 ‘Global Mutirão’ decision’ intended to bring global consensus on a range of priority climate actions during this summit billed as the “COP of truth.” Yet the final document avoided any mention of fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change, failing to build on or even to reaffirm the commitment to “transition away” from fossil fuels agreed upon in COP28. 

The fractious finale failed to garner consensus on a much-needed package including concrete plans for a fossil fuel phase out and an end to deforestation, as well as scaled up grants-based support for lower income countries. Climate finance provision is an obligation for high-income countries that lower income countries have for years been demanding be fulfilled, particularly to provide much more support to help them adapt to devastating current and future impacts of climate change for which they are not responsible, with needs estimated to be at least USD 300 billion per year. 

“The COP30 Brazilian Presidency had vowed to ensure no one is left behind and every voice is heard and made strenuous efforts to broaden participation, which should be replicated. Yet the lack of participatory, inclusive, and transparent negotiations left both civil society and Indigenous Peoples, who answered the global mutirão call in large numbers, out of the real decision making. At the same time, a record number of fossil fuel lobbyists at COP30 showed who had the real access, leaving humanity, especially those already the most marginalized, to suffer the deadly consequences of their plans to continue fossil fuel expansion and to be the ones to pump the last barrel of oil,” said Ann Harrison, Climate Justice Advisor at Amnesty International.  

“Nevertheless, people power, including by Indigenous Peoples, among them those on whose ancestral lands the conference took place, was out in force. Refusing to surrender to setbacks, it was instrumental in achieving a commitment to develop a Just Transition mechanism that will streamline and coordinate ongoing and future efforts to protect the rights of workers, other individuals and communities affected by fossil fuel phase out. We salute all those whose voices and actions led to this successful outcome and will be pushing for human rights, including of Indigenous peoples, to be respected and protected as the mechanism is developed.”

People power, including by Indigenous Peoples… was instrumental in achieving a commitment to develop a Just Transition mechanism… We salute all those whose voices and actions led to this successful outcome.

Ann Harrison, Climate Justice Advisor at Amnesty International

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Belém, Brazil – 22 November – Belém ends without what matters the most: a real adaptation deal, a time-bound fossil phase-out and an actionable forest roadmap. Africa showed up for justice; its politics chose compromise.

Carolina Pasquali, Executive Director, Greenpeace Brazil said: “President Lula set the bar high in calling for roadmaps to end fossil fuels and deforestation, but a divided multilateral landscape was unable to hurdle it. This was a crossroad – a path to 1.5°C or a highway to climate catastrophe – and while some governments are willing to act, others are not. The COP presidency must also wear some of the blame by closing down the space for ambition.

“Yet we have seen some positives emerge from the COP in the Amazon: the demarcation of Indigenous lands and improved representation in this COP and growing visibility of the need to defend our forests. For Brazil, we have welcomed the world, but we would much rather have welcomed a roadmap to 1.5°C and for now, that work continues.”

Koaile Monaheng, Political Strategist, Greenpeace Africa said : “By ignoring the root cause of the climate crisis, we are not only postponing solutions, we are deepening the injustice. We have missed an opportunity to reclaim the spirit of Rio 1992, where nations agreed that historical polluters would reduce their emissions and vacate space for the rest of the world to grow and develop sustainably. Global systems and the rules that govern them are set by the global north; yet they are the first to break them. 

Thirty years of the UNFCCC Convention. Twenty years since Kyoto entered into force. Ten years of the Paris Agreement. Justice and equity are not new demands; they are unfinished promises. Belem’s COP30 was framed as the COP of truth and so let us be honest. For Africa, climate change is not an abstract concept, it is a lived experience. 1.5°C is not a target, it is a threshold of survival. So the real question to ask is, which lives matter?

Sherelee Odayar, Oil & Gas Campaign lead, Greenpeace Africa said : “We’re really not happy with the outcome of COP30. Once again, African countries were treated unfairly. Some developed countries are now saying that if there’s no strong deal on mitigation, then they won’t move forward on adaptation. In other words: ‘If you don’t act on our priorities, then you get no support.’ That is simply unacceptable.

And 2035 to triple adaptation finance? That’s way too late for developing countries when we’re already sliding into climate breakdown.

If these countries really want to find money for climate action, the solution is simple: send the bill to the oil and gas companies. They created the problem. They made huge profits from it. They should pay for the damage. That’s what real climate finance looks like; not conditions, not excuses, just fairness.” Bonaventure Bondo, Forest campaigner Greenepeace Africa concluded : “COP30 in the Amazon was a critical moment to recognize the urgency of protecting our forests and to lay the groundwork for a global roadmap to halt deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. Real success now depends on ensuring a roadmap is established and that there is a timely, clear and effective implementation of efforts to end forest destruction, ensuring that the world’s tropical forests, especially those of the Congo Basin are finally protected in line with their true importance.

Contact :

Ibrahima Ka NDOYE, Coordonnateur des Communication Internationales, Greenpeace Afrique, +221 77 843 71 72 / [email protected] 

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Belém, Brazil – What started with strong hope and promise ended without actionable roadmaps to end forest destruction and the burning of fossil fuels, as geopolitical divisions again showcased the disconnection with people calling for COP30 climate action.

The first COP in the Amazon rainforest should have delivered an action plan to end forest destruction by 2030 and after 2035 climate action plans fell dangerously short, COP30 should also have delivered a Global Response Plan to bridge the 1.5°C ambition gap. It did neither. Nor did it deliver a meaningful step-up in climate finance. 

The final day of the COP was marked by an objection raised by Colombia and other Latin American countries over a lack of progress in climate mitigation, leading to a temporary suspension of the closing plenary, before the COP30 outcome was formally adopted.

Carolina Pasquali, Executive Director, Greenpeace Brazil said: “President Lula set the bar high in calling for roadmaps to end fossil fuels and deforestation, but a divided multilateral landscape was unable to hurdle it. This was a crossroad – a properly funded path to 1.5°C or a highway to climate catastrophe – and while many governments are willing to act, a powerful minority is not.”

“This weak outcome doesn’t do justice to everything else that happened in Belém. The biggest Indigenous participation in a climate COP, but also the marches and protests organised outside led to the demarcation of 14 lands – four of those in the very final stage of the process, securing over 2.4 million hectares of land for its original peoples in Brazil.”

“Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ rights, tenure and knowledge and the rights of people of African descent, were also formally acknowledged – a confirmation that can help shift future discussions. The two roadmaps and a strong finance outcome would have provided a historic result to raise ambition, but the work now continues.” 

Jasper Inventor, Deputy Programme Director, Greenpeace International said: “COP30 started with a bang of ambition but ended with a whimper of disappointment. This was the moment to move from negotiations to implementation – and it slipped. The outcome failed to match the urgency demanded. The 1.5°C limit is not just under threat, it’s almost gone. It’s this reality that exposes the hypocrisy of inaction of COP after COP after COP.”

“COP30 didn’t deliver ambition on the 3Fs – fossil fuels, finance and forests. No agreed pathway to phase out fossil fuels, no concrete plan to protect forests and no meaningful step-up in climate finance. But the millions globally and the tens of thousands on Belém streets show that hope lives outside the conference walls as communities continue to resist and rise up for our people and our planet.”

Tracy Carty, Climate Politics Expert, Greenpeace International said: “At a moment when the world needs bold urgent action on emissions, this COP30 outcome feels like we’re treading water in a rip tide. These negotiations were derailed by inadequate climate finance, weak leadership from G20 nations – particularly developed ones – and the heavy hand of fossil fuel interests. The fossil fuel industry managed to dodge a phase out roadmap, but COP30 saw more countries than ever back it, and made clear that the momentum and pressure is rising.”

“After two weeks of fierce negotiations and calls for a robust adaptation finance goal to deal with escalating climate impacts, developed countries only agreed to a pathetically weak target. COP30 did little to advance climate finance overall or push developed countries to commit public funding for the years ahead. Developed countries again kept their wallets shut despite the fact trillions in public finance could be unlocked by taxing the biggest fossil fuel and super-rich polluters. That would be climate finance in action.”

An Lambrechts, Biodiversity Politics Expert, Greenpeace International said: “Forests are at the crossroads of climate change and biodiversity loss and the 1.5°C solution is reliant on protecting them. Belém needed an action plan to end forest destruction by 2030 to deliver the GST decision. Many parties supported this but all we got was voluntary engagements – an open invitation for industries like big agriculture to keep banking dirty profits from forest destruction. The truth about the ‘COP of truth’ in the Amazon is that it delivered very little for forests.”

ENDS

Photo and Video in the Greenpeace Media Library. 

Contact :

Ibrahima Ka NDOYE, Coordonnateur des Communication Internationales, Greenpeace Afrique, +221 77 843 71 72 / [email protected] 

Join the Greenpeace WhatsApp UNFCCC Group for more updates

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

BELÉM, BRAZIL, Saturday 22 November 2025 — The UN COP30 summit has ended without actionable roadmaps to transition from fossil fuels and end forest destruction, but a new coalition of the willing has stepped up to drive the global fossil fuel phase out.

Despite early hopes, the first COP in the Amazon rainforest has failed to deliver an action plan to end forest destruction by 2030, a clear roadmap away from fossil fuels, and a meaningful Global Response Plan to bridge the 1.5°C ambition gap after 2035 climate action plans fell dangerously short. 

But confirmation of a Pacific-hosted pre-COP and that Australia will preside over COP31 negotiations, alongside a significant step forward on fossil fuels as Australia signed the Belém Declaration for the Transition Away From Fossil Fuels, sets the stage for Australia to raise climate ambition and shape a strong Pacific-led agenda at next year’s climate talks.

David Ritter, CEO at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:  “The great new hope from this COP is not the formal result, which is frankly shockingly weak, but the fact more than 80 countries threw their weight behind a fossil fuel roadmap, with many also signing the landmark Belém Declaration — including Australia, its strongest statement ever on fossil fuels.

“The tens of thousands of people marching in the streets outside the COP also showed yet again that there is a vast popular demand for action to match the crisis. It is the power of the people that drives and encourages decision makers to take action.

“The COP failed on fossil fuels and forests, but in signing the Belém Declaration, a critical mass of nations have acknowledged that the legally binding international commitment to limit warming to 1.5°C means no new fossil fuels — firing the starter’s gun on a new race for the global phase out of coal, oil and gas. Our next stop is Columbia in April, for the First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels.

“While the COP failed to achieve hoped for breakthroughs, there is no doubt the Belém Declaration amplifies the clear message delivered by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion delivered in September: failing to align national climate plans with 1.5°C is a breach of international legal obligations, and gives rise to the risk of potentially vast future costs.

“Australia must now commit to a clear plan and a timeline for the phase-out of fossil fuels, including exports. 

“The choice is stark. All over the world, people are suffering from increasingly severe climate damage–the storms and fires and rising sea levels that are killing human beings, wiping out species and destroying nature. There is no doubt that the year of COP31 is absolutely crucial.

“With its leadership responsibilities in COP31, there’s now a huge opportunity and responsibility for Australia — to build a strong agenda, create space for Pacific voices and priorities, and build up the momentum for global action at emergency speed and scale.

“Now is the hour. Australia must now commit to a clear plan and a timeline for the phase-out of fossil fuels, including exports. No more free passes or subsidies for the coal, oil and gas corporations driving climate damage. Australia must match its words with action.”

-ENDS-

High res images for media use can be found here 

For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on +61 406 231 892 or [email protected] 

Source: Oxfam –