Responding to EU home affairs ministers’ position on the EU Return Regulation agreed in Brussels today, Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International, said:
“EU ministers’ position on the Return Regulation reveals the EU’s dogged and misguided insistence on ramping up deportations, raids, surveillance, and detention at any cost. These punitive measures amount to an unprecedented stripping of rights based on migration status and will leave more people in precarious situations and legal limbo.
“In addition, EU member states continue to push for cruel and unworkable ‘return hubs’, or offshore deportation centres outside of the EU – forcibly transferring people to countries where they have no connection and may be detained for long periods, violating protections in international law. This approach mirrors the harrowing, dehumanizing and unlawful mass arrests, detention and deportations in the US, which are tearing families apart and devastating communities.
“Today, the Council has taken an already deeply flawed and restrictive Commission proposal and opted to introduce new punitive measures, dismantling safeguards and weakening rights further, rather than advancing policies that promote dignity, safety and health for all. They will inflict deep harm on migrants and the communities that welcome them.
“Amnesty International urges the European Parliament, which is yet to adopt its final position on the proposal, to reverse this approach and place human rights firmly at the centre of upcoming negotiations.”
Background
At today’s Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, ministers from EU member states agreed on a negotiating position for the Council on new rules on returns or deportations at EU level, which the European Commission proposed in March 2025.
Amnesty International said at the time that this proposal marked a “new low” for Europe’s treatment of migrants, and joined over 250 organizations in calling for its rejection in September.
Ministers now propose making detention the default for people issued deportation decisions and for up to two and a half years. The proposal would also expand obligations, surveillance and sanctions on people subject to deportation, including unreasonable requirements with which many will be unable to comply, if they lack identity documents or a fixed residence, for example. New measures would allow authorities to raid the person’s home or “other relevant premises” and to seize their belongings, paving the way for vast surveillance, discriminatory policing and racial profiling practices.
It would allow for indefinite detention of people posing a so-called threat to “public policy” or “public security” circumventing criminal justice – as well as limiting challenges to deportation orders, and independent monitoring of respect for human rights in deportation procedures. Meanwhile, states insist on leaving the door open for further sanctions, obligations, and grounds for detention in national law.
The European Parliament is also negotiating its position on the proposal, paving the way for interinstitutional negotiations in the coming months.
Home affairs ministers also reached agreement on two proposals under negotiation relating to the ‘safe third country’ concept in EU asylum law and to an EU list of ‘safe countries of origin’. Amnesty International has warned that these three proposals would seriously undermine territorial asylum in Europe as well as human dignity.
Tanzanian authorities must respect and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression during planned nationwide protests on 9 December 2025, and guarantee that the protests are facilitated and protected, Amnesty International said today.
“Police must refrain from violating protesters’ rights, including through the use of unnecessary and excessive force,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
“Authorities must also refrain from any blanket Internet shutdowns as witnessed during the electoral period as this violates the right to access information and obstructs crucial monitoring and reporting on human rights violations.
Police must refrain from violating protesters’ rights, including through the use of unnecessary and excessive force.
Tigere Chagutah, Regional Director, ESARO
“Tanzanian authorities must ensure an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of human rights violations committed by state security officers during the post-elections protests with those suspected of responsibility brought to account in fair proceedings”.
Background
Amnesty International has documented how state security officers used unlawful force against protestors after the 29 October 2025 elections.
Between 29 October and 3 November 2025, Tanzanian authorities imposed a nationwide Internet shutdown during which security forces committed various human rights violations, including unlawful killings and enforced disappearances. The shutdown made it difficult to monitor and document those violations.
EU Return Regulation policy discussed by home affairs ministers from across the EU today
Ministers proposed making detention of up to two-and-a-half years the default for people issued deportation decisions
The authorities would be allowed to raid a person’s home or ‘other relevant premises’, paving the way for vast surveillance, discriminatory policing and racial profiling
‘Today, the Council has… opted to introduce new punitive measures, dismantling safeguards and weakening rights further, rather than advancing policies that promote dignity, safety and health for all’ – Olivia Sundberg Diez
Responding to EU home affairs ministers’ position on the EU Return Regulation agreed in Brussels today, Olivia Sundberg Diez, EU Advocate on Migration and Asylum at Amnesty International, said:
“EU ministers’ position on the Return Regulation reveals the EU’s dogged and misguided insistence on ramping up deportations, raids, surveillance, and detention at any cost. These punitive measures amount to an unprecedented stripping of rights based on migration status and will leave more people in precarious situations and legal limbo.
“In addition, EU member states continue to push for cruel and unworkable ‘return hubs’, or offshore deportation centres outside of the EU – forcibly transferring people to countries where they have no connection and may be detained for long periods, violating protections in international law. This approach mirrors the harrowing, dehumanising and unlawful mass arrests, detention and deportations in the US, which are tearing families apart and devastating communities.
“Today, the Council has taken an already deeply flawed and restrictive Commission proposal and opted to introduce new punitive measures, dismantling safeguards and weakening rights further, rather than advancing policies that promote dignity, safety and health for all. They will inflict deep harm on migrants and the communities that welcome them.
“Amnesty International urges the European Parliament, which is yet to adopt its final position on the proposal, to reverse this approach and place human rights firmly at the centre of upcoming negotiations.”
Dangerous and undignified
At today’s Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, ministers from EU member states agreed on a negotiating position for the Council on new rules on returns or deportations at EU level, which the European Commission proposed in March 2025.
Amnesty said at the time that this proposal marked a“new low” for Europe’s treatment of migrants, and joined over 250 organisations incalling for its rejection in September.
Ministers now propose making detention of up to two-and-a-half years the default for people issued deportation decisions. The proposal would also expand obligations, surveillance and sanctions on people subject to deportation, including unreasonable requirements with which many will be unable to comply, if they lack identity documents or a fixed residence, for example. New measures would allow the authorities to raid the person’s home or “other relevant premises” and to seize their belongings, paving the way for vast surveillance, discriminatory policing and racial profiling practices.
It would allow for indefinite detention of people posing a so-called threat to “public policy” or “public security” circumventing criminal justice – as well as limiting challenges to deportation orders, and independent monitoring of respect for human rights in deportation procedures. Meanwhile, countries have insisted on leaving the door open for further sanctions, obligations, and grounds for detention in national law.
The European Parliament is also negotiating its position on the proposal, paving the way for interinstitutional negotiations in the coming months.
Home affairs ministers also reached agreement on two proposals under negotiation relating to the ‘safe third country’ concept in EU asylum law and to an EU list of ‘safe countries of origin’. Amnesty haswarnedthat these three proposals would seriously undermine territorial asylum in Europe as well as human dignity.
Responding to reports of renewed armed clashes along the border of Cambodia and Thailand on Monday, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer said:
“The resumption of hostilities around the Thailand/Cambodia border risks civilian lives, mass displacement and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure.
“The Cambodian and Thai governments must take all the necessary steps to protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law and prevent any further risks to civilians.
“Amid concerning reports of civilian casualties on Monday, we urge the international community to pressure both governments to adhere to their obligations to minimize the impact of the conflict on civilians and civilian objects.”
Protests are expected following post-election violence last month
The Tanzanian authorities must respect and protect the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression during planned nationwide protests set for tomorrow (9 December), and guarantee that the protests are facilitated and protected, Amnesty International said today.
Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa, said:
“The police must refrain from violating protesters’ rights, including through unnecessary and excessive use of force.
“The authorities must also refrain from blanket internet shutdowns, as witnessed during the electoral period, which violate the right to access information and obstructs crucial monitoring and reporting of human rights violations.
“The Tanzanian authorities must ensure an independent, thorough, and impartial investigation into allegations of human rights violations committed by state security officers during the post-elections protests, with those suspected of responsibility brought to account in fair proceedings.”
Election protests
Amnesty has documented how state security officers used unlawful force against protestors after the 29 October elections. Between 29 October and 3 November, The Tanzanianauthorities imposed a nationwideInternet shutdownduring which security forces committed various human rights violations, including unlawful killings and enforced disappearances. The shutdown made it difficult to monitor and document those violations.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –
Global health leaders convene at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna this week to advance radiation safety in medicine.
Monika Shifotoka, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
(Photo: H.Shaffer).
The International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine: X Ray Vision, organized by the IAEA and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), brings together experts to review global developments in radiation protection and safety of patients and health professionals, as well as discussing future challenges and opportunities.
“New imaging technologies, radiopharmaceuticals, digital systems and AI are transforming clinical practice. These advances bring enormous benefits, but they also change exposure patterns and create new challenges for regulators and health professionals,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi at the opening ceremony.
“We must keep up to ensure these advancements and new technologies are employed safely. Initiatives like IAEA’s Rays of Hope are helping broaden access to these technologies while strengthening capacity worldwide.”
Medical imaging and radiotherapy are essential for diagnosing and treating diseases. Each year, more than 4.2 billion medical radiological examinations and 6.2 million radiation therapy treatments are performed globally. Demand for these procedures continues to rise worldwide.
Ensuring robust radiation protection and safety standards are vital to support protection of patients, workers and the public from harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
Building on a Decade of Action
The conference on radiation protection in medicine marks a milestone in assessing progress since the Bonn Call for Action, launched in 2012 to strengthen global radiation protection in medicine. Over the past decade, international and scientific organizations, regulators and professional societies have worked to implement its ten priority actions. These include improving justification — protecting patients from unnecessary exposures — and optimization — using the optimal radiation dose to achieve the clinical goal — to enhancing education and training.
The conference aims to help shape a shared vision to strengthen radiation protection and safety in medicine for the future. Participants will review current trends and patterns and, together, create a call to action to advance radiation protection over the next decade as the medical landscape evolves.
The week-long event will gather more than 672 participants from over 123 countries and 22 international organizations.
Advancing Radiation Safety in Medicine
The conference will feature dynamic and cross-cutting sessions and roundtable discussions. Topics include ensuring the appropriate use of radiation in medical procedures, enhancing protection for patients and staff during diagnostic and therapeutic applications, and artificial intelligence in imaging and therapy.
“Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies are transforming radiation protection through faster data analysis, predictive modelling, and real-time monitoring,” said Rüdiger Krech, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration of the World Heath Organization. “Yet, our collective responsibility is to ensure these breakthroughs are equitably accessible so that all regions can benefit from technological progress in safeguarding patients’ health.”
Participants will also examine lessons learned from unintended and accidental exposures and explore practical approaches to strengthen safety culture across medical environments.
Regional Perspectives
“In the Americas, as in many other regions, the demand for medical services that use ionizing radiation continues to rise, presenting unique challenges at all levels,” said Pablo Jiménez, PAHO’s Senior Advisor in Radiological Health. “Robust quality assurance programmes, supported by well-trained medical professionals, are essential to maximize benefits and minimize radiation risks of these services. We must ensure that the incorporation of these technologies into health systems translates into a safer care for all achieving optimal health outcomes.”
The International Conference on Radiation Protection in Medicine brings together over 672 participants from 123 countries and 22 international organizations. (Photo: H.Shaffer).
The Role of the IAEA
The IAEA develops and promotes international safety standards for radiation protection in medical applications. It supports member states in applying these standards in areas such as radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic imaging to minimize unnecessary and unintended exposure while ensuring effective patient care and without jeopardizing medical outcomes. The IAEA provides guidance and training to support the implementation of best practices and strengthen safety culture in healthcare settings.
US NATO ambassador on US security strategy: is Europe ‘a dynamic economy that can grow, or is it just a museum?’ News release jon.wallace
Speaking at the Doha Forum in conversation with Chatham House CEO Bronwen Maddox, Mathew Whitaker defended the new US security strategy and its criticisms of Europe.
Chatham House Chief Executive Bronwen Maddox joined US Ambassador to NATO Mathew Whitaker in conversation at the Doha Forum on 6 December, discussing US attitudes to European defence under the Trump administration, and the administration’s new national security strategy.
Asked by Maddox what he thought of the reaction of those reading the strategy, who ‘feel that the US is sounding tougher on them than it is on countries formerly regarded as enemies, like Russia’, the ambassador replied that:
‘Nothing is, for me, new in this. I mean, it talks about that our allies, that are rich European countries, need to do more. That they have underspent over the last several decades, and they need to spend a lot more on their own defence, and therefore the collective defence.
‘I think that’s the headline. And then it also talks about, kind of, this concept: is Europe a dynamic economy that can grow or is it just a museum that is a relic of the past and we just go to see the cathedrals and the lovely wines and cheeses and beers, and waffles in the case of Brussels.’
Whitaker also addressed the national security strategy’s references to cultural values, citing the EU’s recent €120 million fine imposed on social media platform X, for breaching transparency rules of its Digital Services Act (DSA).
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Whitaker addresses European concerns about US foreign policy under the Trump administration.
‘It is no longer a one-way street,’ he said, ‘and we are going to have expectations. Not only about picking up conventional defence of the European continent, but also in implementing things that our shared values should drive, things like free speech.
‘You saw the EU’s fine of X that happened in the last couple of days. And I think there are many examples where sort of traditional values that we still hold dear in the United States and are enshrined in our constitution are not necessarily valued as much in Europe.
‘And this document, I think, captures some of that and puts it in the conversation of how it affects and how it weakens cultures, how it weakens countries and how it ultimately will weaken their own sovereignty’.
Maddox replied saying:
‘We could get into a kind of ping pong about perceptions of free speech in either country. But as you were speaking, I was thinking of President Trump’s suggestion to an ABC reporter that the licence of ABC ought to be withdrawn because he didn’t like the question that she asked of a Saudi crown prince in the Oval Office. So the perceptions go both ways’.
Almost 70% of people globally are comfortable with their government buying Chinese-made clean technologies, new survey finds News release jon.wallace
New data suggests that China’s clean tech ‘charm offensive’ is working to win over emerging economies.
COP30 saw China flexing its climate diplomacy muscles in place of an absent US – underpinned by Beijing’s dominance of global clean energy supply chains in stark contrast to President Trump’s outspoken ‘war’ on clean energy.
However, results from a recent survey commissioned by Chatham House and conducted by GlobeScan reveals that there is not only a high level of consumer interest in clean technology around the globe, but also wide support for Chinese-made clean technology like solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs), which are dominating the market.
‘It’s not just theory anymore – solar and EVs are now winning hearts and minds, and most importantly, wallets,’ notes Bernice Lee, Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House’s Environment and Society Centre.
Nearly 7 in 10 support their governments purchasing Chinese-made solar panels and wind turbines to some degree.
‘Despite President Trump’s high-profile war on clean technology, even in the US large majorities either already own or are interested in buying clean-tech products,’ notes Lee.
Responses collected in summer 2025 across 33 markets revealed that around half of consumers surveyed are at least somewhat likely to consider buying Chinese-made solar panels or EVs – whereas nearly 7 in 10 support their governments purchasing Chinese-made solar panels and wind turbines to some degree.
Despite some governments being vocal over security concerns of tech dependence and China’s growing influence, consumers seem more relaxed – especially younger people.
‘As China becomes more closely associated with supplying affordable versions of these increasingly popular products, China’s soft power continues to grow,’ says Lee.
Results demonstrate that the degree of support correlates with Global North/Global South country status. Respondents from sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Latin America are the most likely to purchase, or support their governments purchasing, Chinese clean technology – whereas richer countries like those in Europe and North America are the least likely.
Younger consumers like millennials and Gen Z are more likely to consider buying Chinese-made clean technologies.
‘Traditional Western perceptions of Chinese-manufactured products as poor quality are not shared in the Global South, where interest in buying Chinese-clean technology products is very high,’ says Chris Aylett, Research Fellow at Chatham House.
Survey results also demonstrate a clear generational divide – younger consumers like millennials and Gen Z are more likely to consider buying Chinese-made clean technologies while Baby Boomers are the least likely.
In 8 countries surveyed in both 2024 and 2025, the level of support for personal or government consumption of Chinese-made solar panels or EVs remained consistent or increased over the past year – with the largest increases recorded in the USA, South Africa and Turkey.
Chris Aylett said: ‘The growth in positive perceptions of Chinese-made clean technology over the past year is remarkable.’
‘While part of this may simply be due to the surge in availability, another explanation could possibly be the generally improved view of China as a source of certainty and stability, contrasted with the volatility of the US.’
Survey details:
Online surveying in 33 markets in July and August 2025, and 8 markets in July and August 2024 for comparison.
Countries include:
Asia-Pacific: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India*, Indonesia*, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam.
Europe: France, Germany*, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, UK.
Latin America: Argentina, Brazil*, Colombia, Mexico*, Peru.
Middle East and North Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey*.
North America: Canada, USA*.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa*
(* indicates survey conducted in both 2024 and 2025)
Representative online samples of approximately 1,000 adults in each of 33 markets (500 each in Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, and Singapore, and 1,500 in USA)(n=31,960)
Samples are representative of online population, weighted to reflect general population census data
When Tadala Zindawa**, (21) from Tata village in Lilongwe’s Chitukula area, fell pregnant while in secondary school, she was overcome by fear and panic. Scared of her parents’ disapproval and with abortion criminalized in Malawi, Tadala resorted to unsafe methods using Aloe Vera or Surf Soap to induce abortion. The procedure not only failed, but it led to severe pain and heavy bleeding. She survived after post-abortion care, but the psychological and physical scars are lifelong.
Nevertheless, Tadala is one of the lucky ones.
Every year, hundreds of women and girls in Malawi die or are injured from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications. According to the Malawi Ministry of Health and the Guttmacher Institute, about 141,000 abortions occur annually in Malawi, the vast majority unsafe and accounting for 6–18% of maternal deaths.
Every year, hundreds of women and girls in Malawi die or are injured from pregnancy and childbirth-related complications.
Mandipa Machacha and Tshidi Leatwe
Preventing such deaths and injuries through timely access to care has been increasingly recognized around the world as a human rights issue, and not solely a public health concern.
In October 2025, the Human Rights Council adopted by consensus Resolution A/HRC/60/L.20/Rev.1 on Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity and Human Rights. The resolution urges states to eliminate legal, structural, and social barriers that deny women and girls access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services by repealing discriminatory laws, combating gender stereotypes, and ensuring access to comprehensive sexuality education.
The resolution’s strength lies in its comprehensive framing. By linking maternal health to the right to life, health, equality and non-discrimination, the resolution obliges states to ensure maternal care is based on human rights, health workers are protected, and sexual and reproductive health are integrated into universal health coverage. In doing so, it reminds the global community that maternal deaths and injuries are not inevitable – they are preventable when rights are respected and systems are accountable.
Yet, in Malawi, these commitments remain far from reality.
Malawi’s abortion law, inherited from colonial legislation and provided for in the Penal Code (Cap. 7:01) permits abortion only to save the life of the mother, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or severe fetal anomaly
Mandipa Machacha and Tshidi Leatswe
Many women and girls, like Tadala, resort to unsafe and clandestine methods – ingesting harmful substances, inserting objects, or seeking untrained providers. Fear of prosecution deters them from seeking post-abortion care, which is legal under Sections 19 and 20 of the Gender Equality Act No. 3 of 2013.
This stark reality was reflected in a recent ruling by the High Court in Blantyre. On 28 October 2025, the High Court of Malawi ruled that denying a 14-year-old rape survivor access to a safe abortion violated her rights to sexual and reproductive health under the GenderEquality Act (AC (a minor) v Attorney General & Others, Civil Cause No. 162 of 2023).
Reform deferred, lives lost
For nearly a decade, advocates, medical professionals, and civil society organizations have pushed for the adoption of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which would expand access to abortion in limited cases such as rape, incest, and severe fetal anomaly.
Yet it remains stalled in Parliament, trapped between political hesitation and moral panic. Public opposition has been fueled by misinformation and religious fundamentalism that frames abortion as a moral transgression rather than a human rights and public health imperative. This rhetoric not only distorts the issue; it costs lives.
For nearly a decade, advocates, medical professionals, and civil society organizations have pushed for the adoption of the Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which would expand access to abortion in limited cases such as rape, incest, and severe fetal anomaly.
Mandipa Machacha and Tshidi Leatswe
Pregnancy complications in childbirth remain the leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 worldwide, according to the WHO. In Malawi, adolescent pregnancies are associated with higher risks of obstetric complications, school dropout, and social exclusion. Denial of sexual and reproductive health information and services perpetuates gender inequality and violates Malawi’s obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Maputo Protocol.
Every maternal death and injury from a preventable cause violates the right to life. Every unsafe abortion is a failure of justice. Malawi to must act now, because the cost of inaction is measured in lives lost, those living with injuries and futures denied.
Mandipa Machacha is a Researcher and Advisor on Gender at Amnesty International. Tshidi Leatswe is a Regional Campaigner on Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe at Amnesty International.
Widespread failings by Nepal’s law enforcement agencies in policing September’s youth-led “Gen-Z” protests resulted in unlawful killings, unnecessary and excessive use of force, and severe injuries, Amnesty International said in a new briefing.
The briefing, “We went there to raise our voice, not to be killed”: Nepal’s Deadly Crackdown on Protesters, documents how security forces used mounting and ultimately lethal force – including live ammunition – against largely peaceful protesters during the assembly in Kathmandu on 8 September, at which at least 19 people were killed and more than 300 injured. Across the country, the two-day protests and six days of subsequent unrest left 76 people dead and more than 2,000 injured.
“The violent and unlawful government response to young people exercising their right to peaceful assembly reflects a shocking and callous disregard for human life. All those responsible for ordering, enabling, or carrying out these abuses, regardless of rank or position, must be brought to justice through a fair and transparent process,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal.
All those responsible for ordering, enabling, or carrying out these abuses, regardless of rank or position, must be brought to justice
Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal
Amnesty International verified eyewitness accounts, photographic and video evidence, and interviewed medical personnel, protesters, protest observers, organizers and journalists. The organization’s findings reveal a series of systemic failures in the policing of assemblies, including the failure to exhaust non-violent means before resorting to force; the dangerous and unlawful use of less-lethal weapons; poor planning, preparation and training for policing of protests; unnecessary and unlawful use of lethal force in situations with no imminent threat of serious injuries or to life.
These actions violated the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Map indicates the protest route and key incident locations verified by Amnesty International.
Escalation of force against peaceful protesters
Videos show the moment protesters toppled a police barricade less than 500m from the parliament building and were hit with water jets at close range.
The briefing details how, after the protests had initially started without incident, tensions rose when a section of the crowd dismantled a police barricade that had been erected to prevent access towards the federal parliament building, less than 500 metres away.
Security forces responded by deploying a water cannon, in some cases using high-pressure jets at close range against protesters in a manner that raises serious concerns over the principles of necessity and proportionality under international human rights standards. The use of force quickly escalated over the course of the next few hours, with witnesses describing panic and chaos as security forces intensified their response.
According to witnesses, tear gas grenades were launched from elevated positions, an extremely dangerous practice that violates the UN Guidance on less lethal weapons. Some were discharged in and around hospital premises, and disrupted emergency medical services. Medical workers reported that tear gas was fired inside and around hospital areas, causing breathing difficulties among admitted patients, children, and older people who were not part of the protest.
Kinetic impact projectiles, including rubber bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets, were fired directly into dense crowds without warning and without meaningful attempts at de-escalation, hitting those as young as 14 years old. Doctors who treated the injured confirmed that rubber bullets were removed from patients’ skulls.
Such misuse of less lethal weapons is in violation of international standards such as the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Human Rights Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement and Nepal’s Local Administration Act.
Unlawful use of lethal force
Videos showed Nepali police officers equipped with rifles, shotguns, and firing at head level.
Amnesty International also documented the rapid escalation of force to unlawful use of live ammunition.
A journalist who was documenting the protest near the parliament gate said: “The firing began wildly – from inside the parliament compound, from outside, and from armed units near the main gate”
Testimonies from healthcare workers and injured individuals describe gunshot wounds to vital organs. Security forces fired into crowds – including protesters, children, bystanders and journalists – striking people in the head, neck and chest.
A doctor at a hospital where many of the injured were treated said:
“In mass-casualty disasters, the usual pattern is that there are relatively fewer severe cases and more milder to moderate cases, with only some deaths. We plan for that. Typically, we might expect 10–20% to be severe. But this time it was reversed – there were far more severely injured patients, perhaps 50–60%.”
Another doctor who had attended to injured and wounded protesters said: “Some had gunshot wounds to the head and chest, others had life-threatening injuries to the abdomen or major blood vessels… Around 2pm, the emergency ward was in its worst state – blood everywhere, patients collapsing, doctors and nurses working nonstop. It felt like a butcher’s house.”
Amnesty International found evidence of the use of lethal force by police in circumstances that did not involve an imminent threat of death or serious injury, resulting in arbitrary deprivations of life.
The deliberate or reckless use of live ammunition, kinetic impact projectiles, water cannon and tear gas against largely peaceful demonstrators cannot be justified under any circumstance.
The young people killed and injured during the Gen-Z uprising deserve truth and justice
Nirajan Thapaliya
“The young people killed and injured during the Gen-Z uprising deserve truth and justice. By failing to ensure accountability for past protest-related human rights violations, successive governments have allowed impunity to take root and undermine the rule of law. Authorities must not repeat the past mistakes and abandon the victims. Without accountability, and unless Nepal urgently reforms its policing practices, the conditions that enabled these unlawful killings will persist, putting future assemblies and lives at risk,” said Nirajan Thapaliya.
Amnesty International calls on the government to review the general approach towards assemblies and ensure that police facilitate peaceful protests; and amend domestic laws, including those governing the use of force, so that they fully comply with international human rights standards.
Background
Amnesty International’s briefing focuses on the events of the first day of the protests on 8 September. While the incidents on subsequent days are not documented in the briefing, Amnesty International condemns the use of mob violence against people and property resulting in deaths, injuries and serious damage to property that occurred amid the wider unrest in September 2025. The authorities must thoroughly, effectively, independently and impartially investigate these acts of violence and exercise due diligence to identify suspects, who should be brought to justice in fair trials.
