What Everyone Ought to Know About Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law

February 27, 2014 at 10:34 AM

NOTE: This text is from a New York Times Letter to the Editor in response to the article “Ugandan President Signs Anti-Gay Bill.”

The new antigay law in Uganda is alarming and, sadly, not shocking. You note that it follows the passage of similar legislation in Nigeria and fits within a growing trend that Amnesty International reported on last July.

The developments in Uganda and Nigeria underscore the depth to which many African leaders are determined to go, not only to discriminate against a segment of their populations, but also to incite hatred and potentially acts of violence. It is a failure of their obligations, internationally and regionally, to protect the rights of people living within their borders and a failure of governance.

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#SochiFail: The Legacy of Russia’s Olympic Games Won’t Be What Putin Wants It To Be

By The Editors

February 22, 2014 at 5:23 PM

The legacy of the Sochi Olympics will be tainted by the numerous human rights violations in the run-up and during the Games, as well as the failure of the International Olympic Committee to confront the Russian authorities over the arrests and beatings that marred this prestigious sporting event.

The Olympic Games are meant to contribute to a peaceful and better world. This goal was not achieved in Sochi. The reason is simple: Russia’s repression continued unabated throughout the Games, and the Olympic movement failed to challenge the host country on its pledge to promote human rights.

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On the Ground in Kiev: An Eyewitness Account of the Ukrainian Protests

By Guest Writer

February 21, 2014 at 1:48 PM

Scene from a protest in Ukraine in late January of this year (Photo Credit: Alexandr Piliugun/Amnesty International).

By Zoryan Kis, Campaign Coordinator at Amnesty International Ukraine

Ukraine’s EuroMaydan protests started exactly three months ago today. Never before in my lifetime has the country witnessed such a neglect of human rights and dignity, such an appalling inability of the government to listen to its people and such incredible courage of ordinary people standing for their rights.

Late last year, when Amnesty International Ukraine was launching our first petition against police brutality and impunity, we could not have imagined the extent of abuses by law enforcement officers we would face in January and February 2014.

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Sneaky Tricks Putin is Pulling to Stave Off Criticism During the Olympics

By Guest Writer

February 14, 2014 at 2:10 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach at a welcoming event ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics (Photo Credit: David Goldman-Pool/Getty Images).

By Ludmila Krytynskaia, Amnesty USA Russia Country Specialist

President Vladimir Putin lifted a blanket ban on protests and rallies in Sochi shortly before the Olympic Games were launched, thereby fulfilling his promise to the International Olympic Committee to relax the rules governing protests in the city.

The easing of the protest ban coupled with the release of dozens of high-profile prisoners last month – including former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky and members of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot – has led to speculation in the Western media about whether these decisions were a sign of a political thaw in Russia, a result of diplomatic behind-the-scenes maneuverings or just a public relations stunt to stave off criticism of the human rights situation in the country on the eve of the Olympics.

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HAPPENING NOW: Russian Journalist Charged Under “Gay Propaganda” Law

By Jasmine Heiss

February 12, 2014 at 12:30 PM

Meet Elena Klimova, the latest victim of Russia’s new “gay propaganda” law (Photo Credit: Private).

She saved lives. So why does Russia want to punish Elena Klimova?

Because she created a safe space for LGBTI teens in a country rife with homophobia.

Elena is a journalist and founder of Children 404, a popular online resource that supports LGBTI teens in Russia. It’s a space for teenagers to share their stories, get support and obtain advice from experienced psychologists.

Elena’s Children 404 has prevented teenagers from committing suicide and running away from home. She’s easing their isolation and making their world a little better, right?

Not according to Russian authorities. Russian authorities are going to absurd lengths to punish people and defenders of LGBTI human rights. They want to shut Children 404 down, and have charged Elena with “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

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This Friday, Rise for Justice!

By Cristina Finch

February 11, 2014 at 11:48 AM

Amnesty activists at One Billion Rising demonstration in Times Square last year (Photo Credit: Amnesty International).

Amnesty is once again a sponsoring partner of One Billion Rising, V-DAY’s campaign to mobilize women and men across the world to demonstrate their collective strength and solidarity in support of justice and the elimination of violence against women and girls.

Violence against women is one of the world’s most pervasive violations of human rights. One out of every three women worldwide will experience physical or sexual abuse during her lifetime and in some countries, rates of violence reach as high as 70 percent.

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Today is the Day We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance

By Zeke Johnson

February 11, 2014 at 7:00 AM

Revelations about President Obama’s mass spying program have brought people across the political spectrum together calling for reform. The latest example is today’s Day We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance.

It’s an international coalition day of action endorsed by groups ranging from progressives to libertarians, Republicans to Democrats – as well as companies like Reddit and non-partisan organizations like Greenpeace, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Amnesty.

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Thousands of Activists Brought Human Rights Home and This is What Happened

By The Editors

February 6, 2014 at 1:52 AM

One night. One movement. There’s nothing like a stadium full of activists, human rights defenders, former prisoners of conscience, and musicians coming together to Bring Human Rights Home.

Imagine Dragons rocked the house. An amazing performance and heartfelt and humbling call to keep our eyes and hearts open to human rights.

Imagine Dragons performs at the Bringing Human Rights Home Concert

Ms. Lauryn Hill rallied the crowd, keeping us all focused on “Working Hard” for human rights.

Ms. Lauryn Hill on stage at the #AmnestyConcert

Pussy Riot’s Nadya and Masha, with Madonna, read powerful letters from Russian prisoners – and led the crowd in a chant of “Russia will be free!”

Masha and Nadya of Pussy Riot on stage at the Bringing Human Rights Home Concert

Finally, when The Flaming Lips, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and dozens of Amnesty staffers and volunteers took the stage for the final song of the concert, it was more than just an amazing end to a memorable evening: it was the coming together of a powerful community — Amnesty’s network of human rights defenders.

Musicians and Amnesty staff and volunteers sing “I Shall Be Released” to close out the Bringing Human Rights Home Concert

Tonight thousands saw and heard the soundtrack of a human rights movement, led by a new generation of artists. Thousands more around the country and around the world engaged through their activism and through their social media channels. It is a human rights movement in high definition. And it is just the beginning.

Thank you to all the artists, celebrities, activists and volunteers who made this moment possible. Check back with us as this journey continues.

Bringing Human Rights Home – Red Carpet

By The Editors

February 5, 2014 at 9:01 PM

Amnesty International’s Bringing Human Rights Home Concert brought Amnesty’s leaders, musicians, former prisoners of conscience and celebrities together on the red carpet. Learn more at amnestyusa.org/Feb5Concert

Russian Environmental Activist Sentenced to 2 Weeks in Jail – For Swearing

By Guest Writer

February 5, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Yevgeny Vitishko was arrested on February 3 near Sochi and charged with “petty hooliganism,” allegedly for swearing (Photo Credit: Amnesty International).

By Emile Affolter, Press Officer at Amnesty International Netherlands, currently in Sochi

Just a couple of days before the Winter Olympic Games start in Sochi, an activist was arrested. Sadly, such arrests are not unusual in Russia, but the timing of this particular arrest sent a chilling message across Russian civil society.

The environmentalist Yevgeny Vitishko was planning on traveling to Sochi, but was stopped by police, convicted of “petty hooliganism” and sentenced to 15 days in administrative detention.

His crime? According to Russian authorities, he cursed while standing at a bus stop.

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Human Rights Now Blog

Tag Archives: human rights defenders

What Everyone Ought to Know About Uganda’s Anti-Gay Law

Sneaky Tricks Putin is Pulling to Stave Off Criticism During the Olympics

Thousands of Activists Brought Human Rights Home and This is What Happened

Bringing Human Rights Home – Red Carpet