The EU must urgently step up its support for human rights and those of us who defend them in the region

We will be out in force to send a clear message that we reject his policies of hatred and fear.

15/05/2017 – Ahead of the visit of the President of the United States (USA) Donald Trump on May 24, we urge you to maintain a strong and principled stance in response to recent developments in the USA, and use the opportunity of your forthcoming meeting to raise several urgent and also long-standing human rights concerns.

Further to President Trump’s proposal to row back on reforms designed to curb irresponsible US business practices, Europe’s role in cleaning up the trade of conflict minerals is now more important than ever,

14/11/2016 – I write in advance of the 17 November donors’ Conference on the Central African Republic (CAR) in Brussels, to urge you to lead efforts of the European Union (EU) and its member states to put accountability, the consolidation of the rule of law and the reconstruction of the penal chain at the centre of discussions at the conference.

27/06/2016 – On 7 June 2016, the European Commission published a Communication, calling for the establishment of migration “compacts” between the EU and a range of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The document is a striking example of precisely what has precipitated the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

20/06/2016 – Twenty-nine European and Mexican civil society organisations have issued a joint statement to the 4th EU-Mexico Civil Society (CSO) Seminar taking place on Monday 20 June, prior to the 6th high level Human Rights Dialogue between the European Union and Mexico.

An Amnesty International researcher visited a mine in the Carnot region in May 2015. Children as young as 11 were engaged in mining work instead of attending school. © Amnesty International

19/05/2016 – Ahead of HRVP Federica Mogherini’s forthcoming visit to Mexico, Amnesty International is writing to call on her to ensure that human rights remain at the centre of exchanges with Mexican counterparts and of relations between the European Union and Mexico at this crucial moment.

18/05/2016 – As human rights organisations working on Mexico, we recognise the important work of the Inter- Disciplinary Group of Independent Experts (Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos y Expertas Independientes, GIEI) to investigate the case of the 43 disappeared students from Ayotzinapa teaching college, and welcome their final report presented on April 24, 2016.

17/11/2015 – Amnesty International is calling on the EU to boost its political engagement for human rights defenders, journalists and civil society at risk in Burundi, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders.

With the EU seemingly intent on enlisting African nations as proxy gatekeepers, the Valletta summit is likely to result in a one-sided border control contract dressed up as a cooperation agreement. Refugees and migrants deserve and are entitled to better