The following letter was sent to President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner Michael McGrath, and Commissioner Hadja Lahbib of the European Commission by 23 LGBTI and human rights organisations. Dear President, dear Executive Vice-President, dear Commissioners, In an attack on the EU fundamental rights of freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom…
The European Union should defend the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid serious attacks on its mandate and mission, 58 nongovernmental groups said today. These attacks could undermine justice for victims of serious international crimes around the world, making urgent EU action to uphold the international rules-based order. The ICC is the cornerstone of a broader system for…
Amnesty International has provided a submission to the European Commission’s consultation on the EU Anti-Torture Regulation – amendment to Annexes II and III. Amnesty International welcomes the proposed additions and alterations to the list of goods set out in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EU) 2019/125 concerning trade in certain goods which could be…
Responding to reports that Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has invited and plans to host Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Hungary on Wednesday, Erika Guevara-Rosas the head of Global Research, Advocacy and Policy of Amnesty International said: “Prime Minister Netanyahu is an alleged war criminal, who is accused of using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally…
Two years after the start of the devastating conflict in Sudan, Amnesty International and 12 civil society organizations call on the EU and other international actors to act meaningfully to protect civilians under attack. Dear High Representative Kallas, Dear EU Foreign Ministers, Two years have now passed since the start of the devastating conflict in…
Reacting to the European Council’s conclusions of 20 March 2025 on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory Eve Geddie, the Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office, said: “After 17 months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the fact that the EU refuses to name Israel, condemn air strikes wiping out entire families or condemn…
Today, the European Commission introduced a proposed revision to the 2008 Return Directive, amending the EU legal framework on returns or deportations outside of the EU. Following pressure from certain member states, it also introduces a possible legal basis for ‘return hubs’ in EU law through “agreements or arrangements” with third countries. “The European Commission…
On 11 March, the District Court of The Hague will determine the admissibility of a court case brought by Amnesty International, Boat Refugee Foundation and Defence for Children Netherlands to hold the Dutch government responsible for its role in endorsing and implementing the EU-Türkiye deal. The three organizations hold the Dutch state responsible for the…
Amnesty International urges EU institutions to ensure that the proposed reforms to the Facilitators Package, presented by the European Commission in November 2023 and now under negotiation, align with international human rights and refugee law. The current EU anti-smuggling framework has enabled the criminalization and prosecution of human rights defenders for acts of solidarity that…
In July 2024, Amnesty International published research which highlighted the use of systematic unlawful and arbitrary detention in the Samos Closed Controlled Access Centre (CCAC), as well as human rights concerns emerging from the inadequate living conditions. Today, the situation in the Samos CCAC remains alarming. Amnesty International and organisations active in the field of…
As we mark three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and amid the recently accelerated discussions on ending the war, Amnesty International wrote a letter to EU leaders, urging them to take concerted action to influence and shape the terms of any proposed ‘peace negotiations’ and to ensure that they are firmly grounded in…
Ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 February 2025, Amnesty International wrote to High Representative Kaja Kallas and EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, urging them to act on the escalating human rights crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Dear High Representative Kallas, Dear Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Ahead of the forthcoming Foreign…