In a letter to Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers for the Environment of Member States of the Council of Europe, Amnesty International calls for a legally binding instrument guaranteeing the human right to a healthy environment. Dear Ministers, I am writing to you on behalf of Amnesty International to encourage you to take action…
Together with 16 other international human rights organizations, Amnesty International calls on EU leaders attending COP29, the 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, to raise directly with the Azerbaijani authorities the cases of those imprisoned on politically motivated grounds and aim to secure their release. In this joint statement, our organizations call…
On 1 August 2024, the long-awaited Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act enters into force, meaning that after years of negotiations, the AI Act is now an official EU law. This is a significant administrative step, one which signals to governments and companies alike that they must prepare themselves to abide by these new rules. If they…
Ahead of the Swiss parliament’s vote on 5 June, concerning a motion not to further comply with the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) landmark ruling in the Senior Women for Climate case, Mandi Mudarikwa, Amnesty International’s Head of Strategic Litigation, said: “The ruling set a much-needed landmark precedent both in terms of recognizing the…
This blog is authored by Ann Harrison, Climate Advisor, Amnesty International; Amy Jacobsen, Legal Counsel Communications, Greenpeace International, Emma Pagliarusco, Advocacy Coordinator, Youth and Environment Europe; Camilla Pollera, Program Associate, Center for International Environmental Law, Katharina Rall, Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch. It was first published by Healthy Environment Europe. On its 75th anniversary, over 400 civil society organizations urge…
Ahead of the 133rd session of the Committee of Ministers, on 16-17 May 2024, Amnesty International wrote to Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Council of Europe member states and to Permanent Representatives to the Council of Europe, urging them to take action to further the recognition and protection of the right to a clean, healthy…
Every five years, European citizens choose who represents them in the European Parliament, acting for their interests in the European Union (EU). The European Parliament elections play a decisive role in shaping the day-to-day lives and futures of millions of people. From 6 to 9 June 2024, people across Europe will be making their voice…
Amnesty International and 216 civil society organisations, social movements and Indigenous Peoples Organizations co-signed a letter calling for the swift recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment through an additional Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. To the Ministers of Foreign Affairs…
On 28 February, the EU Council failed to endorse the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) which marks a deplorable setback for corporate accountability and the protection of Human Rights and the environment worldwide. Amnesty International is one of 136 NGOs who have signed a joint statement calling for a Yes vote for the CSDDD.…
Six young people from Portugal will present a landmark case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) tomorrow, 27 September, arguing that countries are breaching their human rights by failing to do enough to protect them from climate change. If they are successful, the 27 EU member states, as well the United Kingdom, Switzerland,…
As Spain assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), Amnesty International calls on the Spanish government to ensure that human rights are at the forefront of the mandate. The Spanish presidency comes at a time of increased challenges in Europe: ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine, mounting geopolitical tensions, new conflicts and…
This blog is authored by Sébastien Duyck, Senior Attorney; Campaign Manager Human Rights & Climate, Center for International Environmental Law, Amy Jacobsen, Legal Counsel Communications, Greenpeace International, Katharina Rall, Senior Researcher in the Environment and Human Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, and Chiara Liguori, Climate Justice Policy Adviser and Researcher, Amnesty International. On May 16-17, 2023, Council of Europe…