It’s been a tough year, and we have a long journey ahead in 2025. But you and millions of Amnesty supporters are proof that when we come together, we can effect change and advance human rights.
In honor of World Human Rights Day on December 10, we want to highlight some 2024 victories you helped make possible with your activism!
JANUARY
Norway
Over the last few years, Norway has endured criticism from international human rights bodies for its treatment of people in prison with mental health problems. Isolation is widely used, and suicide rates are high. Last year, Amnesty Norway campaigned for prisoners’ rights, which led to the government significantly increasing resources to improve conditions, reducing the use of isolation, after the budget came into force in January.
Andorra
Human rights defender Vanessa Mendoza Cortés was acquitted on a criminal charge of defamation for speaking out about women’s rights and Andorra’s total ban on abortion at a UN expert body in 2019.
FEBRUARY
Saudi Arabia
Amazon announced they would pay $1.9 million to reimburse more than 700 workers contracted to its operations in Saudi Arabia. This came on the heels of a major Amnesty International report documenting the deception and treatment of Amazon workers in Saudi Arabia.
France
Reproductive Rights Defended in France! France’s news sends a message of hope and solidarity to women’s groups, and to all defenders of abortion and other sexual and reproductive rights.
“This historic vote makes France the first country ever to enshrine abortion in its constitution and is of huge significance given the rollback of this essential right around the world. Protecting the freedom to access an abortion provides an important bulwark against these increasingly vociferous anti-rights movements.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard
March
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Munther Amira, a Palestinian human rights defender and social worker, was arbitrarily detained by Israeli forces without charges or trial over alleged Facebook posts.
Here’s what Munther shared with our team after his release: “When I was told by my lawyer in Ofer prison that Amnesty International was planning to campaign on my case, it gave me so much strength — I felt that I was not alone, that I haven’t been forgotten.”
Burkina Faso:
On December 1, 2023, human rights defender Daouda Diallo was apprehended by security agents, driven to an unknown location, and subjected to enforced disappearance. Amnesty International issued an urgent appeal, calling for his release. In March, Daouda was freed.
“I would like to thank Amnesty International and all those who mobilized and called for my release. These appeals were a light in the solitude of my ordeal and a reminder that I was not alone. Let us remain united in our commitment to defend the principles of justice, equality and dignity for all.”
Daouda Diallo after his release
APRIL
USA
Firearm background checks expanded! President Biden moved to expand requirements to background checks for those who buy firearms at gun shows or online. We commend President Biden for going beyond thoughts and prayers and taking another step towards curbing the human rights crisis of gun violence in the U.S.
“We appreciate President Biden standing with gun violence prevention advocates and the overwhelming number of Americans who have long favored expanded background checks. AIUSA will continue to advocate for enhanced background checks and other common-sense policies that help to ensure the human rights and safety of everyone.”
Ernest Coverson, director of gun violence prevention at Amnesty International USA
Afghanistan
Afghan Human Rights Defender Freed! Manizha Seddiqi was forcibly disappeared in October 2023. She was found weeks later in Taliban custody, detained without charges, and unable to access a lawyer or medical care for her deteriorating health.
The Taliban court in Kabul sentenced her to two years in prison. Her only “crime” was supporting the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls.
We campaigned extensively for the release of Manizha and three other women human rights defenders — and are thrilled to share that they have all been released! Their family members shared that their release would not have been possible without sustained pressure created through Amnesty’s campaigning.
MAY
Jordan
Syrian journalist released after 50 days in detention. In April, Jordanian authorities arrested Syrian refugees, Atiya Mohammad Abu Salem and Wael al-Ashi, in a sweeping crackdown on pro-Gaza protests. The Ministry of Interior issued deportation orders for them, without charging them for any crime. In May, Atiya and Wael were released after more than a month of being held in arbitrary detention, following calls from Amnesty International.
JUNE
UK/USA
Julian Assange released! Assange reached a plea deal with the U.S. authorities after spending five years in a high-security prison in the UK. Assange pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defense information, leading to a sentence of 62 months, all of which Julian Assange has already served.
“After years of Julian Assange’s life being wrongly stolen by the U.S. and UK authorities, Amnesty International welcomes the positive news that he is now free and can be reunited with his family. Had he been extradited to the US, he would have been at risk of human rights violations, including prolonged solitary confinement in contravention of the prohibition of torture or other ill-treatment, and poor health services.”
Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard
Kyrgyzstan
Human rights defender freed! Rita Karasartova, an Amnesty International Write for Rights 2023 figure, was facing 15 years in prison in Kyrgyzstan for peacefully protesting. She is a human rights activist who was worried about her community’s access to water and publicly opposed a border agreement giving control of a freshwater reservoir to neighboring country Uzbekistan. She should never have been charged and put on trial in the first place.
Rita said: “A huge thank you goes to Amnesty. A huge one… I am so happy, I don’t even have words. I thank you all for this support… Your timely actions — these letters, petitions, signatures, and the huge number of letters that went to the court, that went to the prosecutor’s office — it was all very powerful… These letters gave strength not only to me but to all defendants in the Kempir Abad case. Our gratitude is huge.”
JULY
France
Amnesty International’s briefing published ahead of the Paris Olympic Games exposed how the ban on French women athletes who wear headscarves from competing breaches international human rights law. The report was mentioned by the UN in October when they slammed the bans as “disproportionate and discriminatory” and called on them to be reversed.
Sierra Leone
In Sierra Leone, a historic bill to end child marriage was signed into law by the President.
According to UNICEF, last year West and Central Africa had the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world. In Sierra Leone, 30% of women between the ages of 20 and 24 were first married or in union between 15 and 18.
Amnesty has been working to prevent and reduce child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, and Senegal.
AUGUST
Russia
Last year, Russian artist and activist Alexandra “Sasha” Skochilenko received a seven-year sentence from the Russian government. Her crime? Troubled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she replaced price tags in her local supermarket with paper labels containing anti-war messages.
After incredible momentum from nearly 20,000 Amnesty supporters who wrote to the Russian Embassy to demand her immediate release, Sasha was involved in the most recent major prisoner swap deal that also saw the release of 16 others, including American journalist Evan Gershkovich.
Here’s what Sasha told our team after her release: “I want to say a huge thank you to Amnesty International. It’s hard to put my gratitude into words, because I am here to a large extent thanks to this organization.”
Burundi
Floriane Irangabiye was released from prison and received a full presidential pardon! She was being prosecuted solely for peacefully exercising her human rights and for her work as a journalist. Amnesty has been hard at work calling for her immediate and unconditional release. And we are thrilled to tell you that our collective voices made a real difference in securing her pardon and release!
SEPTEMBER
Japan
After more than 45 years on death row, Iwao Hakamada was exonerated.
Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher Boram Jang said: “We are overjoyed by the court’s decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him.”
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Palestinian surgeon Dr. Khaled Al Serr was released from Israeli detention after spending more than six months without charges of trial. Amnesty has been campaigning and advocating for Dr. Al Serr ever since he was taken by Israeli forces while working at a hospital in Gaza, along with other healthcare workers. For over five months, his family did not know if he was safe or even alive.
OctobeR
Argentina
Pierina Nochetti, an LGBTI+ rights defender from Necochea, Argentina, faced criminal charges for graffitiing the message “¿Dónde está Tehuel?” during a Pride march in 2022. The phrase sought justice for Tehuel de la Torre, a young trans man who disappeared in 2021. Despite the wall being a common site for public expression, Pierina was targeted, facing potential imprisonment for “aggravated damage.” Amnesty International Argentina advocated on her behalf, emphasizing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The charges have now been dropped, and the case is closed.
NOVEMBER
India
The Supreme Court of India laid down guidelines to prevent arbitrary demolition of properties in the country.
“This landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India should put an end to the climate of impunity around the cruel and inhuman practice of punishing people by unlawfully demolishing their homes and properties. The judgment reaffirms what Amnesty International has previously documented – that such illegal demolitions often instigated at the highest levels of government against Muslims in particular, have repeatedly undermined the rule of law and due process.”
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International
USA
Arizona voters passing Proposition 139, the ballot initiative that establishes the right to abortion under the state’s constitution, Karla Gonzales Garcia, Gender, Sexuality and Identity Director with Amnesty International USA said:
“This is a huge win for human rights. Arizona voters showed up and voted to constitutionally protect access to abortion, affirming that pregnant people have the human right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health without interference from the government.”
Karla Gonzales Garcia, Gender, Sexuality and Identity Director, Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International welcomes the passage of 7 out of the 10 state-based referendums to protect access to abortion, including in Arizona, Missouri, Montana, and Nebraska.
Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA said: “The passage of state-based referendums to protect abortions is a win for human rights. Voters across this country recognize the importance of taking action to constitutionally protect access to abortion, affirming that pregnant people have the human right to make their own decisions about their reproductive health without interference from the government.”
DECEMBER
Iran
On December 1st, Toomaj Salehi, an Iranian hip-hop artist was released from prison! He was arrested in October 2022 solely in relation to his participation in protests during the “Women Life Freedom” uprising, and his criticism of the Iranian authorities’ human rights violations and executions. He was sentenced to death after being convicted of “corruption on earth.” His trial was grossly unfair, and authorities dismissed his complaints of torture, including electric shocks, death threats and repeated beatings resulting in bone fractures and vision impairment in one eye.
Toomaj has an open case pending, and now we are calling on the Iranian to drop all criminal proceedings against him for exercising his rights to freedom of expression. We are also calling on him to be granted full reparations proportional to the gravity of violations and harm suffered.
Global
Through Amnesty’s Global Relief Fund, we provide targeted financial assistance for human rights defenders at risk and individuals who have been subjected to human rights abuses. Over the years, the Global Relief Fund has been a small but critical extension of our work:
- Funding urgent relocation for people fleeing attacks on their lives
- Providing legal aid to individuals fighting malicious prosecutions
- Covering medical costs for those who have been detained or tortured
So far in 2024, the Global Relief Program provided over $1.3 million dollars in direct support to 2,907 individuals from 75 countries.
These victories show that despite the heartbreak of oppression and injustice, when we unite, we connect to our humanity and the generative spirit of what is possible.
We look forward to working together in 2025!